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AC Stays Hot Across Large Markets
January 25, 2008
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As expected, AC was a major winner across the large markets -- thanks to most stations playing CHRISTMAS music. RADIOCRUNCH President ANTHONY ACAMPORA takes a sneak peek inside a slew of markets in today's ARBITRON analysis.
Cincinnati: Bonneville, Clear Channel Lead The Way
Recent CINCINNATI entrant BONNEVILLE and veteran CLEAR CHANNEL shared big wins in the FALL book.
BONNEVILLE saw Country WUBE top the 18-49 and 25-54 demos, while also scoring a 3rd-place finish 18-34. WUBE moved up from 2nd 18-49 and 3rd 25-54 in the SUMMER book. Sister Alternative WSWD tied WUBE for 3rd place 18-34, while vaulting from 7th to 3rd 18-49. BONNEVILLE Hot AC WKRQ (Q102) also ranked top 5 18-34 and 18-49 and top 10 25-54.
CLEAR CHANNEL owned the top two spots 18-34 with Top 40 WKFS and Rock WEBN. 'EBN also ranked 2nd 18-49 and climbed from 4th to 3rd 25-54. Sister News/Talk WLW lost its top spot 25-54 to WUBE, but still ranked a solid 2nd. CC Classic Rock WOFX moved from 7th to 5th and WKFS actually posted a top-10 finish 25-54. The one CC station still facing challenges is Hot AC WNNF (which flipped from WVMX). WNNF ranked 11th 18-34 and 13th 18-49 and 25-54.
One would expect that we could see yet another shift in CINCY's Rock shares now that CUMULUS has shifted former Talk WFTK to Active Rock.
Speaking of CUMULUS, AC WRRM rose from 6th to 4th 25-54, although it may have impacted Classic Hits sister WGRR, which slid from 2nd to 6th.
Denver: Male Stations Stumble; KQKS, KOSI, KALC, KPTT, KYGO Among Winners
Lots of winners this FALL in the MILE HIGH CITY. However, it was an up book for female-targeted stations but an off book for male formats.
LINCOLN FINANCIAL Rhythmic KQKS took back the top spot among adults 18-34 and 18-49 this FALL, knocking SUMMER's winner, ENTRAVISION Regional Mexican KXPK, down to a still solid 2nd.
LINCOLN FINANCIAL also saw a nice rebound for Country KYGO, which moved 8th to 3rd 18-34, 5th to 4th 18-49, and 6th to 4th 25-54. The one challenge for LINCOLN FINANCIAL is Smooth Jazz KJCD, which ranked 16th 25-54 and is down 43% year-to-year.
For venerable market leader CLEAR CHANNEL, the cluster seems to have been victimized by an off book for male stations.
* AAA KBCO moved into the top spot 25-54, but was off in share. KBCO was 3rd 18-49.
* Active Rock KBPI slipped from 3rd to 6th 18-34, 4th to 7th 18-49, and 5th to 10th 25-54.
* Classic Rock KRFX slid from 3rd to 6th 25-54 and 7th to 8th 18-49.
* Alternative KTCL dropped from 4th to 9th 18-34 and 5th to 11th 18-49.
* News/Talk KOA also dipped from 3rd to 7th 25-54 -and that tends to be more male-skewing as well.
One has to wonder if this wasn't a sample problem this book with male diaries. CLEAR CHANNEL has seen solid growth for Rhythmic AC KPTT (THE PARTY). KPTT is now top 5 18-34 and top 10 18-49. It's also up 167% year-to-year 18-34 and 83% 18-49.
It was a positive book for female-focused stations. ENTERCOM AC KOSI vaulted from 11th to 3rd 25-54 and 12th to 5th 18-49. Sister Hot AC KALC moved from 8th to 6th. Classic Rock/AAA-hybrid KQMT was off slightly from 11th to 12th 25-54.
