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RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, May 2024, Part IV
June 13, 2024
Ah, MAY, the quintessential embodiment of spring’s resplendence, where nature orchestrates its most enchanting symphony. As APRIL’s showers subside, MAY emerges like a grand maestro, conducting an opus of verdant vitality and blooming beauty.
Pretty impressive opening graph, right? Thing is – it was written by ChatGPT after this prompt: “wax eloquent about the month of MAY.” It also went on for four more paragraphs…
Welp, until Skynet officially takes over, it’ll be up to The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the living breathing numbers nerds from XTRENDS – to make sense out of the monthly ratings. As mentioned, we’re dealing with MAY – a survey that ran from APRIL 25TH through MAY 22ND. No big holidays but we did remember to call Mom and get our STAR WARS geek on.
This is what reality looked like….
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Flying High
As is usually the case, COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) flew above the rest of the 6+ flock (10.8-10.8). This was the station’s fourth straight double-digit performance. iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) moved up two places to #2 with its best book since its playlist was turned over to BURL IVES and his minions (5.5-6.3). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) dipped to #3 (6.6-6.1), while COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) landed its largest share in over a year (4.6-5.6) to advance from #7 to #4. The station also gained a 0.7 share from its stream. BEASLEY Country WQYK moved down to #5 as it ended a three-book surge (5.6-5.5). COX MEDIA N/T WHPT (102.5 THE BONE) slipped to #6 (5.1-5.3) and was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5), which regained a portion of last month’s huge share loss (4.7-5.3). WDUV dominated the cume space again (662,000-640,500) – a 3.2% decline. The market rose by 0.8%.
Last month WMTX and WDUV were tied at #2 25-54. WMTX landed its largest share in over a year to move up to #1, while WDUV remained in place with a slight increase. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB moved from first into a tie for second. WHPT held steady at #4 but with its highest mark in exactly a year. In APRIL WFUS fell from to #11. The station bounced back this time as it rose to #5. WQYK stepped down to #6 with its smallest share since AUGUST.
WDUV was #1 18-34 for the sixth straight survey and notched its fourth double-digit book in a row. WMTX moved up to #2 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WXTB drifted down to #3 with a modest share loss, while a flat WQYK dipped to #4. Three stations were huddled together at #5. WTBV had its best showing since DECEMBER to move up from #7, while WXGL had its highest share since SEPTEMBER to advance from #12. WHPT moved up a spot with a slight increase. COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) fell from #4 to #10 and was tied with SBS Spanish Contemporary WSUN (EL ZOL 97.1).
WDUV repeated as the 18-49 leader and landed a double-figure book. WXTB remained at #2 but with its best outing in over a year. WMTX had its best Frosty-free share in over a year to step up to #3. WQYK dipped to #4 with a modest share loss. WFUS held steady at #5 as it regained some of last month’s massive share loss. WWRM moved down to #6 and was paired with WHPT.
SAN DIEGO: Same As It Ever Was
The top five on the 6+ leaderboard was unaltered from last survey. AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was #1 for the third book in a row (7.3-7.2). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS was back at #2 (6.6-6.6), while LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) held steady at #3 (6.4-6.4). AUDACY Country KSON had its highest score since OCTOBER (4.6-5.7) to remain at #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) repeated at #5 with its best book in over a year (4.5-5.3). KXSN continued to hold all the cume cards (536,000-531,100) – a 0.9% decrease. The market grew by 0.3%.
Though it suffered a small share loss, KXSN captured the 25-54 flag for the third straight survey. It held a two-and-a-half-share advantage over the duo at #2: XHRM remained in place but with its fourth down book in a row, while KSON vaulted from #8 with its best showing since NOVEMBER. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) rebounded from a down book to rise from #7 to #4. KMYI repeated at #5 with a small increase. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ and AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3 THE FAN) had been #3 and #4, respectively. The stations dropped into a tie at #6. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) fell from #5 to #11.
Last month KXSN ended XHRM’s two-book 18-34 winning streak. The tables were turned this time as XHRM was back on top with a small decrease, while KXSN slipped to #2 as it gave back all of last month’s huge increase, plus a bit more. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 933) was up three places to #3 as it bounced back from a down book. XTRA stepped down to #4 and was tied with LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTZ (Z90.3), which advanced from #7. KSON and KIOZ moved from a tie at #4 into a similar arrangement at #6.
KXSN ended a four-book 18-49 surge but held on for its third win in a row. XHRM was back at #2 and was partnered with KLNV, which arrived from #4. They were about a share off the pace. KIOZ stepped down to #4 with a small decrease, as three stations landed at #5. XHTZ and KHTS moved up from a tie at #6, while KSON leapt from #10 with its highest mark in over a year. XTRA fell from #5 to #10.
DENVER-BOULDER: Don’t Stand So Close To Me
The top five 6+ stations were within about a half-share of one another. BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1)moved back up to #1 (6.4-6.4), while KSE VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) rose to #2 with its best showing since JUNE (5.8-6.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) rebounded from a down book to move up to #3 (5.7-6.1). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) dipped to #4 (6.0-5.9), while BONNEVILLE Country KYGO landed its lowest share since Grandma was roadkill to land at #5 (7.1-5.8). KOSI still had the most listeners (545,700-589,100) – an 8.0% increase. The market was up 3.0%.
