RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, January 2025, Part IV

February 27, 2025

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the buckaroos from XTRENDS – are back in the saddle again with our final batch of ratings results for the JANUARY survey. As you know, this book is noteworthy for two reasons.

First, it is the month where much radio listening is reoriented after the reign of musical terror brought on by the notorious TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA.

Second, there was this NIELSEN rule change that dramatically affected how listening is reported. You may have heard about the three-minute qualifier. So far, we have seen some wild fluctuations in how market PUMM has increased across the four demographics we cover. If you’re just joining the party, we are looking at the percentage change of PUMM from the HOLIDAY book to the JANUARY survey. This one ran from JANUARY 9^TH through FEBRUARY 5^TH. It had a three-day weekend, lots of football, and plenty of bad weather.

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Fly Like A…

Two of the top three 6+ stations were of the avian variety. COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was in its usual #1 position (12.4-9.5). It was also #1 a year ago with a 9.7 share. COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) stepped up to #2 (6.5-6.6). The station also gained a 0.7 share from the digital realm.  COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) rebounded from a down book to move up to #3 (4.8-6.1). RADIO TRAINING Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) repeated at #4 (6.2-6.0), while BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYK) was back at #5 (4.8-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) landed its lowest number in over a year (6.6-4.2) as it fell from #2 to #9. WDUV was still #1 in cume. However, we usually see the leading Santa station shed listeners in JANUARY – WDUV actually added 5.7% to its total (704,200-744,000). The market was up 2.6%. The market’s 6+ PUMM rose by 24.4%.

iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) had its fourth 25-54 up book in a row, which pushed the station from #3 to #1. WDUV slipped to #2 as it returned to its normal Frosty-free range. WQYK regained all of last survey’s lost share as it advanced from #6 to #3. WTBV remained at #4 where it was joined by COX MEDIA N/T WHPT (102.5 THE BONE), which rose from #12 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER. WCIE dipped to #6 with a modest share loss, while WMTX dropped from #2 to #13. The market’s 25-54 PUMM was up 29.8%.

As we have seen in many markets this time, the 18-34 race experienced a lot of turmoil. WDUV was #1 for the seventh straight survey but did not land in double figures as it had in the previous six books. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) was up three places to #2 with its best showing in over a year. Two stations came from outside the top five to stake their claims on the #3 position. WXTB was up from #7 with its best book since AUGUST, while WXGL rose from a tie at #10 with its highest score in over a year. WCIE slipped to #5 with a small decrease. WQYK was also off slightly as it dropped into a tie at #6 with COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) and iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5), which was up from a tie at #10. WTBV fell from #5 to #9 and was paired with BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1). WMTX tumbled from #2 to #11. The market’s 18-34 PUMM grew by 30.0%.

WXTB climbed from #3 to #1 18-49 with its highest share since AUGUST. WDUV went from leading the market to a second place finish. WQYK and WWRM rose to #3 and #4, respectively, with slight share increases. Three stations were massed together at #5. A flat WCIE was last seen at #7, while WFLZ was up from #9 with its best book since JULY. WFUS joined the fray from #11 as it halted a steep three-book slide. WLLD dropped from a tie at #5 into an arrangement at #8 with WXGL. WMTX fell from #2 to #10. The market’s 18-49 PUMM increased by 30.3%.

DENVER-BOULDER: That’s Kool

For the first time since AUGUST, KSE VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) was #1 6+ (5.2-6.1). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO ended a three-book slide as it stepped up to #2 (4.9-5.8). BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) went from first to third (12.7-5.4). It was #2 with a 6.9 share a year ago. PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO N/T KCFR remained at #4 (4.6-4.9) but was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO, which rose from #6 with its highest mark since JULY (4.3-4.9). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) slid from #5 to #9 (4.4-4.4). KOSI was still in cume control with a 24.5% decrease (655,400-494,900). The market was down 3.3%. The market’s 6+ PUMM grew by 21.1%.

For the eleventh time in the last 14 surveys, iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) was #1 25-54. There was quite a bit of shifting around on this chart. KCFR rose from #6 to #2 with its best book in over a year. KXKL stepped up to #3 with a slight decrease and was joined there by KBCO, which advanced from #8 as it bounced back from a down book. There was also a tie at #5. AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) moved uphill from #11 with its highest mark in over a year. KYGO advanced from #12 as it halted a four-book skid. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) fell from #3 to #8 with its lowest total since MARCH. It was paired with AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9), which vaulted from #15. Also in that #8 grouping was KSE VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) and KOSI, which dropped from #1 with its lowest share in over a year. The market’s 25-54 PUMM was up 29.4%.

