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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive July PPM Analysis For New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco And Dallas
August 5, 2013
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. NEW YORK: Stand Down
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ALL ACCESS presents JULY 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.
Welcome back to our monthly journey through the ratings histrionics of AMERICA’s largest markets. As we embark on our trek, two things stand out:
First, one thing is for certain: ARBITRON’s Personal People Meter accurately reflects listener behavior. And, it does it quickly. The JULY survey covers the period of JUNE 20th through JULY 17th. As such, week three of the survey began with the four-day JULY 4th weekend, a time when listener lifestyles altered and they were out of their normal patterns. It will be interesting to see how -- or if -- that affected different formats.
Second, The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are, to put it simply, data divers (coming soon to the TRAVEL CHANNEL). We delve into the numbers every month looking for trends, stories and revelations. While we do try to keep up on what is happening in each market, our primary mission is to look at the numbers. We sometimes miss a story or are not as in the loop as you are in your market (that whole local wins, thing). So, there is a chance there are things going on of which we are unaware. In those events, please feel free to reach out and set us straight. We are on TWITTER (@researchdirectr), FACEBOOK (click here) or via e-mail (sallan@researchdirectorinc.com).
Now, back to the countdown...NEW YORK: Stand Down
Last month, we were preparing ourselves for the possibility that the natural order of the NEW YORK universe would be thrown asunder. No, we’re not talking about the WIENER election (ba-dum-bump). CCM+E AC WLTW (LITE-FM) was dangerously close to relinquishing its hold on the top spot. Alas, that was merely a pipe dream (for the other stations) as LITE held on to its crown, though the station did post its lowest numbers since NOVEMBER (6.8-6.6). The hopeful pretender to the throne – CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F – remained a heartbeat away at #2 – though that rhythm slowed a bit as the station slipped a bit (6.7-6.3). Holding steady at #3 was YMF MEDIA Urban AC WBLS, which continued to post strong numbers (6.2-6.0) despite ending a three-book surge. CCM+E Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) was flat (5.5-5.5) to remain a solid #4. Crashing into the top 5 for the first time since JANUARY was SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) as it jumped from #8 to #5 with its best showing in over a year (4.2-5.1). This ended the two-month stay in the top 5 of CCM+E Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) as it dropped to #7 despite being flat (4.5-4.5). For the first time in its brief history, CUMULUS Country WNSH (NASH-FM) did not experience a ratings gain from its previous book (2.1-2.0), though it still managed a rankings gain, going from #19 to #18.
While WLTW continued its uninterrupted run atop the 25-54 leaderboard, the station did post its lowest number since NOVEMBER and is hearing footsteps from WSKQ. MEGA – once again – had its best book in over a year and rocketed from #5 to #2 and is this-close to the top spot. While the rest of the top 5 remained the same, the remaining players each took one step back. WHTZ had its lowest book since FEBRUARY to land at #3 just ahead of WCBS-F at #4. And, WBLS scored its lowest total in over a year to slip to #5. WNSH was neither up nor down and moved from a tie at #17 into sole possession of that space.
JULY turned out to be WSKQ’s month as the station topped the charts 18-34 with an absolute monster book – easily its best in over a year. WHTZ ended its four-month stay at the top and dropped to #2 after securing its lowest number since JANUARY. EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT) was, well, hot, as it ended a two-book slide in sizzling fashion and moved from #4 to #3. WLTW ended its four-book slide but still managed to drop a slot to #4. CCM+E Urban WWPR (POWER) also ended a three-book slide to move up a notch to #5 while cluster compadre CCM+E Top 40/M WKTU dropped out of the top 5 and ended up at #7. WNSH ended a rather impressive run by falling from #13 into a tie at #18.
MEGA’s renaissance continued 18-49 as WSKQ jumped from #3 to #1 with – you guessed it – its best book in over a year. Over the previous 14 surveys, this is only the second time WHTZ sat at #2 without the help of the bearded elf from the north (winter is coming!). WLTW has been pretty consistent for three months now but was forced to take a step back to #3. For the fourth straight month, WKTU held fast at #4. WQHT, however, came roaring out of the pack with its best number since DECEMBER to leap from #9 to #5. This displaced WBLS, which slipped from #5 into a tie at #6. This is the fourth month in a row that WNSH’s numbers have been relatively steady and the fourth straight appearance at #17.
LOS ANGELES: The My’s Have It
Make it four in a row – and five out of six – books that CCM+E Hot AC KBIG (MY FM) owned or shared the #1 position. This time, it decided not to share with its cluster brethren (5.6-5.4). CCM+E Top 40/M KIIS (KISS FM) slipped back to #2 in part because it had its lowest book since SEPTEMBER (5.6-5.3). Meanwhile, CBS RADIO Top 40/M KAMP (AMP) was up for the third straight book (4.5-4.6) to maintain its firm grasp on #3. CCM+E AC KOST ended a small two-book slide (4.2-4.5) to remain at #4 while EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER) had its best performance in over a year to remain at #5 (4.0-4.4). Perhaps it was a result of the altered patterns around JULY 4th, but CCM+E Talk KFI-A had its lowest number in over a year (3.7-3.1) and slipped out of a tie at #6 and ended up at #12.
