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

Exclusive Analysis From Research Director, Inc.

Just when you thought it was safe to open your browser, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with the marvelous mathematicians from XTRENDS, take another journey into ratings land. This is the third leg of our journey into SEPTEMBER as we observe another five markets’ worth of radio stations in their natural habitats. (Imagine DAVID ATTENBOROUGH reading this and it makes more sense.) This survey ran from 8/15 through 9/11 and featured that awkward time of starting a new grade, a refreshing three-day holiday, and the beginning grunts of the NFL season. Follow along, won’t you?

Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-Hollywood: Number Nine, Number Nine …

One of the things that can affect ratings is that pesky thing called reality. Case in point: toward the end of this survey, DORIAN was on the top of everyone’s mind and that could alter listening behavior. One thing it did not change was COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY)’s 6+ winning streak. The station extended it to nine books in a row (7.6-7.0). COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105) finished in second place for the seventh consecutive survey (7.0-6.7). These two stations had a comfortable lead over their next closest pursuer. That was ENTERCOM Classic Hits WMXJ (THE BEACH), which was up to #3 with its best outing in over a year (4.9-5.8). UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR 107.5) stepped back to #4 (5.6-5.7) while ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) slipped to #5 (5.5-5.3). SBS Tropical WCMQ (Z92.3) dropped a spot to #6 (4.9-4.8) and was just ahead of a stationary COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) at #7. This was WEDR’s best book since FEBRUARY (4.4-4.7).

The 25-54 mixer was turned to puree as a whole bunch of stations changed places. When the whirring stopped, WFEZ was sitting at #1 for the third time in the last four books. It had the slimmest of leads over two stations that moved up to #2. A flat WAMR took a step forward while WMXJ advanced from #7 with – again – its best book in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TU 94.9) moved up to #4 with a small gain. WHQT was the market leader last survey but dropped to #5 this time as it returned all of last month’s handsome increase. WEDR slipped to #6 with a small loss while WLYF dropped to #7 with its smallest share since OCTOBER.

The top three 18-34 stations were the same as last time with iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) capturing the flag for the second straight survey. WEDR was again #2 but fell a little bit farther behind as it gave back all of last month’s small increase. WZTU repeated at #3 with its third up book in a row. The next three stations came charging up from the back of the pack. WFEZ rose from #10 to #4 with its best book since MARCH. Its chief rival – WLYF – jumped from #9 to #5 with its first up book since MAY. WMXJ again had its best book in over a year as it climbed from #13 to #6. ENTERCOM Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) slid to #7 with its smallest share since MARCH while WHQT dropped to a tie at #9 as it returned most of last month’s huge increase.

It wasn’t exactly worst to first, but WMXJ made quite the journey as it jumped from a tie at #9 to #1 18-49. As recently as JUNE it was #15. This ended WFEZ’s three-book winning streak as it dropped back to #2. WLYF moved up to a very close #3 with its best share since MAY. WAMR slipped to #4 with a slight decrease and was partnered with WMIB, which advanced two spaces with its best outing in over a year. WEDR fell four slots to #6 despite only a small decrease. WHQT fell five places to #9 as it again surrendered all of last month’s big gain.

Seattle-Tacoma: Nice Tie

For the second straight survey, HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) was #1 6+ though it did return some of last month’s big increase (6.4-6.0). As a result, it dropped into a tie for first with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK, which was flat (6.0-6.0). ENTERCOM AC KSWD (THE SOUND) repeated at #3 but with its highest total in over a year (5.4-5.5). BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F stepped up to #4 (5.1-5.0) while HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) moved up to #5 (4.9-4.9). It was just ahead of #6 iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET), which was up for the third straight survey (4.5-4.7). UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was down for the fourth book in a row (5.2-4.5) and fell five places to #9.

