BIA Advisory Services has released its annual list of the top billing radio stations in the country.
For the seventh year in a row, Hubbard News 103.5 WTOP Washington DC with $70 million in revenue. WTOP rose from the past couple of years when it billed $62 million in the 2020 pandemic year and $69.8 million in 2019. BIA notes that Hubbard as a group accounted for 30.5% of the over-the-air revenue in the Washington DC market, 29.1% of which went to WTOP.
The last station other than WTOP to lead the nation in billing, iHeartMedia CHR 102.7 KIIS-FM Los Angeles is in second place for the seventh straight year as its revenue rises from $39.8 million in 2020 to $43 million in 2021, but way down from its pre-pandemic $59.9 million in 2019.
iHeartMedia AC “106.7 Lite-FM” WLTW New York holds in third place for the second straight year with $34.6 million ($30.8 million in 2020).
Audacy News 780 WBBM/105.9 WCFS Chicago moves up from fifth to fourth with $34 million (up from $29.7 million). It made the biggest year-to-year gain with 14.5% improvement over 2020, but still down from $39.0 million in 2019.
Beasley Media Sports “98.5 The Sports Hub” WBZ-FM Boston is up to fifth place rising from $29.6 million in 2020 to $33.4 million in 2021.
iHeartMedia CHR “Z100” WHTZ New York is sixth with $33 million after $29.3 million in 2020.
iHeartMedia Hot AC “104.3 My-FM” KBIG Los Angeles places seventh with $32.3 million in 2021 rising from $29.3 million in 2020, far down from its $45.15 million in 2019.
The top ten is rounded out by three of Audacy’s New York stations. News 1010 WINS rose to $31.6 million from $28.1 million in 2020. Sports 660 WFAN/101.9 WFAN-FM was just behind with $31.5 million up from $28 million. News 880 WCBS returned to the top ten with $30.9 million.
Dropping out of the top ten after placing fourth in 2020 thanks to a huge election year bump to $30 million in billing was Cox Media Group News/Talk 750 WSB/95.5 WSBB Atlanta. BIA notes it ranked twelfth in 2021.
BIA for the first time also released a list of the top ten billers by ownership group.
iHeartMedia led with its 865 stations in 150 markets bringing in $2.2 billion. iHeart rose from $1.97 in 2020, but is down from $2.56 billion in 2019.
Audacy placed second with its 231 stations in 47 markets $1.345 billion. This is up from $1.2 billion in 2020, but down from nearly $1.6 billion in 2019.
Third was Cumulus Media’s 407 stations in 85 markets making $481 million up from $470 million in 2020, but down from $531 million in 2019.
Hubbard was the top privately-owned group with 54 stations in 10 markets placing fourth with $252 million in revenue.
The list was rounded out by TelevisaUnivision, Beasley Media Group, Townsquare Media, Cox Media Group, Radio One, and Bonneville.
