March 2021 PPM Data – Information for the March 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 March 2021 survey period 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 highest (6+) positive spikes and sharpest declines.

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

WASHINGTON, DC

News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” 6.0 – 3.9, -2.1, fourth to ninth

News: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WTOP & WTLP “Washington’s Top News” 9.9 – 9.0, -.9, flat at #2

Audacy business news WDCH “99.1 & 105.7-HD2 Bloomberg Radio” 1.2 – 1.1, -.1, unchanged at #19

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJFK-FM “106.7 The Fan” 1.4 – 1.7, +.3, steady at #18

Public Radio News/Talk: American University-owned WAMU 10.2 – 9.7, -.5, repeating at #1

Pacifica Foundation’s public radio news/talk – jazz WPFW 1.2 – 1.1, -.1, steady at #19

Number One 6+: public radio news/talk WAMU, third straight month, 10.2 – 9.7, -.5

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: country WMZQ (+.8)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: news/talk WMAL (-2.1)

 BOSTON

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRKO “AM 680 The Voice Of Boston” 5.2 – 4.4, -.8, flat at #8

News – Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM “News Radio 1030” 7.5 – 6.4, -1.1, first to fourth

Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group’s WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” 6.1 – 6.9, +.8, fourth to second

Audacy-owned WEEI-FM “93.7 Boston’s Sports Station” 3.3 – 3.0, -.3, #10 to #11

Public Radio News/Talk: Boston University‘s WBUR 4.4 – 4.6, +.2, ninth to seventh

WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 5.6 – 4.4, -1.2, sixth to eighth

Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic hits-oldies WROR, second month in a row, 7.5 – 7.7, +.2

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: sports talk WBZ-FM (+.8)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WGBH (-1.2)

MIAMI

Spanish News/Talk: Univision Radio-owned WAQI “710 AM Radio Mambi” unchanged at 2.6, remains at #13

Actualidad Media Group’s WURN-AM “Actualidad AM 1040” flat at 2.2, steady at #17

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board-owned WLRN 4.3 – 3.7, -.6, seventh to eighth

Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WFEZ, sixth successive month, unchanged at 9.1

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Two tied at +.6 (urban AC WHQT and urban contemporary WEDR)

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

SEATTLE

News/Talk: Bonneville’s KIRO-FM “97.3 FM” 7.3 – 6.4, -.9, repeating at #1

Co-owned KTTH “AM 770 Conservative Talk Radio” 2.8 – 2.6, -.2, #16 to #18

News: Sinclair Broadcast Group’s KOMO-AM & KOMO-FM “Seattle News, Weather, Sports” 5.2 – 5.0, -.2, remains at #5

Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-AM “710 AM ESPN Seattle” 2.6 – 2.7, +.1, #18 to #17

Public Radio News/Talk: Northwest Public Radio’s KUOW 6.7 – 5.6, -1.1, second to third

Number One 6+: news/talk KIRO-FM, fifth consecutive month, 7.3 – 6.4, -.9

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: country KNUC (+1.5)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk KUOW (-1.1)

DETROIT

News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WJR “News Talk 760 AM” 4.8 – 4.3, -.5, eighth to tenth

News: Audacy-owned WWJ News Radio 950” 5.0 – 4.6, -.4, fifth to eighth

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WXYT-FM “97.1 The Ticket” flat at 4.9, seventh to sixth

Public Radio News/Talk: Wayne State University-owned WDET 2.5 – 2.2, -.3, remains at #16

Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies WOMC, first month, 6.2 – 7.2, +1.0

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

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: adult contemporary WNIC (-.8)

PHOENIX

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFYI “News Talk 550” 5.3 – 4.5, -.8, third to fifth

Bonneville-owned KTAR-FM “News 92.3 FM” 4.0 – 3.6, -.4, eighth to ninth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KMVP-FM “Arizona Sports 98.7 FM” flat at 2.4, steady at #20

Public Radio News/Talk: Maricopa County Community College-owned KJZZ 3.5 – 3.8, +.3, ninth to eighth

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KESZ, fifth straight month, 7.1 – 6.4, -.7

Largest 6+ February 2021- March 2021 Increase: Two tied at +.7 (classic rock KSLX and country KMLE)

