Radio Ratings Roundup, January 2026, Part 3

February 25, 2026

Welcome back to the daytime radio drama: “Where have all the shares gone?” Since this is the JANUARY survey, we’re pretty sure they left whatever station was all jolly and bright and somehow found their way back to their previous pre-sets. Of course, in this batch of markets one of them was fortunate enough to be spared the scourge of BURL IVES and his evil minions.

This is a monthly public service from The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and the data diviners from XTRENDS. The JANUARY book ran from JANUARY 8^TH through FEBRUARY 4^TH. There was cold weather, playoff football, and a three-day weekend. Here’s how that played out:

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: A Santa Free Zone

We begin with one of the few markets in AMERICA that does not have a major player dedicated to spinning the holiday tuneage. COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) was #1 6+ for the third book in a row (7.4-7.5). COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105) was back at #2 (6.6-6.7). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5) stepped up to #3 with its best showing since MARCH (5.0-6.0). AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) rebounded from a down book to move up to #4 (4.6-5.4). SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (ZETA 92.3) was up to #5 with its best book in over a year (4.4-5.0). The station also picked up a 0.5 share from cyberspace. AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) dropped three places to #6 with its smallest share in exactly one year (5.6-4.9). iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) slipped to #7 (4.8-4.2). WFEZ was still the cume commander with a 0.5% decline (750,500-746,900). The market was down 0.6%.

WFEZ extended its long, uninterrupted string of #1 25-54 books with its highest score since AUGUST. WLYF leapt from #5 to #2 but trailed the leader by well over two shares. WHQT inched up to #3 with a slight decrease, while WMXJ again bounced back from a down book to vault from #10 to #4. AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOW (POWER 96) slipped to #5 as it returned all of last survey’s large share increase, plus a bit extra. WMIA fell from #2 into a tie at #7 with WCMQ, which advanced from #13.

COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) repeated as the 18-34 leader but with a slight decrease. SBS Spanish Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7) was back at #2 but was two shares off the pace. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTÚ (TÚ 94.9) remained at #3 though it ended a strong three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) stepped up to #4 with a small increase, while WHQT rose from #11 to #5 with its best outing in a year. WLYF slid from #4 to #9.

A flat WFEZ was #1 18-49 for the fifth straight survey. WLYF stepped up to #2 with a slight decrease, while WHQT inched up to #3 with a slight increase. Last survey WMXJ fell from #2 to #12. It was up to #4 this time. COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) went from #9 to #5 with its first up book since JULY. WPOW fell from #2 to #6, while WEDR dropped from #5 to #7.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Back To The Future

Where the previous market had zero Santa stations, this one featured two different flavors of holiday music. However, the #1 6+ spot was again granted to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW (9.4-9.7). This was the station’s 13^TH win in the last 14 books. CRISTA Christian AC KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) was one of the holiday stations. It stepped up to #2 this month with its best Frosty-free share in over a year (7.0-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) bounced back from a turbulent book to move from #5 to #3 (4.1-5.5). The other ho-ho-ho station was HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9). It fell from first to fourth (11.1-5.3). The SEAHAWKS provided rocket fuel for BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) as the station rose to #5 (3.8-5.1). AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) slipped to #6 (5.2-5.0). Despite a 32.8% drop KRWM was still the cume leader (963,800-648,000). The market was up 0.6%.

FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP landed its largest 25-54 share in over a year as it moved from #3 to #1. KISW was back at #2 with its smallest share since JULY and trailed the leader by almost two shares. KUOW stepped up to #3 with a small increase, while KJEB advanced from #10 to #4 as it halted a four-book skid. KCMS was up to #5 with its highest mark in over a year. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) slipped to #7, while KRWM dropped from #1 to #8.

A flat KISW moved up to #1 18-34. KNDD and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) rose together from #3 to #2. Both stations had slight decreases. KJEB more than doubled its previous share as it climbed from #13 to #4. KRWM slid from #1 to #5, while KCMS dipped to #6. It was partnered with the stationary HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN 92.5) and AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF), which advanced from #13.

KEXP soared from #8 to #1 18-49 with its best book in over a year. KISW remained at #2 with a slight increase and was about a share and a half off the pace. KUOW repeated at #3 with a slight increase. It was met there by KJEB, which advanced from # 10, as it regained some of last survey’s huge share loss. KCMS held steady at #5, while KNDD slid three places to #6 with a small decrease. KRWM dropped from #1 to #7.

PHOENIX: Way Too Easy

It’s not like iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) needs performance enhancing holiday music. The station was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (16.8-7.5). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX moved up to #2 as it halted a four-book slide (5.1-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) was up to #3 as it shook off the holiday blues (3.6-5.2). MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Classical KBAQ (KBACH 89.5) slipped to #4 as it returned some of last survey’s huge increase (5.6-4.9). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A inched up to #5 with its best book since OCTOBER (3.5-4.6), while AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) slipped to #6 (4.0-4.4). KESZ continued to have the most listeners despite a 30.6% drop (1,504,000-1,044,300). The market was off 0.5%.

