RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, November 2024, Part IV

December 2, 2024

Welcome back. By now you’ve hopefully made it over the river and through the woods, past the TSA checkpoints and around the idiots on the interstates. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the turkey trotters from XTRENDS – have fully recovered from our food comas and are here to bring you the final installment of the NOVEMBER survey.

This one ran from OCTOBER 10^TH through NOVEMBER 6^TH. There was a three-day sale weekend and a conspicuous election during that span. And it was the final untainted book of the year. Let us begin…

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Jumping The Sleigh

COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) got an early start on the holiday season as it flipped the Frosty switch early in week four of the survey. Its reward? Another 6+ win but an end to the station’s nine-book double-digit streak (10.7-9.4). COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) was up to #2 with its best showing in over a year (5.5-6.7). The station also added a 0.3 share, courtesy of its stream. COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) was up three places to #3 (5.2-5.4), while BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYX) dropped two slots to #4 (5.6-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) slipped to #5 (5.4-5.2), while iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) stepped down to #6 (5.3-5.1). WDUV still had the most listeners (630,300-619,300) – a 1.7% decline. Conversely, the market rose by 1.3%.

The 25-54 race was shaken up as the top five stations were all within about a half share of one another. WMTX rose from #4 to #1 with a slight increase, while BEASLEY Spanish Contemporary WYUU (92.5 MAXIMA) advanced from #10 to #2 with its best book in over a year. WDUV went from first to third and was tied with WFUS. Both stations had down books. WQYK slid three places to #5, while BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) dipped to #6 as it returned most of last month’s solid increase.

WDUV was #1 18-34 for the fourth straight survey and in double figures for the tenth time in the last 14 books. WQKY bounced back from a down book to move up to #2 and was better than a share behind the leader. WMTX dipped to #3 with its lowest mark since JUNE, while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) stepped up to #4 as it, too, recovered from a down book. Three stations were skulking about at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) was up a spot with a slight increase. RADIO TRAINING Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) rose from #11 with its best outing in over a year. WXGL advanced from #12 with its best book since JULY. WFUS fell from #4 to #11 with its smallest share in over a year.

Last month three stations – count ’em – were sharing the 18-49 lead. This time only two remained. Both WQYK and WDUV experienced the exact same share loss. WMTX dropped down to #3 with its lowest score since APRIL. There was a threesome at #4. WFUS held steady with a small decrease, while WXTB moved up from #6 with a slight increase. WYUU made its way up from #9 with its fifth up book in a row. WLLD slid to #7 as it gave back some of last month’s increase.

DENVER-BOULDER: Two For One

BONNEVILLE Country KYGO was #1 6+ for the third straight survey (7.4-7.1). It was partnered with cluster sister BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1), which moved up a spot with its best book since JUNE (6.6-7.1). KSE VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105.1) stepped up to #3 as it ended a two-book skid (6.1-6.2). AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) dipped to #4 as it halted a solid six-book surge (6.2-5.8). AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) remained at #5 (4.8-5.1). It also received a 0.5 share boost from its stream. Just inches behind was iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3), which moved up to #6 (4.5-5.0). KOSI was still in cume control with a 3.2% increase (498,300-514,000). The market was off 0.4%.

Last month KTCL had its three-book 25-54 winning streak snapped by KYGO. This month KTCL was back on top with a small increase, while KYGO moved down to #2 with a modest decrease. KALC repeated at #3 with a slight decrease and was joined by a flat KXKL, which moved up a slot. iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO lost some of last month’s big share gain and slipped to #5. It was tied with ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5), which moved up in spite of a down book.

KYGO was both #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the third book in a row. The station had almost a three-share lead over the two stations at #2. KTCL was up from #4 with its highest mark since MAY, while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) moseyed up from #3 with a slight increase. KOSI slid to #4 as it surrendered a good portion of last month’s large increase. It was tied with AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5), which rose from a three-way tie at #5 with its best book since FEBRUARY. KXKL slipped from that tie to #8 and was paired with cluster mate KSE VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) fell from the #5 tie to #10.

KXPK stood alone atop the 18-49 leaderboard as its former partner in that place – KBCO – dropped to #4. KTCL rose from #5 to #2 and was within striking distance of the leader. KYGO repeated at #3 with a small share loss. Also coming in at #4 was KALC, which remained in place. KOSI slipped from #5 to #7, but winter is coming.

SAN DIEGO: A Solo Sunny

On our last visit, we saw two stations atop the 6+ chart. This time one stood alone. AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was there for the fifth book in a row (6.2-7.3). It also halted a three-book slide. SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS rose to #2 as it arrested a four-book decline (5.6-6.1). Two stations from the same cluster moved up to forge a tie at #3. LOCAL MEDIA Adult Hits KFBG (100.7 BIG FM) rose from #5 (5.4-5.5), while LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) advanced from #6 with its highest mark since MAY (5.1-5.5). TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) slipped to #5 (6.0-5.4). And what of that other previous co-leader? Well, with the PADRES elimination from the playoffs, AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3 FM THE FAN) landed at #15 (6.2-2.8). It was tied with LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTZ (Z90.3) (2.6-2.8). KXSN remained in the cume lead with a 1.4% decrease (539,900-532,100). The market fell 3.8%.

