RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, September 2025, Part IV

October 10, 2025

Back from the shadows again The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with those masters of the dark NIELSEN arts from XTRENDS – bring you our final installment of the SEPTEMBER saga. This is a drama that writes itself (if only). It features the usual suspects, surprise encounters, and heartbreaking, if not tragic, defeats. It is the reality that shapes careers – which is probably the most frightening aspect of this story.

Come on this journey with us. One that began on AUGUST 21^st and reached its final destination on SEPTEMBER 17^th. There were school buses to catch, dorm rooms to decorate, a three-day weekend and, thankfully – lots and lots of football. Let us begin…

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Fly, Dove, Fly

For the third book in a row, COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was nested at #1 6+ (7.1-7.1). Coming back at #2 again was RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) (6.8-6.9). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) repeated at #3 but with its best outing since MARCH (5.7-6.4). iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) rebounded from a down book to move up to #4 (4.8-5.3). COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) was back at #5 (5.1-5.0). The station added a 0.3 share from the digital realm. iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) slipped to #6 as it ended a four-book surge (5.2-4.6). WDUV still had the most cume (574,100-600,300) – a 4.6% rise. The market was off 0.5%. Market PUMM was up 1.0% from AUGUST and 2.8% from 2024.

WWRM was #1 25-54 for the third straight survey. It held better than a share advantage over the two stations at #2. BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) was up from #4 with a slight decrease, while WCIE advanced from #7 with a slight increase. WMTX dipped to #4 as it gave back most of last month’s share increase. WFUS vaulted from #10 to #5 with its highest mark since MAY. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) landed its smallest share in over a year as it dropped from a tie at #1 to #6. BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYK) and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) were tied at #5. Both stations had down books as they fell to #8 and #10, respectively. Market PUMM was down 0.8% from the previous survey and 5.0% from last year.

WWRM had its best 18-34 number in over a year as it rose from #5 to #1. WFUS was back at #2 but with a down book and trailed the leader by nearly two shares. WCIE landed its largest share since a snowman roamed the earth as it leapt from #7 to a share of second place. WFLZ had its three-book winning streak snapped as it went from first to fourth. WQYK and COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) slid from as tie at #2 into a similar arrangement at #4. Market PUMM was up 1.0% from last survey and 2.9% from a year ago.

WWRM stepped up to #1 18-49 with, again, its best book in over a year. WCIE landed its largest share since MARCH as it rose from a tie at #5 to #2. WFUS was also last seen at #5 and it arrived at #3 with a flat book. WXTB posted its lowest score since DECEMBER as it fell from first to fourth. It was joined there by WQYK, which dipped from #3, and WMTX, which advanced from #7 with a slight decrease. WFLZ slid from #4 to #7. Market PUMM was down 0.2% from AUGUST but grew 4.6% from 2024.

DENVER-BOULDER: A Mile High Meeting

BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) was #1 6+ for the seventh straight survey. However, the station landed its smallest share since MAY (7.5-6.6). This paved the way for BONNEVILLE Country KYGO to move up and forge a tie. It posted its highest score since NOVEMBER (5.7-6.6). AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) stepped up to #3 (5.2-5.1), while AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) dipped to #4 (5.3-5.0). KSE RADIO VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) inched up to #5 (4.6-4.9), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) stepped down to #6 (4.9-4.8). Despite a 6.9% decline KOSI remained the cume commander (543,300-505,600). The market was up 1.2%. Market PUMM grew 2.0% from AUGUST and 13.4% from 2024.

iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) was #1 25-54 for the ninth book in a row. It held almost a share and a half lead over KALC, which moved up to #2 with a slight increase. KOSI stepped up to #3, also with a slight share gain. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) dropped two places to #4. It was paired with KYGO, which rose from #9 with its highest mark since APRIL. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) dipped to #6. It was met there by BONNEVILLE Sports KKFN (104.3 THE FAN), which turned it up from #11 with its highest score in over a year. Market PUMM was up 3.5% from the previous survey and 14.1% from last year.

