Nielsen Audio has released Day 2 of its monthly four day sweep of ratings in PPM markets.
Today’s releases include Washington DC, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.
All the numbers can be found at RadioInsight.com/Ratings.
Numbers of note for this month:
- We’ve noted for many months now the continued fall from grace by iHeartMedia News/Talk 850 KOA/94.1 K231BQ Denver since its addition of a Sports heavy afternoon show in September. That continued this month as the end of the Denver Broncos season brought the station down from a 2.1 to 1.4 share. KOA was at a 5.0 share as recently as last July.
- But coinciding with the freefall at KOA was the launch of new Conservative Talk “Freedom 93.7” 760 KDFD/K229BS as the company built a new brand around the company’s syndicated Conservative Talkers and moving Rush Limbaugh from KOA. That move has paid off as KDFD surged 2.5 to 3.3 placing it 12th overall in the market.
- Colorado Public Radio’s Public News/Talk 90.1 KCFR takes the Denver market lead back with a 4.8 to 5.5 jump followed closely by iHeartMedia Classic Rock “103.5 The Fox” KRFX at 5.4, Bonneville Country 98.5 KYGO jumping 4.3 to 5.3 for third, Entercom Classic Rock “99.5 The Mountain” KQMT surges 3.5 to 5.2 for fourth, and iHeartMedia AAA 97.3 KBCO moved 3.9 to 4.9 for fifth. Bonneville AC 101.1 KOSI drops to sixth as end of Christmas music brings it down from 14.4 to 4.8.
- Another first-time Christmas music station did not see much audience retention as iHeartMedia AC “Mix 100.7” WMTX Tampa slid 6.0 to 3.6. That puts it in line with the 3.8 share the station held in the December monthly.
- Seeing major growth in Tampa is Radio Training Network Christian AC “The Joy FM” 88.1 WJIS/91.5 WCIE, which surges to second with a 6.0 to 7.2 rise placing it just behind Cox Media Group Soft AC 105.5 WDUV’s 9.9.
- It was a poor month for CHR in Tampa as Cox’s “Hot 101.5” WPOI slid 5.0 to 3.6 and iHeartMedia’s 93.3 WFLZ fell 3.7 to 3.1.
- Beasley Media Classic Hits 105.7 WROR Boston returns to the top with a 6.2 to 8.1 gain following its seasonal loss to Christmas music. iHeartMedia CHR “Kiss 108” 107.9 WXKS-FM follows in second at 6.7 and iHeartMedia News 1030 WBZ is third with a 6.2.
- In what will be its final full month as Rock, 107.3 WAAF Boston rises from a 0.8 to 1.1 share.
- The Vikings playoff run brings iHeartMedia Sports “100.3 KFAN” KFXN Minneapolis back to the top of the market with a 6.8 to 8.4 gain. Hubbard Hot AC “KS95” 94.5 KSTP-FM follows with a 5.8 to 8.2 jump, while Northwestern Media Christian AC 98.5 KTIS-FM places third while dropping 8.2 to 7.0.
- Its rare to lose over 50% of your audience in one month and still see it as a gain, but iHeartMedia AC “99.9 KEZ” KESZ Phoenix dropped 19.2 to 8.2 and retains a share and half point lead over Entercom Classic Hits 94.5 KOOL-FM which rose 5.8 to 6.5.
- In the final monthly before the refresh of Cumulus Media’s Country 93.1 WDRQ Detroit yesterday, the station slid 2.7 to 2.4, while Entercom’s competing 99.5 WYCD rose 3.4 to 4.4.
- Radio One R&B “95.5 The Lou” WFUN-FM St. Louis is one a three month upswing moving 3.9 – 4.4 – 5.0 while swapping out Tom Joyner for Rickey Smiley in mornings.
The best ratings news for conservative talk in ages. Will this cause a major migration of the format to FM and the nail in AM’s coffin?