RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, September 2025, Part III

October 9, 2025

What is it about SEPTEMBER that inspires so many songwriters? Does it have something to do with failed summer romances? Is it the crispness of the fall air? It can’t be the rhyming pattern because other months have three syllables. And we’re not talking one-offs here. There are some truly iconic SEPTEMBER songs. As a matter of fact, if I just type the line “Do you remember…” you automatically have that ear worm stuck in your head.

You’re welcome.

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in close cooperation with the data diviners from XTRENDS – are not here to discuss cultural trends. Our job is to present the facts as we see them. The SEPTEMBER survey ran from AUGUST 21^st through SEPTEMBER 17^th. It features the back-to-school daze, football and a three-day holiday weekend. Here’s how it played out:

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: When you’re Hot, You’re Hot

After taking four of the last five books off, COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105) was back at #1 6+ with its best outing since MARCH (6.9-7.4). COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) eased its way down to #2 (7.1-7.2), while AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) remained at #3 as it bounced back from a down book (6.1-6.6). AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) stepped up to #4 with its highest mark since APRIL (5.2-5.8). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5) dipped to #5 (5.6-5.3). WLYF remained the cume leader (770,100-768,500) – a 0.2% decline. The market grew by 0.8%. Market PUMM was down 1.1% from AUGUST and up 10.4% from 2024.

WFEZ was #1 25-54 for the ninth straight survey; however, it did have a down book while #2 WLYF landed its largest share in over a year. The net result was that the gap between the two stations shrank from two and a half shares to less than a half share. WMXJ jumped from #6 to #3 with its best showing since FEBRUARY. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) repeated at #4, while WHQT remained at #5. COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) slipped to #6 with a slight decrease. Market PUMM was up 1.3% from last month and 16.4% from a year ago.

WLYF rebounded from a down book to move back to #1 18-34. WFEZ remained at #2 but was two shares off the lead. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) vaulted from #7 into a tie at #2 with its highest score since MARCH. SBS Spanish Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7) fell from first to fourth as it returned most of last month’s huge increase. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TÚ 94.9) dropped three places to #5 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. It was paired with COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ), which rose from #7 with its best showing since MARCH. AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOW (POWER 96) dropped from #5 into a tie at #11 with HUBBARD AC WRMF. Market PUMM was down 4.2% from last month but up 30.7% from a year ago.

WLYF moved up to #1 18-49 with its highest share in over a year. This halted the eight-book winning string for WFEZ, which dipped to #2. WHQT inched up to # 3, with its largest number since JANUARY, while WMXJ rose from #7 to #4 with a large share gain. WFLC slipped to #5, while WPOW dropped down to #6. Both stations had slight decreases. Market PUMM was down 1.1% from AUGUST but up 18.8% from 2024.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: The More You Know

For the ninth straight survey, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 6+ (9.1-9.2). BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) was back as a distant #2 (6.3-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) and AUDACY Active Rock KISW were tied at #3. KJEB remained in place (5.1-5.8), while KISW dipped to #4 (5.1-5.7). Both stations landed their largest shares in over a year. CLASSIC RADIO Classical KING stepped up to #5 (4.7-4.6). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) posted its lowest number in over a year (4.8-3.8) as it fell from #5 to #9. It was joined there by iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KJAQ (96.5 JACK FM), which rose from #14 (3.2-3.8). KJEB jumped from #4 to #1 in the cume wars with an 8.8% increase (523,700-569,900. The market grew by 1.7%. Market PUMM was down 0.5% from AUGUST but up 17.4% from 2024.

KISW was back at #1 25-54 with, again, its best outing in over a year. It held a two-share advantage over the two stations at #2. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) held steady, while KJEB was up from #4 with a solid increase. KUOW also had its best book in over a year as it rose from #6 to #4. KIRO-A slipped to #5, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) dipped to #6 with its lowest number since JANUARY. Market PUMM was up 0.9% from the previous survey and 34.2% from last year.

KJAQ more than doubled its AUGUST share as it vaulted from #8 to #1 18-34. This ended the four-book winning streak for KNDD as it dipped to #2. KISW stepped down to #3 with a slight decrease, while HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN 92.5) slipped to #4 with its least productive outing in over a year. KRWM stood alone at #5, while three stations were massed together at #6. KBKS dropped from #3, while KIRO-A moved down from a tie at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK advanced from #8 with a slight decrease. HUBBARD Country KPNW (98.9 THE BULL) was last seen at #5. It fell to #9 as it returned a good portion of last month’s huge increase. Market PUMM was up 3.3% from last month and 43.9% from a year ago.

KNDD was your 18-49 leader for the ninth book in a row. KISW moved up two slots to #2 with a small increase and was this close to first place. KUOW advanced to #3 with its highest mark in over a year, while KJEB landed at #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KJAQ worked it from #9 to #5. Just two surveys ago it was sitting at #15. KIRO-A and KBKS were tied at #2. They dropped to #6 and #7, respectively. Market PUMM was down 0.5% from AUGUST but up 25.3% from 2024.

PHOENIX: Still Rockin’

For the sixth book in a row, HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was #1 6+ (8.2-8.8). iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) was back at #2 but with its smallest share in over a year (6.2-6.1). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) repeated at #3 (4.7-5.0), while iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX rose to #4 (4.0-4.4). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A dipped to #5 (4.3-4.3), while AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) stepped down to #6 (4.1-4.2). KESZ still had the cume lead with a 0.2% increase (851,400-853,000). The market was up 1.2%. Market PUMM was up 1.8% from AUGUST and 18.6% from 2024.