KXPK commanded the 18-34 brigade for the third straight survey. It held more than a two-share advantage over the trio of stations at #2. KQMT and KQKS were last seen at #3. Both stations had small share losses. KYGO arrived from # with its best showing since DECEMBER. There was also a threesome at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) slid from #2 with its lowest total since MAY, while KOSI dropped from #3 with its least productive outing in over a year. KSE RADIO VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) advanced from #8 with its highest mark since NOVEMBER. Market PUMM was down 3.2% from last month but rose 18.3% from a year ago.

A flat KQKS was #1 18-49 for the fourth straight survey. Two stations were chasing the leader at #2. KOSI was up a slot with a slight increase, while KALC moved in from #5 with its best book in over a year. KXPK slipped to #4, while KTCL dipped to #5. KDHT slid to #7 as it stopped a three-book surge. It was tied with KYGO and KIMN, which rose from #8 and #10, respectively. Market PUMM was up 2.7% from AUGUST and 16.0% from 2024.

SAN DIEGO: Here Comes The Sunny

This marked the ninth straight survey that AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was #1 6+ (9.5-9.6). Coming in at a distant #2 again was LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) (6.9-6.3). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/Y KPBS moved up to #3 (5.8-6.0), while AUDACY AC KYXY stepped up to #4 as it bounced back a bit from a down book (5.5-5.9). AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3FM THE FAN) slipped to #4 (6.9-5.9). KXSN increased its cume lead by 0.1% (623,000-623,500). The market was down 1.1%. Market PUMM was up 1.2# from AUGUST and 10.8% from 2024.

Last month KXSN had its six-book 25-54 winning streak snapped by KWFN. KXSN was back in first place this survey while KWFN drifted down to #4. AUDACY Country KSON moved up to #2 with a small share loss, while XHRM inched up to #3 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 93.3) landed its largest share since FEBRUARY as it rose to #5. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) and iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) were formerly tied at #5. KLNV dipped to #6 with a slight decrease, while KIOZ fell to #11 with its lowest total since we were pretending a snowman was a member of the clergy. Market PUMM was up 4.7% from the previous survey and 0.2% from last year.

KXSN made it five 18-34 wins in a row and smashed through the double-digit barrier for the third time during that span. KSON was up to #2 despite a large share loss. KWFN dipped to #3 as it surrendered almost all of last month’s massive increase. Also coming in at #3 was KHTS, which advanced from #7 with its largest share in over a year. KYXY dipped to #5, while XHRM stepped down to #6. Both stations were flat. Market PUMM was up 8.5% from last survey and 25.1% from a year ago.

This was the eighth book in a row that KXSN was #1 18-49. The station also landed in double figures. A flat XHRM was up to #2 but found itself about four shares off the pace. Three stations were commiserating at #3. KSON was up a slot with a slight increase, while KYXY rose from #6 with a small share gain. KHTS advanced from #9 with its best performance since FEBRUARY. KWFN slid from #2 to #6. KIOZ fell from #4 to #10 and was tied with LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X). Market PUMM was up 7.1% from AUGUST and 6.0% from 2024.

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CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: We Have Both Rhythm And Blues

This one kind of came out of left field. URBAN ONE Urban OLDIES WOSF (105.3 RnB) moved up to #1 6+ with its best book in over a year (6.9-7.5). As recently as JUNE it was sitting at #8. BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) bounced back from a down book as it rose to #2 (6.4-7.3). BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7FM) had its four-book winning streak come to an end as it slipped to #3 (7.6-6.9). BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) dipped to #4 despite posting its best score since OCTOBER (6.5-6.8). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) was up to #5 (6.0-6.0), while UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE landed its largest share since FEBRUARY as it advanced two places to #6 (5.1-5.7). PACIFIC BROADCASTING GROUP Classic Hits WXRC (95.7 THE RIDE) drove down to #7 with its lowest mark since JANUARY (6.2-5.5). Thanks to a 2.4% increase WSOC became your new cume leader (385,200-394,500). The market was up 3.3%. Market PUMM rose 0.5% from AUGUST and 29.0% from 2024.

