RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, December 2025, Part IV

January 5, 2026

Once again, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with our fellow adventurers from XTRENDS – are going boldly forward into the past. This is our final foray into the CHRISTMAS chaos of the DECEMBER survey. While stations have chosen various starting points for their format changes, the results have been universally positive. We expect more of the same in this final batch of markets.

This book ran from NOVEMBER 13^TH through DECEMBER 10^TH. Besides the obvious market conditions that affected the numbers we were also dealing with, as the news channels incessantly reported – one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Who knew? Now, on with the countdown…

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: A Double Dose

Try explaining to your kids why there were two CHRISTMAS stations. Were they BOTH Santa’s helpers? COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) flipped during the previous survey. This time it rose from #3 to #1 6+ (6.8-9.1). It was #1 with a 9.3 share last year. This pushed RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) down to #2 (8.8-8.6). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) flew down to #3 (7.0-6.7). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) got into the spirit on day two of the book. It moved from #6 to #4 (4.7-6.0). Last year it was #6 with a 4.9 share. COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) kept its current format intact as it dipped to #5 (5.3-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) seemed to suffer the most from Santa’s arrival. It slipped from a tie at #4 to #7 with its smallest share since the big guy’s last visit (5.3-4.2). Also coming in at #7 was BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) (4.6-4.2). WDUV remained the cume leader with a 3.6% increase (601,000-622,700). Fun fact: WMTX saw its cume recede. Market cume was off 0.7%. Market PUMM was down 8.7% from NOVEMBER but up 1.8% from 2024.

Despite headwinds from the NORTH POLE, WWRM had its best 25-54 book in over a year as it stepped up to #1. WMTX was up two places to #2, while WCIE went from first to third as it ended a five-book surge. WDUV leapt from a tie at #7 to #3, while its former partner in that space – iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) moved up to #5 with a solid increase. BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) slipped into a tie at #6 with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ). WRBQ slid from a tie at #4 into one at #8 with WXGL. WFUS fell from #3 to #10. Market PUMM was down 13.8% from last month and 9.3% from a year ago.

WWRM was #1 18-34 for the fourth straight survey and passed the double-digit marker, as well. WDUV vaulted from #8 to #2, while WMTX advanced from #6 to #3. BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYK) stepped down to #4 with a slight decrease, while WLLD slid to #5. It was tied with WFLZ, which remained in place. Both stations had down books. WCIE tumbled from #1 to #7 with its smallest share since AUGUST. Market PUMM was down 15.8% from the previous survey and 3.8% from last year.

WWRM inched up to #1 18-49, again with its highest mark in over a year. WMTX rose from #5 to #2, while WCIE dropped from #1 to #3. WDUV advanced five squares to #3, while WXTB leapt from #9 to #5, ending a three-book slide. WLLD dropped three slots to #6, while WFUS fell from #4 to #9. Market PUMM was off 12.1% from NOVEMBER but up 1.4% from 2024.

DENVER-BOULDER: Piling On

BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) put up the tinsel on the first day of the survey. All that accomplished was extending the station’s 6+ winning streak to ten (6.9-10.9). It was #1 with a 9.3 share last year. AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) moved up to #2 with its highest elevation in over a year (5.5-5.9). AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) moved up two slots to #3 (5.0-4.9). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) was up to #4 (4.8-4.6). It was paired with KSE RADIO VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105), which rose from #8 (4.5-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) slipped to #4 with its smallest share since JUNE (5.7-4.6). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO dropped to #7 with its least productive outing in over a year (5.4-4.5). KOSI kept cume control with a 17.3% increase (509,200-597,400). The market was off 0.1%. Market PUMM was down 5.0% from NOVEMBER but up 13.4% from 2024.

KOSI leapt from #1 to #1 25-54. It was #3 last year at this time. This brought KTCL’s eleven-book winning streak to a close as the station dipped to #2 with a slight decrease. KALC stepped down to #3, while KQMT repeated at #4 but with, again, its best book in over a year. KSE RADIO VENTURES Sports KKSE (ALTITUDE SPORTS RADIO 92.5FM) was up to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) stepped down to #6 with its lowest mark since APRIL. KRFX fell from #3 into a tie at #12 with KYGO. Market PUMM was down 4.5% from last month but up 17.1% from a year ago.

