RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, July 2024, Part I

August 5, 2024

Welcome to JULY! Yeah, we know, in the real world we are actually in AUGUST. But in the NIELSEN multiverse, we are constantly going boldly forward into the past. The subject of our latest four-part series on the ratings fates and fortunes of countless radio stations began its journey on JUNE 20^TH and reached the end of the road on JULY 17^TH. So it’s really JULY“ish”.

The July book was buried deeply in the dog days of summer when meter keepers nationwide were abandoning their posts for some much-deserved rest and relaxation. This can have a dramatic effect on weekend numbers as you could have a heavy household absent for half the available weekends. Something worth keeping an eye on. However, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with our partners in forensic science from XTRENDS – are here to look at the big picture. Here’s how it played out:

NEW YORK: Getting Closer All The Time

The top five positions on the 6+ depth chart were unchanged from last month. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was still #1 but with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER (8.2-7.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) closed in on the leader just by showing up (6.9-6.9), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) strengthened its grip on third place with its fourth up book in a row (5.7-5.9). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS was back at #4 (5.6-5.2), while MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS repeated at #5 (4.8-4.9). Despite a 1.8% decrease, WLTW remained the cume commander (3,525,800-3,463,300). The market was off by 2.6%.

Though it ended a three-book surge, WHTZ was #1 25-54 for the third consecutive survey. WAXQ repeated at #2 but with its highest mark in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU was up two slots to #3 as it ended a four-book slide. SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) held firm at #4 with a slight increase, while WLTW drifted down to #5 with its lowest score in over a year.

WLTW kept its long uninterrupted string of #1 18-34 books alive. However, its double-digit streak ended at five. WHTZ was back at #2 with a down book and narrowly defeated cluster mate WKTU, which rose from #7 to #3 with its best showing since FEBRUARY. WAXQ stepped down to #4 despite a moderate increase. Two stations dramatically charged up the chart. MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97) jumped from #10 to #5, while WBLS advanced from #11 to #6. Both stations posted their largest share in over a year. WCBS dipped to #7, while AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) fell from #4 to #9.

WHTZ made it back-to-back 18-49 wins but was feeling the heat from WAXQ, which stepped up to #2 with its best book in over a year. The stations were separated by less than a half-share. WLTW had its least productive outing since JANUARY as it dipped to #3. WSKQ was stationary at #4 with a slight increase but it had company. WKTU moved up from #6 to forge the tie as it halted a four-book slide. WNEW slipped to #6 with a small decrease.

LOS ANGELES: On Top Of The World

For the sixth straight survey AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101 FM) was #1 6+ (6.4-7.1) with its highest mark in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST fell further off the pace at #2 (5.8-5.3), while the next two stations were stationary. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) was back at #3 (5.1-5.1), while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.1 MYFM) repeated at #4 (4.7-4.7). Moving in to the top five was AUDACY Rhythmic AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE), which had its best showing since JANUARY (4.2-4.5). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE 107.5) dipped to #6 (4.5-4.1). Despite a 9.5% drop, KRTH was back up to #1 in cume (2,207,900-1,999,200). The market shrank by 2.6%.

After taking the previous survey off, KIIS was back at #1 25-54 but it was being closely pursued by KRTH, which moved up to #2, posting its best number since JANUARY. KOST was #1 last month but returned all of that share gain as it dropped down to #3. It was tied with KBIG, which remained in place with a slight increase. AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) rose three spots to #5 as it bounced back from a down book. KLVE dipped to #6 and was paired with KTWV.

Last month KIIS had its three-book 18-34 winning streak halted. The station responded by landing its largest share in over a year as it moved back to #1. KBIG remained a very close #2 as it also posted its best number in over a year. Though KRTH went from first to third, it was still less than a half-share off the lead. MERUELO Rhythmic CHR KPWR (POWER 106) also had its best outing in over a year as it vaulted from #10 to #4. Not to be outdone, its chief rival – iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary KRRL (REAL 92.3) – leapt from #13 to #5 with its highest mark since AUGUST. It was tied with KTWV, which moved up a slot with a modest increase. KLVE slipped three places to #7, while KCBS went from #5 to a tie at #9 with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7).

The top three 18-49 stations separated themselves from the rest of the field. KIIS was #1 for the fifth book in a row and maintained a slim margin over #2 KBIG, which had its best book since NOVEMBER. Not far behind was KRTH, which stepped up to #3 with a solid share increase. KTWV had a slight increase as it went from #7 to a somewhat distant #4. KLVE slipped to #5, while KOST took a step down to #6.

CHICAGO: Drive Time

Last month HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE) slipped to #3 as its two-book reign atop the 6+ leaderboard came to an end. The station was back on top this month (6.1-6.6). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) repeated at #2 with its highest mark in over a year (6.2-6.5), while last month’s leader – iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) slipped to #3 (6.6-5.9). AUDACY AAA WXRT was up two spots to #4 with its best book in exactly a year (4.7-5.3). AUDACY News WBBM-A dipped to #5 (5.4-5.2), though it did pick up a 0.1 share from its stream. AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) slipped to #6 with its lowest total since MARCH (5.1-4.0). WLIT still had the most cume (1,304,100-1,244,000) – a 4.6% drop. The market fell by 1.6%.

The top four 25-54 stations were separated by less than a share. WVAZ made the leap o’ the month as it rose from #7 to #1 with its best performance in over a year. WLIT dipped to #2 with its fifth straight down book, while a flat WXRT stayed at #3. AUDACY Rhythmic Oldies WBMX (104.3 JAMS) was also flat as it stood alone at #4. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional WOJO (QUÉ BUENA 105.1) dropped three slots to #5 with its smallest share in over a year. Last month SBS Mexican Regional WLEY (LA LEY 107.9) leapt from #12 to a tie at #4. The station settled back in at #12 this time around.

