RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, May 2025, Part III

June 18, 2025

Here we go again. Another spate of radio ratings to digest. Belly up to the buffet, dear friends, as The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the ratings royalty from XTRENDS – wield our Ginsu knives with perfection to slice and dice the numbers into a consumable form. Whether you’re a picky eater or a true gourmand, there is something here for everyone.

The MAY survey ran from MAY 1^ST through the 28^TH. This was a time period punctuated by strange weather and another holiday weekend. Here’s what happened…

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Taking A Fifth

For the fifth straight survey, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 6+, though with its first down book since DECEMBER (8.0-7.5). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK was back at #2 (6.4-5.9), while HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) moved up two spots to #3 with its best Frosty-free share since OCTOBER (4.8-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) descended to #4 despite landing its largest number since OCTOBER (4.9-5.5). AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) stepped up to #5 (4.7-4.6), while CRISTA Adult Contemporary Christian KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) slid from third to sixth as it ended a six-book surge (4.9-4.4). KRWM added 7.8% to its #1 cume total (564,600-608,600). The market was down 1.3%. Market PUMM rose 0.7% from APRIL and 18.4% from 2024.

The top three 25-54 stations were separated by about a half share. KISW was back at #1 with its best outing since JULY, while AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) repeated at #2 with a solid share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) remained at #3 but with its highest mark since DECEMBER. HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN 92.5) leapt from #8 to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KUOW dipped to #5 with a small decrease. FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP and BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) were last seen at #5. KEXP stepped down to #6, while KIRO-A dropped into a tie at #8 with KZOK. Market PUMM was up 4.5% from last month and 16.1% from a year ago.

Last month KNDD went from first to third 18-34 with a rather large share loss. This survey the station regained much of that lost share as it moved back up to #1. KRWM dipped to #2, ending a strong three-book run. KQMV also rebounded from a down book as it vaulted from #7 to #3. AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) moved down to #4 with its smallest share since we were hanging our hose on the mantle. KBKS slid from #2 to #5 and was tied with a flat KISW. KZOK fell from a tie at #5 to #8. Market PUMM grew 7.6% from the previous survey and 21.1% from last year.

KNDD extended its 18-49 winning streak to five as it got back some of last month’s share loss. KBKS was back at #2 with its best book since OCTOBER, while KISW inched up to #3 with a solid share gain. KQMV moved from #6 to #4 as it halted a three-book skid. KJEB posted its best number in over a year as it soared from #12 to #5. KEXP dipped to #6 and was tied with KUOW. KRWM fell from #3 to #10 with its coolest share since AUGUST. Market PUMM was up 2.4% from APRIL and 18.7% from 2024.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Yet Another Surprise

Last month market observers (that means us) were stunned to see COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) at the top of the 6+ chart. This ended a very long run for COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105). Welp, there was a new #1 station this survey as AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) moved up from #3 with its best outing since JUNE (6.2-6.6). WHQT was back at #2 but with its fifth down book in a row (6.8-6.5). WFEZ slid to #3 (6.9-6.0). AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) remained at #4 (5.8-5.4), while TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR 107.5) stepped up to #5 (4.8-4.7). iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) dipped to #6 (4.9-4.5). WLYF and WFEZ traded places atop the cume chart. WLYF was up 5.0% (755,100-793,000), while WFEZ was off 6.4% (810,600-758,900). The market was down 0.3%. Market PUMM was off 0.4% from APRIL but up 8.4% from 2024.

Though WFEZ ended a four-book surge, it was still #1 25-54 for the fifth straight survey. WLYF was back at #2 but about two shares off the pace. WMXJ repeated at #3 but with its lowest score since DECEMBER. SBS Spanish Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7 FM) stood alone at #4 with a slight decrease. WMIA stepped down to #5, while AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOP (POWER 96) dropped from a tie at #4 into one at #6 with WHQT. Market PUMM grew 2.8% from last month and 7.4% from a year ago.

The 18-34 contest was, well, interesting. Last month WLYF and WFEZ were tied at #4. WLYF ascended to the throne while WFEZ landed at #2 along with FOUR other stations. SBS Latino Urban WRMA (RITMO 95.7) dipped from #1 as it ended a robust four-book surge. WXDJ and iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTÚ (TÚ 94.9) remained in place. COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99JAMZ) arrived from a tie at #8 as it bounced back from a down book. Market PUMM grew 17.4% from the previous survey and 20.0% from last year.

WFEZ returned most of last month’s 18-49 share gain, but the station cruised to its fifth win in a row. WLYF was back at #2 with a slight decrease, while WZTU remained at #3 with a small share loss. WPOW repeated at #4 but with a new partner as WEDR rose from #6. WMXJ slipped from a tie at #4 to #6. Market PUMM was up 8.1% from APRIL and 5.5% from 2024.

PHOENIX: On A Roll

HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was back at #1 6+ with its fifth up book in a row (7.5-8.1), while iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) remained at #2 (7.3-7.4). Then came everyone else. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) was a distant #3 again (4.8-4.4), while AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) held steady at #4 (4.6-4.2). The station did add a 0.2 share from the digital realm. iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX stepped up to #5 (3.8-4.1), while HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD slid to #7 with its smallest share in over a year (4.3-3.7). KESZ continued as the cume commander in spite of a 1.3% decrease (1,003,900-990,500). The market was down 1.5% Market PUMM was off 8.3% from APRIL but gained 17.5% when compared with 2024.

