Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive October PPM Analysis For New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, S.F., Dallas

Top-5 Markets

As part of our show prep for each month’s foray into ratings world, we look for themes and patterns. The one that screamed at us this time is one we are determined to avoid. The traditional radio cliché whereby you add a particular letter to the beginning of the month in question. We are resisting that urge and plunging directly into the meat of the issue … sort of like carving a pumpkin.

This survey spanned 9/14 through 10/11 so it was partially correct. It was notable for being the next-to-last survey before the rise of the holiday specters but was otherwise just a normal day at the radio ranch. The Ratings Experts from RESESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., in cooperation with the math mavens from XTRENDS, bring you ROCKTOBER. Damn!

NEW YORK: The Lite Is Right

In the book before the book before CHRISTMAS music assaults our senses, iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (LITE) set the stage by repeating as the #1 station 6+ (6.1-6.6). Moving up to the #2 position with its highest share in over a year was CBS RADIO News WINS-A (5.4-5.9). Not far behind at #3 was EMMIS Urban AC WBLS (5.4-5.6). CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F was flat (5.5-5.5) but still dropped two slots to #4. SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) had its best score since JANUARY to inch up to #5 (4.9-5.3). Also moving up – to #6 – was CBS RADIO Sports WFAN-F (THE FAN), which had its most productive outing in over a year (4.6-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) fell to #7 with its lowest share since JANUARY (5.1-4.8) and was partnered with cluster sister iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100), which bounced back – a little – from its lowest total in over a year (4.5-4.8).

Last month the 25-54 demo was all about ties. History did not repeat this time but one constant remained – WLTW was #1 for the sixth straight survey. WHTZ took sole possession of second place with its best performance since APRIL while WCBS-F slipped back to #3 despite a slight increase. The three-way log jam at #4 ended as WSKQ became the lone survivor thanks to its best book since FEBRUARY. The other two members of that trio remained together but a rung lower at #5. Both iHEARTMEDIA Urban WWPR (POWER) and WBLS had slight losses. WFAN-F moved up three places to #7 with – again – its highest run total in over a year.

The 18-34 results bore scant resemblance to the previous survey. After spending three books at #1, EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT) cooled off and dropped to #4 with its lowest share since FEBRUARY. WSKQ vaulted to the top spot despite a small loss while WHTZ advanced two squares to #2 with a small increase. WWPR remained at #3 with a small decrease while WLTW held firm at #5 with a small gain. As seen previously, WFAN-F posted its best share in over a year, which drove the station from #13 to #8.
As with the previous demo, the 18-49 champion was dethroned. WWPR returned all of last month’s big gain and dropped from #1 to #4. WSKQ moved into the lead role with its best mark since FEBRUARY while WLTW took a step up to #2 with its highest Frost-free share in over a year. WHTZ also advanced one space to #3 as it regained all of last month’s loss. WQHT, though down three surveys in a row, remained stable at #5. WFAN-F again outperformed its recent history as it moved up three places to #7 where it was tied with a slightly off-kilter WBLS.

LOS ANGELES: Oh Me, Oh My

For the ninth book in a row, iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (MY FM) was #1 6+. The station regained all of last month’s share loss and continued to lead the market by a wide margin (6.0-6.4). The race was for second place and three stations were last seen fighting over that bone. iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST moved up three slots as it, too, got back all of last month’s small loss (4.3-4.5). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KIIS (KISS) took two steps forward with its lowest share since JANUARY (4.6-4.5) while CBS RADIO Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH) was up one spot despite posting its lowest score since JANUARY (4.8-4.5). CBS RADIO Urban AC KTWV (THE WAVE) fell three places to #5 with its least productive outing in over a year (5.2-4.3). The next logical candidate to join the top five was iHEARTMEDIA Talk KFI-A, which remained at #6 but with its best book in over a year (3.5-3.9).

The fighting-over-scraps theme continued in the 25-54 demo. KBIG reigned supreme as it got back all of last month’s somewhat painful loss. KIIS remained at #2 with a slight loss but was over two and a half shares off the lead. KRTH moved up to #3 with a slight increase while two stations decided to partner up at #4. UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE) took one step forward with a slight increase while SBS Regional Mexican KLAX (LA RAZA) advanced three squares with its best book in over a year. KTWV dropped from #3 to #10 with its lowest total since JANUARY.

