RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, August 2025, Part IV

September 12, 2025

Ah, AUGUST—when the calendar pretends summer is endless, but reality disagrees. The only thing hotter than the asphalt is everyone’s impatience for vacation to end and spreadsheets to return. If the month had a motto, it’d probably be “Halfway between sunscreen and school supplies, with a dash of existential dread.”

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in close cooperation with the data diviners from XTRENDS – are back for one last foray into the AUGUST book. This one ran from JULY 24^TH through AUGUST 20^TH. It was holiday free, but many were focused on back to school stuff. Heck, at least we had the excitement of NFL exhibition, er, pre-season football.

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Dove Tailed

COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) repeated as the 6+ leader but with its smallest share in over a year (7.8-7.1). RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) was back at #2 (7.4-6.8), while COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) remained nested in at #3 (5.3-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) rose three places to #4 with its best showing since it was fouling the airwaves with BURL IVES and his minions (4.9-5.2). COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) held steady at #5 (5.0-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) dropped three places to #6 (5.3-4.8) and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) which moved up from #8 (4.8-4.8). BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYK) slid to #8 with its lowest mark in over a year (5.0-4.5). WDUV still had the largest flock of listeners despite a 5.6% decline (607,900-574,100). The market was off by 2.3%. Market PUMM was down 3.7% from JULY but up 5.9% from 2024.

Two stations were able to claim they were #1 25-54. WWRM was a repeat offender as it returned some of last month’s large share increase. WXTB moved up from #2 with a small increase. BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) vaulted from #9 to #4 with its best book in over a year. Speaking of the number four, last month four stations were crowded into that space. WMTX moved up to #3 with a modest share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) and WQYK remained together but down at #5. WCIE slid to #7. All three stations had slight increases. WDUV dropped five slots to #8 and was flying with COX MEDIA N/T WHPT (102.5 THE BONE). Market PUMM was down 1.6% from last month and up by 2.0% from a year ago.

WFLZ was your 18-34 leader for the third consecutive survey. It maintained about a share advantage over the three stations huddled together at #2. WQYK and WFUS were there last month. They were joined by COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) which advanced from #9 with its best outing in over a year. WWRM stood alone at #5 with a solid increase. WXTB slid to #7 with its smallest share since we had to contend with leaping lords. It was tied with WCIE. WDUV dropped from #2 to #9 and was paired with WXGL. BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) slid from a tie at #5 to #12 with its least productive outing in over a year. Market PUMM was up 2.5% from the previous survey and 7.3% from last year.

WXTB and WWRM switched places atop the 18-49 leaderboard as WXTB moved up to #1 with a modest increase and WWRM dipped to #2 with a small decrease. WQYK remained at #3, while WFLZ was back at #4 but with its best book in over a year. WCIE repeated at #5 and was joined there by WFUS which rose from #7. Market PUMM was down 1.2% from JULY but up 16.9% from 2024.

DENVER-BOULDER: The Six Fix

For the sixth straight survey BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) was #1 6+ (7.5-7.5). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO was back at #2 but with its smallest share since FEBRUARY (6.2-5.7). Last month there was a threesome at #3. AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) was the only one left this time (5.6-5.3), while AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) dipped to #4 (5.6-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) stepped up to #5 (5.1-4.9), while KSE RADIO VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) dropped from that tie at #3 to #6 with its lowest mark in over a year (5.6-4.6). It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) which moved up a spot (5.0-4.6) and BONNEVILLE Sports KKFN (104.3 THE FAN) which advanced from #14 with its best outing in over a year (3.1-4.6). KOSI was still the cume leader with a 1.5% decline (551,800-543,300). The market was up 0.9%. Market PUMM was up 2.8% from JULY and 12.4% from 2024.

Though it was down for the third book in a row, KTCL was #1 for the eighth straight survey 25-54. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) stepped up to #2, while KALC was up two places to #3. Both stations had slight decreases. KOSI dropped to #4 with its lowest total since MARCH. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) dipped to #5. Market PUMM was up 2.1% from last month and 15.5% from a year ago.

KXPK, which was sitting at #11 just three books ago, made it back-to-back 18-34 wins. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) remained at #2. KOSI dipped into a three-way tie at #3. That also included a flat KQKS which was up a slot and KQMT which rose from #7 with its highest score since FEBRUARY. KTCL slipped to #6 and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO which advanced from #12 with its best book in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Country KWBL (106.7 THE BULL) surrendered most of last month’s huge increase as it fell from a tie at #4 into one at #8. Also in that space were KYGO and KSE RADIO VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100). Market PUMM was up 9.4% from the previous survey and 18.4% from last year.

Last month KQKS and KXPK were the 18-49 co-leaders. Both stations had down books, but KQKS was able to cling to first place while KXPK slipped to #2. KOSI was back at #3, while KTCL repeated at #4, though with its smallest share since JANUARY. KALC remained at #5 and was joined there by KDHT which moved up a spot with its best showing since MARCH. Market PUMM was up 4.0% from JULY and 12.6% from 2024.

SAN DIEGO: Eight Is Enough

AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was #1 6+ for the eighth book in a row (8.6-9.5). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) remained at #2 (6.8-6.9) but had company as AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3FM THE FAN) arrived from #6 with its best showing in over a year (4.5-6.9). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS remained at #4 (5.8-5.8), while AUDACY AC KYXY slid to #5 with its first down book since FEBRUARY (6.6-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KOGO-A (NEWSRADIO 600 KOGO) fell to #9 (4.9-4.1) and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) (4.3-4.1). Despite a 7.9% decline KXSN was still the cume leader (676,800-623,000). The market was down 1.9%. Market PUMM was off 0.6% from JULY but up by 11.0% from 2024.

