Radio Ratings Roundup, December 2023, Part IV

December 29, 2023

Welcome back to our final look at the DECEMBER survey. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. could not bring you this here missive 13 times a year without our partners from XTRENDS. If we are Santa, then they are the reindeer that make this all possible. Sure, Santa gets all the credit, but he’d be sitting on his ample posterior up at the NORTH POLE without Rudolph and his minions. XTRENDS provide the numbers; we throw in the snark.

This survey ran from NOVEMBER 9^TH through DECEMBER 6^TH. We saluted our veterans, we put ourselves into a collective food coma and radio stations all over AMERICA started playing ANDY WILLIAMS records. This is truly an amazing TIME TO BE ALIVE.

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: The Christmas Conflict

Three different radio stations decided to assault the airwaves with all things Kringle. It worked out well for all of them. COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) made the switch towards the end of the NOVEMBER survey. The station extended its long string of #1 6+ books as it bounced back from its lowest score in over a year (6.8-8.2). Last year it posted an 8.1 share. The station also picked an extra 0.4 share from its stream.  BEASLEY Country WQYK was back at #2 (6.0-5.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) stepped up to #3 (5.4-5.5). It was tied with COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE), which advanced from #5 as it ended a three-book slide (4.7-5.5). BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) fell three slots to #5 as it returned about half of last month’s large share increase (6.0-5.3). The next two stations were all about the figgy pudding. iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) flipped on day two of the survey and rose from #11 to #6 (3.8-5.1). Last year it landed a 4.7 share. RADIO TRAINING Christian Contemporary WCIE (THE JOY FM) entered the holiday chat room the day after THANKSGIVING. It moved up a spot to #7 (4.3-5.0). Last year yielded a 5.5 share. WDUV still had the most cume despite a 4.7% decrease (574,100-547,100). The market was up by 1.1%.

WQYK landed its largest share in over a year to repeat as the 25-54 leader. COX MEDIA Talk WHPT (102.5 THE BONE) had a slight increase as it stood alone at #2, while WFUS dipped to #3. WMTX was up two places to #4, while BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) repeated at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Album Oriented Rock WXTB slipped to #6 as it gave back all of last month’s solid share increase. WDUV was up two slots to #9, while WCIE moved from #13 to #10.

Looks like the 18-34 populace was all in on the holiday tuneage. WMTX leapt from #9 to #1, while WDUV rose from #11 to #2. Both stations more than doubled their previous shares. COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) went from first to third as it returned a good portion of last month’s massive share increase. COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) stepped up to #4 with its highest mark since AUGUST. WLLD and WQYK were at #2 and #3, respectively, in the last survey. Both stations had down books as they fell into a tie at #5. WFUS dropped four places to #7 and was joined by WCIE, which turned it up from #11. WRBQ moved from #5 to #9 and was huddled together with WXTB and iHEARTMEDIA CHR WFLZ.

Despite a small share loss, WFUS repeated at the 18-49 leader. Not far behind was WDUV, which used Santa Claus Lane to move from #10 to #2. Three stations were sharing some eggnog at #3. WLLD stepped down from #2 with a small decrease, while WQYK inched up from #4 with a small increase. WMTX rose from #8. WXTB slid three slots to #6, while WTBV fell four places to #8 and was paired with WWRM. WCIE went from #13 to #10.

DENVER-BOULDER: All Snug And KOSI

BONNEVILLE AC KOSI went all in on BURL IVES at the beginning of the second week of the survey. It was a good move as the station rose from #3 to #1 6+ (5.7-10.1). Last year it debuted with a 9.8 share. BONNEVILLE Country KYGO repeated at #2 (5.8-5.9), while KSE RADIO VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) stepped up to #3 with its best outing in over a year (5.1-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) moved up to #4 as it ended a two-book slide (4.7-5.2). KSE RADIO VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) had its smallest share since FEBRUARY as it dropped from first to fifth (6.0-5.0). This also ended the station’s two-book winning streak. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) scored its lowest mark since JANUARY (5.0-4.2) as it slid to #7. KOSI added to its cume lead with a 12.1% increase (531,400-595,900). The market was off by 0.1%.