KLNV ended a four-book 25-54 surge but captured the demo flag for the third straight survey. XHRM was back at #2 and about a share off of the lead. KXSN stepped up to #3 with a small increase, while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) remained behind a #4 with a slight decrease. It was partnered with AUDACY AC KYXY, which rose from #8 with its best performance since JANUARY. So how important is baseball to radio? We give you KWFN. The station lost about half its previous share as it dropped from #3 to #14.

LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) was #1 18-34 for the third straight survey. However, it was not alone. KPBS moved up from #3 to claim its share of the lead, thanks to the station’s highest mark in over a year. XHRM dipped to #3 but with its best book since JUNE. KXSN stepped up to #4 with a solid increase and was paired with AUDACY Alternative KBZT (ALT 94.9), which rose from #6 with its highest score in over a year. KWFN fell from #3 to #10. It was in league with KLNV and iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1).

KLNV and XHRM were #1 and #2 18-49, respectively, for the fourth consecutive survey. KXSN leapt from #6 to #3 as it ended a three-book skid. KIOZ stood alone at #4 with a slight increase, while XTRA dipped to #5 with a slight decrease. KWFN dropped from #3 to #15 where it met up with TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KLQV (AMOR 102.9).

SHAMELESS PLUG: Yes, the next two books will be sullied by holiday tunes. Are you keeping track of what listeners you lost? Will you be able to relocate them in JANUARY? We can help with that.

CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: The Lake Effect

iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) made it two 6+ wins in a row (8.8-8.3). BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) was back at #2 (7.1-6.7), while BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) repeated at #3 (6.6-6.3). BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98 FM) was up three places to #4 with its best outing since JANUARY (4.9-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) dipped to #5 with its first down book since JULY (5.7-5.3). PACIFIC Classic Hits WXRC (95.7 THE RIDE) dropped five slots to #10 with its lowest score in over a year (5.5-4.7). WLKO continued to float the most cume, despite a 2.6% decrease (438,900-427,500). The market was up 2.7%.

iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) had its best 25-54 book in over a year as it remained perched atop the leaderboard. Alas, it was forced to share the spotlight with WPEG, which stepped up from #2. WBAV moved up to a somewhat distant #3 as it rebounded from a down book. URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ (SPORTS RADIO 92.7) was back at #4, though with a down book. WLKO slipped to #5 with its lowest score since APRIL. It was tied with BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7), which moved up from #7 with a small increase. WSOC slipped to #7 with its smallest share in over a year.

WBAV was #1 18-34 for the fourth straight survey but could not extend its two-book double-digit streak. WPEG remained at #2 but with its lowest score since APRIL. The stations were about a half share apart. WFNZ repeated at #3, though with a down book. WSOC was back at #4 where it was joined by BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1), which rose from #7 as it ended a steep two-book slide. WLKO dipped to #6 and was tied with WEND.

The 18-49 race was being hotly contested. WPEG was back at #1 with its best book in over a year. It held a very slim margin over the two #2 stations. WBAV remained in place as it recovered from a down book, while WEND was up a spot, also with its best showing in over a year. Moving up to a distant #4 was WSOC, which had a down book. WLKO dipped to #5 with its lowest mark since APRIL. It was joined there by WFNZ, which inched up a spot with a modest share loss.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Turn It Up To Eleven

Congrats to COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB for capturing the 6+ crown for the eleventh straight survey (8.5-7.4). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was up to #2 with its best reported share in over a year (5.6-6.5). The station also gained an additional 1.0 share from its stream. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) dipped to #3 (5.7-5.6), while CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) remained in place at #4 as it halted a three-book surge (5.0-4.9). AUDACY Sports WFAN (WFAN SPORTS RADIO) was back at #5 (4.7-4.6) – a far better performer than either the GIANTS or the JETS. WHTZ moved back up to #1 in cume with a 1.2% increase (415,300-420,200). The market was down 0.8%.

Eleven was also the magic number for WHTZ as it was the 25-54 leader once again. A flat WALK was up to #2 but was more than two shares off the pace. CONNOISSEUR Mainstream Rock WWSK (94.3 THE SHARK) floated up to #3 with its largest share in over a year. WBAB slid to #4 with its lowest mark since everything was all holly and jolly. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) dipped to #5 with its smallest share since MAY. It was paired with AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7), which advanced from #12 with its third up book in a row.

Last survey WBAB was #1 18-34 and in double figures. The station remained at the top but with a lower share. This opened the barn door for CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF), which moved up to force the tie as it bounced back from a down book. WHTZ stood alone at #3 with a solid increase, while COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) dipped to #4 with its lowest total in over a year. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) slipped to #5 as it returned a good portion of last month’s massive share increase. It was paired with WALK, which rose from #7 with a slight increase.

WBAB surrendered most of last month’s huge increase but was still #1 18-49. However, it was not alone in that claim as WHTZ moved up to join the party, despite a slight decrease. WALK was up to #3 with a small increase. It had company as WWWF advanced from #9 while regaining all of last month’s lost share. WBLI stepped down to #5 with a modest decrease. WAXQ fell from #3 to #9 and was tied with SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9).

Whew! That’s a wrap on NOVEMBER. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We’ll be back in a month to see how the first assault wave of Santa’s troopers will affect the DECEMBER numbers.

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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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