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

Exclusive Analysis From Research Director, Inc.

After successfully lathering up with some SPF 50, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with our partners in data from XTRENDS – present our third and final installment of the JULY ratings roundup. As always these are merely estimates and their relation to actual reality is spurious at best. Still, they are the coin of the realm so we treat them appropriately. This four-week grind began on 6/20 and ended 7/17. It was the beginning of summer and had that strangely situated federal holiday week. Fasten your seatbelts, follow the yellow rubber line to your seats, and enjoy!

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: The Big EZ

With apologies to a different city that kind of owns that nickname, COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) was once again the biggest 6+ fish in the tank. The station was #1 for the seventh straight survey and maintained its full-share lead over the rest of the pack (7.6-7.3). COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105) was #2 for the fifth book in a row (6.6-6.3) and held a comfortable advantage over UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR 107.5), which moved up to #3 with its best book since JANUARY (5.3-5.7). ENTERCOM AC WLYF (101.5 LITE) slipped to #4 (5.4-5.5) while SBS Tropical WCMQ (Z92.3) held steady at #5 (4.9-5.1). It was a good month for ENTERCOM Top 40/R WPOW (POWER 96). The station had its highest share in over a year (3.7-4.1) to move up to #7. It was tied with COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) (4.1-4.1).

Last month the 25-54 chase was a battle royal between the two AC stations. This time they were both at the top of the chart but the distance between them had widened. WFEZ returned at #1 with a solid gain while WLYF repeated at #2 with a slight decrease. LITE was also just ahead of two stations at #3. WHQT remained in place with a slight decrease while WAMR was flat as it moved up a slot. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TU 94.9) inched up to #5 with a slight increase. This pushed SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) – which was off slightly – back to #6. WPOW had its fourth up book in a row as it moved up to #7.

For the second straight survey, WPOW was #1 18-34. This was the fourth straight up book for the station – a run that began when it was tied for #8 in the demo. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) advanced three spaces to #2 with its best outing since DECEMBER and it trailed the leader by about a half share. WEDR remained in place at #3 but got back all the share it lost last month. WZTU ended a four-book slide as it jumped from a tie at #9 to #4.This pushed WFEZ back to #5 as it was off slightly. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) advanced five spaces to #6 with its highest share in over a year. WLYF dropped to #8 with its lowest mark since OCTOBER. COX RADIO Top 40/M WFLC (HITS 97.3) dropped seven spots to a tie at #12 as it ended a four-book run.

WFEZ was up a bit 18-49 to remain in the top spot but it had company. WPOW again had its highest share in over a year to forge a tie at #1. WAMR stood alone at #3 with a slight increase while WLYF slipped to #4 with a slight decrease. WEDR and WXDJ had been tied at #6. Both stations were off the exact same slight amount and moved up to #5 together. WFLC dropped five spots to #10 as its three-book run came to a halt.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: On A Roll

Them old songs continue to be the preferred soundtrack for the 6+ demo. Consider iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK. The station has been on quite the roll. It just landed its eighth consecutive up book (6.1-7.0). The trend began with the station at #9 and, for the second survey in a row, it has been #1. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW moved up to #2 (5.6-5.5) while last month’s co-leader – HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) slipped to #3 with its lowest share since DECEMBER (6.1-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK) was up to #4 with its best performance in over a year (4.5-5.1) while BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F remained at #5 (4.6-4.9). ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW ended a three-book surge as it fell to #11 (4.8-4.2).

All of a sudden we have a battle brewing 25-54. KQMV won for the seventh book in a row but with its lowest share since DECEMBER. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) moved up to #2 with its highest share since MARCH to trail the leader by the slimmest of all possible margins. KZOK stepped up to #3 with its best performance in over a year while KISW slipped to #4 as it ended a two-book surge. KJAQ advanced three spaces to #5 with its best score in over a year. HUBBARD Country KNUC (93.9 THE BULL) moved up to a close #6 with its seventh straight up book. HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) slipped to #7 and was tied with KUOW.