The 18-34 game changed a bit. Sure, KBIG was still in the #1 slot as it ended a two-book slide. However, it was forced to share as iHEARTMEDIA Urban KRRL (REAL 92.3) moved up from a tie at #3 with what was easily its best book in over a year. KIIS remained stable at #3 despite landing its lowest share in over a year. KLVE was up two places to #4 just by being flat and was in cahoots with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7), which moved up a slot despite a small decrease. MERUELO Top 40/R KPWR (POWER) fell four places to #6 with its lowest score in over a year. It was joined in that space by CUMULUS Classic Rock KLOS, which advanced from #14 with its third up book in a row.

KBIG got the demo sweep as it again won the 18-49 contest as the station bounced back from last month’s downer. KIIS held on at #2 but drifted further back thanks to a small loss. There was true diversity at the #3 position with three different viewpoints being represented. KRRL was up a spot with a small increase while KRTH took two steps forward with a slightly bigger increase. KLVE remained in place with neither a gain nor a loss. Three other stations went through some dramatic mood swings. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KCBS-F (JACK) – which fell from a tie at #5 to a tie at #12 last time – moved back up to #6 this month. Two of the three stations formerly known as #5 were not as fortunate. KPWR dropped to a tie at #13 with its lowest score in over a year while KTWV had a bumpy landing at #15 with its smallest share since JANUARY.

CHICAGO: No Mix Up

After leading the 6+ contest for eight consecutive surveys, iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) was forced to play second fiddle as it landed its lowest total since APRIL (6.5-5.6). Moving up to the first chair was HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (THE MIX), which had its best book in over a year (5.2-5.8). CBS RADIO News WBBM-A remained a fixture at #3 for the fourth straight survey (4.7-5.0) while CBS RADIO Sports WSCR-A (THE SCORE) had its best book since NOVEMBER (thank you CUBBIES) to hold steady at #4 (3.9-4.9). There was a three-way at #5. CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US-99) was the holdover from last time (3.8-3.9). Moving into the fray was HUBBARD Classic Hits WDRV (THE DRIVE) – up from #7 (3.6-3.9) – and UNIVISION Regional Mexican WOJO (QUE BUENA), which was up four slots with its highest score in over a year (3.3-3.9). Dropping out of that tie game was iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKSC (KISS), which landed at #8 (3.8-3.6).

There were a lot of changes made to the 25-54 rankings, however one constant remained. WTMX was #1 for the twelfth time in the last 14 surveys. The station also had its largest share in over a year. WOJO was up to #2 with a rather large increase, which pushed WVAZ back to #3 as it was off a bit. WDRV, ahem, drove itself from #8 to #4 as it regained all of last month’s big loss. WSCR-A experienced a power surge as it jumped from a tie at #11 to #5. We’re guessing that might have something to do with baseball but we’re not entirely sure. WKSC dropped three places to #6 with its lowest number since we were all playing reindeer games. Last time there was a three-way tie at #5. This time, the tie was broken but none of that triumvirate remained in the top five. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WGCI slid to #7 despite a slight increase while CUMULUS Alternative WKQX dropped to #8 with a slight decrease. That leaves HUBBARD AC WSHE, which ended up in a tie at #9 with its second straight down book.

There was a changing of the guard 18-34 as WTMX assumed command of the demo with –- once again –- its best book in over a year. WGCI dropped back to #2 despite landing its largest share since APRIL. WOJO was up four slots to #3 with a pretty big increase. Two fierce competitors were locked in mortal combat at #4. WKSC remained in place with a slight decrease and was joined by CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96), which fell from a tie at #2 with its third straight down book. WKQX dropped back to #6 with its least productive outing since JUNE.

WTMX made it four-for-four as it captured the 18-49 flag for the third month in a row. And, naturally, the station posted its largest number in over a year. WOJO did the same as it moved up to #2 though it was almost two shares behind the leader. WKSC stepped back to #3 with its lowest total since JANUARY while WGCI moved down to #4 with a flat performance. WDRV put the pedal to the metal as it jumped from #10 to #5 thanks to its best score in over a year. WBBM-F dropped to #6 with its lowest share since MARCH.

SAN FRANCISCO: This Radio Life

The song remained pretty much the same as it ever was for the 6+ competition. KQED INC. N/T KQED was #1 for the tenth book in a row (7.3-7.3) while CBS RADIO News KCBS-A kept its ten-book #2 streak alive but with its best showing since FEBRUARY (6.0-6.8). As per usual, the leading song-dependent station was ENTERCOM AC KOIT, which was #3 again as it ended a five-book slide (4.3-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KIOI (STAR) regained complete control of the #4 position (4.2-4.1) while iHEARTMEDIA AC KISQ (THE BREEZE) slipped back to #5 (4.2-3.9). Not far behind was CBS RADIO Hot AC KLLC (ALICE), which moved up to #6 (3.6-3.7).

