Thursday, April 22, 2021
Warning: Illegal string offset 'video_embed' in /home/talkers/public_html/wp-content/themes/wp-prosper-prem/functions.php on line 1011
March 2021 PPM Data – Information for the March 2021 ratings period has been released for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.
Nielsen Audio’s March 2021 sweep covered March 4 – March 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 the most significant (6+) improvement and erosion.
All comparisons noted are February 2021 – March 2021 (6+).
PORTLAND
News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 6.0 – 5.7, -.3, second to fourth
iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 3.4 – 2.7, -.7, #12 to #16
Alpha Media’s KUFO “Freedom 970” 1.4 – 1.6, +.2, #21 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 11.2 – 10.7, -.5, repeats at #1
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KOPB, third month in a row, 11.2 – 10.7, -.5
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Three tied at +1.0 (triple A KINK; CHR KBFF; and regional Mexican KRYP)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: classical KQAC (-.9)
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk: Audacy-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 5.5 – 5.0, -.5, fourth to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFNZ “Sports Radio The Fan” .7 – .9, +.2, steady at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation-owned WFAE 5.1 – 4.1, -1.0, #6 to #11
South Carolina Educational Television Commission’s WNSC flat at .6, remains at #20
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group adult contemporary WKQC, fifth successive month, 7.5 – 6.7, -.8
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: CHR WHQC (+.9)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Two tied at -1.0 (public radio news/talk WFAE and classical WDAV)
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” 6.7 – 5.0, -1.7, second to seventh
Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” flat at 1.6, #19 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 3.7 – 3.6, -.1, #11 to #12
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, third consecutive month, 8.3 – 9.6, +1.3
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies KONO-FM (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk WOAI (-1.7)
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 9.6 – 8.2, -1.4, first to second
Co-owned KSTE “Talk 650” 1.9 – 2.1, +.2, #13 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio’s KXJZ 5.9 – 5.3, -.6, fifth to sixth
KQED, Inc.’s KQEI .9 – .8, -.1, #16 to #19
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KYMX, first month, 6.7 – 8.5, +1.8
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KYMX (+1.8)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM (-1.4)
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 5.3 – 4.7, -.6, fifth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” 7.0 – 6.2, -.8, fourth to fifth
Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 4.1 – 3.1, -1.0, #9 to #11
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia rock WDVE, first month, 9.0 – 9.7, +.7
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WSHH (+1.0)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WESA (-1.0)
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio” 7.0 – 6.8, -.2, second to third
iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 7.0 – 6.5, -.5, second to fourth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 5.7 – 4.7, -1.0, fourth to sixth
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI, second consecutive month, 7.1 – 8.4, +1.3
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KSFI (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk KUER (-1.0)
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Nevada Public Radio Corporation-owned KNPR 2.9 – 2.3, -.6, #11 to #16
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE, fifth month in a row, 8.1 – 7.2, -.9
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Two tied at +.7 (hot AC KMXB and alternative KXTE)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: adult contemporary KSNE (-.9)
ORLANDO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 6.4 – 5.9, -.5, fourth to fifth
Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 3.3 – 3.2, -.1, #12 to #11
iHeartMedia’s WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.7 – 1.4, -.3, unchanged at #18
Spanish News/Talk: Star Over Orlando-owned WRSO “Accion 97.9” .9 – 1.3, +.4, #21 to #19
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WYGM “96.9 The Game” unchanged at 1.3, remains at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections’ WMFE 3.6 – 2.4, -1.2, #10 to #15
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies WOCL, third straight month, 10.9 – 9.2, -1.7
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Two tied at +1.0 (adult contemporary WMGF and country WWKA)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WOCL (-1.7)
CINCINNATI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” 8.8 – 9.1, +.3, first to second
Co-owned WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 5.5 – 4.3, -1.2, fifth to tenth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” .9 – .7, -.2, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio-owned WVXU 3.2 – 3.7, +.5, #12 to #11
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WGRR, first month, 8.7 – 9.4, +.7
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: rock WEBN (+.9)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk WKRC (-1.2)
CLEVELAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” 6.3 – 6.9, +.6, seventh to fourth
News: iHeartMedia-owned WMMS-HD2 “BIN 99.1 Because Truth Matters” steady at .1, #18 to #19
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” unchanged at 3.4, #12 to #11
Public Radio News/Talk: Ideastream-owned WCPN 3.8 – 3.2, -.6, #10 to #12
Kent State University’s WKSU .6 – .7, +.1, flat at #17
Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock WNCX, first month, 10.3 – 10.6, +.3
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult hits WHLK (+.9)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: country WGAR (-1.5)
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk: Audacy’s KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 5.7 – 5.6, -.1, fifth to fourth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Union Broadcasting’s WHB “Sports Radio 810” 2.4 – 2.8, +.4, unchanged at #15
Audacy-owned KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri’s KCUR 5.7 – 5.3, -.4, fifth to eighth
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies KCMO-FM, fourth successive month, 10.0 – 8.8, -1.2
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: country KFKF (+1.2)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KCMO-FM (-1.2)
COLUMBUS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTVN “News Radio 610” 7.5 – 5.9, -1.6, fourth to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” 4.7 – 5.4, +.7, remains at #6
Co-owned WBNS-AM “ESPN 1460 AM” flat at .2, unchanged at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 7.6 – 6.6, -1.0, remains at #3
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia country WCOL, third straight month, 10.0 – 11.3, +1.3
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: country WCOL (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk WTVN (-1.6)
Up next: March 2021 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford. Email managing editor Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.
Category: Ratings Takeaways