Research Director, Inc.: Exclusive December PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis

Markets #11-15

As SANTA and his retinue fade into the rearview, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. -- with a heaping helping hand from the algorithmic artisans at XTRENDS –- will comb through the wreckage and try to make some sense from the chaos. The DECEMBER survey in all its glory. A THANKSGIVING holiday and the beginning of the war of CHRISTMAS music wrought havoc upon the ratings landscape. Let the healing begin.

DETROIT: Old Saint (W)Nick

The annual holiday festivities began on the first day of the survey for iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC and it produced the desired effect. The station remained #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (7.7-11.8) and easily eclipsed last year’s 6.8 share. ENTERCOM Classic Hits WOMC moved up to #2 with its best performance since JANUARY (5.9-6.3). BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX dropped back to #3 (6.5-5.7) while ENTERCOM News WWJ-A dropped to #4 as it ended a four-book surge (5.9-5.5). Returning as the #5 station was ENTERCOM Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET), which was down for the third straight survey (5.5-5.2).

WNIC easily assumed command of the 25-54 demo thanks to a healthy dose of GENE AUTRY and beat last year’s number by over three shares. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF stepped back to #2 as it surrendered most of last month’s increase. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) ended a three-book run and fell back into a tie at #3 with WXYT-F, which moved up from #4 despite a down book. WCSX repeated as the #5 entrant but did lose some share. Close behind at #6 was CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD, which was off slightly.

The 18-34 demo had a new leader as WNIC moved up from #5 with a holly-infused share that was over four points higher than last year’s. WRIF moved back to #2 with its lowest total since JUNE while WKQI inched up to #3 with its best book since JULY. WGPR INC. Urban AC WGPR (HOT) moved up three slots to #4 as it ended a two-book slide. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB was not far behind at #5 as it was up a little from last survey. WDVD advanced three squares to #6 as it regained a portion of last month’s devastating loss. Two stations dropped from the top five and landed in a heap at #7. WCSX fell from #3 with its lowest score since AUGUST while ENTERCOM Country WYCD dropped from second place with its smallest share since JULY.

As you would expect, WNIC was #1 18-49 with a huge holiday-tinged increase that was over three shares larger than last year’s. WRIF moved back to #2 as it ended a two-book surge while WKQI dropped down to #3 despite posting its best number since MAY. WXYT-F moved up a spot to #4 with a slight decrease while WDVD took one step forward to #5. WCSX dropped two places to #6 and was tied with WJLB, which moved up one. Both stations were this close to cracking the top five.

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Santa Schmanta

Anyone who has studied the CHRISTMAS mythology knows that SANTA saves SOUTH FLORIDA for his down time after the long gift-giving slog. Thus, no major player flipped the Frosty switch again this season. COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) became the new 6+ leader with its third up book in a row (6.6-6.8). This pushed COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) back to #2 as the station posted its lowest share since APRIL (7.0-6.7). ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) moved up to #3 with its best outing since FEBRUARY (5.7-6.6). This pushed SBS Tropical WCMQ (Z92.3) back to #4 even though it was up for the fourth straight survey (5.8-6.0). UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) had its lowest mark in over a year (5.5-5.1) yet moved up to #5. This displaced ENTERCOM Classic Hits WMXJ (THE BEACH) to #6 as it returned most of last month’s big increase (5.6-4.9).

WLYF had its best 25-54 book in exactly a year to move up to #1. WHQT moved back to #2 with a flat performance while COX RADIO Top 40/M WFLC (HITS) stepped up to #3 with a slight increase. The two previous occupants of the #7 position had good books. COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) advanced to #4 with its highest share since MARCH while iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TU 94.9) ended up at #5 thanks to its best score since APRIL. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) slid to #6 despite a slight increase. WAMR fell five places to a tie at #8 with its lowest total in over a year.

