RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, August 2025, Part III

September 11, 2025

We’ve put the band back together for another round of ratings reveals. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the usual suspects from XTRENDS – are here to regale you with facts, figures, and maybe some snide commentary. It depends on how the mood strikes us and how the numbers fall out. Will AUGUST be more of the same or will there be unexpected reveals hidden beneath the surface? That is up to you, the intrepid reader, to find out.

This book ran from JULY 24^th through AUGUST 20^th. There were no official holidays, but folks were hitting the road to enjoy that last gasp of summer. Let’s take a closer look…

SEATTLE-TACOMA: The Great Eight

For the eighth consecutive survey, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 6+ (8.4-9.1). Bonneville Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) should probably change their name to “the big dumper” as we’re fairly certain the MARINERS are fueling the station’s rise to #2 with its highest share in over a year (5.4-6.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) descended to #3 (5.6-5.1) where it was met by AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK), which rose from #8 with its best outing since NOVEMBER (4.3-5.1). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) cooled off to #5 (4.7-4.8), while CLASSIC RADIO Classical KING dipped to #6 (4.5-4.7). KRWM remained in cume control with a 1.9% increase (533,500-543,400). The market was off 0.6%. Market PUMM was down 0.6% from JULY but up 17.8% from 2024.

Last month KISW saw its three-book 25-54 winning streak come to an end as it slipped into a tie at #2. The station was back on top this survey with its best book in over a year. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) stepped down to #2 with a slight decrease. KIRO-A advanced three bases to #3 with, once again, its best outing in over a year. KJEB taxied up to #4 with a slight decrease, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) moved up to #5 with a slight increase. KUOW slipped to #6, while FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP dropped from a tie at #2 to #7. Market PUMM was up 0.9% from the previous survey and 28.8% from last year.

KNDD was #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row and remained in double-digit territory. KISW moved up to #2 with its best showing in a year but trailed its cluster bruh by more than four shares. HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN 92.5) dipped to #3 as it surrendered all of last month’s large share increase, plus a little extra. It was paired with KBKS, which moved up a spot as it bounced back from a down book. Three stations settled in at #5. KRWM moved down from #4 with its smallest share in a year. KIRO-A rose from #9, while HUBBARD Country KPNW (98.9 THE BULL) charged in from a tie at #12 with its highest mark in over a year. AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) fell from a tie at #4 to #11 with its lowest score in over a year. KJEB dropped from a tie at #4 into a three-way situation at #13. Market PUMM was down 8.5% from last month but up 22.7% from a year ago.

KNDD was the runaway 18-49 leader for the eighth straight survey. KBKS remained at #2 but had company as KIRO-A had another tape measure blast as it advanced from a tie at #6. KISW also moved up from #6 as it landed at #4 with its best showing in over a year. KUOW repeated at #5 with its first down book since FEBRUARY. KJEB and KEXP were #3 and #4, respectively, last month. They landed at #6 and were joined by KQMV. Market PUMM was down 3.2% from JULY but up 17.5% from 2024.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Easy Does It

Last month COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) and COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105FM) were tied at #2 6+. WFEZ moved up to claim the crown with its best book in over a year (6.5-7.1), while WHQT stayed behind at #2 (6.5-6.9). AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) went from first to third with its smallest share since MARCH (6.6-6.1). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5) was back at #4 (5.2-5.6), while AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) repeated at #5 (5.1-5.2). WLYF was still the cume leader with a 0.7% increase (764,500-770,100). The market was up 3.1%. Market PUMM rose 6.4% from JULY and 19.5% from 2024.

WFEZ was #1 25-54 for the eighth book in a row. WLYF moved up two places to #2 with its best outing in over a year but still trailed the leader by more than two shares. COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) repeated at #3 though it returned some of last month’s huge increase. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) slipped to #4 with a noticeable share loss. WHQT remained at #5 with a slight increase. Market PUMM was up 4.0% from the previous survey and 18.9% from last year.