CBS was off slightly in DENVER. Hot AC KIMN moved from 7th to 10th 25-54 and 11th to 12th 18-49. Classic Hits KXKL slid 11th to 12th 25-54. The biggest challenge is that of Country KWLI (THE WOLF). After strong books in WINTER and SUMMER, KWLI has slipped considerably and now ranks 21st 25-54. KWLI trails KYGO by more than a 4-1 margin in that cell.
Indianapolis: Radio One Benefits From Market Shifts; 'FBQ Tops 'FMS 25-54.
RADIO ONE's acquisition of the intellectual property of WNOU/INDIANAPOLIS from EMMIS paid off in more than one way for the company. It gave RADIO ONE a much stronger cluster, with WNOU performing dramatically better than its predecessor, Smooth Jazz WYJZ. It also may have helped RADIO ONE's other two properties: Urban-leaning Rhythmic WHHH and Urban AC WTLC, which may have benefited from some displaced African-American listeners to WYJZ.
WHHH grew yet again 18-34 and is now dominant in the cell, finishing 42% ahead of its closest competitor, CLEAR CHANNEL Alternative WRZX. WHHH also climbed into the top spot 18-49, and moved from 5th to 3rd 25-54. Urban AC sister WTLC was off in rank (3rd to 5th) in the 25-54 demo, but saw a share increase. WHHH and EMMIS AC WYXB leaped past WTLC. WYXB may have also been a benefactor of WYJZ's flip. WNOU (on 100.9) was up 17% from the SUMMER book on 93.1 18-34
WNOU's old frequency spent most of the book as CHRISTMAS WEXM. CUMULUS also transitioned Talk WWFT into CHRISTMAS music at the mid-point of the book. Both stations have signed on with new formats since.
As a matter of fact, the WINTER book will see four new stations in INDY and likely more audience shifting the next several months.
* WEXM is now Talk WIBC (moving over from AM). WIBC-A has since switched to Sports.
* CUMULUS has flipped WWFT to AC as "WARM 93.9"
* INDY RADIO jettisoned its Classic Rock format on WKLU late last year to become "Oldies 101.9."
While the winter will definitely bring some change, there was some movement in the fall besides RADIO ONE and EMMIS.
* CLEAR CHANNEL legendary Classic Rock WFBQ reclaimed the top spot 25-54, topping CUMULUS Country WFMS, which slipped to second (and was off 24% from the SUMMER and 17% from last FALL).
* EMMIS AC WYXB was up 46% from the SUMMER and 56% from a year ago. And this AC did it without shifting to all-CHRISTMAS music -- and had two competitors (including a sister station that was CHRISTMAS).
* ENTERCOM Hot AC WZPL posted sharp gains across the board, moving into 3rd 18-34 (up 100% from last year). 'ZPL remained in 6th place 18-49 and climbed from 9th to 6th 25-54.
* CUMULUS Classic Rock WJJK, which jettisoned the "JACK" name at the end of the book, slipped from 6th to 9th 18-49 and 4th to 8th 25-54.
Kansas City: KPRS Takes Young Demos; Cumulus Solid; Wilks Wins Vs. Entercom
CARTER Urban KPRS was once again the demo champ among adults 18-34 and 18-49 this FALL, although the station was off slightly in share to the summer and last fall.
CUMULUS scored some nice victories:
* Rhythmic KCHZ beat WILKS Top 40 rival KMXV among adults 18-34, although KMXV did win 18-49 and 25-54.
* CUMULUS looked great 18-49 as Classic Rock KCFX (#4), KCHZ (#5), and Adult Hits KCJK (#6) grabbed three of the top six slots in the cell. KCFX surged from 6th to 3rd 25-54 and Urban AC KMJK moved from 6th to 5th.
ENTERCOM Active Rock KQRC had a huge book and regained the top spot 25-54. However, the rest of the KC cluster didn't fare as well. Classic Rock KYYS was out of the format and became AAA after the new year. WILKS also won two key head-to-head battles against ENTERCOM:
* WILKS AC KCKC went 12th to 5th 25-54 to top ENTERCOM's KUDL, which slipped from 9th to 14th. KCKC ranked 7th 18-49 to KUDL's 16th place. KUDL was down 53% year-to-year 25-54, while KCKC grew 12%.
