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RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, June 2024, Part III
July 11, 2024
It’s time to play another rousing game of <<echo chamber>> Famous JUNEs in history! Our list is populated by the likes of JUNE ALLYSON, JUNE JONES, JUNE CARTER CASH and JUNE FORAY. Notice how, except for the football coach, these names date back a long way. Think of it – how many JUNEs have you known? You probably had an Aunt JUNE somewhere in your lineage. However, it is not a very popular name. How unpopular you ask? Glad you asked. In 2023 JUNE was the 171st most popular girls name in the US. And now you know…
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in cahoots with the math mavens from XTRENDS – are not here to discuss onomastics. This is about ratings. Specifically, the JUNE survey which ran from MARCH 23RD through JUNE 19TH. It had two national holidays, Dad’s special day and the cessation of school activities. Here’s what happened:
MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: The Usual Suspects
The top five on the 6+ leaderboard rarely changes, and this month was no different. However, there were some alterations. COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (Hot 105) was in its customary #1 position, though it ended a three-book surge (9.2-8.3). It had a new challenger as AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) moved up to #2 with its best showing in over a year (6.2-6.9). iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) continued its march up the chart as it landed at #3, also with its best book in over a year (5.0-5.6). Meanwhile, TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR 107.5) posted its lowest number in exactly a year (6.4-5.4) as it slid to #4. COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) was down to #5 (6.3-5.2). WLYF maintained its cume advantage, despite a 2.3% decrease (769,300-751,800). The market fell 1.8%.
Last month WMIA ended a two-book 25-54 winning streak. This month the station regained almost all of that lost share to move back to #1. WLYF stepped up to #2 as it also rebounded from a down book. COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) had its best outing since a certain group of waterfowl was waterfowling as it vaulted from #10 to #3. WAMR and iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) each had a down book but still moved up and into a tie at #4. Last month’s leader was WFEZ, but it fell to #6 with a rather large share loss.
WEDR was the 18-34 leader for the fourth book in a row and cracked the double-digit barrier. WLYF stepped up to #2, thanks to a massive share increase. Two stations moved up to share the #3 slot. The station that always reminds me of a certain WILL SMITH movie franchise – WMIB – was up from #5 despite a down book, while WFEZ advanced from #8 with a solid increase. WHQT slipped to #5 with a large share loss and was paired with SBS Latino Urban WRMA (RITMO 95.7), which stepped up from #6, also with a noticeable share loss. AUDACY Country WKIS (KISS COUNTRY 99.9) fell from #2 to #10.
What was in the 18-49 water this survey? Last month WEDR was #4 and WMIA sat at #6. This month both stations were tied at #1. WEDR was up for the fourth book in a row, while WMIA rebounded from a down book. WLYF was also ambitious as it rose from #7 to #3 with its highest mark in over a year. WMIB slipped to #4 as it returned about half of last month’s big increase. WFEZ went from first to fifth, while WHQT dropped from #2 to #6. WKIS slid five places to #9.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: Four And Out The Door
Clearly, iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK is more dedicated than that old cliché as the station was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (8.0-7.7). UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was back at #2 but with its smallest share since we were roasting our nuts on an open fire (7.3-6.6). AUDACY Active Rock KISW had its best showing in over a year (5.2-5.9) as it stepped up to #3. Meanwhile, AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) dipped to #4 with its smallest share in over a year (6.2-5.3). BONNEVILLE N/T KIRO inched up to #5 with its highest mark since JULY (4.5-4.9), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) descended to #6 (4.8-4.6). After a one-book absence, HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) was back as the cume leader (519,300-522,000) – a 0.5% increase. The market was off by 2.1%.
KKWF was #1 25-54 for the fifth straight survey. However, the station posted its lowest number of the streak, which paved the way for KISW to step up and forge a tie. HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN’ 92.5) repeated at #3 with a slight increase, while its arch nemesis iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) moved up to #4 with its highest score since NOVEMBER. The stations were separated by a half-share. FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP moved up a spot to #5 with a solid share increase. AUDACY Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT 103.7) fell three places to #7 as it lost the majority of last month’s large share gain.
In APRIL, KZOK was #1 18-34. It fell to fourth last month but bounced back to recapture the flag this time. KBKS stepped up to #2 with a slight increase. The MARINERS’ good fortunes were bestowed upon BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) as the station jumped from #11 to #3 with its best offensive performance in over a year. KQMV went from first to fourth as it ended a strong two-book surge. Four stations were languishing at #5. KJEB remained in place but with its highest mark since AUGUST. KHTP fell from #2, ending its three-book surge. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) was up from #6, while KRWM advanced from #9. Both stations rebounded from down books.
Though it experienced a down book, KQMV was #1 18-49 for the third straight survey. KBKS stepped up to #2 with its third up book in a row, while KKWF dipped to #3 with its smallest share in over a year. KISW moved down to #4 with a slight decrease, but a flat KEXP moved up from #5 to force the tie.
PHOENIX: Turn It Up To Eleven
iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) was the 6+ winner for the eleventh straight survey (9.5-8.9). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX finished in second place for the sixth book in a row with its highest score since NOVEMBER (5.9-7.4). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) repeated at #3 with its best book in over a year (5.7-6.6). DESERT VALLEY Adult Hits KOAI (95.1/94.9 THE WOW FACTOR) remained at #4 (4.9-4.6), while HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD maintained its presence at #5 (4.6-4.3). As usual, KESZ was the runaway cume leader (813,600-805,000) – a 1.1% decline. That nearly matched the market’s 1.2% downturn.
