Day 3 of Nielsen Audio’s PPM releases are now available for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.

All the numbers can be found at RadioInsight.com/Ratings.

iHeartMedia AC “Magic 107.7” WMGF Orlando had the highest overall share for today’s releases. After leading the nation in the December monthly with a 13.3 share, WMGF rose to a 17.0 up from a 15.4 in Holiday 2019 and 14.3 in 2018. Ratings Expert Chris Huff notes that is the highest share recorded in the Orlando market since 1971.

Beasley AC “K104.7” WKQC Charlotte continues its four year Holiday upswing growing 11.0 – 12.9 – 14.5 – 15.6. Huff adds that is the largest share in the market since 1988.

For the first time since 2015, Bonneville AC 100.3 KSFI failed to generate over a 20 share of the Salt Lake City market. After a 23.2 in 2017, 21.8 in 2018 and 21.1 share in 2019, KSFI only reached an 18.5 share in 2020.

The continued three-way Christmas battle in Portland saw the two big players down from 2019. iHeartMedia AC “K103” KKCW hit a 12.9 share this year following 13.9 in 2019 and 16.2 in 2018. Entercom Variety Hits “97.1 Charlie-FM” KYCH was down from a 6.7 in 2019 to 4.9 in 2020, while Salem Christian AC “104.1 The Fish” KFIS-FM was barely up 3.0 to 3.1.

iHeartMedia AC “Q101.9” KQXT San Antonio rises from a 10.5 in 2019 to a 11.3 this year.

The Christmas station battle in Pittsburgh narrows this year. Perennial leader “94.5 3WS” WWSW continues its four year downward slide 16.4 – 13.6 – 13.6 – 13.3. Renda AC “Wish 99.7” WSHH rebounds 7.6 to 9.0 year-to-year.

Bonneville AC “Mix 96” KYMX Sacramento rebounds from a 12.6 in 2019 to a 13.6 in 2020.

After surging from 12.8 to 15.8 last year, iHeartMedia AC “Sunny 106.5” KSNE Las Vegas slips back to a 14.2.

The top Christmas station in Cleveland see-saws back for the fourth straight year. iHeartMedia Classic Hits “Majic 105.7” WMJI rose 10.8 to 11.6 from 2019, while Entercom AC “Star 102.1” WDOK fell from a 11.8 to 10.0. Salem’s “95.5 The Fish” WFHM no longer subscribes to Nielsen and Rubber City Radio’s 107.3 WNWV was stunting in 2019.

iHeartMedia Variety Hits “93.3 The Bus” WODC Columbus slipped 9.4 to 8.9. Saga AC “Sunny 94.7” WSNY held a 9.7 share in 2019 but no longer subscribes.

Cumulus AC “Warm 98.5” WRRM Cincinnati continues to slip 14.6 – 13.1 – 12.3 over the past three years. Pillar of Fire Christian AC “Star 93.3” WAKW does not subscribe.

The Christmas battle in Kansas City narrows. Cumulus Classic Hits 94.9 KCMO-FM slips 12.8 to 10.4 year over year, while Steel City Media AC “KC 102.1” KCKC jumps up 5.0 to 7.1.

• A potential reason for the Christmas stations being down in Portland could be the performance of two non-commercial stations. Classical 89.9 KQAC surged 3.9 to 5.2 month-to-month for what Huff notes is a new station record. Jazz 89.1 KMHD rose 1.5 to 2.1.
• Hot AC is usually one of the formats to slip in the Holiday book. One exception was iHeartMedia’s “My 99.5” KJMY Salt Lake City with a 2.7 to 3.1 gain.
• Three Adult R&B stations had significant month-to-month gains. Radio One’s “105.3 R&B” WOSF Charlotte rose 3.7 to 4.9. Beasley’s “Jammin 105.7” KOAS Las Vegas was up 3.1 to 3.6, and Cox’s “Star 94.5” WCFB Orlando was up 5.8 to 6.5.
• iHeartMedia’s “Alt 105.7” WXZX Columbus continues to grow following its flip in early November rising 0.8 – 1.1 – 1.5.