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

MINNEAPOLIS

News/Talk: Audacy’s WCCO News Talk 830” 4.7 – 5.0, +.3, ninth to eighth

iHeartMedia-owned KTLK “Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130” flat at 4.0, #12 to #11

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFXN “FM 100.3 K-Fan” 7.4 – 6.7, -.7, remains at #3

Public Radio News/Talk: Minnesota Public Radio’s KNOW 8.5 – 7.1, -1.4, steady at #2

Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC KSTP-FM, second straight month, 9.8 – 9.2, -.6

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Three tied at +.8 (classic hits-oldies KQQL; adult hits KZJK; and urban-rhythmic oldies KTCZ-HD3)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk KNOW (-1.4)

SAN DIEGO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KOGO “News Radio 600” 5.3 – 5.4, +.1, fifth to fourth

Los Angeles sibling KFI “AM 640” 2.2 – 1.9, -.3, remains at #17

Co-owned KGB-AM “760 AM” 1.9 – 1.8, -.1, #18 to #19

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s KWFN “97.3 The Fan” 1.4 – 1.6, +.2, #21 to #20

Public Radio News/Talk: San Diego State University-owned KPBS 6.4 – 6.3, -.1, repeats at #1

Number One 6+ (Tie): public radio news/talk KPBS, second successive month, 6.2 – 6.4, +.2 and Audacy classic hits-oldies KXSN, first month, 6.2 – 6.3, +.1

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: hot AC KMYI (+.9)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: classic rock KGB-FM (-.8)

TAMPA

News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WHPT “102.5 The Bone – Real, Raw, Radio” 5.1 – 4.2, -.9, fourth to ninth

iHeartMedia-owned WFLA “News Radio 970” 3.8 – 3.9, +.1, #11 to #10

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WDAE “Tampa Bay’s Sports Radio” 2.0 – 1.6, -.4, unchanged at #19

Public Radio News/Talk: University of South Florida-owned WUSF 3.4 – 3.3, -.1, steady at #14

Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV, 105^th month in a row, 7.0 – 8.5, +1.5

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WDUV (+1.5)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: contemporary Christian WCIE (-1.6)

DENVER

 News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KDFD “Freedom 93.7” 3.1 – 2.6, -.5, #11 to #12

Co-owned KOA “News Radio 850” 2.0 – 2.2, +.2, steady at #15

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KKFN “104.3 The Fan” 2.8 – 2.2, -.6, #13 to #15

Public Radio News/Talk: Colorado Public Radio-owned KCFR 7.1 – 6.1, -1.0, remains at #2

Number One 6+: Bonneville country KYGO, second straight month, 7.4 – 6.8, -.6

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: Two tied with +1.0 (jazz KUVO and triple A KJAC)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk KCFR (-1.0)

BALTIMORE

News/Talk: Hearst Television’s WBAL News Radio 1090” 4.2 – 4.0, -.2, eighth to seventh

WCBM Maryland-owned WCBM “Talk Radio AM 680” 3.4 – 2.9, -.5, #12 to #13

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJZ-FM “Baltimore Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan” unchanged at 3.0, #13 to #11

Public Radio News/Talk: Your Public Radio Corporation’s WYPR 4.3 – 2.9, -1.4, #7 to #13

American University-owned WAMU 1.2 – 1.3, +.1, #19 to #17

Number One 6+: Radio One urban AC WWIN-FM, third successive month, 9.4 – 10.0, +.6

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: adult hits WQSR (+.7)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WYPR (-1.4)

ST. LOUIS

News/Talk: Audacy’s KMOX “The Voice Of St. Louis” 4.4 – 4.0, -.4, #9 to #11

Co-owned KFTK “Talk 97.1 FM” 3.3 – 3.2, -.1, #13 to #14

KFTK’s internet stream 1.4 – .7, -.7, #18 to #19

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting’s WXOS “101 ESPN” 4.0 – 3.6, -.4, #12 to #13

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KWMU 3.2 – 3.0, -.2, flat at #15

Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting rock KSHE, third month in a row, 12.4 – 12.8, +.4

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Increase: CHR KSLZ (+.6)

Largest 6+ February 2021 – March 2021 Decrease: Three tied with -.7 (news/talk KFTK’s internet stream; classic hits-oldies KLOU; and hot AC KYKY)

Up next: March  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