There was all sorts of movement 18-34. To begin with, KQMV moved back to #1 with a slight increase, pushing KISW – which gave back all of last month’s rather large increase – back to #2. ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT 103.7) was up two slots to #3 with its third up book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) got back almost all of last month’s huge loss to rebound from a tie at #11 to #4. KZOK slipped to #5 despite a slight increase and was tied with KJAQ, which leapt from #13 with – once again – its best book in over a year. KUOW was up three places to #7 as it ended a four-book slide. KNDD fell to #8 with its fourth down book in a row. KNUC dropped seven places to #10 – thus ending a six-book surge – and was tied with KRWM.

The top four stations 18-49 were separated by less than a share. KQMV won for the seventh straight survey but posted its lowest mark in over a year. KNDD moved up to a very close #2 with a small increase. KJAQ advanced four spaces to #3 with a massive increase while KISW slipped to #4 as it once again returned all of last month’s huge increase. KNUC stepped back to #5 despite a slight increase. KZOK was very close behind at #6 with its best performance in over a year. KRWM slipped to #7 with only a slight decrease.

DETROIT: Another Classic Win

I smell a PAUL JACOBS blog post coming as another Classic Rock station was a 6+ winner. BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX is no stranger to the spot, having most recently accomplished this feat in APRIL. The station came back this time after landing its largest share since FEBRUARY (6.5-7.2). iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC moved up to #2 as it bounced back from a down book (5.9-6.2). ENTERCOM Classic Hits WOMC remained at #3 but with its best book since DECEMBER (5.9-6.0). After two straight surveys at #1, iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) slid to #4 with its first down book since FEBRUARY (6.9-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) stood alone at #5 (5.4-5.5) while its former partner in that space – ENTERCOM News WWJ-A – stepped back to #6 (5.4-4.8). It was tied with cluster buddy ENTERCOM Country WYCD, which moved up a spot (5.3-4.8).

For the second book in a row, the harder edge of music radio led the way 25-54. However, the two cluster bros swapped spots. WCSX moved up to #1 for the first time since FEBRUARY, which pushed a flat BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF back to #2. WKQI held steady at #3 while WNIC stepped up to #4. Both stations had slight increases. BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WMGC (105.1 THE BOUNCE) pogoed up to #5 with a slight increase and was just ahead of a stationary WOMC at #6. WMXD dropped five places to #9 with its lowest mark since AUGUST. It was tied with WYCD.

The top five 18-34 stations remained unchanged from last survey. WKQI was #1 for the seventh straight survey but with its lowest share since AUGUST. WRIF repeated at #2 but with its lowest share since JANUARY and found itself more than a share off the lead. WYCD repeated at #3 with a small increase while iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB ended up alone at #4 as it ended a three-book slide. Its former partner in that space – WMGC – slipped back to #5 despite regaining about half of last month’s large loss. WOMC had its best book since NOVEMBER while ENTERCOM Sports WXYT-F (97.1 THE TICKET) bounced back from a down book. They remained tied at #6.

Things got a bit tighter 18-49. WRIF won again but with a small loss of share. WKQI repeated at #2 but with a smaller loss as the gap got considerably narrower. WMGC moved up to #3 with a slight increase while WXYT-F slipped back to #4 with a slight decrease. It was tied with one of the four stations previously tied at #5. WCSX technically moved up as it got back last month’s share loss. Meanwhile, WYCD slipped to #6 with a slight increase. WNIC dropped to #7 with a flat performance. And, iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WLLZ (106.7 WHEELZ) fell to #12 as it returned all of last month’s big gain.

PHOENIX: An EZ Return

For the third time in the last three surveys, a different station was #1 25-54. And, for the first time since JANUARY, it was iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) but just barely (6.5-6.8). Last month’s leader was iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) and it slipped back to #2 (6.6-6.7). The third recent former #1 was HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX. It remained at #3 this month (6.1-5.8). It was paired with ENTERCOM Classic Hits KOOL, which stepped up from #4 with its highest share in over a year (5.3-5.8). Two stations moved up and into a tie at #5. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD took one step forward (4.5-4.6) while iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX was up two slots (4.3-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (104.7 KISS) barely missed making it a threesome as it dipped to #7 (4.6-4.5).