Last month the 18-34 contest between WEDR and iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) could not have been any closer. Alas, the gap widened this time as WEDR was up slightly while THE BEAT had its lowest share in over a year. WLYF was up five slots to #3 with its largest share since FEBRUARY. This pushed ENTERCOM Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) back to #4 as it was off slightly. WFLC dropped back to #5 with a slight decrease and was paired with WHQT, which advanced from a tie at #8 with its best performance since FEBRUARY. WZTU fell back to #7 with a slight decrease and was partnered with ENTERCOM Alternative WSFS (THE SHARK), which stepped back from #6.

There was not much change atop the 18-49 leaderboard. WEDR ended a two-book slide and was #1 – as usual. WLYF remained #2 but had a healthy increase and was this close to overtaking the leader. WFLC held steady at #3 with a flat book and was joined in that space by WHYI, which had a slight increase. WZTU repeated at #5 but with its fourth up book in a row.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Warmest Holiday Wishes

Now here’s something you don’t hear every day. Four –- count ‘em –- four different stations dove into the holiday pool this survey. The traditional leader has been –- and remained -– HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM). It flipped first on 11/15 and that pushed the station to #1 6+ (5.3-8.1), which outpaced last year’s 6.7 share. We’ll get to the other entrants in a moment. Although UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW is currently on a six-book winning streak, nevertheless, it dropped back to #2. And that was despite landing its largest share in over a year (6.5-7.0). Sometimes life just isn’t fair. The two stations previously identified as an item at #2 remained together but dropped back to #3. HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) and BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F both went 6.0-5.7. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK) was up to #5 with its best book since AUGUST (4.1-4.4). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET) fell to #6 with its lowest share in over a year (5.3-4.2). Now, as for those other holiday players. CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) made the move on 11/24. It fell to #11 (3.9-3.5). SINCLAIR Hot AC KPLZ (STAR) switched on 11/16. It climbed a spot to a tie at #12 despite a flat performance (3.4-3.4). Finally, the station formerly known as KMPS – ENTERCOM AC KSWD (THE SOUND) – turned to the Yule side on 11/17. It dropped seven slots to a tie at #15 (3.8-3.2).

Not even the power of the mighty Claus could dislodge KQMV from the top spot 25-54. The station was off slightly but maintained enough of an edge to hold off KRWM, which advanced five squares to #2. ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW stepped back to #3 despite landing its best book since AUGUST. KJAQ remained at #4 but with its highest share since MAY. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) moved up three slots to #5 with its highest score since JUNE. KIRO-F fell back to #8. In between and tied at #6 were KUOW and ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT).

SANTA could only show 18-34 as KQMV and KISW repeated as the #1 and #2 stations, respectively. The gap between the two narrowed a bit as MOVIN was off slightly while KISW had a slight increase. KRWM advanced ten spots to #3 as it more than doubled its previous share. KNDD moved back to #4 despite posting its best score since JANUARY. KHTP slid back to #5 as it returned most of last month’s healthy increase. Becoming the lone, ahem, wolf, reaped benefits for ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF). The station rose from #12 to #6 with easily its best performance in over a year. KJR-F fell to #9 after achieving its lowest cruising altitude in over a year.

Make it an even dozen for KQMV. The station was #1 18-49 for the 12th straight survey. KRWM moved from #13 to #2 and nearly doubled its number but was still a full share behind the leader. KISW slipped back to #3 as it bounced back from a down book while KNDD dropped back to #4 but with its highest mark since JUNE. KJAQ moved up to #5 with its best outing in over a year. Two stations exited the top five this time. KIRO-F fell to a tie at #8 while KJR-F dropped to #13.

PHOENIX: Christmas Made EZ

iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) has long been considered Patient One in this holiday epidemic. The station flipped in week two and came dangerously close to doubling its 6+ share (6.2-12.1). Last year it began the season with a 9.8. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX dropped back to #2 with its lowest mark since APRIL (7.0-6.4). Then came everyone else. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD moved up to #3 but with its lowest total since JANUARY (4.9-4.5). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX) also moved up to #3 with a flat performance (4.5-4.5). ENTERCOM Classic Hits KOOL fell to #5 with its smallest share since JANUARY (5.4-4.2). Close behind at #6 was iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN), which had its least productive outing since MAY (4.3-4.1).