KWFN hit it out of the park this month as it rose from #5 to #1 25-54. KXSN stepped down to #2 as its six-book winning streak ground to a halt. AUDACY Country KSON was up to #3 with its best outing in over a year, while XHRM remained at #4. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) ended a three-book surge as it slid from #2 to #5. It was paired with TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) which advanced from #8. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) fell from #3 to #8, while KYXY dropped from #5 to #15 with its smallest share in over a year. Market PUMM was up 1.8% from last month but down 1.9% from a year ago.

KXSN was #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row and hit double figures for the second time during that span. KWFN stepped up to #2 but doubled its previous share as it was also in double-digit territory. KSON dipped to #3 despite a large share increase. A flat KYXY dipped to #4, while XHRM slid to #5 with its fourth down book in a row. KIOZ landed at #6 as it ended a strong four-book surge. Market PUMM was up 1.0% from the previous survey and 19.9% from last year.

For the seventh book in a row KXSN was #1 18-49. KWFN nearly doubled its previous share as it rose from #8 to #2. XHRM was back at #3 with a slight increase. KIOZ slid to #4 and met headlong with KSON which advanced from #9 with its best outing in over a year. KYXY and XTRA were last seen at #4. KYXY dropped to #6, while XTRA ended up at #9 along with AUDACY Alternative KBZT (ALT 94.9) and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 933). Market PUMM was down 0.4% from JULY but up 4.0% from 2024.

SHAMELESS PLUG: Annnddd..I got nothin’ Move along.

CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: And The Classic Hits Just Keep On Comin’

For the fourth book in a row BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7FM) was #1 6+ (8.9-7.6). URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) had its best showing in over a year as it moved from #6 to #2 (5.4-6.9). BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) was up two places to #3 with its first up book since APRIL (5.7-6.5). BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) slipped to #4 with its smallest share since MARCH (7.4-6.4). PACIFIC BROADCASTING GROUP Classic Hits WXRC (95.7FM THE RIDE) slid to #5 (7.1-6.2), while iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) dropped to #6 (6.4-6.0). WLKO moved back to the #1 cume position with a 6.7% increase. The market was off 0.6%. Market PUMM was down 1.7% from JULY but up 35.1% from 2024.

WKQC was the 25-54 leader for the fifth straight survey. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) was #2 for the fourth book in a row. It was paired with WOSF which advanced from #10. URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ (SPORTSRADIO 92.7FM) stepped up to #4 with a solid increase, while a flat iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX) slid to #5. WLKO dropped from #4 to #7, while iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) fell three places to #8. It was tied with WBAV. Market PUMM was down 0.6% from the previous survey but up 41.2% from last year.

There were all sorts of ties on the 18-34 leaderboard. Last month WBAV and WEND were the co-leaders. WBAV had a huge share increase as it remained in the top spot for the fifth book in a row. WEND dipped into a tie at #2 with three other stations. WOSF moved up a spot, while BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1 FM) broke out of a tie at #4. WFNZ advanced from #7. Just two books ago it was at #13 and has more than doubled its share since then. WRFX dropped from a tie at #4 into one at #6 with four other stations. Those were WSOC and WLKO, both up from #12, along with UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE and BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98). Market PUMM was down 2.8% from last month but up 42.1% from a year ago.

Last month WNKS and WKQC were tied at #1 18-49. WNKS had a solid increase as it dipped to #2, while WKQC landed at #5. Your new demo leader was WOSF which advanced from a tie at #6. The station has doubled its share over the last two books. WBAV went from #5 to forge a tie at #2. WEND bounced back from a down book to move up to #4. WRFX slipped to #6 where it was met by WFNZ which was last spotted at #11. WLKO fell from #4 to #8. Market PUMM was down 4.9% from JULY but up 26.3% from 2024.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Stop Talking

Spoken word was the order of the 6+ day for the last three books but that ended this month as iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) moved up to #1 with its best outing in over a year (6.2-6.9). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) dipped to #2 (6.9-6.6), though it did pick up a 1.1 share from the interwebs. RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A stepped down to #3 (6.4-5.2), while COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB moved up to #4 (4.2-4.9). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) strolled down to #5 (5.2-4.8). AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTSRADIO 66AM/101.9FM) slid to #7 (4.5-4.5). It did add a 1.9 share courtesy of the digital realm. It was tied with COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (4.2-4.5). WALK was still the cume commander despite a 5.3% decline (389,500-368,800). The market was up 0.7%. Market PUMM was down 1.8% from JULY and up 0.2% from 2024.

WHTZ was #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. WBAB was up two slots to #2, while WBLI dipped to #3. Both stations had their best books in exactly a year. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) went from #7 to #4 with its highest mark since OCTOBER. WALK slid from #2 to #5. WINS and WABC-A were last seen at #5. WINS dipped to #6 and was tied with AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS, while WABC-A dropped to #8 and was paired with WFAN. Market PUMM was down 6.4% from last month but up 6.5% from a year ago.

The 18-34 leaderboard had the same players as last month, they were just in different places. WBLI and WALK were #3 and #4, respectively. Both stations had huge share increases as they rose together to #1. This ended the three-book winning streak for WABC-A which slipped to #3. WHTZ stepped up to #4, while WCBS stood alone at #5. Market PUMM was down 10.2% from the previous survey and 13.6% from last year.

WHTZ was the 18-49 leader for the fifth straight survey. WBLI and WALK remained #2 and #3, respectively, as both stations had slight increases. WBAB and WAXQ were previously tied at #7. Both stations had strong share increases as they advanced to #4 and #5, respectively. WCBS dipped to #6, while WABC-A dropped to #7. It was paired with CONNOISSEUR Mainstream Rock WWSK (94.3 THE SHARK). Market PUMM was down 4.2% from JULY and 5.5% from 2024.

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