Saturday, February 22, 2020
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January 2020 PPM Data – Information for the January 2020 ratings period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. Nielsen Audio’s January 2020 survey period covered January 2 – 29. Managing editor Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@TALKERS.com) provides his “Takeaways” from the PPM-markets below.
Austin
Spoken-Word Formats – An increase of nine-tenths to 4.5 (6+) elevates Sinclair Telecable-owned KLBJ-AM from ninth to eighth and pulls the plug on three straight decreases that led to a collective -1.4 (5.0 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 3.6, 6+). October’s 5.0 was the best 6+-performance for “News Radio 590” in more than six years (5.0, as well, June 2013). Entercom’s KJCE is without a loss the fifth time in a row for a net gain of one-tenth (.3 – .3 – .3 – .4 – .4 – .4, 6+); “Talk Radio 1370” is anchored at #26.
Repeating at #16, Genuine Austin Radio sports talk KTXX “The Horn” follows “Holiday” 2019’s -.8 with a one-tenth improvement (2.1 – 2.2, 6+). Off four-tenths via three straight sweeps without an increase (.9 – .8 – .5 – .5, 6+), iHeartMedia-owned/similarly-formatted KVET-AM “1300 AM The Zone” picks up one-tenth to .6 (6+) and is unchanged at #25.
In “Holiday” 2019, KUT shifted to #2, following three sweeps in a row at #1. Powered by a +1.5 (7.4 – 8.9, 6+), the University of Texas at Austin-owned news/talk outlet is back in the top spot. Recent KUT fluctuations include: +1.6 (January 2019); +.7 (March); -2.0 (April); -1.6 (June); +.9 (July); +1.2 (August); +2.0 (October); -.5 (November); +.5 (December); -1.9 (“Holiday” 2019); and +1.5 (January 2020).
Austin Music Formats – Owing to seven downturns in a row, Sinclair Telecable adult hits KBPA was a collective -2.1 (9.3 – 9.2 – 8.7 – 8.4 – 8.1 – 7.9 – 7.8 – 7.2, 6+). In January 2020, “103.5 Bob-FM” rebounds with a +1.3 to 8.5 (third to second, 6+). KBPA spent six consecutive sweeps at #1 and was in the runner-up slot three reports in a row before slipping to third in “Holiday” 2019. An overall -1.2 in three drops in a row (5.5 – 5.3 – 5.2 – 4.2, 6+), iHeartMedia’s country-formatted KVET-FM carves away half that shortfall with a +.6 to 4.8 (seventh to fifth, 6+). Immediately prior to the just-concluded negative streak, “98.1 The Austin Texas Original” was a combined +2.2 in September/October (3.3 – 5.0 – 5.5, 6+), with September’s 5.5 its best 6+-showing since May (5.8, 6+). Despite picking up one-tenth (3.6 – 3.7, 6+), co-owned/similarly-programmed KASE exits the top ten (#9 to #11). “Austin’s #1 For New Country” was -.9 (November); +.9 (December); and -1.5 (“Holiday” 2019). Elsewhere in the format, Genuine Austin Radio-owned KOKE-FM “Austin’s Country Alternative” records its third consecutive up or flat trend for a net gain of two-tenths (1.1 – 1.2 – 1.3 – 1.3, flat at #20, 6+). In addition to KVET-FM, Sinclair Telecable triple A KGSR-HD2 notches a six-tenth increase (1.2, #21, 6+). KGSR-HD2 had lost 50% of its 6+-stat in three declines in a row (1.2 – .8 – .7 – .6, 6+). In an alternating up/down pattern that began in September (3.7 – 4.1 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 3.5 – 4.0, 6+), co-owned KLBJ-FM “93.7 The Rock of Austin” returns to the top ten (#12 to #10). A combined +6.7 in December “Holiday” 2019 (5.1 – 6.3 – 11.8, 6+), Entercom adult contemporary KKMJ falters by -5.1 to 6.7 (6+). After a “Holiday” 2019-only visit to #1, “Majic 95.5 Better Music for a Better Workday” segues to third-place. In “Holiday” 2019, KKMJ became the first Austin station to record double-digits (11.8, 6+) since it did so in “Holiday” 2017 (12.4). Repeating at #14, Sinclair Telecable’s similarly-formatted KGSR “Star 93.3” follows “Holiday” 2019’s increase of seven-tenths with a one-tenth dip (2.7 – 2.6, 6+). Without a loss the past three sweeps for a net gain of one-half share (2.1 – 2.1 – 2.1 – 2.6, 6+), Univision Radio regional Mexican KLQB “Que Buena 104.3” is off one-tenth to 2.5 (flat at #15, 6+).
