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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive Holiday PPM Analysis: 6 More Markets
January 25, 2013
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. BOSTON: There’s A New Santa In Town.
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ALL ACCESS presents HOLIDAY PPM market highlights, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool. All numbers reflect subscriber only data.
BOSTON: There’s A New Santa In Town
Though that jolly old elf may have changed frequencies this year, his effect on the ratings remained quite, well, stout. Last year, GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) was strolling along, minding its own business and pulling a 6 share. This year, with the massive infusion of reindeer energy, the station is #1, with its highest share of the PPM era (6.8-11.8). This also compares quite favorably to last year when CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP) was channeling the North Pole and pulling a 9.7. The annual arrival of the bells gave CCM+E Top 40/M WXKS (KISS 108) its lowest number since the last HOLIDAY book (8.4-7.6), which caused the station to slip to #2. CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX made the nice list as it moved from a tie at #6 to #3 (5.3-5.4). GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB was a bit naughty as it scored its lowest number since SANTA’s last visit (6.3-5.3) to fall a spot to #4. Cluster accomplice GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR slipped on the ice for the third straight book (5.7-5.2) and moved down a spot to #5.
The friends of WMJX were calling "yoo hoo" as the station assumed control of 25-54 with a number well ahead of the one WODS posted last year. WXKS was down for the fourth book in a row to drop a spot to #2 while WKLB also suffered from that dreaded ratings erosion to fall one to #3. The PATRIOTS ill-fated run to the Super Bowl kept CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) firmly in control of #4. CCM+E Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) remained at #5 but found itself sharing space with WZLX, which came roaring up from #9.
As we have seen so far in a few other markets, 18-34 can be stubbornly resistant to the sounds of the season. WXKS continued its impressive run at #1 with its usual comfortable advantage over WJMN at #2. WMJX did experience a ratings lift and moved from #5 to #3 with a number that was about a share better than what WODS scored last year. GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (RADIO 92.9) slipped a spot to #4 just ahead of cluster stable mate WKLB at #5, which posted its lowest number of the year.
What a difference a year makes 18-49. First, WMJX rose from #4 to #1 with a number that was over two share points higher than what WODS earned last holiday season. Last year, WXKS was able to withstand the marching wooden soldiers and hold on to #1. Not this time, as the station slipped just enough to fall to #2. WJMN was off for the second book in a row and moved down a spot to #3. WKLB also dropped a spot – to #4, which was still better than the tie at #8 the station had a year ago. WBZ-F remained in the playoff picture (ouch) at #5.
DETROIT: The Battle Noel
This is a rare market where two major players from the same format both changed to All-CHRISTMAS music on the same day and, it apparently worked out well for both. CCM+E AC WNIC (FRESH) was in a tie at #15 with a 3.3 as recently as OCTOBER. Now, the station is #1 for the second book in a row (6.8-10.2) with a number that is a full share higher than last year’s. CBS RADIO News WWJ-A was not sitting idly by, as the station posted its best book in over a year (6.1-7.0) to move from a tie at #3 to #2. The other jingle bell rocker was GREATER MEDIA AC WMGC (TODAY’S 105.1). It was also tied at #15 in OCTOBER. This time, the station rose from a tie at #8 to #3 (4.8-6.4) with a share that was almost the mirror of last year’s 6.5. CBS RADIO Country WYCD suffered its lowest book since the last time we were riding in a wonderland of snow (6.6-5.9) to fall a couple of spots to #4. CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD remained at #5, though it had to share the honor -- still, it was a far cry better than the #13 it had a year ago. CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC unwrapped its lowest number since MAY (6.1-5.1) to slip from a tie at #3 to a tie at #5.
WNIC’s annual ascent to #1 25-54 continued as the station exceeded its mistletoe-infused number from last year. Despite having a down book, WDVD moved up from #3 to #2, where it is tied with the one station -- CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) -- that is thrilled that the NHL came to its senses. Despite the late arrival of hockey, the station suffered its third down book in a row. WYCD was given its lowest number since APRIL but remained at #4 while WMGC took the power sleigh from a tie at #11 to #5.
Odds are, most people 18-34 have no idea who CURRIER & IVES are but that did not prevent that demo from making WNIC #1 with a number that was just slightly lower than last year’s. WDVD has actually doubled its share from a year ago and remained at #2, where it was joined by the surging CCM+E Urban WJLB. WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR (HOT 107.5) slipped a bit to #4 just ahead of #5 CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 95.5). The other SANTA station -- WMGC -- moved from a tie at #14 to #9.