KESZ extended its long running 25-54 winning string with a small increase. Over the last three books KSLX has gone from #11 to #4 and now landed at #2 with its highest mark since JULY. KUPD dipped to #3 with, again, its smallest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9) was up for the third book in a row as it advanced to #4. KNIX posted its largest share in over a year as it went from #7 to #5. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) slid from #3 to #6. KYOT has lost close to half its share since FEBRUARY. The station dropped from #5 into a tie at #8 with KOOL. Market PUMM was down 8.5% from the previous survey but grew 23.2% from a year ago.

KDKB and KESZ continued to dominate the 18-34 arena. KDKB was back at #1 with a down book, while KESZ repeated at #2. The gap between those two stations was about a half share. However, the rest of the pack trailed that duo by at least two shares. KMXP vaulted from #11 to #3 with its best showing in over a year. There were four stations huddled together at #4. KSLX dipped from #3, while AUDACY Country KMLE stepped up from #5. KOOL jumped in from #8 as it ended a three-book slide. KNIX was up from #7 with a slight decrease. KYOT and KUPD were previously slotted at #3 and #5, respectively. They fell in tandem to #9 and were partnered with ZELUS MEDIA Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9). Market PUMM was down 15.0% from last month but up 19.9% from last year.

KESZ was #1 18-49 for the third straight survey. KMXP leapt from #6 to #2 and was about a share off the lead. KUPD dipped to #3 and was paired with KDKB. Both stations suffered modest share losses. KSLX stepped down to #5 and was tied with ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5), which arrived from #10 with its biggest number in over a year. KYOT fell from #5 to #9. Market PUMM fell 9.6% from APRIL but rose 17.6% from 2024.

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DETROIT: Yea, That’s The Ticket

For the second book in a row AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was #1 6+ (8.9-8.6). The station also was given a 2.1 share courtesy of its stream. AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC stepped up to #2 (6.9-7.0), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC dipped to #3 with its lowest score in over a year (7.5-6.5). AUDACY Country WYCD had its best outing since SEPTEMBER as it rose two places to #4 (5.2-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) stepped down to #5 (6.5-6.0), while BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF was down to #6 (5.4-5.6). WNIC still had the most listeners (1,120,200 – 1,108,900) – a 1.0% decrease. The market was down 0.8%. Market PUMM was down 1.0% from APRIL but grew 21.8% from 2024.

WXYT made it back-to-back 25-54 wins but saw its lead over WRIF shrink to a half share. WRIF landed its fifth up book in a row. WOMC stepped up to #3 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) inched up to #4 with a small share loss. It was paired with WYCD, which advanced from #8 with its first up book since JANUARY. WNIC again posted its lowest total in over a year as it fell from #3 to #8. Market PUMM was down 1.5% from last month but up 20.5% from a year ago.

WRIF was #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the second book in a row. WYCD moved from #4 to #2 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER but still trailed the leader by four shares. WXYT and WKQI were previously spotted at #2. Both stations had down books and landed at #3 and #4, respectively. WOMC stepped up to #5 as it regained some of last survey’s share loss. WNIC dropped from #5 to #8. Market PUMM grew 4.2% from the previous book and 26.4% from last year.

WRIF had its best 18-49 outing in over a year to repeat as the demo winner. WYCD vaulted from #8 to #2 with its largest share since JULY and was about two shares off the lead. Just a click behind was WXYT, which dipped to #3. WKQI stepped down to #4 with its fourth down book in a row. WOMC stood alone at #5 with a slight increase. Its former partner in that space – WMXD – slipped into a tie at #6 with CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD, which rose from #9. WNIC fell from #4 to #9. Market PUMM was down 1.6% from APRIL but up 21.3% from 2024.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Hitting The Fan

iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN 100.3) was #1 6+ for the fifth straight survey (10.9-9.8). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) had its best book since JULY as it rose from #4 to #2 (6.5-7.5). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS was up for the fourth book in a row (6.9-7.0) but still dipped to #3. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) was down to #4 (6.6-6.9), while MPR N/T KNOW stepped down to #5 with its smallest share in over a year (6.5-5.9). The station did add a 1.1 share from cyberspace. Also coming in at #5 was AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM), which saw its four-book surge come to an end (6.2-5.9). KQQL added 4.5% to its #1 cume total (776,900-812,200). The market was up 1.6%. Market PUMM grew 1.4% from APRIL and 10.4% from 2024.

KFXN was #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) was back at #2 as it regained some of last month’s share loss. The gap between the two stations shrank from more than five shares to about two and a half shares. KSTP moved up to #3 as it halted a three-book slide. KZJK dipped to #4 ending a four-book surge. It was tied with KQQL, which leapt from #9 as it rebounded from a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB stepped down to #6 despite regaining most of last month’s share loss. Market PUMM was up 2.9% from last month and 9.4% from a year ago.

KFXN was in double-digits 18-34 for the third book in a row, the last two of which saw the station in first place. KZJK was back at #2 but could not duplicate last month’s double-digit feat. It was paired with KQQL, which moved up from #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KDWB had its best outing since JANUARY as it stepped up to #4. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was down to #5 with a small share loss. Market PUMM was up 3.6% from the previous survey and 24.6% from last year.

KFXN continued to kill it with the 18-49 crowd. The station was in double figures for the ninth time in the last ten surveys and finished at #1 for the fifth book in a row. KQQL got back most of last month’s huge share loss as it rose from #6 to #2. KSTP was back at #3 as it halted a three-book slide. KZJK was down two places to #4 with a small decrease. KDWB repeated at #5 with a strong share gain. KXXR slipped to #6 with a slight decrease. Market PUMM was down 0.1% from APRIL but up 13.3% from 2024.

And there you have it. But fear not, dear friends, because we have one more round in the hopper.  This one will focus on TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.

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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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