Radio Ratings Roundup, December 2023, Part III

December 29, 2023

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in a tight formation with the reindeer-driving wizards from XTRENDS – are taking a break from printing out our AMAZON return receipts to bring you our third installment of the DECEMBER survey. This one began on NOVEMBER 9^TH and polished itself off on DECEMBER 6^TH. It had a federally mandated three-day weekend, the annual feast of the fatted fowl and, of course, the reappearance of such renowned audio artists as THURL RAVENSCROFT and the duo ELMO AND PATSY. That these three are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a true miscarriage of justice. We will attempt to stifle our outrage as we bury you in the numbers…

SEATTLE-TACOMA: The Christmas Wars

This market is an outlier as five – count ‘em – five stations jumped into the icy waters of the NORTH POLE. Only three of them made our nice list, but none were strong enough to topple the apex predator. AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) was #1 6+ for the second book in a row – and sixth time in the last seven surveys (8.3-6.7). UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was back at #2 (6.8-6.2). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) went all holly and jolly on the fifth day of the book. It leapt from #9 to #3 (4.2-6.0). Last year the station posted a 10.0 share. Also coming in at #3 was iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK (5.7-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) descended to #5 (5.0-5.3). AUDACY Soft Rock KSWD (94.1 THE SOUND) joined the Frosty fray on day four and advanced from #10 to #6 (3.8-4.9). It posted a 4.5 share a year ago. AUDACY Album Oriented Rock KISW slipped three places to #7 (5.0-4.8). CRISTA Christian AC KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) got into the, uh, spirit towards the end of week number two of the book. It remained at #21 (1.6-2.0). The station had a 4.0 share last year. KRWM went from #3 to #1 in cume, thanks to a 24.7% increase (509,600-635,700). The market was off by 0.2%.

KKWF won the 25-54 demo for the fifth straight survey, though with its smallest share of the run. KISW repeated at #2 and just nipped KRWM, which moved from #5 to #3. KZOK was up two slots to #4 with its best performance in over a year. Two format competitors dropped into a tie at #5. HUBBARD CHR KQMV (MOViN’ 92.5) returned all of last month’s solid share increase, while iHEARTMEDIA CHRKBKS (HITS 106.1) had its first down book since JUNE. KSWD had a – ahem – sound showing as it leapt from #15 to #7. KCMS remained at #19.

KZOK had its best 18-34 book since FEBRUARY as it rose from #3 to #1. KRWM moved up four slots to #2 but remained about a share off the pace. KKWF not only saw its two-book winning streak come to a halt, it also fell out of double-digit land with its smallest share since JULY. It was resting at #3 along with KQMV, which ended a strong two-book surge. KISW and KBKS had been tied at #4. KISW was up but dipped to #5, while KBKS was down and dropped to #7. KSWD slid from #12 to #15.

KRWM was a leapin’ lord as it rose from #8 to #1 with the 18-49 crowd. This ended the four-book winning streak for KKWF, which dipped to #2. Also coming in at #2 was KZOK, which advanced from #5. KBKS slipped to #4 and was tied with KISW. Both stations had down books. KQMV fell four places to #6 with its lowest mark since AUGUST. KSWD moved from #13 to #9.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Not one major player decided to fully celebrate the season. As a result, the top four 6+ stations remained the same. As usual, COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105) was #1 (8.5-8.3). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR 107.5)was back at #2 (7.1-7.1), while COX MEDIA Soft AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) remained at #3 (6.0-5.8). Nipping at its heels, if not its nose, was AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM), which had its best book since AUGUST (5.1-5.7). SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7 FM) had its best outing since FEBRUARY (3.4-4.5) to advance from #10 to #5. SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3) dipped to #6 (4.4-4.4). For the first time in over a year, WFEZ was not the cume leader. That title was bestowed upon WLYF, which moved up despite a 4.2% decline. The market fell by 1.7%.