WNIC finished the sweep by claiming the top spot 18-49 with a pleasantly larger share than last go around. Last month’s #1, WDVD, slipped back to #2. WJLB was up for the third book in a row and moved from #5 to #3. WYCD was down for the fourth straight book but still held on at #4. WXYT-F posted its lowest number in over a year to slip from #3 to #5. There was joy in WMGC’s world as the station rose from #14 to #8.MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: No Christmas For You
You can never say never in the ratings business but it sure seems like the all-Christmas phenomenon had zero effect in South Florida. Case in point: The top 5 stations remained unchanged from last survey. COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) was down for the second book in a row (9.7-9.3) but was still a comfortable #1. Cluster associate COX RADIO Urban WEDR matched its best book of the year (6.5-6.9) to remain a solid #2. UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) had its best showing since JULY (6.1-6.2) to stand fast at #3. COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) held steady at #4 (6.0-6.0). CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) rounded out the top 5 (4.9-5.0). The one convert to CHRISTMAS was LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE FM) and it seemed to get marginal benefit from all that jingling, as it went from a tie at #6 to #7 (4.4-4.7). What is curious about this whole deal is that last year LITE was one of two Christmas stations in town and actually had a larger share (5.6).
For the first time in over a year, there was a new #1 station 25-54 as WEDR posted its highest number of the year to wrestle the title away from WHQT, which slid to #2. BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) also had its best book in over a year and flew from #6 to #3. Sensing a trend here ... WFEZ had its best month in over a year to soar from #7 to #4. All this flying and soaring did have a consequence as CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) slipped from #3 to a tie at #5 with WAMR. WLYF did not experience any of the CHRISTMAS spirit, as it went from #9 to a tie at #8. Last year, with a direct holiday competitor, the station was #3.
The top 5 18-34 remained unscathed from last survey. WEDR matched its best book of the year to remain a strong, dominant #1 while WHYI sat still at #2. WPOW came dangerously close to moving up a spot but had to settle for #3 again. WMGE was down but still #4 while WHQT held on at #5 despite its second straight down book. Things were not so holly jolly for WLYF as the station moved down from a tie at #11 to #15. Last year’s holiday incarnation landed at a tie at #11.
WEDR had its best 18-49 book since OCTOBER to remain #1 while WPOW had its highest number since JANUARY to move up a spot to #2. WHYI was off for the second book in a row and slid a spot to #3. WMGE remained at #4 but is now tied with WHQT, which rose on step despite suffering its second straight down book. SANTA’s helpers at WLYF improved from #10 to #9 even though they were flat. Last year they were basking in the glow of the #5 position.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: Gold And Frankincense
For the second year in a row, two stations decided to duke it out with different flavors of the CHRISTMAS format. The results were dramatically effective for both. SANDUSKY AC KRWM (WARM) was all nice and toasty as it held on to its #1 position with a huge book (10.1-14.1). This easily eclipsed the station’s number from last year (12.0). Meanwhile, CHRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) and its version of the holy nights moved from #3 to #2 with its best book in over a year (5.0-6.3). That also significantly exceeded last year’s HOLIDAY number of a 4.2. Doing some quick math, that means SANTA and his minions captured a 20+ share in the market this year. Wow. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was down for the second straight book (5.2-4.8) and slipped a spot to #3. SANDUSKY Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN’) bounced back nicely (3.7-4.2) to move on up from #7 to a tie at #4 with CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK, which made the leap from #6 (3.8-4.2).
The holiday theme dominated 25-54 as SANTA captured the top two slots again. KRWM was #1 with a number that was almost three shares higher than last year. KCMS moved from #4 to #2 with a number that was exactly three shares larger than last season. ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW was down for the fifth consecutive survey and fell from #2 into a three-way tie at #3. The station was joined by KQMV, which reversed a recent slide to move up from #9, and KZOK, which inched up from #5.
For the second book in a row, KRWM dominated 18-34. This year’s take was almost four shares better than last year’s. CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE was numerically depressed but actually moved up a spot to #2. Cluster sister CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS FM) stepped aside and moved down a spot to #3 after posting its lowest number since MARCH. KQMV regained its footing and moved from #5 to #4. Two stations were intertwined at #5. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) bounced back from last book while FISHER Hot AC KPLZ (STAR), which was tied for #1 two books ago, slid from #4. The KCMS version of the holiday classics helped, as the station moved from a tie at #11 to a tie at #8 but it wasn’t their best in-demo number of the year.
Farmer Grey certainly approved of KRWM’s 18-49 performance as the station remained #1, eclipsing last year’s total by, you guessed it, almost three shares. Last year, KCMS finished at #14. This time, the station jumped from #8 to #2, exceeding last year’s number by two-and-a-half shares. KBKS slipped a spot to #3 while KQMV continued its impressive showing by moving from a tie at #5 to #4. Two months ago, KISW was #1 in this demo. The station, riding a five-book downtrend, fell from #3 to #5.
