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

Markets #11-#15

Moving boldly forward into the past, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., in lock step with the math marvels from XTRENDS, bring you our third installment of how JULY turned. The period in question ran from 6/21 through 7/18. And the survey said …

DETROIT: Classic Two-Step

This marked the fourth survey in a row where the top two 6+ stations specialize in playing music from the previous century. BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX was #1 for the third book in a row and with its highest share in over a year (7.7-8.3). ENTERCOM Classic Hits WOMC remained a solid #2 as it ended a two-book slide (6.5-7.2). BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF placed at #3 again but saw its uptrend end at four books (5.9-5.6). There was a log jam close behind at #4. ENTERCOM News WWJ-A remained in place but with its lowest reported number since DECEMBER (5.8-5.5). ENTERCOM Country WYCD moved up a slot (5.6-5.5) while iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX) advanced four squares (5.3-5.5). ENTERCOM Sports WXYT-F fell to #9 with its lowest share since MARCH (5.6-4.7). Go TIGERS …

The 25-54 arena remained a guy thing as the top three stations tend to focus more on that gender. WCSX moved back up to #1 as it regained last month’s share loss. This pushed its younger ink-stained brother – WRIF – back to #2 as it ended a strong four-book surge. WXYT-F remained in third place as it gave back most of last month’s sturdy increase. BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WMGC (THE BOUNCE) was close behind at #4 after posting its largest number in over a year. WMXD ended a three-book slide to remain in fifth place for the fifth book in a row. Aren’t numbers fun? WOMC made the leap o’ the month, rising from #14 to #6 with its highest mark in over a year. CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD fell to #7 with its lowest share since Mom was making out with some strange, bearded man.

WRIF was the #1 18-34 station for the sixth time in the last seven surveys. However, it did post its lowest score in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB was flat for the second straight survey to move up to #2 by a narrow margin over three competitors tied at #3. WYCD stepped back from #2 as it gave back a good chunk of last month’s huge increase. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) took a step upward just by being flat. And, WCSX was up from a tie at #6 as it ended a rather severe two-book slide. WMGC slipped to #6 as it ended a two-book surge.

WRIF maintained a strong 18-49 lead over the rest of the field despite ending a four-book surge. WCSX crept a bit closer at #2 as it got back about half of last month’s big loss. WMGC returned at #3 with its best number in over a year while WDVD moved up to #4 despite a slight decrease. WOMC jumped seven spaces to #5 with its best book in over a year while WKQI was close behind at #6 despite a slight decrease. WXYT-F fell three places to a tie at #7 with its lowest share since the tree tops were glistening.

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Together For The First Time

There was quite the drama atop the 6+ leaderboard this survey. COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) was #1 for the second book in a row but with its lowest share since MARCH (7.5-6.9). Meanwhile, UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) moved up from #5 to take a share of the lead with its best performance in over a year (5.3-6.9). COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) slipped to #3 (7.1-6.8) and SBS Tropical WCMQ (Z92.3) dropped to #4 with its first down book since there was tinsel in the palm trees (6.3-5.9). ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) stepped back to #5 with its lowest mark in exactly a year (5.8-5.5).

The top five 25-54 was expanded to include six stations this time. WHQT led the way for the sixth straight survey but with its lowest total since JANUARY. SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) moved up to a very close #2 with its second straight up book. Then came the ties. WFEZ slipped back to #3 as it ended a two-book surge and was joined by WLYF, which moved up from #4 despite being down for the third book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TU 94.9) remained at #5 with a slight decrease and was partnered with WAMR, which advanced from #7 with its best outing since NOVEMBER.

Another survey, another #1 ranking 18-34 for COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ). This made it seven in a row as the station ended a three-book slide. COX RADIO Top 40/M WFLC (HITS) was down yet held on to its #2 rank, but was almost three shares off the lead. WLYF jumped five places to #3 as it ended a two-book slide. WFEZ slid to #4 as it ended a two-book surge and was teamed with iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT), which remained in place with a slight loss. Two stations were close behind at #6. WHQT moved up a spot with a slight increase while WXDJ turned it up from #11 with its best outing in over a year. WZTU dropped three places to #8 with a modest decrease.

Last month WZTU and WFEZ were tied at #1 18-49. Neither repeated this time. Instead, WEDR moved up to the top spot for the first time since some guy in a red suit was making a list (and checking it twice). WXDJ moved up two spots to #2 with a slight increase and was joined by WZTU, which had a modest decrease. WFEZ fell to #4, thus ending a three-book surge. WAMR jumped from #10 to #5 with its best book in over a year and was just ahead of two stations at #6. UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) stepped back from #5 with a small decrease while WFLC remained in place with a slight increase.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Keep On Movin

Last month the top five 6+ stations were separated by a little more than half a share. That changed dramatically this time. HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) busted quite the move as it remained #1 with its highest share in over a year (6.1-7.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET) was also soaring as it advanced to #2 with its best score in over a year (5.5-6.4). Last month both UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW and ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW were tied at #5. This time both stations were flat (5.4-5.4) to remain tied but they moved up to #3. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK slipped to #5 with its lowest share since MARCH (5.5-5.2). BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F was out of the top five for the first time since AUGUST. It dropped four places to #6 with its lowest share since SEPTEMBER (5.8-5.1).

KISW kind of took it on the chin last month 25-54. This time, it got some of that lost chin back to remain #1 for the seventh book in a row. KJR-F again had its best outing in over a year as it moved up two spots to #2. The two stations were separated by a share. KQMV slid back to #3 with a slight decrease while ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) moved up to #4 as it bounced back from a couple of softer books. KZOK dropped to #5 as it returned most of last month’s strong increase. KUOW ended a two-book slide to move up to #6 while KIRO-F fell to #7 with its lowest total since DECEMBER.

