Radio Ratings Roundup, Holiday 2025, Part I

January 26, 2026

“Oh boy it’s the HOLIDAY book!” says about one Program Director in every market. For the rest of the broadcast community this survey is met with a collective “meh.” While those that gave in to the peppermint side of life rejoice, the reality is that this musical recipe was gone long before the survey concluded.

The HOLIDAY book ran from DECEMBER 11^th through JANUARY 7^th. That meant that CHRISTMAS music was what the people demanded for 15 of the 28 days of the survey. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—with a healthy assist from the data diviners from XTRENDS—are here to sort all this out. Let us begin…

NEW YORK: A Festival Of Lite

All BURL IVES accomplished for iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was to make the station an even stronger #1 6+ (9.9-12.5). It was #1 last year with a 13.1 share. AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) remained at #2 (6.5-6.2) and picked up a 1.0 share from the interwebs. SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) rose two places to #3 with its best outing since JUNE (5.0-5.6). It also snared a 1.2 share from cyberspace. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) dipped to #4 (5.1-5.3), while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS inched up to #5 (4.6-4.6). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS fell three places to #6 as it returned most of last survey’s large increase (5.1-4.4). It was tied with NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC (4.5-4.4). WLTW added 8.7% to its already market leading cume total (4,205,800-4,571,200). The market was off 1.0%. Market PUMM was down 2.0% from DECEMBER but grew by 15.7% from 2024.

WLTW was #1 25-54 for the third book in a row and, of course, hit double figures again. WSKQ stepped up to #2 with a strong increase, while WHTZ dipped to #3 with its smallest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) repeated at #4 but with a significant loss of share. MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97FM) remained at #5 but with its lowest score since AUGUST. It was paired with WCBS, which rose from #7 with a small increase. Market PUMM was down 3.5% from last survey but up 10.8% from a year ago.

As with the previous demo WLTW was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row and landed in double digits this time. WHTZ was up three slots to #2 as it halted a three-book slide. WQHT stepped up to #3 with its best showing in over a year, while WCBS advanced from #10 to #4 with its biggest number since JUNE. WWPR slid from #2 to #5. WSKQ slid from #5 to #9 while the streaming version rose from #9 to #7.
Market PUMM fell 5.0% from the previous survey but rose 6.9% from last year.

WLTW was, naturally, #1 18-49 again. WSKQ rose from #5 to #2 with a huge share increase. A flat WHTZ dipped to #3, while WQHT remained at #4 with a small share loss. WWPR dropped to #5 with its least productive outing since JULY. Market PUMM was down 3.3% from DECEMBER but up 13.9% from 2024.

LOS ANGELES: Yule Rules

iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST rode the polar express to another 6+ win (11.2-13.3). The station was #1 last year, as well, with a 12.4 share. AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101FM) remained at #2 (5.8-5.6), while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) was back at #3 (4.9-5.1). AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) stood alone at #4 (4.2-4.3), while AUDACY News KNX dipped to #5 (4.2-4.1). KNX did add a 0.5 share from its stream. KOST increased its cume lead by 14.0% (3,033,700-3,459,000). The market was down 3.1%. Market PUMM was off 4.5% from DECEMBER but up 12.2% from 2024.

The 25-54 leaderboard was an exact replica from the last time. KOST was again #1 and in double figures. KBIG and AUDACY Alternative KROQ were #2 and #3, respectively, as both stations had slight increases. KRTH remained at #4 while AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) was back at #5. Each station experienced a slight decrease. Market PUMM was down 6.6% from the previous survey but up 8.4% from last year.

KOST was #1 and in double digits 18-34 for the second book in a row. Ho, ho, ho. KRTH was up two places to #2 as it regained a small portion of last survey’s huge share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) dipped to #3 with its lowest score since SEPTEMBER. It was met there by KROQ, which advanced from #7 with its best showing in over a year. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9) dipped to #5, while KTWV slid three places to #6 with its lowest total since JUNE. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) fell to #8 with its smallest share since AUGUST and was tied with KCBS. Market PUMM was down 2.1% from last survey but up 2.3% from a year ago.

We’re sensing a theme here as KOST was #1 and in double figures 18-49 for the second straight survey. KBIG held steady at #2 with a slight decrease, while KRTH remained at #3 but with its smallest share since the last time that little kid would not stop with the incessant drumming. KROQ rose from #7 to #4, while KSCA jumped from #8 to #5. Both stations landed their best books in over a year. KTWV slipped into a tie at #6 with KCBS, while KIIS dropped to #8 with its lowest mark in over a year. Market PUMM was down 5.8% from DECEMBER but up 8.6% from 2024.

CHICAGO: A Lite Holiday

I guess this CHRISTMAS thing works. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (11.5-12.4). A year ago it was also #1 with a 12.5 share. AUDACY News WBBM-A stepped up to #2 (4.8-5.1) and picked up a 0.5 share from the digital realm. NEXSTAR N/T WGN-A (radio 720) rose from #6 to #3 with its best book in over a year (4.2-4.6). AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) dipped to #4 (4.8-4.5). HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) often takes the brunt of Santa’s rage. It dropped from #2 to #5 (5.0-4.2). It was #6 last year. WLIT increased its cume lead by 9.6% (1,918,900-2,102,400). The market was down 3.3%. Market PUMM was off 8.2% from DECEMBER but up 17.9% from 2024.