The 18-34 arena was a wild west show. SBS Spanish Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7) rose from a tie at #5 to #1 with its highest mark since APRIL. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TÚ 94.9) stepped up to #2 and was paired with WFEZ, which advanced from #8 with its best outing in exactly a year. WLYF had its three-book winning string snapped as it drifted down to #4. AUDACY Classic Hip-Hop & R&B WPOW (POWER 96) leapt from #11 to #5 with a solid increase. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WRTO (MIX 98.3) dipped to #6. COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) slid three places to #7 with its smallest share since DECEMBER. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT). SBS Latino Urban WRMA (RITMO 95.7) lost almost half its previous share as it fell from #2 to #10. It was paired with WMIA. WAMR dropped from a tie at #5 into an arrangement at #12 with HUBBARD AC WRMF. Market PUMM rose 12.3% from last month and 36.4% from a year ago.

The 18-49 contest was a bit more stable. WFEZ was #1 for the eighth book in a row and led #2 WLYF by nearly two shares. WFLC dipped to #3 as it gave back most of last month’s huge increase. WHQT remained at #4 and was partnered with WPOW, which moved up from #6. Both stations had slight increases. WMIA fell from a tie at #4 into one at #8 with WZTU. Market PUMM was up 4.9% from JULY and 21.9% from 2024.

PHOENIX: Fit To Be (Un)Tied

For the last two books HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX and iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) were tied atop the 6+ chart. That changed this survey. KSLX remained in first place (9.1-8.2), while KESZ stepped down to #2 with its smallest share in over a year (9.1-6.2). Then came the rest of the market. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) stood resolute at #3 (4.4-4.7), while iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A moved up to #4 (3.8-4.3). AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) repeated at #5 (4.2-4.1). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX slipped to #6 (4.3-4.0). It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KZZP (104.7 KISS FM), which advanced from #12 with its highest mark in over a year (2.7-4.0). KESZ remained in cume control with a 7.8% decline (923,400-851,400). The market was down 0.2%. Market PUMM was up 3.8% from JULY and 16.1% from 2024.

The 25-54 race suddenly got a lot hotter. KESZ continued its long running string of #1 books but landed its lowest share in over a year. KSLX was back at #2 with a slight decrease. The gap between the two stations shrank from about two shares to less than a half share. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9) repeated at #3. It was joined there by KYOT, which rose from #5. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD dipped to #5 and narrowly edged out RIVERIA Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9), which vaulted from #13 with its best showing in over a year. Market PUMM was up 5.8% from the previous survey and 22.8% from last year.

KESZ was #1 18-34 for the third straight survey but was unable to match last month’s double-digit feat. KMXP and KSLX were tied at #3. Both stations posted their best numbers in over a year but KMXP’s was a bit better as it moved up to #2 while KSLX remained in place. KYOT was up for the third book in a row as it advanced to #4. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KHOT (QUÉ BUENA 105.9/105.1) nearly doubled its previous share as it leapt from #14 to #5. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) dropped from #2 to #6 with its lowest score in over a year. It was joined there by AUDACY Country KMLE, KZZP, and KOOL. Market PUMM was up 4.0% from last month and 17.3% from a year ago.

KESZ was #1 18-49 for the sixth straight survey but its lead over #2 KMXP shrank from over three shares to less than a share. KSLX was back at #3 with its third up book in a row. KUPD stepped up to #4 with a small share loss, while ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5) worked it from #9 to #5 as it bounced back from a down book. KDKB fell from #4 to #11 with its lowest total in over a year. Market PUMM was up 7.9% from JULY and 19.6% from 2024.

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DETROIT: A Battle Royal

The 6+ race is now being hotly contested. iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC moved up to #1 (6.7-8.2). It just nipped AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET), which dipped to #2 as its four-book winning streak came to an end (7.7-8.1). The station did add a whopping 3.2 share from the interwebs. AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC stepped down to #3 (6.7-6.6), while iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) remained at #4 (6.2-6.5). AUDACY Country WYCD was back at #5 with its lowest score since Santa was coming down Woodward Avenue (5.3-5.0). WNIC maintained its cume lead with a 4.1% increase (974,400-1,014,800). The market was flat. Market PUMM was up 4.5% from JULY and 16.3% from 2024.