KQMV extended its 25-54 winning streak to nine though it was off a bit. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) repeated at #2 for the third straight time but with its lowest share since MAY. KZOK made it three in a row at #3 with a slight increase. A flat ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW moved up to #4, which pushed KRWM – which was off slightly – back to #5. Three stations were close behind at #6. HUBBARD Country KNUC (THE BULL) remained in place with a flat performance while its arch enemy – ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) – trotted in from #8 with its best outing since MAY. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK) advanced three spaces as it got back some of last month’s big loss.

It was quite the 18-34 book for KQMV as it cracked double digits for the first time since MARCH. KISW repeated at #2 and ended a two-book slide but was still nearly two shares off the lead. KUOW was up three places to #3 with its third straight up book. Three stations met up at #4. KNDD slipped back a spot as it returned some of last month’s increase. KJAQ was up from #5 with a slight decrease. ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) advanced from a tie at #8 as it got back about half of last month’s loss. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) fell to #8 as it ended a two-book surge.

A flat KQMV was the 18-49 winner for the ninth book in a row. An equally flat KISW moved up to #2. It just edged out KNDD, which stepped back to #3 thanks to its lowest mark since OCTOBER. KRWM repeated at #4 with a small loss while a flat KJAQ held steady at #5. It was just ahead of KKWF, which moved up to #6 with its highest share since MARCH. A small click behind them was #7 KHTP, which advanced from #9 with its best book in over a year.

Detroit: The Motor City Rocks

You know, that could be a really good song. For the third book in a row, BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX was the #1 6+ station (6.9-7.1). It opened up an even wider lead over the rest of the market even though iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC moved up three places to #2 (5.6-5.9). ENTERCOM Classic Hits WOMC was very close behind at #3 (5.9-5.7) and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3), which moved up from #6 (5.4-5.7). ENTERCOM News WWJ-A slid to #5 as it returned some of last month’s big increase (5.9-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) dropped out of the top five (5.7-5.1) and fell into a three-way tie at #6 with BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF and BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WMGC (THE BOUNCE). Both stations went 5.2-5.1.

Multiple generations of rock music led the 25-54 way. WRIF repeated at #1 with a small loss while WCSX moved up to #2 with its best book since FEBRUARY. The stations were less than a half share apart. WNIC stepped up to #3 as it bounced back from a down book. WKQI slid to #4 with its lowest share since those damn elves were singing up a storm. WMGC stepped back to #5 with a slight decrease. WOMC fell four slots to #8 and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB.
WRIF was back in first place 18-34 for the first time in over a year thanks to a solid increase.

WKQI dropped back to #2 as it ended an eight-book, demo-winning streak. It went from winning by about a share to falling behind by about half that amount. WCSX stood alone at #3 and had doubled its share since JUNE when it was tied at #15. ENTERCOM Country WYCD was up a couple of spots to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. WJLB stepped back to #5 as it returned most of last month’s big gain. It was tied with WMGC, which was up from #7 with its best showing since MAY. WOMC dropped from #5 to #10 thus ending a very strong three-book surge.

The top six 18-49 stations were exactly where we left them last month. WRIF was #1 for the fourth straight survey, which is also how many straight books WKQI has been #2. A flat WCSX repeated at #3 while WMGC was off slightly to remain at #4. WJLB gave an encore performance at #5 with a slight decrease. It was just ahead of the returning #6 station WNIC, which had its first up book since MAY.

Phoenix: Pressing The Easy Button

For the third book in a row, iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) was the leading 6+ station. The station did, however, end a five-book surge (7.0-6.7). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) inched a bit closer as it moved up to #2 (6.2-6.3). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was not far behind as it moved up a spot to #3 (6.1-6.0). ENTERCOM Classic Hits KOOL (KOOL) slipped to #4 as it returned most of last month’s increase (6.3-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX repeated at #5 with its fourth up book in a row (5.1-5.2). The next closest pursuers to this quintet of stations were a full share behind. Tied at #6 were BONNEVILLE Talk KTAR-F (4.2-4.2) and ENTERCOM Top 40/M KALV (LIVE 101.5 ) (4.0-4.2).