Raleigh
Spoken-Word Formats – Dismissing “Holiday” 2019’s loss of four-tenths with a January 2020 +1.8 (5.3 – 7.1, 6+), iHeartMedia news/talk WTKK “106.1 Stay Connected” progresses from eighth to third. A combined +.3 in November/December (1.0 – 1.1 – 1.3, 6+), Curtis Media Group news/talk WPTF “News Radio 680” dropped one-tenth in “Holiday” 2019 to 1.2 (#19, 6+) but is unlisted in January 2020.
Vaporizing December/“Holiday” 2019’s loss of four-tenths (3.1 – 2.8 – 2.7, 6+) with a +1.0 to 3.7 (6+), Capitol Broadcasting sports talk WCMC “99.9 The Fan” cracks the top ten (#13 to #9).
Including January 2020’s positive spike of six-tenths, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill news/talk WUNC “91.5 North Carolina Public Radio” continues an alternating down/up pattern that commenced in February 2019: 7.5 – 7.3 – 7.4 – 7.0 – 7.8 – 7.5 – 8.5 – 7.4 – 7.5 – 6.5 – 6.8 – 6.0 – 6.6 (fifth to fourth, 6+).
Raleigh Music Formats – Following four straight sweeps at #1, WFXC shifted to the runner-up slot in “Holiday” 2019; however, with a January 2020 +1.5 (7.2 – 8.7, 6+),“Foxy – Today’s R&B and Classic Soul” is back on top. The Radio One urban AC spent 12 consecutive survey periods at #1; had an August-only stay at #2; and returned to #1 in September. Its August gain of two-tenths ended six straight down or flat sweeps that resulted in an overall -2.8 (11.0 – 9.9 – 9.5 – 9.5 – 9.1 – 8.8 – 8.2, 6+). Recent WFXC (6+) fluctuations include: +1.1 (January 2019); -1.1 (February); -.6 (July); -.6 (October); -1.5 (“Holiday” 2019); and +1.5 (January 2020). January 2019’s +1.1 took WFXC to 11.0, its highest 6+-stat in the PPM-era. Nudged out of the ratings penthouse is Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL “Mix 101.5 – The Variety That Makes You Feel Good” (7.4, -1.7, first to second, 6+). A combined -.8 in November/December (7.7 – 7.2 – 6.9, 6+), “Mix” posted a “Holiday” 2019 +2.2 to 9.1, its best 6+-stat since “Holiday” 2018 (9.6). Reaching the market from Greensboro, iHeartMedia’s similarly-formatted WMAG was an overall +1.8 via three straight up or flat trends (.4 – .4 – .4 – 2.2, 6+) but is now a combined -1.7 in “Holiday” 2019/January 2020 (2.2 – 1.9 – .5, #16 to #14, 6+). In four straight positive spikes, Radio One gospel WNNL netted a +2.5 (4.5 – 5.2 – 5.5 – 6.2 – 7.0, 6+), but “The Light 103.9” forfeits nearly two-thirds of that increase (5.4, -1.6, third to sixth, 6+). The four latest (6+) fluctuations for urban contemporary cluster-mate WQOK “K-97.5” are: +1.3 (November); -.7 (December); -.5 (“Holiday” 2019); and -1.2 in January 2020 (6.3 – 5.1, fourth to seventh, 6+). November’s 7.5 was its strongest 6+-stat since February (7.8). Having more than quadrupled (+.7) its 6+-figure in six successive reports without a loss (.2 – .2 – .2 – .2 – .2 – .4 – .9, 6+), Curtis Media Group hot AC WPLW-AM “Star 92.9 – The Triangle’s Best Variety” returns that increase in its entirety (.2, -.7, #22 to #17, 6+). CHR sibling WPLW-FM “Pulse FM,” a combined -.8 in December/“Holiday” 2019 (5.2 – 5.1 – 4.4, #11, 6+), is unlisted in the January 2020 report. The same (unlisted) status applies to co-owned WQDR “Today’s Best Country 94.7 QDR,” which was a collective -1.9 through five successive decreases (6.8 – 6.5 – 6.3 – 5.8 – 5.2 – 4.9, ninth, 6+). In addition to (aforementioned) WPTF; WPLW-FM; and WQDR, four other Curtis Media Group stations are unlisted in this report. They are: adult hits WBBB “96.1 BBB Your Life/Your Music” (5.4, #7, “Holiday” 2019, 6+); classic hits-oldies WKIX “KIX 102.9 Carolina’s Greatest Hits” (2.6, #14, “Holiday” 2019, 6+); regional Mexican WYMY “La Ley 101.1” (1.5, #18, “Holiday” 2019, 6+); and classic hits-oldies WPTK “Just Right Radio” (1.1, #20, “Holiday” 2019, 6+).