The 18-34 arena continued to be the exclusive domain of KISW. The station was #1 for the fourth book in a row. Cluster bro KNDD advanced from #7 to #2 as it ended a three-book slide but still trailed the leader by over a share and a half. KQMV stepped back to #3 with its fourth straight down book while KJR-F zoomed from #8 to #4 with what was easily its best outing in over a year. KZOK slid to #5 as it lost most of last month’s big gain. It was sharing the moment with incumbent HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM,) which had a modest decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KUBE fell three spots to #7 as it ended a strong two-book surge. Keep an eye on ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF), which loped from #13 to #8 with its best share since DECEMBER.

KISW was given back some of the share it surrendered last month and extended its 18-49 winning streak to four. KQMV had its lowest share since the reindeer games but held on at #2. It was joined by KNDD, which moved up a spot with a strong increase. KJR-F held firm at #4 with – again – its highest share in over a year. KKWF advanced six spaces to #5 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER. KUOW was also up six spots – to #6 – with its highest mark since JANUARY. KUBE fell from #5 to #10 as it ended a strong three-book surge.

PHOENIX: I Heart The Desert

The folks at one particular cluster were having much better staff meetings as they captured five of the top six spots 6+. As per usual, iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) was #1. The station lost a rather large chunk of share (8.7-7.5) but still led the field by a wide margin. The new #2 was iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN), which leapt from a tie at #8 with its highest elevation in over a year (4.3-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX held steady at #3 (5.5-5.6) and was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX), which took a step forward with its highest share in exactly one year (5.3-5.6). The one station not invited to the staff hullabaloo was HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX, which dropped from #2 to #5 with its lowest total since that awful Grinch song was on the radio (6.6-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) slipped to #6 (5.3-5.0).

There was a mixture of clusters atop the 25-54 leaderboard. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD returned to the top spot for the first time since FEBRUARY and led #2 KZZP – which was off a bit – by a full share. KSLX fell from first to third as it ended a strong two-book surge. KMXP moved up a spot to #4 with a flat performance and was in league with KYOT, which advanced three spaces with a massive increase. KNIX remained at #6 with a slight decrease and was sharing the moment with KESZ, which fell two places as it ended a strong three-book run.

Last month KUPD and KZZP were tied at #1 18-34. Both stations had down books but one was more downer than the other. KUPD remained the leader while KZZP fell to second place with its lowest total since JANUARY. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (93.3 ALT AZ) had been on quite a roll. Last month it moved from #9 to #7. This time it jumped to #3 with its highest share since FEBRUARY. ENTERCOM Top 40/M KALV (LIVE 101.5) repeated at #4 with a slight increase while KYOT took three giant steps forward to #5 with a huge increase. The station has doubled its share over the last two surveys. KESZ fell three spots to #6 with its first down book since MARCH. The two country competitors were tied at #7. ENTERCOM Country KMLE slipped from #5 as it ended a four-book surge while KNIX inched up from a tie at #8 as it bounced back from a down book.

All year KUPD has been a model of 18-49 consistency. The station captured the demo for the seventh straight survey with a slight increase. KYOT continued its hot run here, as well, as it moved up four slots to #2 with – you guessed it – its best book in over a year. KZZP was flat and stable at #3 but was forced into a tie with KMXP, which moved up a spot with a slight increase. KESZ dropped three places to #5 as it ended a big three-book surge. KDKB went from #10 to #6 with a strong increase while KSLX slid to #8 with its least productive outing since JANUARY.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: A Tight Trio

Things got a little testy atop the 6+ chart. The top three stations remained the same but they got closer to invading each other’s personal spaces. HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) was #1 for the seventh straight survey but with its lowest share (7.8-7.5) since JOHN PRINE was singing about CHRISTMAS in the pokey (yea, no one plays that one). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB repeated at #2 (7.4-7.3) while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) returned at #3 (7.3-7.2). The next closest station was more than a share off the pace. ENTERCOM Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) took three steps forward to #4 with its fourth straight up book (5.1-5.9). It was tied with CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X), which was there last time (6.0-5.9). The two stations tied at #5 last month went their separate ways. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) slipped to #6 (5.7-5.6) while CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS ended up at #7 with its lowest share in over a year (5.7-5.5).

The 25-54 contest was essentially a two-team race. KSTP was off slightly but won the heat for the seventh month in a row. KXXR was flat and happy at #2. KZJK announced its presence with authority as it moved up to #3 with its best book in over a year. KDWB stepped back to #4 despite a slight increase. KQQL slipped to #5 with a small loss. The next closest station to cracking the top five was KQRS but it was a share away from attaining that elite status.

When it comes to the 18-34 demo, you cannot stop KXXR, you can only hope to contain them. The station cracked double digits for the eighth straight survey to remain #1. KDWB repeated at #2 with a slight decrease and the gap between the two stations stood at four-plus shares. KSTP returned as a solid -– if distant -– #3 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (K-FAN) was the last station standing at #4 with a slight increase. KZJK moved up a slot to #5 with a slight increase. KEEY fell to #6 with its first down book since MARCH and was tied with KQRS, which moved up from #7 with a flat performance.

KXXR topped double digits 18-49 for the fifth book in a row and landed its highest share in over a year. Needless to say, but we’ll write it anyway, the station repeated at #1. KDWB moved up to #2 with a slight increase but was still about two shares from the lead. KSTP stepped back to #3 with its lowest score since JANUARY. Those three stations were over two shares clear of the rest of the field. KZJK moved up to #4 with its best outing since AUGUST while KQQL slipped to #5 despite a slight increase. KQRS moved up to #6 with a flat performance while KFXN slid to #7 with its lowest score in over a year.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We’ll see you in less than 28 days for another edition of this ratings ring dang do …

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