WAMR was the 25-54 leader for the fourth straight survey. It held a half share lead over the two stations at #2. WHQT remained in place with a solid increase, while WXDJ moved up a slot with its best showing in over a year. WLYF stepped up to #4, also with its best book in over a year. AUDACY Country WKIS (KISS COUNTRY 99.9) dipped to #5, despite bouncing back from a down book. During the THANKSGIVING break, iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) abandoned its Hot AC format. It seemed to have worked out quite well as the station rose from #15 to #6.

For the fourth book in a row, WHQT was #1 18-34, though the station did not extend its double-digit streak to three. WAMR was back at #2 but with its smallest share since JUNE. It was partnered with COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ), which moved up from #4 with a solid share increase. WFEZ had its best outing since JULY as it advanced three spaces to #4. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WRTO (MIX 98.3) slid to #5 with its lowest mark since MAY. It was tied with WXDJ, which vaulted from #9 as it halted a four-book slide. SBS Latino Urban WRMA (RITMO 95.7) fell four slots to #8 as it returned most of last month’s share increase.

Though it was off slightly, WHQT extended its long-running streak of #1 18-49 books. WAMR repeated at #2 with a small decrease, while WXDJ stepped up to #3 with its highest score since AUGUST. WMIA made the leap o’ the month as it rose from #14 to #4. A flat WRTO slid to #5, while WKIS dipped to #6 despite landing its largest share in over a year.

PHOENIX: Deck The Cacti With Boughs Of Holly

iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) switched into Santa mode on the final day of the NOVEMBER survey. The station was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (8.2-15.2) and easily surpassed last year’s 11.3 share. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was back at #2 (7.6-7.2), while DESERT VALLEY Classic Hits KOAI (95.1/94.9 THE WOW FACTOR) repeated at #3 (5.3-5.0). HUBBARD Album Oriented Rock KUPD remained at #4 with its third down book in a row (5.0-4.6). HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (Alt AZ 93.3) had its best book in over a year, which propelled the station from #9 to #5 (3.4-4.2). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) landed its lowest share since FEBRUARY as it slid to #7 (4.3-3.6). KESZ was still the cume commander with a 29.6% increase (830,100-1,075,400). The market shrank by 0.3%.

KESZ repeated as the leading 25-54 station and more than doubled its previous share. As a matter of fact, it had more share than the next two stations – combined. KUPD was back at #2 with its lowest score since JULY, while KDKB stepped up to #3 with its highest mark in over a year. KSLX slipped to #4, while KYOT inched up to #5. AUDACY CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5) rebounded from a down book to advance from #10 to #6. iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX slid two slots to #7 with its lowest total since MARCH.

For the third straight survey, KESZ was #1 18-34. This time the station scored a large double-digit share. KDKB stepped up to #2 with its best outing since MAY. AUDACY Country KMLE repeated at #3 with a slight increase. It had company as KUPD rose from #7 as it halted a two-book slide. KNIX remained at #5 with a slight decrease, while KALV slid four slots to #6 as it returned all of last month’s huge share increase.

Not only was KESZ #1 18-49 for the fourth book in a row – and the thirteenth time in the last 14 surveys – the station almost had as much share as the next three stations combined. KDKB was up three places to #2 with its highest mark in over a year, while KUPD dipped to #3 with a slight increase. KALV stepped down to #4 with its fifth down book in a row. A flat KMLE advanced from #8 to #5, while KSLX slid to #6 with its smallest share in over a year.

DETROIT: Jolly Old Saint NIC

iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC was gorging itself on the figgy pudding six days before the end of the NOVEMBER book. This time the station stepped up to #1 (7.5-11.8) and just eclipsed last year’s 11.7 share. AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) kept riding the football wave, even though it dipped to #2 (9.6-9.6). The station did gain an additional 1.7 share from its stream. iHEARTMEDIA CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) and AUDACY Country WYCD were tied at #3 last month. WKQI remained in place but with its fifth straight down book (6.9-6.6). WYCD stepped down to #4 with its smallest share since JULY (6.9-6.4). It was tied with BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX, which moved up from #5 (6.6-6.4). WNIC extended its cume lead with a 23.4% increase (949,600-1,171,600). The market was off by 0.4%.