The order and composition of the top 5 25-54 remained essentially unchanged from last survey. KBIG scored its seventh straight #1 book though it did have its lowest number since the HOLIDAY book. KIIS remained at #2 even though it posted its lowest number since AUGUST. CBS RADIO Alternative KROQ was solid and steady as it came in at #3 for the fifth straight month. KAMP was off ever so slightly to stay glued to the #4 position though it is now sharing it with UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSCA, which, despite experiencing the feeling of flatness, moved up from #5.
For the first time since NOVEMBER, KPWR was #1 18-34 after scoring its best book since JANUARY. This ended the eight-book run at the top for KIIS, which fell to #2 after scoring its lowest number since NOVEMBER. KAMP was up for the third book in a row to remain at #3 while KBIG bounced back from a down book to hold on at #4. KROQ returned to the top 5 after a brief hiatus, which bumped LIBERMAN Regional Mexican KBUE (QUE BUENA) back a spot to #6.
The bad news for KIIS was that the station scored its lowest 18-49 number since SEPTEMBER. The good news was that it was still #1, though it is now in the familiar position of sharing that space with cluster-mate KBIG. KPWR remained at #3 even though it posted its highest number since AUGUST. KAMP was up for the third straight book to hold steady at #4 while KROQ also had a bit of a ratings lift to sit still at #5.
CHICAGO: CBS Beats The Cubs (And, Really, Who Doesn’t)
Our top story today: CCM+E Urban AC WVAZ (V103) secured the #1 position for the seventh straight survey (and 13 of the last 14) and also had its best book in over a year (6.9-7.4). While the station was also #1 a year ago, it is now sporting a number that is a full share point heftier. HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (MIX) was off for the second straight book (5.6-5.3) to remain at #2 though it is in a far stronger position than the tie at #5 and 4.5 share it had at this time last year. Two cluster brothers laid down some strong numbers to share the spotlight at #3. CBS RADIO News WBBM-A moved up from #4 (4.5-4.9) with its best book since APRIL, while CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US 99.5) hop-skipped up from #5 (4.2-4.9) with its best number in over a year. It’s JULY and the CUBS season is all but officially over and that may have been a leading cause for TRIBUNE N/T WGN-A to lose enough share (5.3-4.6) to drop from #3 to #5. This was the first full survey to reflect the format adjustments at CCM+E Hot AC WLIT (MY FM) and the station moved from a tie at #14 into a tie at #15 with a flat book (2.6-2.6).
Even a second straight down book could not dampen the dominance WTMX exerted over the 25-54 demo as the station remained in control for the seventh straight survey. WVAZ stayed at #2 though it did narrow the gap a bit after posting its best number in over a year. CCM+E Top 40/M WKSC (KISS) had its best book since AUGUST to wrestle control of the #3 spot while WUSN had its best showing in over a year to jump from a tie at #6 to #4 – its first appearance in the top 5 since MARCH. Sometimes, life and rankings are just unfair. CCM+E Urban WGCI scored its best number in over a year yet fell from a tie at #3 to #5. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96) landed its lowest number since FEBRUARY to drop from #5 to #7. WLIT was flat and slid out of a tie at #15 to #16.
When viewed through the prism of 18-34, the market looks quite a bit different. For the second book in a row (and fourth of the last five) WGCI is the #1 station, though its lead shrank to under a share as WKSC moved up from #4 to #2 with its best showing since AUGUST. Over the last two surveys, WTMX has shed over two full share points and, as a result, has tumbled from the top spot to its current position at #3. It is still in a better place than its #5 ranking of a year ago. WBBM-F slipped a bit and dropped from #3 to #4 while CRAWFORD Urban WPWX (POWER) was up for the second month in a row to remain at #5. WLIT showed signs of life as the station scored its best non-Christmas number since AUGUST to climb from #18 to #16.
This marks the seventh straight survey that WTMX has been #1 18-49. However, the station is on a pretty significant two-book slide that has seen its lead over #2 WGCI slip to under a share for the first time since MIX took over this demo. It is worth nothing that WGCI had its best book in over a year. WVAZ was solid to remain at #3 though it is now tied with WKSC, which moved up from #4 on the strength of its best book since SEPTEMBER. WUSN used its best book since JANUARY to climb back into the top 5 for only the third time in the last year. This bumped cluster brother WBBM-F out of the top 5 as the station had its lowest number since JANUARY to land at #6. WLIT experienced a growth spurt and moved from a tie at #23 to #17.