In JULY, WOSF was sitting at #10 25-54. It rose to #2 last month and landed in the top spot this time with, once again, its highest share in over a year. This halted the five-book winning string for WKQC, which dipped to #2 with its lowest score since NOVEMBER. Four – count ‘em – four stations were circling one another at #3. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) dipped from a tie at #2 with its lowest mark since APRIL. URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ (SPORTS RADIO 92.7FM) stepped up from #4 though it returned most of last month’s share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX) moved up from #5 with a small share loss. WSOC advanced from #11 as it regained all of last survey’s share loss – plus a bit extra. Market PUMM was up 1.9% from the previous survey and 35.2% from last year.

WBAV was the clear 18-34 winner for the sixth straight survey. WLKO had a massive share influx as it vaulted from #6 to #2. WOSF dipped to #3 despite a strong share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHQC (HITS 96.1) advanced from #11 to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. WFNZ, WEND, and BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1FM) were last seen at #2. All three stations experienced the same large share loss as they fell together to #5. WSOC made it a foursome as it moved up a spot with its best outing since MAY. Market PUMM was up 9.9% from last month and 43.2% from a year ago.

The 18-49 crown was shared by a trio of stations. WOSF remained in place with a slight decrease, while WBAV moved up a slot with its best book since FEBRUARY. WLKO rocketed up from #8 with a massive share increase. It was the station’s highest share in over a year. WNKS slipped to #4 with its lowest mark since APRIL. It was paired with BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98), which vaulted from #9. WKQC stepped down to #6 and was tied with WRFX and WSOC. WEND dropped five places to #9. Market PUMM was up 5.9% from AUGUST and 27.1% from 2024.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Talkin’ The Talk

After taking the last two books off RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A was back at #1 6+ and with its highest share in over a year (5.2-6.8).  iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) dipped to #2 (6.9-6.5), while AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) stepped down to #3 (6.6-6.0). The station did receive a 1.5% share from cyberspace. COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB was back at #4 (4.9-4.9). It was paired with AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS RADIO 101.9FM/66AM), which rose from #7 (4.5-4.9). It also garnered a 1.4 share from the interwebs. CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) fell three places to #8 with its lowest score in over a year (4.8-4.3). It was tied with AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS (4.4-4.3). WALK extended its cume lead with a 4.9% increase (368,800-386,800). The market was up 1.0%. Market PUMM grew 3.8% from AUGUST and 5.7% from 2024.

Despite a slight decrease WHTZ was the runaway 25-54 leader for the sixth straight survey. WABC-A leapt from #8 to #2 with a huge share increase. WBAB returned a good chunk of last month’s increase as it dipped to #3. It was met there by COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI, which remained in place with a slight decrease. WFAN landed its largest share in over a year as it rose from #8 to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ slid to #7, while WALK dropped three places to #8. Market PUMM was up 3.6% from the previous month and 5.1% from last year.

It is not often you see a News/Talk station – especially one on the AM band – land at #1 18-34. WABC-A moved up to that spot for the fourth time in the last five surveys. WBLI dipped to #2 despite posting its best number in over a year. It was tied with WHTZ, which rose from #4, also with its highest mark in over a year. WALK went from first to fourth as it surrendered all of last month’s huge share increase – plus a bit more. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) was up two places to #5, while WBAB advanced from #10 to #6. WCBS slid to #7 and was tied with CONNOISSEUR Mainstream Rock WWSK (94.3 THE SHARK). Market PUMM was down 0.5% from last month and 9.4% from a year ago.

WHTZ was your 18-49 champion for the sixth straight survey. WABC-A vaulted from #7 to #2 but was still more than two shares off the lead. A flat WBLI dipped to #3, while WFAN jumped from #9 to #4 with its most productive outing in over a year. WALK slipped to #5, while WAXQ dipped to #6. WBAB fell four places to #8 as it surrendered most of last month’s share increase. Market PUMM was up 4.1% from AUGUST but down 3.1% from 2024.

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