Indianapolis
Spoken-Word Formats – Exchanging “Holiday” 2019’s -1.3 (6.7 – 5.4, 6+) with a robust January 2020 +2.2 to 7.6 (6+), Emmis news/talk WIBC jumps from fifth to third. Recent (6+) shifts for “Indy’s Mobile News 93.1” include: +.9 (January 2019); +.9 (February); -.8 (March); -1.2 (April); +.9 (June); +.5 (August); -.5 (October); +.6 (November); -1.3 (“Holiday” 2019); and +2.2 (January 2020).
Up two-tenths (2.8 – 3.0, 6+), Emmis’ WFNI “The Fan – Indy’s Sports Center” advances from #14 to #13.
Three consecutive (August through November) increases netted a +1.2 (1.7 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 2.9, 6+); WFNI was then locked on 2.8 (6+) in December and “Holiday” 2019. Anchored at #18, iHeartMedia-owned WNDE “Indy’s Sports Station” has a June 2019 through January 2020 topline of: 1.0 – 1.0 – 1.1 – 1.0 – 1.1 – 1.3 – .9 – 1.0 – 1.2 (6+).
Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting news/talk WFYI’s July 2019 through January 2020’s alternating up/down pattern (including its current +.9) is: 4.9 – 5.3 – 4.8 – 5.2 – 4.7 – 4.8 – 3.7 – 4.6 (flat at #9, 6+).
Indianapolis Music Formats – Four straight setbacks by Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WJJK accounted for a -4.5 (11.1 – 10.4 – 10.2 – 8.0 – 6.6, 6+), but “Classic Hits 104.5” answers with a January 2020 +1.1 to 7.7 (third to second, 6+). After 11 sweeps in a row at #1, WJJK dropped to second in December. Its 11.1 (July and September) represents the highest 6+-share in the station’s PPM-history, eclipsing April’s 10.2. Among WJJK’s recent hefty (6+) fluctuations are: +2.9 (January 2019); -.7 (February); -.6 (March); +1.7 (April); +1.4 (July); -1.1 (August); +1.1 (September); -.7 (October); -2.2 (December); -1.4 (“Holiday” 2019); and +1.1 (January 2020). A combined -2.0 in December/“Holiday” 2019 (7.4 – 6.2 – 5.4, 6+), Emmis-owned WLHK “Country 97.1 Hank” slices that deficit in half with a +1.0 to 6.4 (fifth to sixth, 6+). “Hank” was up one-tenth in November, after its October +1.3 basically defused August/September’s -1.2 (7.2 – 7.1 – 6.0, 6+). Improving by nine-tenths (each) are iHeartMedia-owned WFBQ “Q-95 Rocks” (third to fourth) and Sarkes Tarzian triple A WTTS “92.3 Experience The Music” (4.7, steady at #8, 6+). In an alternating down/up pattern that commenced in June, “Q-95” is: 6.7 – 5.9 – 6.4 – 6.3 – 6.9 – 6.1 – 7.1 – 6.6 – 7.5 (6+). Immediately prior to losing one-tenth in “Holiday” 2019, WTTS was +1.2 in four successive up or flat trends (2.7 – 3.1 – 3.3 – 3.3 – 3.9, 6+). After having its 6+ AQH share plummet by roughly 48% (-3.0) as a result of seven successive decreases (6.2 – 6.0 – 5.8 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.4 – 4.2 – 3.2, 6+), Entercom CHR WZPL “99.5 ZPL” pulls the plug with a +.6 to 3.8 (#11 to #10, 6+). Improving by six-tenths as well is Radio One urban AC WTLC-FM (steady at #7), which has an alternating August 2019 through January 2020 down/up pattern of: 4.5 – 4.4 – 5.2 – 5.1 – 5.3 – 5.2 – 5.8 (6+). A cumulative +10.8 via three increases in succession (7.4 – 8.8 – 10.2 – 18.2, 6+), Emmis adult contemporary WYXB “B-105.7” plummets by precisely 50% (9.1, -9.1, 6+) but is #1 the third successive sweep. Its “Holiday” 2019 18.2 represents the largest 6+-performance by any Indianapolis station in the PPM-era. A -1.0 by Radio One rhythmic CHR WHHH sends “Hot 96.3” below a three-share (3.7 – 2.7, 6+) and out of the top ten (#9 to #14). After posting a 3.4 (6+) in June, Educational Media Foundation contemporary Christian WKLU is unlisted the eighth time in a row.