There was a threesome atop the 18-34 leaderboard. KOSI remained in place but with its smallest share since MAY. KTCL was up from a tie at #3 with a modest increase, while KQMT advanced from #8 with a massive share increase. KRFX dipped to #4 with a slight decrease, and AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) slipped to #5. It was tied with KIMN, which rose from #11. KXKL dropped from #2 to #7. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) and ENTRAVISION Spanish Adult Hits KJMN (LA SUAVECITA 92.1), which moved up from a tie at #14. The market’s 18-34 PUMM grew by 16.2%.

The 18-49 race was very close as the top five stations were within a half share of one another. KCFR jumped from #5 to #1 with its best showing in over a year. KTCL was up two slots to #2 and was paired with KBCO, which rose from #7 as it ended a three-book slide. KXPK slipped to #4 and was tied with KIMN. KOSI fell from #1 to #7, while KDHT slid from #3 to #7. Also in that spot was KQMT, which advanced from a tie at #14. The market’s 18-49 PUMM increased by 26.6%.

SAN DIEGO: The Sunny Also Rises

Wow, an oblique HEMINGWAY reference in a radio column. How bizarre. AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was back #1 6+ for the tenth time in the last 14 surveys (6.4-7.4). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS stepped up to #2 (5.9-6.0), while AUDACY AC KYXY slipped to #3 (11.1-5.5). It was #4 a year ago with a 5.0 share. LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) moved up to #4 (4.8-4.9). TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) dipped to #5 (4.9-4.8). It was tied with AUDACY Country KSON, which advanced from #8 as it got back all of last survey’s lost share (3.4-4.8). KXSN was back as the leading cume station with a 27.0% increase (441,000-560,200). The market was up 1.8%. The market’s 6+ PUMM grew by 21.8%.

Last survey Santa squashed KLNV’s four-book 25-54 winning string. The station was back at #1 this month, despite landing its lowest share since AUGUST. KXSN stepped up to #2 with a slight decrease and was joined by XHRM, which rose from #4 with a strong showing. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) leapt from #7 to #4 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER. KSON vaulted from #11 to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. KYXY fell from #1 into a tie at #6 with iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) dropped from #5 into a tie at #13 with IMAGEN Spanish Contemporary XLTN (RADIO LATINA 104.5 FM). The market’s 25-54 PUMM was up 31.9%.

Up until last survey, XTRA was on a four-book 18-34 tear. The station returned to the top spot this month, but it had two pursuers at #2 that were less than a half share off the pace. KXSN remained in place with its best book since MAY, while KSON advanced from a tie at #7 with its highest score in over a year. XHRM slipped from a tie at #2 to #4 with a slight increase. AUDACY Alternative KBZT (ALT 94.9) was back at #5 with a small share loss. It was joined there by iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 933), which moved up from the tie at #7. Also coming in at #5 was KPBS, which moved up a slot. KYXY dropped from #1 to #11. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KSSX (JAM’N 95.7) and AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3 FM THE FAN). The market’s 18-34 PUMM improved by 17.9%.

KLNV was back at #1 18-49 after seeing its five-book string of #1 books snapped by BURL IVES and his evil minions. KXSN stepped up to #2, while XHRM remained behind at #3. Both stations had small share increases. XTRA was up two spots to #4 with its best book in over a year. KIOZ and KSON were last spotted at #10. Both stations had solid share gains and moved up to #5 and #6, respectively. KYXY fell from #1 to #8. It was sharing the moment with KBZT and LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTZ (Z90.3). KMYI dropped from #5 to #13. The market’s 18-49 PUMM rose by 25.1%.

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CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: mmmm…K

Even without the help of performance-enhancing holiday music, BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) remained #1 6+ (10.0-6.9). Last year it was also #1 with a 7.1 share. BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) had its first up book since SEPTEMBER as it moved up to #2 (6.1-6.5). UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE had its best book in over a year (4.5-5.9) as it leapt from #7 to #3. PACIFIC BROADCASTING Classic Hits WXRC (95.7FM THE RIDE) drove from #5 to #4 (5.0-5.4), while BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98 FM) rebounded from a down book (4.4-5.2) as it jumped from #8 to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) vaulted from #11 to #6 (3.9-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) fell from #2 to #7 (7.9-5.0). It was #8 with a 4.6 share a year ago. WKQC and WLKO swapped positions on the cume leader board. WKQC moved up to #1 with a 17.6% decrease (460,000-379,200), while WLKO stepped down to #2 with a 24.8% decline (486,000-365,500). The market was up 2.2%. The market’s 6+ PUMM grew by 17.3%.