KOSI leapt from #4 to #1 18-34 and hit double figures. KXKL stood alone at #2, while KTCL was down to #3. Both stations lost share. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) dropped from first to fourth with its lowest total since JANUARY. This also halted the station’s two-book winning string. KXKP and KSE RADIO VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) had slight increases as they rose together from #7 to #4. Also coming in at that spot was KQMT, which remained in place despite a modest share loss. KRFX fell from a tie at #4 to #11. It was partnered with KKSE, iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) and iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO. Market PUMM was down 1.8% from the previous survey but up 18.4% from last year.

KOSI vaulted from #6 to #1 18-49. A flat KTCL stood alone at #2, while its former partner – KALC – was down to #3 with a small share loss. KKSE was up to #4, while KPXK dipped to #5 with its lowest score in over a year. KQKS had its six-book winning string crushed as it fell to #7. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Country KWBL (106.7 THE BULL), which advanced from #18.  KRFX dropped from #5 to #15 and was tied with COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO N/T KCFR. Market PUMM was down 3.1% from NOVEMBER and up 14.0% from 2024.

SAN DIEGO: Santa Kicks It

AUDACY AC KYXY showed incredible restraint and did not start playing reindeer games until the beginning of week three of the survey. Santa delayed was not Santa denied as the station rose from #4 to #1 6+ (5.7-11.1). Last year it was #2 with a 6.6 share. This brought the eleven-book winning streak of AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) to a close as the station moved down to #2 (7.8-7.5). It was tied with the stationary SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS (7.4-7.5). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) dipped to #4 (6.2-6.2), while AUDACY Country KSON stood alone at #5 (5.1-4.9). IMAGEN INFORMATIVA Spanish Hot AC XLTN (RADIO LATINA 104.5FM) made the leap o’ the month, rising from #14 to #6 (3.2-4.7). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) slid from #5 to #8 (5.1-4.4). KYXY jumped from #4 to #1 in cume thanks to a 44.0% increase (441,100-635,400). The market was up 1.1%. Market PUMM grew 5.6% from NOVEMBER and 25.4% from 2024.

KYXY more than doubled its previous 25-54 share as it rocketed from #13 to #1. KXSN dipped to #2, thus ending its three-book winning streak. KPBS posted its largest number in over a year as it rose from #10 to #3. Four stations were massed together at #4. XHRM remained motionless but with its smallest share in over a year. KSON and LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) moved up from a tie at #5 with down books. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) advanced from #8 with a modest share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 93.3) fell from #3 to #8 as it ended a four-book surge. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) dropped from #2 to #10 with its least productive outing since JULY. Market PUMM was up 0.4% from last month and 22.8% from a year ago.

KYXY more than doubled its previous 18-34 share as it rose from #5 to #1. The station also hit double figures. KXSN stepped up to #2 as it ended a steep two-book slide. KSON went from first to third as it surrendered all of last month’s large increase, plus a bit more. XHRM rose from #7 to #4 with a small increase, while KPBS advanced from a tie at #10 to #5 with its third up book in a row. There was a foursome at #6. KMYI dropped from #2 as it returned all of last month’s massive increase. XTRA and KIOZ moved up from a tie at #10, while XLTN advanced from #16, doubling its previous number. KHTS slid from #4 into a tie at #10 with iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KSSX (JAM’N 95.7), iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KGB and KLNV. Market PUMM was up 11.9% from the previous survey and 36.6% from last year.

KYXY completed the demo sweep as it leapt from #5 to #1 18-49. It was in double figures, having more than doubled its last number. A flat KXSN stepped up to #2. XHRM and XTRA rose from a tie at #5 to #3 and #4, respectively. Last month KLNV and KHTS were the co-leaders of this sphere. Both stations took the exact same large share loss as they dropped in tandem to #5. KSON exited that tie at #5 to move into one at #7 with KIOZ. KMYI slid from #4 to #9. Market PUMM was up 3.5% from NOVEMBER and 29.4% from 2024.

CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Double Your Santa

Double your ratings? Not quite. This market consistently has dueling holiday scented stations. Bots made the switch about a week after HALLOWEEN. BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) was one and it went from #4 to #1 6+ (6.2-9.6). It was #2 with a 5.7 share last year. This stopped the three-book winning streak of URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB), which dipped to #2 as it also ended a five-book surge (8.3-7.0). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) was the other station to don their holiday apparel. It rose from #5 to #3 (5.7-6.5). It was #7 with a 5.3 share a year ago. BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) slipped to #4 with its smallest share since MARCH (7.3-6.1). BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) slid to #5 with its least productive outing in over a year (6.3-5.2). WLKO continued as the cume leader with a 17.4% increase (391,200-459,300). WKQC jumped from #5 to #2 thanks to a 44.2% gain (303,300-437,400). The market was basically flat. Market PUMM was down 5.8% from NOVEMBER but up 25.0% from 2024

WKQC stepped up to #1 25-54 and narrowly missed hitting double figures. This halted WOSF’s three-book reign as it stepped down to #2. WLKO was up two slots to #3. It was paired with BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98FM), which advanced from #8 with its highest mark since APRIL. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) slid to #5, while URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ (SPORTS RADIO 92.7) dropped three slots to #7 with its lowest score in over a year. Market PUMM was down 6.0% from last month but up 26.8% from a year ago.

BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1FM) jumped from #3 to #1 18-34. The station was in double digits with its best book in over a year. WOSF was back at #2, ending another five-book surge. WLKO stepped up to #3 but with a down book. WBAV went from being #1 and in double figures to #4. WPEG rose from #10 to #5 and was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT), which arrived from #12. WEND fell from #5 to #11. WKQC tripled its last number to rise from #17 to #7. Market PUMM was down 10.5% from the previous but up 37.7% from last year.

WOSF may have had a down book but it was still #1 18-49 for the fifth straight survey. WNKS inched up to #2, again with its best showing in over a year. It was tied with WKQC, which vaulted from #9. Three stations were aligned at #4. WBAV dropped from #2 as it gave back all of last month’s huge increase. WLKO remained in place but with a down book. WPEG rose from #7 with its highest score since MAY. WEND slipped from #5 to #7. Market PUMM was down 7.2% from NOVEMBER but up 20.0% from 2024.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): A Tale Of Two Santas

This market has its quirks because of the bleed in from NEW YORK. So, there was “technically” only one holiday station that came from inside the house. It also wasn’t #1 6+. That honor went to RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A for the second book in a row (8.2-6.9). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) stepped up to #2 (6.9-6.6) and picked up a 1.4 share from cyberspace. Also coming in at #2 was iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM), which rode the sleigh up from #12 (2.9-6.6). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) slipped to #4 with its lowest score since MARCH (7.3-5.6). The hometown holiday hitmaker was CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM). It flipped the Friday before THANKSGIVING and rose from #8 to #5 (4.0-5.5). Last year it was #3 with a 5.0 share. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) slipped from a tie at #4 to #6 (4.2-4.5). Both AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS and COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) were also tied at #4. They drifted down to #7 with identical scores (4.2-4.1). WALK went from #3 to #1 in cume with a 16.7% increase (375,000-437,600). The market was off 0.2%. Market PUMM was up 1.2% from NOVEMBER and 26.6% from 2024.

WHTZ posted its lowest 25-54 number since JULY but was still #1 for the ninth straight survey. WALK stepped up to #2 with its best showing since APRIL. WLTW jumped from #13 to #3, while WAXQ advanced from #10 to #4 with its best book in over a year. WABC-A slid three places to #5 as it returned most of last month’s huge increase. WBLI and WCBS were last seen together at #5. Both stations had up books but slipped to #6 and #7, respectively. AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS RADIO 66AM/101.9FM) slid from #4 to #11. Market PUMM was up 0.6% from last month and 25.4% from a year ago.

Despite a down book WABC-A repeated as the 18-34 leader. WLTW vaulted from #8 to #2, while WALK repeated at #3 but with a large share increase. A flat WBLI slipped to #4, while WHTZ moved down to #5 with its third straight down book. SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ STREAM tumbled from #5 into a six-way tie at #20. Market PUMM was flat from the previous survey and up 14.9% from last year.

WHTZ may have ended a four-book surge but it was the 18-49 leader for the ninth book in a row. WABC-A repeated at #2 with a huge share loss. It was paired with WLTW, which advanced from #14. WALK remained at #4 with its highest mark since MAY. WAXQ rose from #8 to #5 with its best showing in over a year. WBLI slipped three places to #6, while WFAN fell from #4 to #11. It was tied with CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3). Market PUMM was off 0.2% from NOVEMBER but up 22.5% from 2024.

That pit’s a bow on the DECEMBER survey. Thank you for reading. But there are more seasonal follies to come next month with the HOLIDAY survey. By then you might have actually taken down and stored all your decorations.

As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are ready to help you grow your ratings and revenue. Click the link below to get the gruesome details.

-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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