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Research Director, Inc.: Exclusive January PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta And Boston
February 17, 2016
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. HOUSTON: Santa Shanta (Smank You!)
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Welcome back for round two of our JANUARY survey analysis. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with the numbers junkies from XTRENDS, have painstakingly reviewed the month and have even concocted some observations. This book spanned 12/31 through 1/27 and was notable for two things. First, Kris Kringle had definitely left the building so we will see how his minions fared. Second, there was some severe winter weather in several markets. Now, let’s see what NIELSEN has wrought …
HOUSTON: Santa Shanta (Smank You!)
The lack of BOBBY HELMS recordings did not prevent iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) from continuing its unabated run to #1 6+. The station merely reverted to its pre-holiday level (11.9-7.2). This was almost identical to last year’s performance when it was also #1 but with a slightly lower 7.1 share. The next two stations remained in place even though they posted their highest numbers since APRIL. RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) was in at #2 (6.6-6.8) while COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) was in the show position (5.7-5.9). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) moved up to #4 as it rebounded from its lowest share of 2015 (4.8-5.4). There was another holiday music player in town. KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ brought a different flavor to the format and once that phase was over, the station went up (4.9-5.3). That was its highest share since FEBRUARY though it did step back to #5.
The top four positions 25-54 remained unchanged from the previous survey. KODA lost about a third of its share but remained #1 for the sixth book in a row. Last year, the station was also #1 but with about a half share more listening. KGLK held steady at #2 as it was up for the fifth book in a row. KLTN was a fixture at #3 with a nice rebound while KMJQ held fast at #4 with a slight increase. Once again, KSBJ had its highest share since FEBRUARY. That kept the station at #5 though it was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ), which took one step forward with a small increase. We have certainly seen the effect CHRISTMAS music has on the Country format. COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) is a prime example. The station took a big hit in the HOLIDAY book, which drove it all the way down to #9. This time it recovered most of that loss and improved to #7.
The departure of all songs by the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA for another year created quite the movement 18-34. First, KODA dropped from #1 to #12, losing more than half its share. A year ago the station landed at #6 with a far heftier number. All that free listening was spread around to several outlets. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) moved up to #1 with a solid gain. iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) was flat but rose to #2. It was tied with KLTN, which took two steps forward. CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE ended a three-book slide as it jumped four spots to #4. Two other stations were also upwardly mobile and met at #5. KKBQ rose from #9 with its best share since OCTOBER while UNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOVE jumped seven places from #12 with its highest number in over a year. LIBERMAN Regional Mexican KTJM (LA RAZA) also moved up seven spots – to #7 – as it, too, landed its largest number in over a year.
KLTN returned to the top spot 18-49 though the race was a lot closer than it was before everyone was being so jolly. KODA slipped to a close #2. Curiously, last year it had a higher share but could only manage a #3 finish. KBXX remained at #3 but with its smallest share since MAY. KTBZ was steady at #4 as it ended a five-book slide. It was sharing the space with KRBE, which took a step forward with a small increase. KKBQ was up to #6 with a healthy increase.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On With The Snow
Three things tend to happen in your nation’s capital when it snows. The stores are devoid of bread, milk, and TP, the government’s wheels grind to a halt, and everyone huddles around their radio to listen to HUBBARD News WTOP. Thanks to the winter storm known as JONAS, the station recorded its best share in over a year (7.5-9.9) and was back to #1 6+. The nasty weather may have also benefitted AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU, which had its best book in over a year (6.9-9.1) to move up to #2. Santa’s departure left the expected hole in the ratings of iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH. The station lost more than half its share (12.0-5.3) as it fell to #3. That’s pretty much on par with last year when it recorded a 5.2 share and ended up at #4. Usually, cluster sister iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) benefits from the big guy’s departure. Not so this time as the station recorded its lowest total in over a year (5.2-4.9). It remained tied at #4 with HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR (5.2-4.9). A bit farther down the list, it was a good month to be iHEARTMEDIA Country WMZQ. The station had its highest share since AUGUST (3.1-3.8) to turn it up to a tie at #11.
The previous pattern was replicated 25-54 as both WTOP and WAMU had their best books in over a year and moved to #1 and #2, respectively. WIHT was up slightly to remain at #3. This ended the station’s three-book slide. WASH again lost more than half its share as it dropped to #4. That was its same position a year ago, though it had a slightly bigger share then. RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) held firm at #5 despite a slight loss. Meanwhile, CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC posted its lowest score since APRIL to fall two slots to #6. CBS RADIO Hot AC WIAD (FRESH) may have benefitted from the lack of BOBBY HELMS songs on the radio as it landed its highest share since JUNE to move up to #7.