WPEG had its best 25-54 book in over a year as it rose from #4 to #1. It narrowly defeated WKQC, which dipped to #2. WBAV was up two places to #3 as it rebounded from a down book. URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ (SPORTS RADIO 92.7 FM) advanced from #7 to #4 as it regained a small portion of last survey’s huge share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) slid three places to #5 with its smallest share since AUGUST. WLKO dropped from #3 to #10 and was hanging out with BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) and iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX). The market’s 25-54 PUMM improved by 19.5%.

In the last survey, WPEG and WFNZ were tied atop the 18-34 chart. This time both stations reached double figures and landed at #1 and #2, respectively. WKQC stood alone at #3 with its best book in exactly a year, while WRFX moved up to #4 with its largest share in over a year. WBAV slipped from the #3 tie to #5 with its least productive outing since APRIL. It was paired with WNKS, which advanced from #11 with a strong share increase. URBAN ONE Urban OLDIES WOSF (105.3 RnB) slid from the tie at #3 into one at #7 with WEND. The market’s 18-34 PUMM increased by 32.3%.

Last survey WPEG had its lowest 18-49 score since MAY as it dipped to #2. This month it was back at #1 and hit double figures. WBAV moved from a tie at #4 to #2, ending a two-book slide, while WKQC slipped from #1 to #3. WFNZ had been at #8, while WNKS was at #10. Both stations had strong share increases as they moved up and into a tie at #4. WEND slid from #2 to #6 with its lowest total in over a year. It was partnered with WKKT, which advanced from #13 with its best outing since JUNE. WLKO fell from the tie at #4 into one at #11 with WOSF and URBAN ONE AC WLNK (MIX 107.9). The market’s 18-49 PUMM rose by 15.3%.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Give Us Three Minutes And…

AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) regained almost all of last survey’s lost 6+ share (6.0-7.0) as it moved back up to #1. COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB ended a three-book slide to move up two places to #2 (5.7-6.8). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) and COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) had been tied at #5. WHTZ was up to #3 as it halted a four-book slide (4.3-5.3), while WBLI landed at #4 with its best showing in over a year (4.3-5.1). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) dropped from #1 to #5 (8.4-4.8). It was #6 with a 4.7 share last year. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) dropped from #2 to #8 (7.4-3.9). The station was #11 with a 3.3 share a year ago. WINS went from #4 to #1 in the cume wars with a 16.5% increase (315,000-367,000). The market was up 0.7%. The market’s 6+ cume rose by 13.8%.

WHTZ was back at #1 25-54 for the thirteenth time in the last 14 surveys as it ended a four-book skid. WALK dipped to #2 and was about a share and a half off the pace. WBAB stepped up to #3 with a modest share increase. WBLI also landed at #3, arriving from #7 with its highest score since JULY. WINS slipped to #5 with a slight decrease. WLTW fell from #2 to #10. The market’s 25-54 PUMM was up 15.1%.

After taking the last survey off, WBAB was back at #1 18-34. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) improved from #5 to #2 with its highest share in over a year. The two stations were separated by about a share and a half. WBLI went from #5 to #3, while WHTZ leapt from #7 to the same slot. WLTW slid from #2 to #5 and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3), which advanced from #12 as it more than doubled its previous number. WALK dropped from #1 to #7 and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU). CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF) lost more than half its previous share as it dropped from #2 to #9. It was sharing that space with RED APPLE N/T WLIR (TALK RADIO 107.1), AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS and CONNOISSEUR Mainstream Rock WWSK (94.3 THE SHARK). The market’s 18-34 PUMM rose by 6.7%.

WBAB had its best 18-49 book since OCTOBER as it moved back to #1. WALK dipped to #2. It was a half share off the lead and a half share ahead of WHTZ, which stepped up to #3 ending its four-book slide. WBLI inched up to #4 with its third up book in a row. WKJY jumped from #8 to #5 with its highest score in exactly a year. It was paired with WKTU, which advanced from #12 as it exactly doubled its previous number. WLTW fell from #2 into a tie at #7 with WAXQ, while WWWF dropped from #5 to #10. The market’s 18-49 PUMM increased by 11.2%.

That’s all the news that fits. We’ll be back in a month to see how the three-minute qualifier is progressing. Thank you for your patronage.

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