There was a major development in the 25-54 contest. For the first time in over a year KESZ was not the #1 station. That honor went to KSLX, which posted its biggest number in over a year. KESZ dipped to #2, again with its smallest share in over a year. KYOT repeated at #3 with its best book since MARCH. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD had its best outing since APRIL as it stepped up to #4. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9) slipped to #5. It was partnered with TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KHOT (QUÉ BUENA 105.9 & 105.1), which advanced from #10 with its highest mark in over a year. Market PUMM was up 6.0% from the previous survey and 28.5% from last year.

KSLX hit double figures with the 18-34 crowd as it rose from #3 to #1. KHOT was up three places to #2. In JULY the station was ranked at #14 and has more than doubled its share since then. KMXP dipped to #3 with a large share loss. A flat KYOT moved up to forge a tie at #3, while KOOL inched up to #5 with its best showing in over a year. KESZ fell from #1 to #6. The station has shed more than half its shares since JULY. Market PUMM was up 6.4% from last month and 16.1% from a year ago.

KSLX completed the demo sweep as it rose from #3 to #1 18-49. This ended the six-book winning string for KESZ, which moved down to #2. It was a share off the pace. KUPD stepped up to #3 with its best book since APRIL. KHOT advanced three squares to #4 with its sixth up book in a row. KMXP slid three places to #5, while ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5) dipped to #6 despite a slight increase. Market PUMM was up 6.3% from AUGUST and 24.1% from 2024.

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DETROIT: Good Sports

AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was back at #1 6+ (8.1-8.4). The station also garnered a 2.9 share from cyberspace. iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC dipped to #2 (8.2-7.9), while iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) moved up to #3 with its best book in over a year (6.5-7.4). AUDACY classic Hits WOMC dipped to #4 with its smallest share since BURL IVES was soiling the airwaves (6.6-5.9). AUDACY Country WYCD was back at #5 as it ended a three-book slide (5.0-5.5). WNIC remained in cume control with a 7.4% increase (1,014,800-1,089,900). The market was up 0.9%. Market PUMM Was up 3.2% from AUGUST and 21.9% from 2024.

For the sixth straight survey, WXYT was #1 25-54. The station hit double figures, and its stream came in at #14. WMXD stepped up to #2, again with its highest mark in over a year. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF had its smallest share since FEBRUARY as it drifted down to #3. A flat WNIC stepped down to #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) was back at #5 with a slight decrease. Market PUMM was up 3.9% from the previous survey and 18.2% from last year.

WRIF repeated as the 18-34 leader, but it was not alone. WXYT vaulted up from #7 with its highest score since MAY to claim its share of the top spot. WKQI dipped to #3 with a slight increase, while WNIC repeated at #4 with a small share gain. AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) slipped to #5, while WYCD rose three slots to #6 with a solid increase. WMXD and iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB were last spotted at #5. WMXD slipped to #7, while WJLB landed in a tie at #9 with WGPR INC Urban Contemporary WGPR (HOT 107.5). Market PUMM was down 1.2% from last month but grew by 19.8% from a year ago.

WXYT had its best outing since NOVEMBER as it remained atop the 18-49 leaderboard. The station’s stream clocked in at #15. WMXD rose to #2 with its highest score in over a year. WRIF dipped to #3 with its lowest mark since MARCH. WNIC moved up to #4 with a small increase. WKQI slid to #5 and was tied with CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD, which advanced from #8 with a slight increase. WJLB fell from #4 to #11 as it returned all of last month’s massive share increase – plus a bit extra. Market PUMM was up 3.7% from AUGUST and 15.5% from 2024.

MINNEPOLIS-ST. PAUL: The Sporting Life

For the ninth book in a row – and thirteenth time in the last 14 surveys – iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN 100.3) was #1 6+ (9.2-10.1). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) stepped up to #2 with its best outing in over a year (6.7-7.6). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS dipped to #3 (7.9-7.0), while MPR N/T KNOW moved up to #4 as it rebounded from a down book (5.4-6.3). The station also added a 1.2 share from the interwebs. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) leapt from #8 to #5 as it ended a two-book slide (5.1-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) slipped to #6 with its smallest share in over a year (6.0-5.6). KQQL was still the most heard station (723,400-762,900) – a 5.5% rise. The market was up 2.3%. Market PUMM rose 4.4% from AUGUST and 12.3% from 2024.

KFXN was both #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the second book in a row. MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) was back at #2 but could not match last month’s double-digit performance. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) repeated at #3 though it returned most of last month’s share increase. KSTP stood alone at #4 with a small decrease, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB slipped to #5. Market PUMM was up 1.4% from the previous survey and 15.0% from last year.

KCMP was #1 18-34 for the third straight survey, the last two of which have been in double figures. KFXN remained at #2 but it also hit double digits. AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) leapt from #6 to #3 as it regained most of last survey’s huge share loss. KXXR dipped to #4 as it halted a two-book surge. KDWB and iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KTCZ (CITIES 97.1) were last seen at #6. Both stations had strong increases as they ended up at #5 and #6, respectively. KTIS fell from #4 to #7. It was tied with KQQL, which dropped from #5 with its lowest score in over a year. Market PUMM was up 15.9% from both last month and a year ago.

KFXN was the 18-49 winner for the ninth straight survey. It also landed in double-digit territory for the sixth time during its streak. KCMP repeated at #2 as it gave back most of AUGUST’s share increase. KZJK advanced three spaces to #3 as it recovered from a down book. KDWB remained at #4, KXXR slipped to #5 and KSTP descended to #6. All three stations had down books. Market PUMM was up 8.7% from AUGUST and 19.6% from 2024.

Nothing’s over until we decide it is! Up next in the queue are 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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