KOSI was #1 25-54 back in OCTOBER and dropped to #2 last month. It was back to being #1 with a bullet, thanks to a massive share influx. KTCL stepped down to #2 with its lowest number since MARCH. KIMN leapt from #8 to #3 with its best book since MAY, while KRFX advanced from #7 to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. A flat KYGO repeated at #5, while ENTRAVISION Spanish Adult Hits KJMN (LA SUAVECITA 92.1) slipped to #6 as it ended a strong four-book surge. It was partnered with EMF Christian Contemporary KLDV (K-LOVE), which arose from #13 as it, too, bounced back from a down book. KXKL fell from #3 to #8.

For the first time since an APRIL tie for the lead, KOSI was #1 18-34. This ended the nine-book winning streak – which began in MARCH – for KTCL, which stepped down to #2. KIMN dipped to #3, despite landing its largest share since FEBRUARY. Two stations climbed the chart to forge a tie at #4. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Alternative KBCO had its best outing since JUNE to move up from #6. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) advanced from #9 with its largest share in over a year. AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) fell from a tie at #2 into one at #6 with KRFX. KXKL also exited the #2 position and landed at #8 along with KYGO.

KOSI was back on top of the 18-49 leaderboard for the first time since JANUARY. This halted the six-book victory parade for KTCL, which dipped to #2. KIMN was up four places to #3, while KYGO repeated at #4 with a slight increase. KXKL slid from #2 into a tie at #5 with KBCO, while KJMN dropped three places to #7.

How were your ratings this month? Do you know why you won or lost? The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. can help you navigate the intricacies of the NIELSEN process – and save you a ton of time. We’d be happy to show you how. Just click on the link below. Now, back to the content.

SAN DIEGO: KYXY Rhymes With Pixie

Which is likely of the same genus as an elf. AUDACY AC KYXY got into the holiday mood in the middle of week one of the book. The station doubled its previous 6+ share (3.9-7.8) as it rode the Arctic Vortex from #9 to #1. Last year it had an 8.3 share. AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) saw its three-book winning streak come to an end as it stepped down to #2, despite landing its largest share in over a year (7.0-7.6). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) repeated at #3 (6.1-6.1), while SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS slid to #4 (6.2-5.9). AUDACY Country KSON dipped to #5 (5.6-5.6), while LOCAL MEDIA Adult Hits KFBG (100.7 BIG FM) slipped three places to #8 (4.4-3.9). Despite an 11.8% decrease, KXSN remained the cume leader (549,400-484,300). The market dropped by 0.4%.

KYXY more than doubled its previous 25-54 share as it vaulted from #9 to #1. KXSN had its best book since MARCH but still had to step down to #2. XHRM dipped to #3 with a small share increase, while KSON slipped to #4 with a slight share decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Album Oriented Rock KIOZ repeated at #5 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 933) slid three spots to #7 as it gave back about half of last month’s solid share increase.

Santa, schmanta. XHRM was #1 18-34 for the fifth straight survey. KSON was back at #2 with a slight increase, while three stations were thrown together at #3. KHTS remained in place with a small share loss, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary KSSX (JAM’N 95.7) moved up from #7 with its best performance since MAY. The third leg of that tripod belonged to KYXY, which came close to tripling its previous share as it arrived from #11. KIOZ slipped from #4 to #6, while KXSN dropped four places to #9.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. KYXY more than doubled its previous 18-49 share as it rocketed from #9 to #1. XHRM had a slight increase but that could not prevent an end to its five-book winning streak. The station stepped down to #2. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) slipped to #3 with a slight increase. KHTS and KIOZ had been tied at #3 but dropped to #4 and #5, respectively. KXSN moved down a spot to #6 with a slight decrease.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): A Ten Spot

Yes, there was jingling and drumming and caroling in the air, but COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB defied it all as the station was #1 6+ for the tenth book in a row (7.8-6.6). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) waited until the second week of the survey to start playing reindeer games. The station rose from #6 to #2 (4.3-6.2). Last year it started off with a 6.1 share. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was also a holiday player and it advanced six spaces to #3 (3.6-5.7). Last year it landed a 5.3 share. AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS repeated at #4 (4.9-4.9), while iHEARTMEDIA CHR WHTZ (Z100) slipped to #5 (5.0-4.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) dipped to #6 (4.6-4.7) COX MEDIA CHR WBLI ended a strong four-book surge as it fell from #2 to #9 (5.6-4.1). Thanks to a 12.8% increase, WLTW moved from #5 to #1 in the cume wars (380,800-429,600). The market shrank by 1.7%.

