Thursday, January 27, 2022
“Holiday” 2021 PPM Data – Information for the “Holiday” 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 “Holiday” 2021 sweep covered December 9 (2021) – January 5 (2022)
Managing editor Mike Kinosian provides “Takeaways” for spoken-word stations finishing in their respective markets’ top twenty.
Cited as well are each particular city’s #1 station (6+) and loftiest (6+) upticks and drop-offs.
All comparisons noted are December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 (6+).
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” (Washington Football Team) 3.7 – 3.6, -.1, #11 to #12
News: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WTOP & WTLP “Washington’s Top News” 6.8 – 6.4, -.4, repeats in fourth-place
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJFK-FM “106.7 The Fan” 1.7 – 1.9, +.2, steady at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: American University-owned WAMU 7.5 – 7.3, -.2, flat at #3
Pacifica’s public radio news/talk-jazz hybrid KPFW .6 – 1.0, +.4, #21 to #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WASH, second month in succession, 11.3 – 13.2, +1.9
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WASH (+1.9)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: alternative WWDC (-1.0)
BOSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRKO “AM 680 The Voice Of Boston” 4.1 – 3.4, -.7, eighth to ninth
News – Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM “News Radio 1030” 6.9 – 6.5, -.4, fourth to third
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group’s WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (New England Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins) 8.5 – 8.3, -.2, #1 to #2
Audacy-owned WEEI-FM “93.7 Boston’s Sports Station” 3.2 – 2.6, -.6, #11 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: Boston University’s WBUR 2.9 – 3.0, +.1, #15 to #12
WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 3.2 – 2.6, -.6, #11 to #13
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WMJX, first month, 7.9 – 13.2, +5.3
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WMJX (+5.3)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC WWBX (-1.8)
MIAMI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WIOD “News Radio 610” 1.8 – 1.6, -.2, continues at #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board-owned WLRN 3.6 – 2.6, -1.0, #9 to #14
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group urban AC WHQT, third month in a row, 9.3 – 9.0, -.3
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WLYF (+.7)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WLRN (-1.0)
SEATTLE
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-FM “97.3 FM” (Seahawks) flat at 6.6, repeats in second-place
News: Lotus Communications’ KOMO-AM & KOMO-FM “Seattle News, Weather, Sports” 5.3 – 5.5, +.2, fourth to third
Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-AM “710 AM ESPN Seattle” (Seahawks) 3.1 – 3.2, +.1, #14 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: Northwest Public Radio’s KUOW 5.4 – 4.4, -1.0, third to eighth
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting adult contemporary KRWM, second month in a row, 7.9 – 9.6, +1.7
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KRWM (+1.7)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk KUOW (-1.0)
DETROIT
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WJR “News Talk 760 AM” 2.8 – 2.5, -.3, #14 to #13
News: Audacy-owned WWJ News Radio 950” (Pistons) 5.1 – 5.0, -.1, fifth to fourth
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WXYT-FM “97.1 The Ticket” (Lions, Pistons, and Red Wings) 5.5 – 4.5, -1.0, fourth to sixth
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Michigan-owned WUOM 1.8 – 2.3, +.5, #17 to #15
Wayne State University’s WDET 1.6 – 1.9, +.3, #19 to #18
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WNIC, second month in succession, 16.8 – 18.8, +2.0
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WNIC (+2.0)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: country WYCD (-1.1)
PHOENIX
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFYI “News Talk 550” 4.6 – 3.4, -1.2, fourth to eighth
Bonneville-owned KTAR-FM “News 92.3 FM” (Arizona Cardinals and Sun) 2.9 – 2.4, -.5, #12 to #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Maricopa County Community College’s KJZZ 4.8 – 5.7, +.9, third to second
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KESZ, fifteenth consecutive month, 12.9 – 17.7, +4.8