The 25-54 showgram was also relatively drama free as the top four positions remained unchanged. KQED was #1 with a slight increase and KLLC drew a smidge closer at #2 with a slightly larger gain. KIOI was off a bit to remain a slightly distant #3 while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KYLD (WILD) held on at #4 despite surrendering most of last month’s big increase. The one change occurred at #5. KOIT moved into that slot from a tie at #8 as it -– again –- ended a five-book slide. This pushed CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) back to #6 as it was off for the third straight survey.

KYLD remained a very solid #1 18-34 with its sixth straight up book. However, it did now have a new pursuer as KOIT advanced to #2 with its best BURL IVES-free month in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R KMEL dropped back to #3 for the first time since MARCH with a slight decrease. KMVQ stepped back to #4 despite landing its largest share in exactly one year. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSOL (QUE BUENA) stepped up to #5 as it regained all of last month’s huge loss. This pushed KIOI down to #6 even though STAR was up slightly.

Last month it looked like KYLD could end KQED’s string of #1 18-49 books. Alas, ‘twas not to pass. KQED had a slight increase and won for the fifth straight survey. KYLD was down slightly but remained at #2. KLLC moved up to #3 with a slight increase and was only a share off the lead. KIOI dropped back to #4 as it returned all of last month’s modest gain. KOIT took two steps up to #5 as it ended a two-book slide. KMVQ slid back to #6 with a slight decrease and was tied with the flat KMEL.

DALLAS-FT.WORTH: Howlin’ Wolf

This was the tenth book in a row that CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) was #1 6+. However, the station’s most recent score was its lowest of the run (5.7-5.3). As a result, the market became a wee bit more compressed. That becomes clearer when you look at the next three stations. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (QUE BUENA) repeated at #2 (4.9-4.9) but was just ahead of iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR), which moved up three places to #3 as it rebounded from a down book (4.5-4.8). CBS RADIO Classic Hits KLUV (K-LOVE) was right behind at #4 (4.6-4.7). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KHKS (KISS) was down for the fourth straight survey and fell to #5 (4.8-4.4). CUMULUS Country KSCS dropped to #6 (4.7-4.3) where it was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (NOW), which took one step forward (4.1-4.3).

After spending the last three books at #1 25-54, KHKS stepped back to #2 thanks to its lowest share in over a year. KPLX moved up to #1 –- just barely –- with a flat performance. KLNO advanced to a very close #3 with its best outing since APRIL. CUMULUS Sports KTCK-A (THE TICKET) was flat and stable at #4 while KZPS moved back up to #5 with its first up book since JUNE. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KEGL (THE EAGLE) remained at #6 with a slight decrease and was nesting with KLUV, which took a step forward with a slight increase. KSCS dropped three spots to make it a three-way tie at #6 as it ended a solid four-book run.

Ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce you to your new #1 18-34 station. This time the honor belonged to URBAN ONE Top 40/R KBFB (THE BEAT), which advanced from #4 thanks to a huge increase. SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) -– last month’s leader -– slid back to #2 as it experienced a rather large loss of share. It was tied with KHKS, which remained in place despite its own painful loss. KLNO dropped back to #4 with a slight decrease while two stations forged an agreement at #5. UNIVISION Spanish AC KDXX (Latino Mix) moved up a spot with a flat performance while KDMX advanced four spaces as it slowly recovered from last month’s devastating loss. KSCS dropped from #5 to a tie at #11 with its first down book since APRIL.

Though KHKS posted its lowest 18-49 share in over a year, the station remained #1 for the tenth book in a row. However, there was a plot twist. KLNO moved up to share the lead thanks to a slight increase. KEGL remained at #3 with a slight loss. The #4 position was quite active with three stations moving in and two departing. KTCK-A was up from a tie at #6 with neither a gain nor a loss. KBFB advanced from #12 with its best showing in over a year while KDMX took four steps forward with a slight increase. KKDA dropped to #7 as it returned last month’s gain while KSCS ended up in a tie at #9 with its lowest mark since MAY.

We’ve only scratched the surface. There’s more ratings drama on the horizon as composed by the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. Our next action-splattered edition focuses on HOUSTON, WASHINGTON, DC, PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA, and BOSTON. Stay tuned.

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