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.
iHeartMedia AC 97.1 WASH Washington DC was down two shares from its 15.2 share in Holiday 2020, with a 13.2 share this year. That ended a four year stretch of year-to-year gains. However it wasn’t all bad news for WASH as it added an additional 4.5 share in Baltimore, with what Ratings Expert Chris Huff notes is the highest it ever hit in its neighboring market. Atlantic Gateway Christian AC 91.9 WGTS adds an additional 4.0 share for Christmas music.
Audacy AC “Magic 106.7” WMJX Boston also fell from its 2020 Christmas music peak with only a 13.2 share in 2021 compared to a 15.8 in 2020. With Audacy now separating its webstream numbers, WMJX does add an additional 1.4 share online.
In the only market where not one station goes 24/7 Christmas music, Cox Media Group Adult R&B “Hot 105” WHQT continues to lead Miami down 9.3 to 9.0. Cox Soft AC “Easy 93.1” WFEZ was second 7.9 to 8.0 and Audacy AC “101.5 Lite-FM” WLYF rises 6.2 to 6.9.
Four stations continue to split the all-Christmas pie in Seattle. Hubbard AC “Warm 106.9” KRWM rebounds from a 6.0 share in 2020 to 9.6 in 2021. Audacy Soft AC “94.1 The Sound” KSWD was down year-to-year 4.9 to 4.7. Crista Media Christian AC “Spirit 105.3” KCMS-FM rose 4.0 to 4.6 from 2020, while Lotus’ annual “Santa-FM” rebrand of Hot AC “Star 101.5” KPLZ-FM held at the 3.7 share it had last year.
Four stations going to Christmas music diluted the market in Seattle. After leading the market with a 9.2 in 2019, Hubbard AC only place third in the market with a 6.0 share this year. Entercom Soft AC placed sixth with a 4.9 share, had a 4.0 share, and Sinclair which becomes “Santa-FM” every December added an additional 3.7 share.
iHeartMedia AC 100.3 WNIC Detroit shatters its all-time mark with an 18.8 share, which Huff also notes is the largest share for any station in the market since 1973. WNIC was up from a 16.6 share in 2020 and its previous high was 17.9 in 2018.
iHeartMedia AC “99.9 KEZ” KESZ rebounds from 2020’s 16.7 share to 17.7. That is off from the station and market record 19.2 set in 2019.
iHeartMedia Classic Hits “Kool 108” KQQL Minneapolis ends its four year downward trend rising to a 15.1 up significantly from its 11.5 share in 2020. Northwestern Media Christian AC 98.5 KTIS-FM added an additional 5.1 share to Christmas music, while Cumulus Soft AC “Love 105” WGVX/WLUP/WWWM dropped from a 2.2 in 2020 to 1.3 share this year.
Audacy AC 96.5 KYXY San Diego rose from a 9.4 share in 2020 to 10.7 this year.
The three all-Christmas stations in Tampa took the top three spots in the market. Cox Soft AC 105.5 WDUV had a 10.6 share up from a 9.0 in 2020. iHeartMedia AC “Mix 100.7” WMTX was up from 8.2 last year to 8.3 this year marking the highest share on the frequency since 1981. Radio Training Network Christian AC “The Joy FM” 91.5 WCIE rebounded from a 4.9 in 2020 to 6.6 this year.
Bonneville AC 101.1 KOSI Denver rose from a 13.3 in 2020 to 14.0 in 2021.
Audacy AC “Today’s 101.9” WLIF surges from an 11.0 share in 2020 to 17.7 this year to have the largest share for any station in the Baltimore market since 1975. Its webstream adds an additional 1.0 share. As previously mentioned, WASH adds an additional 4.5 share in Baltimore. Peter & John Radio Fellowship Christian AC “95.1 Shine-FM” WRBS-FM registered a 4.1 share after not subscribing to Nielsen in 2020.
Audacy AC 102.5 KEZK St. Louis sets a new high mark with a 17.1 share, which Huff notes is the largest share for any station in the market since 1993. KEZK held a 16.9 in 2020.
In non-Christmas music related moves:
Audacy Variety Hits “Big 103” WBGB Boston trends up 2.5 – 3.0 – 3.7, although sister Hot AC “Mix 104.1” WWBX gets hit hard with a 4.4 – 3.6 – 1.8 drop.
Public News/Talk 91.5 KJZZ Phoenix jumps up 4.8 to 5.7 for what Huff notes is an all-time record high for the station. iHeartMedia Conservative Talk 550 KFYI trends down 5.1 – 4.6 – 3.4, while Bonneville News/Talk 92.3 KTAR-FM slides 3.4 – 2.9 – 2.4.
A similar move took place in San Diego where Public News/Talk 89.5 KPBS-FM jumped up 4.7 – 5.3 – 6.8, while iHeartMedia News/Talk 600 KOGO trends down 5.0 – 4.4 – 2.6.
Colorado Public Radio Classical 88.1 KVOD Denver jumps up 2.9 to 4.2. iHeartMedia News/Talk 850/94.1 KOA rises 2.9 to 3.8.
Gateway Christian Broadcasting Christian AC “99.1 Joy-FM” KLJY St. Louis jumped up 7.4 to 9.0.