For the fifth book in a row and 10th time in the last 14 surveys, KTCL was #1 25-54. KOSI was back at #2 but trailed the leader by nearly two shares. KXKL repeated at #3 with a slight increase, while iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO launched itself from #14 to #4 with its highest score in over a year. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) returned a good part of last month’s huge increase as it stepped down to #5. KYGO posted its lowest number since OCTOBER as it dropped from #5 into a tie at #7 with KSE VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100).
As with the previous demo, KTCL has been a marvel of consistency with the 18-34 crowd. The station was #1 for the fifth book in a row and for the 12th time in the last 14 surveys. AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) more than doubled its previous share as it vaulted from #10 to #2. KOSI dipped to #3 and was partnered with KRFX, which stepped up from a four-way tie #4. KBCO returned a large part of last month’s massive increase as it slipped two slots to #5. It was tied with KXKL, which moved down a level with a slight increase. KIMN fell from the tie at #4 into one at #7 with KXPK and AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5). KYGO had also been tied at #4 and it fell to #10.
It was déjà vu all over again for KTCL in the 18-49 space. The station was #1 for the fifth book in a row and only the 11th time in the last 14 surveys. KBCO leapt from #7 to #2. The station has nearly doubled its share over the last two books. KOSI stepped down to #3 with its lowest mark since NOVEMBER. It was tied with KXKL, which remained in place with a small decrease. KXPK dipped to #5 as it ended a three-book surge. KYGO dropped from #5 into a tie at #8 with KQMT.
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): The Long And Winding Road
Over the last year, the only thing that has prevented COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB from being the leading 6+ station was that right jolly old elf. The station was #1 for the fifth book in a row (7.8-8.9). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) moved up to a distant #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year (4.5-5.6). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) dipped to #3 (5.2-5.2) but added a 0.6 share from its stream. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) moved up to #4 as it ended a two-book slide (4.2-4.7). CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) dropped to #5 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER (4.5-4.2). It was joined there by AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS, which rose from #7 (3.9-4.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) slipped to #7 (4.3-3.8). It helps when a format competitor drops out of the race. WBAB increased its cume by 14.7% (440,800-505,400) to remain #1 in that category, as well. The market was up 1.6%.
WHTZ was the 25-54 leader for the fifth consecutive survey. It was less than a half share ahead of WALK, which rose to #2 with, once again, its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WBAB repeated at #3 but with its best book since NOVEMBER. WCBS was up two slots to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. WINS dipped to #5, despite a solid share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU halted a five-book surge as it fell from #2 to #6.
A trio of stations topped the 18-34 chart. WBAB was there last time and posted its largest share in exactly a year. WHTZ and COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI were tied at #2 and moved up as a unit. WHTZ bounced back from a down book, while WBLI posted its best number since DECEMBER. This was the second full survey in its new skin for CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF). Though the station remained at #4, it was up noticeably share-wise. WINS stepped up to #5 with its highest reported total in over a year. SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) slid from #4 to #7.
Here’s the 18-49 progression for WALK over the last four books: #8, #6, #3 and now #1. WHTZ was back at #2 with a solid increase, while WINS stood alone at #3 with, again, its highest mark in over a year. WBAB slipped to #4 despite a solid share gain. WKTU went from first to fifth as its seven-book surge ground to a halt. It was tied with WBLI.
CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Country Comfort
This was the fourth straight 6+ win for BEASLEY Country WSOC. The station also landed its largest share in over a year (7.9-8.4). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) moved up to #2 with its best Frosty-free share since JULY (5.9-7.4). BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) had its best outing since stations were actually playing THE BEACH BOYS (5.3-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) slid to #4 as its four-book surge came to an end (6.4-6.1). URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) stepped up to #5 (5.2-5.3). WLKO was still the cume leader with a 10.5% increase (383,000-423,300). The market fell by 1.0%.
BEASLEY Urban WPEG (POWER 98) was #1 25-54 for the fourth time in the last five surveys. However, it was not alone. WSOC advanced from #4 to forge the first-place tie with its finest performance since DECEMBER. Speaking of performing, WBAV leapt from #9 to #3 with its highest score since NOVEMBER. URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ dipped to #4 despite a small increase. WOSF slid from #2 to #5, while WKKT fell from #5 to #8.
So a lot happened with the 18-34 situation. One station fell out of first place while two stations moved in. WKKT landed at #3 as it surrendered most of last month’s massive share increase. WFNZ and WPEG assumed control of the demo. Both stations had their best books in over a year. WSOC was sitting at a slightly distant but very solid #4 with its highest share since JANUARY. Last month there was a threesome at #5. WBAV stood alone at the tee with a huge share increase. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) landed in a tie at #7 with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) fell to #9 with its lowest mark in over a year.
There was even more drama in the 18-49 ranks. WSOC and WBAV had been tied at #4. Both stations had strong showings and ended up at #1 and #2, respectively. WPEG stepped down to #3, despite posting its biggest share since NOVEMBER. WFNZ advanced from #8 to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. It was tied with WLKO, which vaulted from #10 with its best Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER. A flat WEND slipped to #6. Last month WKKT and WOSF were #1 and #2, respectively. The stations each suffered a down book as they landed in tandem at #7.
Here’s how ChatGPT closed its piece:
In May, we are reminded of the ephemeral nature of life itself and urged to savor each precious moment before it slips away into the mists of memory. So let us embrace the splendor of May, with all its fleeting beauty and ephemeral grace, and revel in the wondrous symphony of life that it orchestrates with such exquisite finesse.
Frightening. Barring the zombie apocalypse or the machine revolution, we’ll be back next month for the JUNE swoon. Thank you for reading.
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-Steve Allan, Programming Research 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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