WXYT was #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row and was dangerously close to hitting double figures. Its stream came in at #13. A flat BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF remained at #2. WMXD had its best outing in over a year as it vaulted from #8 to #3. After two flat books in a row WNIC had a solid increase as it rose from #7 to forge a tie at #3. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) slipped to #5 with its smallest share in over a year. WOMC and CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD were last seen at #5. They continued their arrangement at #6 and welcomed iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB to that spot. Market PUMM was up 2.5% from the previous survey and 8.2% last year.

While WRIF posted its lowest number since MARCH the station was able to move back to #1 18-34. WKQI stepped down to #2, while AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) was up to #3 with its best outing in over a year. WNIC vaulted from #12 to #4 with a massive share gain. WMXD also added a ton of share as it advanced from #10 to #5. It was paired with WJLB, which arrived from #8 with its highest share in over a year. BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX slipped to #7 and was tied with WXYT. WYCD fell from #4 to #9, while WOMC dropped from #3 to #10. Market PUMM was up 3.8% from last month and 13.2% from a year ago.

WXYT jumped from #3 to #1 18-49, just edging out WRIF, which was pushed down to #2. This ended WRIF’s four-book winning streak. WKQI dipped to #3 with its lowest score in over a year. WJLB and WMXD advanced into a tie at #4. They were previously seen at #12 and #7, respectively. WNIC was very close behind as it rose from #11 to #6. WDVD fell from #3 to #8, while WYCD dropped from #5 to #12. Market PUMM was up 1.1% from JULY and 8.4% from 2024.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Fan Fave

For the eighth book in a row, and twelfth time in the last 14 surveys, iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (K-FAN FM 100.3) was #1 6+ (8.1-9.2). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS remained at #2 with its best outing since OCTOBER (7.2-7.9). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) stood alone at #3 (7.0-6.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) dipped to #4 with its smallest share in over a year (7.0-6.0). MPR N/T KNOW also had its least productive outing in over a year as it remained at #5 (6.3-5.4). However, the station was given a 1.7 share courtesy of the digital domain. KQQL remained the cume leader with a 2.4% increase (706,400-723,400). The market was up 0.9%. Market PUMM grew 3.2% from JULY and 7.6% from 2024.

After taking the last two books off, KFXN was back at #1 25-54. This pushed MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) down to #2. Both stations were in double figures. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) had its best showing in over a year as it rose from #6 to #3. KSTP dipped to #4 as it ended a three-book surge. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB, which advanced from #7 with its best book since MARCH. AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) and KQQL were previously at #4 and #5, respectively. They landed together at #7. Market PUMM was up 4.8% from the previous survey and 13.9% from last year.

KCMP was #1 18-34 for the second straight survey as it crashed through the double-digit barrier. KFXN stepped up to #2 as it halted a three-book slide. KXXR stood alone at #3 but with its best book since NOVEMBER. KTIS vaulted from #11 to #4 with its highest mark since FEBRUARY. KQQL slipped to #5, while KZJK dropped from #2 into a tie at #6 with KDWB and iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KTCZ (CITIES 97.1). Market PUMM was up 3.2% from last month and flat when compared to a year ago.

KFXN and KCMP were the 18-49 co-leaders last month. Both stations hit double figures this time, but KFXN was a bit stronger as it remained in first place while KCMP dipped to second. KXXR and KDWB were an item at #6. Both stations had solid increases as they rose to #3 and #4, respectively. KSTP slipped to #5 with its lowest total in over a year. KZJK dipped to #6, while KQQL dropped three places to #7. Market PUMM was up 6.0% from JULY and 11.6% from 2024.

We have more left in the tank. Stand by. Up next in the queue are TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.

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