WHTZ was #1 25-54 for the second straight survey. WCBS moved up two slots to #2 with a slight increase. WBAB had been the co-leader last month but dropped to #3 with its lowest score since MAY. It was paired with WLTW, which rocketed up the chart from #12. WBLI slipped to #5 and was joined in that space by WALK, which rose from #7. WAXQ and GOOD KARMA Sports WEPN (ESPN NY 98.7FM) were previously tied at #5. WAXQ was up for the third book in a row but slipped to #7, while WEPN ended a two-book surge and fell to #13.

Despite a rather large share loss, WBLI was #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row. Three stations were vying for the #2 designation. WHTZ stepped up from #3 with a strong increase. WALK and CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (KJOY 98.3) had been tied at #7. Both stations had identical huge share increases. WLTW slipped to #5 despite ending a three-book slide. There were six – count ‘em – six stations at #6. WEPN fell from #2 as it gave back most of last month’s massive increase. WBAB slipped from #4 with its lowest mark in over a year. WCBS remained in place, while SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) moved up from #10. AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) advanced from #13, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) arrived from #17.

For the fifth straight survey, WHTZ was #1 18-49. WLTW jumped from #11 to #2, while there was a threesome at #3. WBLI stepped down from #2, while WCBS remained in place. Both stations experienced down books. WALK moved up from #5 with its best showing since JULY. WBAB slipped into a tie at #6 with WINS. WEPN fell from #5 to #13. It was paired with AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7).

CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Dueling Santas

Once again, two stations were vying to be the home of the holiday hits. Both flipped on the same day during the fourth week of the NOVEMBER survey. Both reaped the rewards. BEASLEY AC WKQC (K104.7) vaulted from #11 to #1 6+ (4.3-7.8). It posted an 8.3 share last year. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) leapt from #9 to #3 (4.6-6.5). The station had a 5.6 share last year. In between those nutcrackers was BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9). The station had its two-book winning streak come to a halt as it stepped down to #2 (8.4-7.1). URBAN ONE Urban AC WOSF (105.3 RnB) had its smallest share since MARCH (6.8-5.9) as it moved down to #4. BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) slipped to #5 (5.8-5.7). BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98 FM) and URBAN ONE N/T WBT-AM had been tied at #4. WPEG landed at #9 as it returned all of last month’s share increase (5.6-4.7). WBT-AM fell to #11 (5.6-4.2). WKQC went from #3 to #1 in the cume rankings, thanks to a 10.6% increase (353,600-391,200). The market rose by 0.1%.

WKQC was the early holiday winner as it jumped from #10 to #1 25-54. WPEG stepped down to #2 and was tied with WSOC, which rose from #4 as it regained a bit of last month’s huge share loss. WLKO advanced from #9 to #4 as it halted a four-book slide. WOSF fell three places to #5 with its lowest mark since JULY. WBAV slipped from #3 to #6 as it ended a strong two-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) ended up at #7 as it gave back all of last month’s share increase.

WKQC more than doubled its previous 18-34 share. The station hit double figures as it leapt from #6 to #1. WSOC also hit double-digits as it repeated at #2. WBAV went from first to third and was paired with WLKO, which advanced from #8. iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) slid to #5 as it gave back all of last month’s rather large share increase – plus a little extra. WPEG moved from #4 into a tie at #6 with WEND. BEASLEY CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) ended a four-book surge as it fell from #5 into a tie at #10 with WOSF.

In completing the demo sweep, the WKQC sleigh rode from #11 to #1, more than doubling its previous share. WSOC was up two slots to #2 as it halted a three-book slide. WBAV was also at #2, dropping down from the top spot with a noticeable share loss. WOSF slid to #4 with its lowest score since JUNE. WLKO moved up to #5, while WPEG fell four places to #6. WEND slipped two slots to #7 despite a slight increase.

That concludes our dive into the DECEMBER survey. Thank you for slogging through it with us. We’ll be back in about 28 days to recap the HOLIDAY book.

In the meantime, make sure you don’t miss our next adventure by subscribing to our blog here. Feel free to share. And, if you have any comments, suggestions or complaints, just send us an e-mail.

-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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