The 25-54 arena was all about sharing. KYOT repeated at #1 but gave back a portion of last month’s increase. KUPD moved up to grab a share of the lead thanks to a slight increase. KSLX was up to #3 with its best outing since JANUARY. This pushed KZZP – which had its lowest share in over a year – back to #4. KOOL remained at #5 but posted its highest number in over a year. However, it was forced to share the moment with KESZ, which moved up from #7 with a strong increase. KNIX had its best performance since SEPTEMBER to move up to a not-too-distant #7.

The top three 18-34 stations were the same as before. KUPD continued to dominate, though it did land its lowest number since maids were a milkin’. ENTERCOM Top 40/M KALV (LIVE 101.5) repeated at #2 with a slight decrease while KZZP remained at #3 but with its lowest score in over a year. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (93.3 ALT AZ) advanced four squares to #4 thanks to a massive increase. KYOT slipped to #5 and was joined by KESZ, which moved up from #6. KSLX fell to #8 with its lowest total since MARCH. 

Stations got very close together atop the 18-49 chart. KUPD was #1 for the sixth book in a row but with its lowest share of that span. #2 KYOT was off slightly but closed the gap to the slimmest of margins. Nipping at their heels was #3 KZZP, which was also off slightly. KESZ moved up to #4 with its best showing since JANUARY but was a share behind the top trio. KSLX slipped back to #5 and was just ahead of two stations tied at #6. KALV stepped back from #5 with a small loss while KOOL advanced from #8 with its highest share in over a year.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: Well That’s KOOL

But first, an observation. Every month we look at the top fifteen markets. This time we thought it worth noting that in six of those markets, the top 6+ station played some sort of “classic” music. That was the case here as iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) bounced back to #1 thanks to its best Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER (6.6-7.5). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Christian Contemporary KTIS moved up to #2 (6.2-6.4) while HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) went from first to third with its lowest score since Grandma was a hit-and-run victim (6.7-6.3). MPR N/T KNOW continued its recent tear. Two surveys ago it was #11. This time it moved up to #4 with easily its best book in over a year (5.5-6.1). CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was also at #4 (6.4-6.1). Its older cluster bro CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS slipped to #8 (5.9-5.5). The reality, though, is that the stations ranked #6 to #10 were separated by less than a share.

For the third straight survey, KXXR was a dominant #1 25-54. The station was off slightly while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB moved up three slots to #2 with its highest share since DECEMBER. That narrowed 93X’s lead to a mere share and a half. KQQL returned at #3 with its third up book in a row. KSTP slid to #4 with its third down book in a row. KTIS was alone at #5 but with a solid increase. ENTERCOM Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK) dropped back to #6 with a slight decrease. 

The 18-34 leaderboard is stratified. The top layer belongs to KXXR. The station is consistently in double digits and, even though it lost some share this time, it still held a four-share lead on the station in the second layer. That was KDWB, which was up slightly as it maintained about a share lead over #3 KSTP, which was off slightly. The next closest station – #4 KQQL – moved up from a tie at #8 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year but it was almost three shares behind the number-three station. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) slipped to #5 with a down book and was tied with KTIS, which advanced from #10 as it regained all the share it lost last time. KZJK was close behind as it slipped to #7 despite a small increase. NORTHERN LIGHTS Top 40/R KZGO (GO 95.3) fell to #8 as it was down for the fourth straight survey.

KXXR saw its double-digit 18-49 string end at two but it was #1 for the seventh straight survey. KDWB moved up to #2 with its best outing since DECEMBER and whittled the lead to under a share. KSTP dropped to #3 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY. KQQL repeated at #4 as it was up for the third book in a row. KTIS held firm at #5 with a slight decrease. Both KZJK and iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN) were a half share behind in a tie at #6.

Thank you for enduring another round of our ratings ravings. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. will return in about 28 days for more deep thoughts. In the meantime... Be sure to check out our new, improved Exact Age 3.0 report. It will not only give you greater insight into your (and your competitors’) audience, it will help you shed those unwanted pounds (not FDA approved). 

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