February 2021 PPM Data – Information for the February 2021 sweep has been released for Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.

Nielsen Audio’s February 2021 survey period covered February 4 – March 3.

In addition to providing “Takeaways” for spoken-word stations finishing in their respective markets’ top twenty, managing editor Mike Kinosian notes each particular city’s #1 station (6+), as well as highest (6+) positive spikes and sharpest declines.

All comparisons noted are January 2021 – February 2021 (6+).

WASHINGTON, DC

News/Talk: WMAL 5.9 – 6.0, +.1, fifth to fourth

News: WTOP & WTLP flat at 9.9, unchanged at #2, and business news WDCH .7 – 1.2, +.5, #22 to #19

Sports Talk: WJFK-FM 1.5 – 1.4, -.1, #17 to #18

Public Radio News/Talk: WAMU 13.4 – 10.2, -3.2, repeating at #1, and public radio news/talk – jazz WPFW flat at 1.2, steady at #19

Number One 6+ second straight month: public radio news/talk WAMU 13.4 – 10.2, -3.2

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: classic rock WBIG (+1.4)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WAMU (-3.2)

BOSTON

News/Talk: WRKO steady at 5.2, unchanged at #8

News – Talk: WBZ-AM 8.2 – 7.5, -.7, repeats at #1 (tie)

Sports Talk: WBZ-FM 5.7 – 6.1, +.4, fifth to fourth, and WEEI-FM 3.5 – 3.3, -.2, steady at #10

Public Radio News/Talk: WGBH unchanged at 5.6, steady at #6, and WBUR 5.1 – 4.4, -.7, flat at #9

Number One 6+ (Tie): news – talk WBZ-AM (second successive month) 8.2 – 7.5, -.7, and classic hits-oldies WROR (first  month) flat at 7.5

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: CHR WXKS-FM (+.9)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: triple A WXRV (-.8)

MIAMI

News/Talk: WIOD 2.1 – 1.9, -.2, #17 to #19

Spanish News/Talk: WAQI flat at 2.6, #12 to #13, and WURN-AM 2.0 – 2.2, +.2, #18 to #17

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: WLRN 4.0 – 4.3, +.3, eighth to seventh

Number One 6+ fifth month in a row: adult contemporary WFEZ 7.6 – 9.1, +1.5

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WFEZ (+1.5)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: adult contemporary WFEZ’s internet stream (-1.5, unlisted)

SEATTLE

News/Talk: KIRO-FM 7.4 – 7.3, -.1, repeating at #1, and KTTH 3.2 – 2.8, -.4, #12 to #16

News: KOMO-AM & KOMO-FM 5.7 – 5.2, -.5, fourth to fifth

Sports Talk: KIRO-AM 2.3 – 2.6, +.3, unchanged at #18

Public Radio News/Talk: KUOW 7.3 – 6.7, -.6, flat at #2

Number One 6+ fourth consecutive month: news/talk KIRO-FM 7.4 – 7.3, -.1

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KRWM (+.9)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: country KNUC (-.9)

 DETROIT

News/Talk: WJR flat at 4.8, seventh to eighth

News: WWJ 4.8 – 5.0, +.2, seventh to fifth

Sports Talk: WXYT-FM 5.5 – 4.9, -.6, third to seventh

Public Radio News/Talk: WDET 2.9 – 2.5, -.4, #14 to #16, and WUOM 1.8 – 1.7, -.1, unchanged at #20

Number One 6+ second successive month: urban AC WMXD 6.3 – 6.6, +.3

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies WMGC (+1.0)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: urban AC WDMK (-.9)

PHOENIX

News/Talk: KFYI 6.0 – 5.3, -.7, second to third, and KTAR-FM 4.2 – 4.0, -.2, seventh to eighth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: KMVP-FM 2.1 – 2.4, +.3, steady at #20

Public Radio News/Talk: KJZZ 3.3 – 3.5, +.2, tenth to ninth

Number One 6+ fourth straight month: adult contemporary KESZ 7.3 – 7.1, -.2

Largest 6+ January 2021- February 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies KOOL (+.7); alternative KDKB (+.7); and urban-rhythmic oldies KAJM (+.7)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: regional Mexican KLNZ (-1.4)

MINNEAPOLIS

News/Talk: WCCO 4.8 – 4.7, -.1, flat at #9; KTLK 4.2 – 4.0, -.2, steady at #12; and KTMY flat at 1.2, remains at #20

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: KFXN 8.4 – 7.4, -1.0, second to third

Public Radio News/Talk: KNOW 9.5 – 8.5, -1.0, first to second

Number One 6+ first month: hot AC KSTP-FM 7.5 – 9.8, +2.3

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: hot AC KSTP-FM (+2.3)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk KNOW (-1.0), and sports talk KFXN (-1.0)

SAN DIEGO

News/Talk: KOGO 5.7 – 5.3, -.4, fourth to fifth; KFI 1.9 – 2.2, +.3, #18 to #17; and KGB-AM 2.0 – 1.9, -.1, #17 to #18

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: KPBS 6.2 – 6.4, +.2, second to first

Number One 6+ first month: public radio news/talk: KPBS 6.2 – 6.4, +.2

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: rhythmic hot AC XHRM (+1.1)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: news KNX (-1.4, unlisted)

TAMPA

News/Talk: WHPT 4.8 – 5.1, +.3, fifth to fourth, and WFLA steady at 3.8, unchanged at #11

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: WDAE 1.9 – 2.0, +.1, flat at #19

Public Radio News/Talk: unchanged at 3.4, #13 to #14

Number One 6+ (Tie): adult contemporary WDUV (104^th month in a row) 7.7 – 7.0, -.7, and contemporary Christian WCIE (first month) 5.9 – 7.0, +1.1

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: contemporary Christian WCIE (+1.1)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: CHR WFLZ (-1.6)

DENVER

News/Talk: KDFD steady at 3.1, #12 to #11; KOA 1.8 – 2.0, +.2, #18 to #15; and KHOW 1.5 – 1.6, +.1, #21 to #20

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: KKFN 3.3 – 2.8, -.5, #10 to #13

Public Radio News/Talk: KCFR 7.5 – 7.1, -.4, first to second

Number One 6+ first month: country KYGO 5.7 – 7.4, +1.7

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: country KYGO (+1.7)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KEZW (-.7, unlisted)

BALTIMORE

News/Talk: WBAL 4.3 – 4.2, -.1, ninth to eighth, and WCBM 3.2 – 3.4, +.2, #11 to #12

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: WJZ-FM 4.1 – 3.0, -1.1, #10 to #13

Public Radio News/Talk: WYPR 4.4 – 4.3, -.1, flat at #7, and WAMU 1.3 – 1.2, -.1, #22 to #19

Number One 6+ second successive month: urban AC WWIN-FM 9.1 – 9.4, +.3

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: CHR WZFT (+.5)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: news WTOP (-2.2, unlisted)

ST. LOUIS

News/Talk: KMOX 4.0 – 4.4, +.4, tenth to ninth; KFTK 3.5 – 3.3, -.2, #15 to #13; and KFTK’s internet stream flat at 1.4, unchanged at #18

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: WXOS 4.4 – 4.0, -.4, #9 to #12

Public Radio News/Talk: KWMU 3.8 – 3.2, -.6, #13 to #15

Number One 6+ second month in a row: rock KSHE 13.0 – 12.4, -.6

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Increase: alternative KPNT (+1.2), and contemporary Christian KLJY (+1.2)

Largest 6+ January 2021 – February 2021 Decrease: adult contemporary KEZK (-.8)

Up next: February  2021 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus. Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.

Category: Ratings Takeaways