* In the Country battle 25-54, WILKS KFKF tied for 7th. Sister KBEQ dropped from 3rd to 10th, but it was still good enough to top ENTERCOM's WDAF, which did rebound and moved to 11th.
KQRC was ENTERCOM's only KC representative in the top 10 in the 18-49 or 25-54 cells.
Las Vegas: Three Stations Split The Fall Jackpot; CBS Trio Grow
We haven't seen a lot of markets this year where leadership was split among the three keys demos we survey, but that was the case this fall in LAS VEGAS.
KEMP Rhythmic KVEG (HOT 97-5) moved past UNIVISION Regional Mexican KMXB to claim the top spot 18-34. KVEG also leaped from 6th to 3rd 18-49 and 13th to 5th 25-54.
CBS Hot AC KMXB remained a solid performer. It stayed on top 18-49, ranked 2nd 25-54, and 4th 18-34. CBS Rhythmic KLUC moved from 5th to 3rd 18-34, 8th to 4th 18-49, and 16th to 8th 25-54. Finally, Adult Hits KKJJ (JACK-FM) leaped back into the top 10 25-54 and is up 90% from last year.
UNIVISION Regional Mexican KISF moved back to the top spot among adults 25-54. CLEAR CHANNEL scored two stations tied for 3rd 25-54 with AC KSNE and Spanish Adult Hits KWID (LA PRECIOSA). KSNE was one of the rare stations that went all-CHRISTMAS that didn't grow this book -- actually slipping 23% from the SUMMER and 32% from a year ago.
Could KSNE's slide be due to the launch of BEASLEY's KFRH (FRESH)? KFRH scored shares in line with its previous five books as Hot AC "STAR."
Not unlike DENVER, Rock did not get any love in LAS VEGAS. LOTUS Classic Rock KXPT held in 6th place, but sister Active Rock KOMP slipped from 3rd place 18-49 and 25-54 in the SUMMER to 6th 18-49 and 10th 25-54. CBS Alternative KXTE fell from 4th to 7th 18-34, although much of the loss was on the ADAM CAROLLA morning show.
Minneapolis: Citadel Rockers Roll; KSTP-FM Solid #2 18-49, 25-54
It's nice to have format genres to yourself. CITADEL continues their huge success in MINNEAPOLIS as Classic Rock KQRS and Active Rock KXXR remain dominant performers in the Twin Cities. KQRS remains a dominant #1 18-49 and 25-54, while KXXR is #1 18-34. KXXR is 4th 18-49 and 6th 25-54.
The battle between CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 KDWB and NORTHERN LIGHTS Rhythmic rival KTTB got much closer. KTTB almost doubled their 18-34 shares this FALL and vaulted from 7th to 3rd.
While KQRS is the #1 station 18-49 and 25-54, HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP-FM (KS-95) deserves major props as well. KSTP ranks 2nd in both cells.
CBS AC WLTE moved from 6th to 4th 25-54 and grew 27% from the SUMMER and 18% from last year. Sister Adult Hits KZJK (JACK-FM) slid in the FALL, dropping from 4th to 9th.
Top 10 18-49 (in descending order): KQRS, KSTP, KEEY (CLEAR CHANNEL Country), KXXR, A tie between KDWB and WLTE, KTCZ (CLEAR CHANNEL AAA), KTTB, KFAN (CLEAR CHANNEL Sports) and KZJK.
Top 10 25-54 (in descending order): KQRS, KSTP, KEEY, WLTE, KTCZ, a tie between KXXR, KDWB,and KFAN, and a tie between KZJK, WCCO (CBS News/Talk), and KQQL (CLEAR CHANNEL Classic Hits).
More to come MONDAY!
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