KESZ was #1 25-54 for the fifth straight survey, while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KHOT (QUÉ BUENA 105.1) repeated at #2 but with its highest score in over a year. The gap between the two stations stood at a bit more than a share. KYOT rose from #7 to #3 with its best outing since MARCH, while KOOL repeated at #4 with a slight decrease. KSLX was up two slots to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KZZP (104.7 KISS FM) dipped to #6 despite landing its largest share in over a year. KBAQ fell from #3 to #10. It was tied with HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD, which dropped from #5 but with only a slight decrease.

KESZ led the 18-34 contingent for the third book in a row. KOOL was back at #2 but with its largest share in over a year. It was joined in that space by KHOT, which arrived from #4. KYOT stepped up to #4, iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX moved from a tie at #8 to #5. All three of those stations rebounded from down books. AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5FM) dropped from #3 to #10 with only a small decrease. It was tied with KSLX. KUPD fell from #5 to #12 but only with the slightest of possible decreases.

KESZ was the 18-49 leader for the fifth straight survey. KHOT remained at #2 with its best showing in over a year. KYOT vaulted from #13 to #3 as it ended a two-book slide. A flat KOOL dipped to #4, while KZZP advanced three spaces to #5 with its highest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9) slipped to #7 and was paired with ZELUS Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9). KBAQ dropped from #4 to #16, while KUPD fell from #5 to #12, again with only a slight decrease.

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DETROIT: The Sporting Life

It was a good month to be AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) as the station moved back up to #1 6+ for the first time since OCTOBER (7.6-8.9). AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC landed its largest share in over a year as it moved from #4 to #2 (6.0-7.4). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) repeated at #3 (7.0-6.4), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC went from first to fourth with its smallest share in over a year (14.7-6.3). AUDACY News WWJ-A stepped up to #5 with its best book since MARCH (4.3-5.5), while AUDACY Country WYCD dipped to #6 (4.7-5.4). WNIC stayed on top of the cume chart despite a 29.8% decline (1,316,700-924,200). The market was down 1.8%.

WXYT crashed through the double-digit barrier as it made its way up to #1 25-54. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF had its best showing since NOVEMBER as it moved up to #2, while WOMC advanced to #3 with its highest mark since MAY. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) was up three places to #4 with its largest number since JULY. WMXD slipped to #5, while WNIC dropped from #1 to #6.

WXYT stepped up to #1 18-34 with a huge share increase. However, it was not alone. WKQI vaulted from #7 to a share of first place with its finest performance since MARCH. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB was up two spots to #3 with its best book in over a year. WRIF remained at #4 with a small increase, while four stations were huddled together at #5. WNIC fell from first place, while WOMC dipped from #3 as it surrendered all of last survey’s share increase. WMXD remained in place, while WYCD rose from #8 with a modest share gain.

WXYT completed the demo sweep as it stepped up to #1 18-49. The station also hit double digits. WRIF inched up to #2 as it halted a two-book skid. WKQI advanced from #7 to #3 with its highest score since JULY. WOMC stepped up to #4 with its fourth up book in a row. WJLB made it to #5 with its largest number since AUGUST. WNIC fell from #1 to #6, while WMXD dropped from #4 to #7.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: I’m A Big Fan

This was another market with two major holiday players providing different flavors of the same theme. For this survey, however, the 6+ spoils went to iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3), which was back on top after taking the last two books off (8.5-8.9). MPR N/T KNOW was up to #2 with its highest mark in over a year (6.9-8.6). It also added a 1.7 share from the interwebs. This might be driven by events on the ground in this market. HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) had its first up book since SEPTEMBER as it rose to #3 (5.6-6.9). The secular holiday choice was iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108). It dropped from #1 to #4 (13.1-6.2). The other yuletide choice was offered by UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS. It slipped from #3 to #5 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY (7.7-5.7). MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) dipped to #6 (5.6-5.6). KQQL maintained its cume lead despite a 33.8% drop (924,500-612,400). The market fell by 1.0%.

KFXN was up to #1 25-54 as the station extended its double-digit streak to seven. KCMP stepped up to #2 as it bounced back from a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB and KNOW were last seen at #5. Each station landed its largest share in over a year as they rose  to #3 and #4, respectively. KQOL slid from first to fifth and was tied with AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM), which dipped from #4 as it ended a five-book surge. KTIS went from #8 to #12.

KCMP became the 18-34 leader with its second straight double-digit performance. KFXN stepped up to #2 despite posting its lowest number since JULY. KQQL slipped from #1 to #3, while KZJK and KDWB remained at #4 with flat books. They were joined there by KSTP, which advanced from #10 with its best showing since MAY. KTIS slipped from #7 to #9.

KFXN moved up to #1 18-49 with its seventh straight book in double figures. KCMP stepped up to #2 with a small increase, while KDWB inched up to #3 with its highest score in over a year. KNOW rose two places to #4, also with its best outing in over a year. KZJK repeated at #5 with a small increase, while KQQL fell from #1 to #6. KTIS dropped from #8 to #11.

We ain’t done yet! In the queue are TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.

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