KESZ came close to doubling its 25-54 share, as well. The station assumed control of the demo and crashed through the double-digit barrier. The two previous occupants of the #1 position were split and sent packing. KUPD stepped back to #2 with a slight decrease while KSLX ended up at #3 with its third down book in a row. KMXP was up to #4 with another flat performance. THE MOUNTAIN rose from #8 to new heights at #5 despite its fifth down book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) fell to #8 with its lowest number since JANUARY. KOOL dropped from a tie at #3 to #12 with its smallest share in over a year.

KESZ just missed doubling its 18-34 share. It moved up to #1 (from #5), surpassed the double-digit threshold and beat last year’s number by over three shares. KUPD remained at #2 as it ended a two-book slide. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT-AZ) enjoyed its brief moment in the sun and fell from the lead to #3 with its lowest total since JULY. ENTERCOM Top 40/M KALV (LIVE 101.5) remained in place at #4 with its best book in over a year. KSLX dropped to #5 as it returned a big portion of last month’s huge increase.

This time -– in the 18-49 arena –- KESZ did manage to more than double its previous share as it moved up to #1. KUPD stepped back to #2 with its second down book in a row while KSLX slipped back to #3 as it gave back all of last month’s large gain. KDKB dropped back to #4 with its lowest score since MAY and was sharing the moment with KMXP, which moved up a spot despite being down for the sixth straight survey. KOOL fell four places to a tie at #8 as it ended a strong two-book surge.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: Kool Yule

All the cool kids were listening to iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL). The station went all SANTA towards the end of week two of the survey and that was enough to propel it to #1 6+ (6.4-9.0). Last year the station “only” managed a 7.6 share. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (K-FAN) continued with its VIKINGS rampage. Though it dropped back to #2, the station had its biggest score in over a year (7.2-7.6). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) slipped back to #3 with its lowest share since the last time the swans were swimming (7.1-6.5). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB, which remained in place with its lowest total since FEBRUARY (6.8-6.5). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS stepped back to #5 with its lowest mark since JULY (6.5-6.2) while ENTERCOM Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) had its best showing since AUGUST (4.6-5.5) to advance five slots to #6.

Decisions, decisions. Super Bowl dreams or visions of sugar plums. The shield won this round as KFXN remained #1 25-54 with its best outing in exactly one year. KQQL was up four places to #2 but remained over a share off the lead. KDWB moved up to #3 with a flat book while CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) took one step up to #4 despite a slight decrease. KSTP fell three slots to #5 as it landed its lowest number since SANTA’s last visit. KQRS also dropped three slots -- to #6 –- with its lowest total since AUGUST. 

Last month, three stations cracked the double-digit barrier 18-34. That number was reduced to two this time and neither was playing the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. KDWB was in its customary #1 position though it took a bit of a hit. KFXN moved up to #2 with a slight decrease. KXXR fell out of double digits and dropped to #3 as it gave back all of last month’s massive increase. KQQL moved up four slots to #4 and was well ahead of last DECEMBER when it was sitting at #7. KSTP fell back to #5 with its lowest share in over a year and was tied with KZJK, which moved up from #7 as it ended a three-book skid. ENTERCOM Country KMNB (BUZ’N) fell to #7 despite a slight increase.

Though KDWB had its lowest 18-49 share since we last hung hosiery by the chimney with care, the station remained #1 for the 12th book in a row. KQQL was up to #2 and a half share off the pace thanks to a candy cane-influenced sugar rush. KFXN moved up to #3 with its best outing since JANUARY. KXXR dropped a couple of spots to #4 with its lowest total since APRIL. KSTP also dropped two –- to #5 -– with its smallest share since JUNE.

Thank you for interrupting your dead-week schedule to read through our missives. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are now ready to dive into the leftover ham. Have a happy and safe new year and we’ll reconvene in a month in this same space.

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