Milwaukee
Spoken-Word Formats – Down six-tenths (5.9 – 5.3, 6+), Good Karma Brands’ news/talk WTMJ (Packers, Bucks) slips from fourth to fifth. Immediately prior to “Holiday” 2019’s increase of two-tenths, “Wisconsin’s Radio Station” was -2.7 in November/December (8.4 – 6.6 – 5.7, 6+). A combined -1.1 in December/“Holiday” 2019 (5.1 – 4.8 – 4.0, 6+), iHeartMedia’s WISN “News/Talk 1130” notches a +.2 to 4.2 (ninth to seventh, 6+).
The market’s four major sports talkers are separated by six-tenths of a share. Tied at #14 are Good Karma Brands’ WKTI “94.5 ESPN” (.8 – 1.0, +.2, #20 to #14, 6+) and iHeartMedia’s WRNW “97.3 The Game – Milwaukee’s Sports Talk That Rocks” (.9 – 1.0, +.1, #18 to #14, 6+). Trailing WKTI and WRNW by just one-tenth is Entercom’s WSSP “Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan” (flat at .9, #18 to #16, 6+). Meanwhile, one-half share behind WSSP is iHeartMedia’s WOKY “The Big 920,” which has lost three-tenths via four straight down or flat trends (.7 – .6 – .5 – .4 – .4, #23 to #21, 6+).
On the heels of “Holiday” 2019’s loss of eight-tenths, University of Wisconsin news/talk WUWM gains two-tenths (4.0 – 4.2, ninth to seventh, 6+). Wisconsin Public Radio news/talk WHAD wipes away December/“Holiday” 2019’s combined -.5 (1.6 – 1.3 – 1.1, 6+) with a January 2020 +.5 to 1.6 (#17 to #12, 6+).
Milwaukee Music Formats – The combination of iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT “95.7 Big FM Milwaukee’s Greatest Hits” eroding by -3.9 (11.8 – 7.9, #1 the fourth time in a row ) and Entercom hot AC WMYX “99.1 The Mix” logging a +1.8 (6.1 – 7.9, third to first, 6+) results in the two sharing the lead. WRIT spent four straight months at #1 before segueing to the runner-up slot in October. “Holiday” 2019’s 11.8 is the strongest 6+-stat for any Milwaukee station since WRIT’s 11.6 in “Holiday” 2017. Recent (6+) moves by WRIT include: +3.8 (“Holiday” 2018); – 1.9 (January 2019); +.6 (February); -.8 (March); +.7 (April); -1.5 (May); +.8 (June); -1.3 (October); -.5 (November); +4.0 (“Holiday” 2019); and -3.9 (January 2020). After posting an increase of seven-tenths in back-to-back sweeps (6.2 – 6.9 – 7.6, 6+), “The Mix” faltered by -1.5 in “Holiday” 2019. Prior to December (7.6), the last time WMYX reached the seven-share level was in November 2015 (7.0, 6+). In three setbacks in a row, iHeartMedia-owned WMIL was a collective -2.1 (7.2 – 7.0 – 6.5 – 5.1, 6+) but “FM 106.1 Milwaukee’s Best Country” halts the slide with a +1.1 to 6.2 (sixth to fourth, 6+). A cumulative +6.2 as a result of three bumps in a row (5.2 – 5.7 – 6.8 – 11.4, 6+), Milwaukee Radio Alliance adult contemporary WLDB “B-93.3” surrenders a -4.1 to 7.3 (second to third, 6+). In “Holiday” 2019, “B-93.3” reached double-digits (11.4, 6+) for the first time since “Holiday” 2018 (10.3). Off eight-tenths in December/“Holiday” 2019 (5.5 – 5.4 – 4.7, seventh to eighth, 6+), Saga Communications’ WHQG “102.9 The Hog Everything That Rocks” is unlisted in January 2020. The same (unlisted) status applies to co-owned WKLH “96.5 Milwaukee’s Hometown Rock,” which was down or flat six times in a row for a -2.8 (8.4 – 7.8 – 7.8 – 7.6 – 7.3 – 7.0 – 5.6, third to fifth, 6+) and urban AC cluster-mate WJMR “Jammin’ 98.3,” which lost eight-tenths via three consecutive down or flat moves (4.0 – 4.0 – 3.7 – 3.2, #12 to #13, 6+).
Category: Ratings Takeaways