WLIT made it back-to-back #1 25-54 and double-digit books in a row. WTMX remained at #2 with a small share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) rose two places to #3, while HUBBARD Adult Hits WTBC (THROWBACK 100.3) dipped to #4 with a slight decrease. CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA N/T WBEZ moved from #8 to #5 with a small increase. It was paired with AUDACY Rhythmic Oldies WBMX (104.3 JAMS), which advanced from #12 as it ended a three-book slide. This was the station’s final full book before it goes away. Market PUMM was down 12.0% from last month but up 16.9% from a year ago.

For the third book in a row WLIT was #1 18-34, the last two of which have been in double figures. A flat WKSC repeated at #2, while CRAWFORD Urban Contemporary WPWX (POWER 92) leapt from #9 to #3 as it rebounded from a down book. WBMX stepped up to #4 with a solid increase, while AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) stood alone at #5 as it halted a somewhat steep two-book slide. AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) dropped to #7 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. Market PUMM fell 10.9% from the previous survey but rose 16.2% from last year.

WLIT was #1 18-49 for the third straight survey as it eclipsed the double-digit mark again. WTMX held steady at #2 with a slight increase, while a flat WKSC repeated at #3. WBMX rose from #7 to #4, while WBBM-F leapt from #9 to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI slid from #4 to #7 with its lowest mark in over a year. Market PUMM was off 11.7% from DECEMBER but up 18.8% from 2024.

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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Five Star Review

And this one was not done by a paid influencer. iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) was back at #1 6+ (8.6-10.1). The station was #1 last year with the same 10.1 share. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) remained at #2 (4.5-4.4), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) stepped up to #3 (3.9-4.2). EMF Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) leapt four places to #4 with its best book in over a year (3.2-4.0). TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) slipped to #5 with its lowest total since AUGUST (4.1-3.6). It was paired with AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7), which advanced from #8 as it bounced back from a down book (3.2-3.6). KDGE padded its cume lead with a 13.1% increase (1,581,100-1,789,000). The market was up 0.1%. Market PUMM was off 2.8% from DECEMBER but up 20.2% from 2024.

KDGE repeated at #1 25-54 and hit double figures. The station has more than doubled its share since NOVEMBER. KLNO held steady at #2 with a small decrease, while KDMX was back at #3 with a small increase. KHKS repeated at #4 with its highest share since SEPTEMBER. AUDACY Mexican Regional KMVK (LA GRANDE 107.5) moved up to #5 as it bounced back from a down book. Market PUMM was down 3.3% from last month but up 18.2% from a year ago.

KDGE was in double digits and #1 18-34 for the second straight survey. KLNO stepped up to #2 but with its lowest mark since MAY. KDMX was up to #3 with a large share increase, while KHKS made it to #4 with its best showing since JULY. SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104 FM) inched up to #5 as it got back all of last survey’s lost share, plus a bit of added value. Market PUMM was up 0.4% from the previous survey and an amazing 37.9% from last year.

To the surprise of no one KDGE was #1 and in double figures 18-49 for the second book in a row. KLNO repeated at #2 despite a down book, while KDMX remained at #3 as it halted a three-book slide. KHKS maintained its grip on the #4 position with a slight increase, while KKDA moved up to #5. Market PUMM was down 2.5% from DECEMBER but rose 23.6% from 2024.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Santa Softens

Maybe not like a bowl full of jelly but while iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was still #1 6+, the station’s numbers were down from last book (16.4-13.3). Last year it was #1 with a 14.7 share. URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) remained at #2 (7.8-7.5). HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ also got into the holiday spirit towards the end of the last book. This time the station rose to #3 (4.7-5.6). Last year it was #2 with a 6.3 share. URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q COUNTRY) dipped to #4 (5.7-5.3), while AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) stepped down to #5 (4.9-5.2). However, the station did pick up a 0.7 share from the matrix. KODA added a mere 1.8% to its #1 cume (2,344,300-2,387,500). The market was off 0.1%. Market PUMM was down 1.0% from DECEMBER but up 20.3% from 2024.

KODA extended its long, uninterrupted string of #1 25-54 books, though this survey’s double-digit share was a bit below DECEMBER’s. A flat KMJQ repeated at #2, while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ) was back at #3 as it got back some of last survey’s large share loss. KHMX was up two slots to #4 with its third up book in a row. SB Mexican Regional KROI (LA LEY 92.1) dipped to #5 with a small share loss, while KKBQ stepped down to #6 as it ended a strong three-book surge. Market PUMM was up 0.1% from the previous survey and 21.2% from a year ago.

KODA was #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row, the last three of which have been in double figures. However, as with the previous two demos, the current number is a bit under the previous one. KTBZ remained at #2 with a large share increase. A flat KHMX was back at #3 and was paired with KMJQ, which rose from #5 with its best book in over a year. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX) moved up to #5 with a small increase, while KKBQ slid to #7 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. Market PUMM was up 7.1% from last book but down 10.7% from a year ago.

KODA held to form 18-49. It was #1 for the third straight survey, hit double figures again but had a down book. KTBZ repeated at #2 as it was granted some of last survey’s big share loss. KHMX stepped up to #3, while KMJQ advanced three spaces to #4. Both stations posted their largest shares in over a year. KROI dipped to #5, while KKBQ slipped from #3 to #6. Market PUMM was up 3.6% from DECEMBER and 15.0% from 2024.

There’s your first batch of HOLIDAY numbers. Thank you for spending your valuable time with us. There’s more to come with SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON waiting in the wings.

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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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