March 2021 PPM Data – Information for the March 2021 ratings period has been released for New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Dallas; Houston; Atlanta; Philadelphia; Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario; San Jose; and Middlesex-Somerset-Union.

Nielsen Audio’s March 2021 sweep covered March 4 – 31.

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 loftiest (6+) upticks and drop-offs.

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

NEW YORK

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.5 – 2.3, -.2, flat at #14

Red Apple Media-owned WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” (1.9, #19, February 2021) to unlisted

News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 3.6 – 3.4, -.2, ninth to seventh

Co-owned WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 2.8 – 2.6, -.2, #13 to #12

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” 2.5 – 2.4, -.1, #14 to #13

Emmis-owned WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” 1.0 – 1.1, +.1, #19

Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 4.5 – 4.3, -.2, fifth to fourth

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, fifth successive month, 6.8 – 7.1, +.3

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM (+1.0)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Two tied with -.9 (Spanish contemporary WXNY and Spanish tropical WSKQ)

LOS ANGELES

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” 5.0 – 5.7, +.7, third to second

News: Audacy-owned KNX “1070 News Radio” 2.9 – 3.4, +.5, #12 to #9

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC 3.3 – 3.2, -.1, #9 to #11

Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KRTH, second straight month, 5.9 – 6.1, +.2

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: news/talk KFI (+.7)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Four tied with -.3 (news talk KEIB; adult contemporary KOST; country KKGO; and Spanish contemporary KLLI)

CHICAGO

News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” 4.1 – 3.5, -.6, sixth to ninth

News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” 7.1 – 6.2, -.9, first to second

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WSCR “670 The Score” 2.1 – 2.4, +.3, #17 to #16

Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 6.4 – 4.7, -1.7, second to fourth

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia urban AC WVAZ, first month, 6.0 – 6.3, +.3

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WRME-LP (+1.2)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WBEZ (-1.7)

SAN FRANCISCO

News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KGO “810” 1.7 – 1.8, +.1, #19 to #20

News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 7.5 – 6.8, -.7, flat at #2

Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” 2.9 – 3.2, +.3, ninth to seventh

Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 10.6 – 9.8, -.8, repeats at #1

Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KQED, third straight month, 10.6 – 9.8, -.8

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Four tied with +.3 (sports talk KNBR; Spanish adult hits KBRG; hot AC KIOI; and rhythmic CHR KYLD)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk news KQED (-.8)

DALLAS

News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD-2 FM” 4.0 – 3.0, -1.0, #10 to #14

Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” 4.1 – 2.6, -1.5, #9 to #17

Audacy-owned KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” 1.9 – 2.0, +.1, #21 to #20

Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting-owned KERA 3.2 – 3.1, -.1, #15 to #13

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KDGE, second month in a row, 5.2 – 5.3, +.1

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Three tied with +.6 (regional Mexican KLNO; country KSCS; and Spanish contemporary KDXX)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: sports talk KTCK (-1.5)

HOUSTON

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” 6.5 – 5.8, -.7, second to fourth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston-owned KUHF 2.9 – 2.8, -.1, unchanged at #17

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, fifth successive month, 7.5 – 7.7, +.2

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: regional Mexican KLTN (+.5)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk KTRH (-.7)

ATLANTA

News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 10.5 – 9.2, -1.3, #1

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” 3.7 – 3.6, -.1, seventh to tenth

Dickey Broadcasting-owned WCNN “The Fan” 1.7 – 1.5, -.2, #16 to #19

Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools’ WABE 3.2, #11, unlisted in February 2021

Number One 6+: Cox Media Group news/talk WSB-AM, 22^nd consecutive month, 10.5 – 9.2, -1.3

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: urban contemporary WVEE (+1.1)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk WSB-AM (-1.3)

PHILADELPHIA

News/Talk: Townsquare Media’s WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 2.0 – 2.1, +.1, remains at #17

Audacy-owned WPHT “Talk Radio 1210” 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, flat at #19

News: Audacy’s KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 6.5 – 6.0, -.5, steady at #3

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WIP “Sports Radio 94” unchanged at 5.3, sixth to fifth

Beasley Media Group’s WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” 2.5 – 2.1, -.4, #15 to #17

Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY’s WHYY 5.2 – 4.6, -.6, seventh to ninth

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia urban AC WDAS-FM, third straight month, 8.0 – 8.1, +.1

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: country WXTU (+1.0)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Two tied with -.6 (public radio news/talk WHYY and rock WMMR)

LONG ISLAND

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 3.2 – 3.4, +.2, #13 to #11

News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 3.0 – 2.7, -.3, #14 to #13

Co-owned WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 3.5 – 2.6, -.9, #10 to #15

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” steady at 4.0, sixth to seventh

Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation-owned WNYC-FM 2.1 – 2.4, +.3, #19 to #16

Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic rock WBAB, first month, 5.2 – 6.1, +.9

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: classic rock WBAB (+.9)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news WCBS-AM (-.9)

RIVERSIDE

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFI “AM 640” 5.4 – 5.0, -.4, second to third

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: San Bernardino Community College’s KVCR flat at .8, steady at #19

Pasadena Area Community College-owned KPCC .4 – .5, +.1, unchanged at #20

Number One 6+: Entravision Communications Spanish adult hits KLYY, seventh month in a row, 6.5 – 6.4, -.1

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies KOLA (+1.3)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Four tied with -.4 (news/talk KFI; adult contemporary KOST; regional Mexican KSCA; and urban-rhythmic oldies KQIE)

SAN JOSE

News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s KGO “810” flat at 2.0, #12 to #11

News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 5.1 – 4.1, -1.0, fourth to sixth

Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KNBR “The Sports Leader” 1.3 – 1.8, +.5, #19 to #14

Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 12.0 – 11.3, -.7, repeats at #1

Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KQED, third straight month, 12.0 – 11.3, -.7

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Four tied with +.5 (sports talk KNBR; classic rock KUFX; hot AC KEZR; and hot AC KLLC)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Two tied with -1.0 (news KCBS-AM & KFRC and adult contemporary KOIT-FM)

MIDDLESEX

News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 4.4 – 3.9, -.5, flat at #6

iHeartMedia’s WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.1 – 1.9,-.2, unchanged at #20

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” steady at 2.5, remains at #17

Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 3.4 – 3.1, -.3, #10 to #12

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic rock WAXQ, third month in a row, 8.1 – 8.7, +.6

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Spanish tropical WSKQ (+1.5)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news WCBS-AM (-1.0)

Up next: March 2021 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis. Email managing editor Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.

Tags: Audacy, Beasley Media Group, Cox Media Group, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, March 2021, Mike Kinosian, news. sports talk, news/talk, Nielsen Audio, ratings, Townsquare Media

Category: Ratings Takeaways