PHOENIX: Yule Rules!
This was one of the first markets to ever experience the joy and wonder that is the all-CHRISTMAS format. From the diary world to PPM reality, it has proven to be a ratings winner. In some markets we see CHRISTMAS winning but, often, not at the dramatic expense of other formats. In PHOENIX, SANTA created a wide swath of ratings destruction. CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) was a forceful #1 for the second book in a row (10.2-15.9), which far exceeded last year’s 14.3 share. The trickle-down effect was that every other station in the top 5 was not only down, but experienced its lowest book in months. CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL remained at #2 with its lowest number since JUNE (5.3-4.4). CCM+E Talk KFYI-A stood pat at #3 with its lowest number since AUGUST (5.1-4.3). CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) actually rose from a tie at #6 to a tie at #4, while posting its lowest book in over a year (4.3-4.0). This ties it with CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (JAMZ), which also had its smallest book in over a year (4.3-4.0).
Those mischievous elves certainly shook things up 25-54. Oh, sure, KESZ was #1 again with another huge share that was slightly better than last year’s. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (LA NUEVA) jumped up from a tie at #4 to #2. KMXP held steady at #3 while CCM+E Country KNIX leapt from #9 to a tie at #4 with FARMWORKER Regional Mexican KNAI (LA CAMPESINA), which moved up from #6. All this upward mobility did have a few casualties. SANDUSKY Classic Rock KSLX plunged from #2 to #6 and CBS RADIO Country KMLE dropped from a tie at #4 to #11.
18-34 was the exclusive property of KESZ as the station scored a number that was almost 4 shares better than last year’s. Meanwhile, SANDUSKY Active Rock KUPD scored its best book in over a year to move from #6 to #2. KZON slipped from a tie at #2 to #3 while RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) slid from that same tie at #2 to #4. Despite a down book, KNIX moved from a tie at #7 to a tie at #5 with KMXP, which had its lowest book in over a year and fell from a tie at #2.
Yes, the ratings were delightful 18-49 for KESZ as the station scored a number about two-and-a-half times larger than #2 KUPD, which did okay for itself by moving from #6 to #2. KMXP was stalwart and steady at #3. Two stations moved in different directions to meet at #4. KHOT jumped from a tie at #7 while KZON dipped from #2.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: It Just Feels Like The North Pole
SANTA may have changed frequencies, but that didn’t prevent people from finding the old coot. This year, CHRISTMAS came to rest at CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) and the results did not disappoint, as the station went from #3 to #1 (7.4-12.3). Last year, the stockings were hung on WLTE; now CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N), which posted a slightly lower 12.1. All that caroling did not seem to affect CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB. Even though the station dropped a spot to #2 (7.7-8.2), it did post its best number since JULY. NORTHWEST COLLEGE Christian Contemporary KTIS had its biggest book in over a year (6.0-7.5) to leap and frolic from #6 to #3. C UMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was bah humbugging a bit even though it remained at #4 (7.1-6.7). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS 95) was one of two stations that seemed to take this whole holiday thing rather hard, as the station posted its lowest book in over a year (7.6-5.6) to slide from #2 to #5. CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) wasn’t all merry and bright as it also had its lowest number in over a year (6.1-4.9) to fall from #5 to #6.
It was a wonderful Christmastime 25-54 for KQQL as the station topped the charts by moving up from a tie at #5. However, it was not able to match the market’s HOLIDAY share from last year. KDWB was unaffected by all this ho-ho-ho stuff and remained a strong #2. KQRS was not quite as fortunate, as it slipped from #1 to #3. The VIKINGS late playoff push propelled CCM+E Sports KFXN (KFAN) to its best book in over a year and a move up to #4. KTIS also exploded with its best performance in over a year to hurdle from #10 to #5. KSTP had its lowest book in over a year to tumble from #3 to #6.
Once again, we find a market where 18-34 is somewhat resistant to the lure of SANTA. KDWB had its best book since SEPTEMBER to remain #1 ahead of KQQL, which jumped from #4 to #2. Last year, CHRISTMAS did rule this demo and the market’s share was a bit higher than this year’s. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) slipped a spot to #3. KTIS performed another death-defying leap, rising from a tie at #9 to #4 with its best number in over a year. Three stations are snuggled together at #5. KSTP, which fell from #3, CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM), which jumped from a tie at #9, and KQRS, which edged up from #6.
It is very unusual not to see Father CHRISTMAS take control 18-49 but KDWB made sure of that by scoring its best number since SEPTEMBER. KQQL did quite well by moving from #6 to #2 but, once again, its share was not quite as robust as what the market saw last year. KQRS remained a solid and stoic #3. KTIS continued its recent run of great books and moved from a tie at #8 into a tie at #4 with KXXR.
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