For the third straight survey, WXYT was both #1 and in double digits in the 25-54 space. WNIC was not far behind as it moved up two slots to #2 with a double-digit performance. WKQI dipped to #3 with its lowest mark since APRIL, while BEASLEY Album Oriented Rock WRIF stepped down to #4 with its smallest share in over a year. WYCD repeated at #5 with a small decrease.

WNIC ascended four rungs to the 18-34 throne with a strong double-digit share. WKQI was also in double figures – for the twelfth book in a row – but had its 11-month winning streak snapped as it moved down to #2. WXYT dipped to #3 as it could not quite match last month’s double-digit performance. WYCD was back at #4 but with a noticeable loss of share. It was tied with BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WMGC (105.1 THE BOUNCE), which arrived from #7 as it ended a three-book slide. WRIF fell three places to #6.

WNIC jumped from #4 to #1 18-49 and hit double digits. WXYT remained in double figures but had to step down to #2. WKQI dipped to #3 and saw its seven-book double-digit streak come to an end. WRIF was down to #4 with its lowest score in over a year, while WYCD held steady at #5 with a modest share loss.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: KOOL Yule

iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) made the Frosty flip on the second day of the book, which drove the station from #3 to #1 6+ (7.0-12.2). Last year the station posted an 11.4 share. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Christian Contemporary KTIS dipped to #2, bringing an end to its eight-book winning streak (10.3-9.6). The station also hung up its stockings on THANKSGIVING DAY. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3) rode the JOSH DOBBS bubble for as long as it could but it stepped down to #3 as it halted a four-book surge (8.9-7.6). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) slipped to #4 with its lowest mark since last CHRISTMAS when I gave you my heart (7.0-5.9). Ear worm alert! MPR N/T KNOW was back at #5 (5.7-5.5) and was tied with CUMULUS Album Oriented Rock KXXR (93X), which moved up a spot (5.6-5.5). KNOW did pick up an additional 0.7 share from its stream. KQQL was still the cume leader (734,600-858,400) – a 16.9% increase. The market was down 1.5%.

KQQL nearly doubled its previous 25-54 share as it went over the river and through the woods from #7 to #1. KFXN was in double-digits for the third book in a row but stepped down to #2. KSTP dipped to #3 and saw its double-digit streak end at six. KXXR slipped to #4 with a small decrease, while KTIS was down to #5 despite being up for the third book in a row. AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) slipped to #6 with a slight decrease.

iHEARTMEDIA CHR KDWB was #1 18-34 for the ninth book in a row. However, the stations 12-book double-digit streak came to a halt. KXXR ended a strong two-book surge but still moved up to #2. KQQL advanced three four spaces to #3. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) landed its lowest share in over a year as it slid to #4. Meanwhile, KTIS had its best book in over a year to move up three spots to #5. It was tied with KSTP, which slipped from #4 as it returned a good portion of last month’s huge increase.

KQQL hit double-digits as it vaulted from #7 to #1 18-49. KSTP stepped down to #2 as its 11-book winning streak was snapped. This was also the first time since APRIL that the station was not in double figures. KXXR remained at #3 with a small decrease. KFXN ended a robust four-book surge as it dropped to #4. KTIS was back at #5 with its highest score since AUGUST. KDWB posted its lowest share in over a year as it slid three places to #7.

Three down, one to go. The holiday hijinks will continue shortly as we examine the ratings fortunes of TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, NASSAU-SUFFOLK, and CHARLOTTE. Oh, and subscribe to our blog here.

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-Steve Allan, Programming Ratings Consultant

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About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or e-mail info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.

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