SAN FRANCISCO: Breaking News Broke
This just in: For the first time since FEBRUARY, CBS RADIO News KCBS-A is #1. The station bounced back from its lowest book since AUGUST to move up from #3 (4.8-5.2), knocking last month’s co-leaders off their perches. What started out as a season of promise for the GIANTS has turned into one of disappointment (hey, we’re NATS fans – we can relate). However, CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A is still doing all right. Though the station’s share has slipped every month during the baseball season, it still finds itself sitting at #2 (5.3-5.1) – something the home town nine would love to emulate. Meanwhile, CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) not-so-quietly posted its best number in over a year (4.1-4.9) to rise from #6 in the standings to #3. CCM+E Top 40/R KMEL was up for the second month in a row (4.5-4.6) to remain at #4. Last month’s co-leader – ENTERCOM AC KOIT – deposited its lowest number (5.3-4.5) since NOVEMBER to drop to #5. KQED INC N/T KQED matched its lowest book of the last year (4.3-4.3) to slip out of the top 5 to #6.
Things got all shook up in the 25-54 arena. First, KMVQ threw down a monster slam of a book – easily its best in over a year – to break out of a tie at #4 to claim the #1 spot. This has been quite the turnaround because as recently as the HOLIDAY book, the station was sitting in a tie at #8. KMEL remained a solid #2 even though it posted its best number since AUGUST. KQED rebounded from its lowest total in over a year to soar from a tie at #6 to #3. Two stations, moving in opposite directions, have met up and tied at #4. CCM+E Top 40/R KYLD (WILD) had its best book since SEPTEMBER to move up from a tie at #6. KOIT, on the other hand, shed some shares and fell from #1. All this upward mobility did require a couple of stations to excuse themselves from the top 5. CCM+E Hot AC KIOI (STAR) dropped out of a tie at #4 and ended up at #6. KNBR-A mirrored the home team’s slide by dropping from #3 to #7.
Month after month, year upon year, KMEL treats the 18-34 demo like its personal playground. JULY was no different as the station posted double-digit shares for the seventh straight survey to remain a dominant #1. KYLD had its best performance since FEBRUARY to remain in its customary #2 slot. KMVQ is now the regular inhabitant of the #3 position, and history repeated itself. KNBR-A was flat but managed to lift itself one spot to #4. Three stations were intertwined at #5. CCM+E Rhythmic AC KISQ (KISS) fell from #4, ending a five-book surge. KIOI bounced back from its JUNE slump to move up from #9 while CUMULUS Classic Rock KSAN (THE BONE) also rebounded from its JUNE dip to soar from a tie at #10.
In case you’re keeping score, make it seven books in a row at #1 18-49 for KMEL as the station had its best book since MARCH. KMVQ did its best to make this a real race as the station landed its best book since AUGUST to break out of a tie at #3 to move back up to #2. Even though KYLD had its best book since FEBRUARY, the station fell a spot to #3. KOIT dropped out of its share of #3 to #4 while KIOI held fast at #5.
DALLAS-FT. WORTH: A Kiss For Kidd
It is difficult – if not impossible– to analyze this market without thinking about the tremendous and tragic loss of KIDD KRADDICK. While he left an indelible mark on our industry, it was the contributions he made to make our world a better place that will be his lasting legacy. JULY would be the last full book of his illustrious career and, as always, his station was on top. CCM+E Top 40/M KHKS (KISS) continued to dominate the market even though it posted its lowest number since JANUARY (7.8-6.8). Last month we had three players knotted at #2. This month, UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (LA QUE BUENA) holds the spot itself after scoring its highest number in over a year (4.8-5.1). CCM+E Hot AC KDMX (NOW) also scored its best book in over a year (4.4-4.9) to leap from #6 to #3. CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) matched its best number since NOVEMBER (4.8-4.8) but still fell from that #2 tie to #4. SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY is now on a three-book slide and, after posting its lowest total in over a year (4.8-4.3), slid from a tie at #2 to #5. CCM+E Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) had its lowest book in over a year (4.5-4.1) to drop from #5 into a tie at #6 with CBS RADIO AC KVIL, which had its best book since MARCH (4.0-4.1) to move up from #7.
It’s not a shock that KHKS was #1 25-54. The only time it has not been on top in the last year was when sleigh bells rang. What was shocking was that KLNO, after posting its best book in over a year, moved up from #2 to tie KISS at the top. KDMX had its best showing since NOVEMBER to remain at #3 while KPLX was flat to stay at #4. KLTY was down for the third straight month, but held on to the #5 spot as CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJKK (JACK FM) slipped from a tie at #5 to #7.
Things are about to get pretty interesting 18-34. As a rule, KHKS is ridiculously dominant here. However, while it was still #1, the station had its lowest number since the HOLIDAY book. With KLNO landing its best book in over a year to move from #3 to #2, the gap between the two has shrunk to less than a point. SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) followed its best book of the year with something less tasty and slipped from #2 to #3. CCM+E Alternative KDGE (THE EDGE) is on a two-book surge that has taken it from a tie at #10 all the way up to #4. KPLX was tied at #5 last time and remained there this time even though it was up slightly. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBFB (THE BEAT) scored its lowest number in over a year to drop from #4 to a tie at #10.
The usual suspects continued to populate 18-49 with some minor modifications. KHKS was in its expected #1 spot, though with KLNO having another killer book, the gap between them has shrunk to the lowest possible number. KDMX was flat for the second month in a row to stay at #3. The other two players swapped positions as KDGE moved from #5 to #4 with KKDA doing the exact opposite.
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