It was a rock-and-roll heading for the 25-54 scene as HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD was in that chair for the third straight survey. However, the station did post its lowest share in over a year and ended up tied with its older, less-inked cluster bro KSLX, which moved up from a tie at #2 with a slight loss. KYOT was up a spot to #3 and was tied with KNIX, which advanced from #5. Both stations had slight increases. KOOL dropped to #5 as it returned all of last month’s large increase. It was paired with HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ), which moved up from #8 with its best performance in over a year.

Stations were moving hither and yon 18-34 and when the fog cleared, KALV was perched at #1 with its best book since MAY. KDKB moved up to #2 with its highest share in exactly a year and was a little more than a half share off the lead. KUPD stepped back to #3 with its lowest total in over a year while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) was up to #4 with a slight increase. Last month’s leader was KYOT but it gave back all of that huge increase and fell back to #5. It was tied with KNIX, which advanced from #11 with its highest score in over a year.

KYOT was the immovable object as it remained #1 18-49 with a small loss. KALV was up two places to #2 with a small increase and trailed by about a half share. KUPD stepped back to #3 with its fourth down book in a row. KSLX remained at #4 with a slight decrease but was joined by KNIX, which moved up from #8 with its highest share in over a year. KOOL fell to #9 as it ended a robust two-book surge.

Minneapolis-St.Paul: Three for Three

The top three 6+ contestants were the same as before. HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) led the way (7.4-7.2) while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) was again in second place (7.0-6.5). MPR N/T KNOW remained at #3 (6.5-6.4). Then came the ties. Two stations were vying for the coveted title of #4. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB moved up a spot with its third straight up book (6.0-6.1). iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (K-FAN) was all geeked about KIRK COUSINS as the station rose from #9 with its best offensive performance since NOVEMBER (5.3-6.1). This duo was just ahead of the two tied at #6. That pairing featured UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST.PAUL Christian Contemporary KTIS (5.5-6.0) and ENTERCOM Talk WCCO-A (5.9-6.0). CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) dropped to a tie at #9 after landing its lowest number in over a year (6.1-5.5).

It was all about the pigskin 25-54 as KFXN soared to #1 with its highest score in over a year. This ended KXXR’s four-book run at the top as it slid to #2 with – again – its lowest share in over a year. KDWB maintained its presence at #3 with a slight increase and just edged out ENTERCOM Adult Hits KZJK (JACK), which moved up to #4 with its biggest book in over a year. KSTP slipped three places to #5 as it returned all of last month’s solid increase. KQQL stepped back to #6 with a modest decline.

Phrasing can matter so much. On the one hand KXXR was down 18-34 for the third book in a row and posted its lowest share since APRIL. On the other, the station remained a commanding #1 presence with yet another double-digit performance. KDWB moved up to #2 as it returned all of last month’s increase and trailed the leader by over two shares. KSTP could not duplicate last month’s double-digit performance and slipped to #3 as it returned most of that huge increase. KFXN was up five slots on the depth chart to #4 with its best outing since NOVEMBER. KZJK slipped to #5 despite a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) slipped to #6 with a slight decrease. MPR AAA KCMP was up to #7 with its best book in over a year. It was also up for the fifth straight survey and had more than doubled its share during that span. KQQL dropped to #8 and was tied with KTIS.

KXXR did have its lowest 18-49 share since MARCH but won the demo for the ninth book in a row. KDWB repeated at #2 with a small loss while KFXN was up to #3 with its highest share since OCTOBER. KSTP stepped back to #4 as it shed most of last month’s increase. KZJK stepped up to #5 with its third straight up book. KQQL slipped to #6 as it ended a four-book surge.

Thank you for your enduring patronage. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. appreciate the time you wast-, er, spent perusing these data dives. Through no fault of our own we plan on being back in about 28 days for the OCTOBER book. 

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About RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.: RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. is based in ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call (410) 295-6619, or e-mail info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com. FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ResearchDirectorInc. TWITTER: @ResearchDirectr.

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