This was only the ninth 25-54 win in a row for KESZ. KYOT stepped up to #2 with its best outing in over a year and cut the margin between the two stations to less than a share. KUPD dipped to #3 with a small decrease, while two stations ran into each other at #4. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) stepped down a spot as it returned a portion of last month’s large increase, and KSLX bounced back from a down book as it advanced from #6. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOMR (AMOR 106.3) surrendered all of last month’s strong increase as it fell from #5 to #12.
There was quite a bit of drama in the 18-34 ranks. First, KYOT rose to new heights as it leapt from #6 to #1, more than doubling its previous share. KDKB was pushed down to #2 as it returned a good portion of last month’s increase. KESZ was relegated to #3 with its third straight down book. KUPD was back at #4 with a small share loss. It was joined in that space by iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9), which rocketed from #11 with its best book since SEPTEMBER. AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) fell from #2 to #6. It was tied with SIERRA H Rhythmic AC KZCE (101.1 THE BOUNCE) and iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX. KSLX went from #4 into a tie at #9 with AUDACY Country KMLE and AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5).
KESZ had its smallest 18-49 share since NOVEMBER, but that did not prevent the station from winning the demo for the eleventh book in a row. If you have been paying close attention, you would not be surprised to hear that KYOT had its best outing in over a year as it moved up two slots to #2. KSLX rose from #5 to #3 as it got back most of last month’s lost share. KDKB slipped to #4, while KUPD moved down to #5.
DETROIT: Motor City Mayhem
The top four 6+ stations were within a share of one another. For the second book in a row and sixth time in the last eight surveys, iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC was #1 (8.3-8.1). AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) repeated at #2 (8.2-7.5). The station gained an additional 1.1 share from its stream. AUDACY Country WYCD was up to #3 as it rebounded from a down book (6.8-7.2). BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX repeated at #4 with its highest mark in exactly one year (6.9-7.1). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) slipped to #5 as it gave back all of last month’s share increase (7.2-6.3). WNIC lost 7.8% of its listeners but still had the most cume (1,012,300-933,300). The market was down 0.7%.
The 25-54 competition got a lot tighter. WKQI was back at #1 again but lost half of last month’s large share increase. WYCD leapt from #5 to #2 with its best book in over a year. The net result had the stations less than a half-share apart. WNIC dipped to #3 and was tied with the stationary BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF. Both stations had noticeable share losses. WXYT stepped down to #5 with its lowest offensive output since JULY.
WKQI was #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the sixth straight survey. However, WRIF repeated at #2 with a double-digit score, and that closed the gap to less than a half-share. A flat WXYT was back at #3, while two stations landed at #4. WNIC remained in place with a slight increase, while WYCD rose from #6 as it got back most of last month’s massive share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) slipped to #7 with its lowest total since JANUARY.
Last month WKQI and WNIC were in double digits 18-49 and ranked #1 and #2, respectively. Their positions remained the same in this survey, but neither remained in double figures. WRIF was a heartbeat away from second place, despite a small share loss. WYCD moved up two slots to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. WXYT stepped down to #5 with its smallest share since AUGUST. BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WMGC (105.1 THE BOUNCE) landed in a tie at #7 with AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7).
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: A True Juggernaut
Consider UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS. The station was #1 6+ for the sixth book in a row and twelfth time in the last 14 surveys. It also hit double figures for the eleventh time since last JUNE (11.0-11.4). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) had its best outing since SEPTEMBER (6.8-8.0) as it advanced two squares to #2. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB vaulted from #7 to #3 with its highest mark in over a year (5.9-6.7). iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3) had its lowest score since AUGUST (8.4-6.7) as it stepped down from #2 to claim its share of third place. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) ended a strong three-book surge as it moved down to #5 (7.3-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) slipped to #7 (6.3-6.1). KQQL maintained its cume advantage, despite a 0.9% decline (722,800-716,500). The market was down 1.8%.
Being #1 25-54 and in double figures is nothing new for KSTP. It was in first place just two books ago and hit double-digits as recently as NOVEMBER. It advanced to the top spot from #3. KTIS repeated at #2 with a slight increase and was about a share off the pace. AUDACY AC KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) stepped up to #3 with its fourth up book in a row. KDWB moved up a spot to #4, again with its best book in over a year. KFXN went from first to fifth with its lowest score since AUGUST.
KDWB stepped up to #1 18-34 and hit double digits. It had more than a share lead over three stations duking it out at #2. KEEY was last month’s leader and moved down a notch with a slight increase. KSTP stepped up from #3 with its highest total since JULY. KZJK advanced from #4 with its best book in over a year. CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS inched up to #5, despite a small share loss. KQQL had its lowest mark since NOVEMBER as it slipped to #6 and was partnered with CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X).
KSTP made it five 18-49 wins in a row and made a triumphant return to double-digit territory. KTIS repeated at #2 with its best outing since JULY, yet it still trailed the leader by nearly two shares. KZJK stepped up to #3, also with its highest share in over a year. KDWB and KEEY had been tied at #6. Both stations were up as they advanced to #4 and #5, respectively. KXXR slid to #6, while KFXN fell four places to #7.
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Still to come: our final attempt at insight as we dive into TAMPA, SAN DIEGO, DENVER, NASSAU-SUFFOLK and CHARLOTTE.
-Steve Allan, Programming Research Consultant
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