There appears to be only one thing that can keep WIHT from hitting double digits and winning the 18-34 race. Since that anomaly is gone until next year, the station returned to being its usual dominant self. WASH fell to #2 but was in a far stronger position than last year when it ended up almost three shares lighter in a tie at #8. WKYS moved up to share the place position with a slight increase. WPGC took a step back to #4 with its smallest share since JUNE. WMZQ inched up to #5 thanks to its highest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG also had its best book in over a year but was still forced to take a step back to #6. CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary WLZL (EL ZOL) had a massive gain to move up three places to #7. The station has more than doubled its share since AUGUST when it was in a tie at #14.
The SANTA-fueled malaise of the previous survey has evaporated, and that allowed WIHT to move back to its customary #1 spot 18-49. Both WTOP and WAMU were tied at #6 last survey but that changed in a hurry. WTOP moved up to #2 with its best performance since OCTOBER while WAMU advanced to #3 with its highest total in over a year. WASH fell back to #4 but was a bit stronger than last year when it landed at #5. WKYS was up slightly but took a step back to #5 while WPGC fell three places to #6 with its smallest share since JUNE. WHUR was flat but dropped back two spots to #7.
PHILADELPHIA: Doing More With Less
This was one of the few markets where two general-market, big-time stations went head-to-head with the holiday tunes. JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE) received the most benefit but in the post-holiday letdown, lost more than half its share (16.3-7.8). It remained #1 6+ with a better number than last year (7.3). CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL had a far less dramatic share loss (6.2-5.9) to remain at #2. A year ago it ended up at #4 with a 5.7. Three stations increased their shares and moved into the cozy confines of the #3 position. GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK was there last time (4.8-5.5) while cluster brother GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR took two steps forward (4.3-5.5), thus ending a three-book slide. CBS RADIO News KYW-A had snow fever and plowed its way in from a tie at #7 with its best book since OCTOBER (4.2-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS was up slightly (4.8-5.0) but fell three places to #6 and into a tie with CBS RADIO Sports WIP-F, which slipped back from #5 despite ending its own three-book slide (4.3-5.0). CBS RADIO Country WXTU was happy to see the back end of Santa’s reindeer. The station ended a four-book slide and moved up to #8 (3.6-4.6).
Once again WBEB lost more than half its share -– this time in 25-54. However, the station remained #1 with the exact same number it had before all this holiday hoopla began. It was also more than a share stronger than last year when it was #2. WMMR remained at #2 but bounced back nicely from last survey’s rather low number. WDAS was up slightly in its encore performance at #3. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) had its highest share since MAY as it moved up five places to #4. WIP-F moved up to #5 with its best score since OCTOBER. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) slipped back to #6 despite a slight increase. WOGL experienced a very slight decrease but that drove the station down from #4 to a tie at #7. It had the exact same share as a year ago when it was #8.
Though WBEB did lose a large chunk of its 18-34 share, it was left with its best Frosty-free performance since AUGUST. The station remained #1 and was almost a full share stronger than a year ago when it was #2. WMMR moved up a slot to #2 as it recovered from the devastation Santa had wrought. This is not usually something that is discussed but it does appear that the holiday tunage had a real effect on WMMR. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) moved up to #3 as it ended a four-book slide. WRFF also took one step forward – to #4 – thanks to its highest number since JUNE. WIOQ fell three spots to #5 with its lowest score since OCTOBER. Though WXTU remained at #6, it did pick up a full share from last survey. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WISX (MIX) posted its best number in over a year to advance three squares to #7. As expected, WOGL fell. It dropped five places to #13 though it was much healthier than last year when it ended the month at #17.
WBEB lost more than half its 18-49 share but remained at #1. Last year it was a share skinnier at #2. WMMR moved up to #2 as its post-holiday recovery continued. WIOQ slipped back to #3 with its second straight down book while WUSL remained at #4 with a strong increase. WRFF moved one step forward to #5 with a very strong showing. WOGL dropped three places to #7. A year ago it was at #11.
ATLANTA: Talk The Talk
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the effect CHRISTMAS music – or the demise thereof – has had on the JANUARY numbers. One thing that was not top of mind was the acrimonious Presidential donnybrook we have been experiencing. Perhaps that explains the sudden rise of COX RADIO Talk WSB-A. The station moved to #1 6+ with its highest share in over a year (7.9-9.0). The station had been hot since the fall so maybe there is some cause-and-effect here. CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103) slipped back to #2 with its lowest score since MARCH (8.1-7.9). COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) was up slightly (6.7-6.8) to hold steady at #3 while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) moved up to #4 with its highest share in over a year (5.4-5.7). COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) ended a nice four-book run (5.6-5.1) and slipped back to #5. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) finally halted its slide at three books and moved up four places to #7 (3.7-4.6). RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) had its least productive outing since JULY and fell three places to a tie at #8 (5.4-4.1). The market’s holiday station was SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (FISH). The station had its lowest share in over a year (5.0-3.1) and dropped eight spots to #16.