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KESZ (+4.8)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): news/talk KFYI and classic rock KSLX (-1.2)
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk: Audacy’s WCCO “News Talk 830” (Minnesota Timberwolves) 4.5 – 5.2, +.7, ninth to sixth
iHeartMedia-owned KTLK-AM “Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130” 3.1 – 2.6, -.5, flat at #14
Hubbard Broadcasting’s KTMY “My Talk 107.1” 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, #17 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFXN “FM 100.3 K-Fan” (Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Wild) 7.2 – 6.4, -.8, third to fourth
Public Radio News/Talk: Minnesota Public Radio’s KNOW 7.8 – 7.5, -.3, repeats in second-place
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KQQL, second month in a row, 10.5 – 15.1, +4.6
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies KQQL (+4.6)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: adult hits KZJK (-1.1)
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KOGO “News Radio 600” 4.4 – 2.6, -1.8, #7 to #15
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: San Diego State University-owned KPBS 5.3 – 6.8, +1.5, fourth to second
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary KYXY, first month, 5.7 – 10.7, +5.0
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KYXY (+5.0)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: country KSON (-2.1)
Note: news/talk KFI “AM 640” (1.8, #18, 6+, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021
TAMPA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WHPT “102.5 The Bone – Real, Raw, Radio” 3.4 – 2.9, -.5, repeats at #12
iHeartMedia-owned WFLA “News Radio 970” (Lightning) 2.8 – 2.7, -.1, #16 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WDAE “Tampa Bay’s Sports Radio” 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of South Florida-owned WUSF 2.3 – 2.0, -.3, flat at #18
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV, fourth month in a row, 8.5 – 10.6, +2.1
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: hot AC WMTX (+2.9)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): country WFUS and CHR WPOI (-1.2)
DENVER
News/Talk: In the iHeartMedia cluster, KOA “News Radio 850” (Broncos) 2.9 – 3.8, +.9, #11 to #8; KHOW “Talk Radio 630” 2.3 – 2.1, -.2, unchanged at #17; and KDFD “Freedom 93.7” 2.1 – 1.4, -.7, #19 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KKFN “104.3 The Fan” (Nuggets) 3.1 – 2.4, -.7, #10 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: Colorado Public Radio-owned KCFR 4.5 – 3.7, -.8, seventh to ninth
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOSI, second month in succession, 7.7 – 14.0, +6.3
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOSI (+6.3)*
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC KIMN (-1.9)
*Represents the largest December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
BALTIMORE
News/Talk: WCBM Maryland-owned WCBM “Talk Radio AM 680” 3.5 – 2.9, -.6, #10 to #12
Hearst Television’s WBAL News Radio 1090” (Ravens) 2.3 – 2.2, -.1, #16 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WJZ-FM “Baltimore Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan” 4.5 – 3.8, -.7, fourth to seventh
Public Radio News/Talk: Your Public Radio Corporation’s WYPR 3.8 – 3.3, -.5, seventh to tenth
American University-owned WAMU 3.2 – 2.2, -1.0, #12 to #14
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WLIF, second month in a row, 12.3 – 17.7, +5.4
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WLIF (+5.4)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: jazz WEAA (-2.5)**
**Represents the largest December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
Note: alternative WWDC (1.3, #20, 6+, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 202
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk: In the Audacy cluster, KMOX “The Voice Of St. Louis” 3.0 – 3.1, +.1, #14 to #12; KFTK “Talk 97.1 FM” 3.1 – 2.7, -.4, #13 to #14; and KFTK’s internet stream .6 – .5, -.1, repeats at #20
iHeartMedia-owned KTLK-FM “104.9 The Patriot” 1.1 – .7, -.4, flat at #19
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting’s WXOS “101 ESPN” (Blues) 5.3 – 4.4, -.9, eighth to ninth
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KWMU 2.2 – 1.8, -.4, #17 to #16
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary KEZK, second consecutive month, 12.5 – 17.1, +4.6
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KEZK (+4.6)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KLOU (-1.7)
Up next: “Holiday” 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