Similar to the previous demo, the top four 18-34 stations were within a half-share of one another. WDRV motored up to #1 with a small increase and barely beat out WVAZ, which went from #4 to #2 with its highest mark in over a year. WLIT was back at #3 with its best share since JANUARY, while WUSN went from first to fourth as it ended a strong two-book surge. AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM (B96) remained at #5, landing its largest share in over a year. It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI, which stepped up from #6. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) fell three places to #7.

Though it had a down book, WLIT was back at #1 18-49. However, it was not alone as WVAZ moved up from #6 to force the tie. And, yes, WVAZ did have its best book in over a year. Two stations were a half-share behind at #3. WUSN remained in place with a slight decrease, while WBMX advanced from #5 with a slight increase. WDRV drove up to #5, also with a slight increase. Two stations were excused from the top five. WLEY fell from #3 to #7, while WOJO dropped six slots to #8.

SAN FRANCISCO: The End Of The Streak

For the first time in well over a year, BONNEVILLE AC KOIT was not the #1 station 6+. That honor went to KQED INC N/T KQED, which stepped up from #2 (7.1-7.1). KOIT dipped to #2 with its smallest share in over a year (7.7-6.7). Surprisingly, the #3 station was playing songs as iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) stood alone in that spot with its fourth up book in a row (5.4-6.1). AUDACY News KCBS-A moved down to #4 as it ended a four-book skid (5.4-5.8). UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Classical KDFC landed its largest share in over a year (4.0-5.0) as it moved from #7 to #5. CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A (THE SPORTS LEADER) dropped two slots to #7 (4.5-4.0). It did garner an additional 0.3 share from its stream. KOIT shed 10.3% of its listening base but was still the cume leader (1,208,200-1,083,600). The market slumped by 4.4%.

KOIT had its lowest 25-54 share in a year, while KISQ had its best book in over a year. The stations remained #1 and #2, respectively, but the gap between them shrank from almost three shares to a half-share. CUMULUS Classic Rock KSAN (107.7 THE BONE) was off slightly but managed to move forward two spaces to #3. BONNEVILLE Pop CHR KMVQ (99.7 NOW) dipped to #4 with its lowest score in over a year. Four – count ‘em – four stations were huddled together at #5. AUDACY Hot AC KLLC (ALICE @ 97.3) stepped down from #4 with a noticeable share loss, while KQED advanced from #8 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KMEL stepped up from #6 with a slight decrease, while AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) moved in from #7, with a small increase.

For the last five surveys, KOIT and KMEL have been #1 and #2, respectively, with the 18-34 crowd. Back in MARCH, the chasm between the two was better than five shares. This month it was down to about a half-share. KITS repeated at #3 with a slight decrease. KISQ and KSAN had been tied at #6. Both stations had identical increases and renewed their relationship at #4. KMVQ and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) had been an item at #4. Both stations had down books as they landed at #6 and #7, respectively.

Despite posting its lowest 18-49 share since AUGUST, KOIT was still a comfortable #1. KISQ stood alone at #2 with its best showing in over a year. KMVQ stepped down to #3 with a slight decrease. KMEL repeated at #4 as it rebounded from a down book. KITS had the #5 position all to itself as its former partner in that space – KYLD – dipped to #6.

DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Leading Libraries

Two stations that were all about older songs led the 6+ parade. AUDACY Classic Hits KSPF (98.7 THE SPOT) remained at #1 (6.0-6.4) and benefitted from a 0.3 share credited to its stream. AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) was up two places to #2 with its best book in over a year (4.5-5.6). SALEM AC KLTY rose from #6 to #3 with its highest mark since that kid with the drum was incessantly pounding away (4.1-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) rebounded from a down book to march from #7 to #4 (3.9-4.5). Two stations dropped down and into a tie at #5. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) slid from #3 with its lowest total since JANUARY (4.9-4.4). CUMULUS Country KPLX (99.5 THE WOLF) dipped from #4 (4.5-4.4). CUMULUS Sports KTCK (1310 & 96.7 THE TICKET) fell five places to #7 (5.1-4.2) and was partnered with cluster mate CUMULUS Country KSCS (3.7-4.2). KSPF moved up to #1 in cume with a 4.5% increase (978,900-1,022,500). The market was down 2.7%.

The top three 25-54 stations each landed their largest shares in over a year. KJKK rose from #3 to #1, while KPLX advanced two spaces to #2. KHKS leapt from #7 to #3. The stations were less than a full share apart. KSCS stepped up to #4 with its best book since (wait for it) JANUARY. KLNO fell three spots to #5, while KTCK dropped from #1 to #6 with its least productive outing in over a year. KSPF went from #5 to #14.

The machine that is KLNO was #1 18-34 for the sixth straight survey. However, KHKS bounced back from a down book to move up and into a tie for first place. These two stations were last paired in that spot in FEBRUARY. SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104) was up three slots to #3 with its highest score since AUGUST. KSCS slipped to #4 with a slight decrease, while KJKK stepped up to #5 with a huge share gain. KPLX dipped to #6 despite posting its best number in over a year. AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) fell from #5 into a tie at #8 with URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBFB (97.9 THE BEAT).

KLNO was the 18-49 winner for the seventh straight survey. The next three stations all landed their largest shares in over a year. KHKS stepped up to #2 but was still a share off the pace. KJKK advanced four spaces to #3, while KKDA inched up to #4. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) was up to #5 with its third up book in a row. KSCS slipped to #6.

That wraps round one of the roundups. Thanks for being a part of our cume. If you know of someone who still does not know we have migrated here after the demise of ALL ACCESS, send them this link.

Next up in the queue: HOUSTON, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA and BOSTON in that order.

-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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