Despite all the talk, WVEE was once again #1 25-54 with a small increase. WSB-A did move up to #2 with its best share in over a year but was still about two shares behind the market leader. RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) moved up two slots to #3 with a small increase while WALR dropped back to #4 with a small decrease. WWWQ was on fire with its best showing since NOVEMBER. That drove the station up from #9 to #5. WAMJ did not fare well in this demo either. With its lowest total since JULY, it fell six places to #8. WFSH also swam downstream – sinking eight spots to a tie at #16.
For the second consecutive survey, WHTA was #1 18-34. Since both it and #2 WVEE were off by the same amount, the gap between the two remained at less than half a share. WWPW remained relatively close behind at #3 with a small increase while WWWQ took total control of the #4 position with its highest score since OCTOBER. WSB-F snuck into the top five with a small increase while cluster brother WSB-A jumped six places to #7. Not bad for an AM News/Talk station. WAMJ’s woes continued in this demo. The station fell seven places to a tie at #11 – which is really its usual turf. WFSH was in too much of a giving spirit. The station lost more than half its share and dove from #8 to #20.
The top two stations 18-49 were flat and motionless. WVEE continued to lead WHTA by nearly three shares. #3 WWPW moved closer to the #2 slot with a nice gain while WWWQ jumped three places to #4, ending a three-book slide. WSB-A moved back into the top five with its best book in over a year. Last month’s #5 partnership was dissolved. WALR slipped back to #6 and WSB-F dropped to #7. As might have been predicted, WAMJ took a large hit and dropped six spots to a tie at #9. WFSH lost exactly half its share and sank from #11 to #20.
BOSTON: Instant Classic
From FEBRUARY through SEPTEMBER, GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR ruled the 6+ roost. Well, it’s back after landing its best share since SEPTEMBER (5.5-7.2). The station just edged out iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS), which moved up to #2 with its best performance in over a year (5.8-7.1). The PATRIOTS’ ill-fated post-season run helped propel CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) but the station still slid back to #3 (5.9-6.8). CBS RADIO News WBZ-A was doing its happy snow dance after the station posted its highest number since FEBRUARY (5.5-6.4) to claim sole possession of the #4 position. GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) was looking for that silk hat as the station lost more than half its share (14.8-6.3) to drop to #5. A year ago it was #1 with a 7.1 share. ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F had its best production since OCTOBER (4.7-5.9) but had to be content with remaining at #6.
Last survey, that blast from the NORTH POLE’s past ended WBZ-F’s 25-54 winning streak at 6 – proving that even TOM BRADY can beat Santa (or VON MILLER). Well, the station bounced back with its highest share since OCTOBER to re-claim the lead. WXKS moved up to #2 with its best showing in over a year while WROR advanced to #3 as it ended a two-book slide. WMJX lost more than half its share as it slid to #4. It had about the same share as a year ago when it was #3. WEEI-F remained at #5 but ended a three-book losing streak. GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) landed its best book since APRIL but could not budge from sixth place.
Ever since NOVEMBER, CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP) has been on a tear 18-34. The station dipped to #2 last survey – for obvious reasons – but came back with a vengeance as it not only re-took the lead but crashed the double-digit barrier. WXKS moved up to #2 with its best book since FEBRUARY but was still two shares behind the market leader. WBQT remained at #3 but was up for the third straight survey. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) moved up to #4 with a small increase while WBZ-F remained at #5 as it, too, was up. WMJX dropped all the way to #6 while losing more than half its share. Last year it was #4 with a much larger share.
Last survey both WXKS and WBZ-F were tied at #2 18-49. This time KISS took the lead with its highest share in over a year. THE SPORTS HUB remained at #2 but with a strong increase. WODS took one step forward to #3 with its highest score in over a year while WBQT advanced to #4 by accomplishing the same. WMJX fell to #5 and – yup – lost more than half its share in the process. Last year it ended the month at #3. WROR inched up to #6 while two stations with strong books moved up and into a tie at #7. WEEI-F advanced from a tie at #9 while CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) jumped from #12, ending a damaging two-book slide.
We have completed our second round of analysis. Thank you for playing along. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. will now take a breather and focus on DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE-TACOMA, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us with any ratings questions or comments you may have.
E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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