Radio Ratings Roundup, January 2026, Part 4

February 26, 2026

If JANUARY made you shiver, with every ratings result we delivered, we’re bringing good news to your doorstep. This is the last batch of roundups for this survey.

Previously on the roundup we have seen dramatic drops in cume for the holiday hit makers and a (somewhat) return to normalcy in the share situations. Let’s see if that continues here.

As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with our curating cousins from XTRENDS—do this all for you. The JANUARY book ran from JANUARY 8^TH through FEBRUARY 4^TH. It was a wintry mix of weather, football, and a three-day weekend. Read on…

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Pure Joy

The dust has settled from the holiday skirmish between COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) and iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7). This allowed RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) to move up to #1 6+ (8.4-8.8). WDUV dipped to #2 (11.0-8.4), while WMTX remained at #3 (7.6-5.9). COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) repeated at #4 (5.8-5.7). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) was still nested at #5 (5.6-5.3). However, it was not alone as two stations formerly seen at #6 moved up to make it a threesome at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98ROCK) had its best book since APRIL (4.5-5.3), while BEASLEY Classic Rock WRBQ (Q105) landed its largest share in over a year (4.5-5.3). WDUV was still the cume leader with a rather modest 12.8% decrease (727,100-633,800). The market was off 3.4%.

WMTX repeated as the 25-54 leader, but it was not alone. WCIE jumped up from #3. Both stations had down books. WWRM stepped up to #3 with a slight decrease, while WDUV slipped to #4. WXTB was back at #5 with, again, its best book since APRIL.

WMTX was both #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the second book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) moved up two slots to #2 with its highest mark in over a year. WWRM dipped to #3, while WDUV stepped down to #4. Both stations had down books. We had another three-way at #5. WCIE held steady with a slight increase, while WXTB and BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) inched up from #6. WXTB had its best outing since JULY, while WLLD rebounded from a down book.

WMTX was back at #1 18-49 but was forced to share the moment with WCIE, which stepped up from #2. WWRM inched up to #3, while WDUV slipped to #4. All four of those stations experienced a loss of share. WXTB moved from a tie at #5 to one at #4, while WFLZ was down to #6 despite a slight increase.

DENVER-BOULDER: An Even Dozen

Even though BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) suffered the expected loss of the Santa share, the station was still #1 6+ for the twelfth book in a row (12.1-7.0). AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) stood resolute at #2 for the third straight survey (5.6-5.7). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO reaped the benefits of Santa’s demise as it rose from #10 to #3 (3.9-5.6). AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) ended a three-book slide as it stepped up to #4 (4.4-5.2). It was one of three stations previously found at #5. BONNEVILLE Sports KKFN (DENVER SPORTS 104.3) remained in that space (4.4-5.0), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) dipped to #6 (4.4-4.7). KSE RADIO VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) slid from #3 to #7 (4.8-4.6). AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) fell from #4 to #11 (4.5-3.6). It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Country KWBL (106.7 THE BULL), which rose from #13 (3.3-3.6). KOSI still claimed the most listeners despite a 28.2% drop (726,400-521,800). The market was down 2.4%.

iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) rebounded from a down book to move up to #1 25-54. KOSI dipped to #2 and was joined there by KALC, which arrived from #5 with its highest score in over a year. KQMT stepped down to #4, also with its best book in over a year. KKFN scrambled from #10 to #5 with its first up book since SEPTEMBER. KQKS slid from #3 into a tie at #7 with KXKL.

KOSI was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row but was paired with KQKS, which moved up a spot. Both stations had rather large share losses. KSE RADIO VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) leapt from #8 to #3 with easily its best showing in over a year. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) and KXKL went from a tie at #3 to one at #4. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) slid from #5 into an arrangement at #8 with KYGO, KALC, KRFX and iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO.

KOSI remained #1 18-49 but had company as KALC advanced from #4 with its best book in over a year. KQKS dipped to #3 as it returned some of last survey’s massive increase. It was tied with KTCL, which remained in place with a small increase. KSE RADIO VENTURES Sports KKSE (ALTITUDE SPORTS 92.5FM) and KDHT were an item at #4. A flat KKSE dipped to #5, while KDHT slipped to #6 with a slight decrease.

SAN DIEGO: The Sunny Also Rises

After taking the last two books off because of some sort of holiday hijinks, AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was back at #1 6+ (8.1-7.7). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS rebounded from a down book to advance from #5 to #2 (5.9-7.6). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) stepped up to #3 (6.4-6.8), while AUDACY AC KYXY returned to regular programming as slid from #1 to #4 (13.7-6.7). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1). inched up to #5 with its highest share in over a year (4.1-5.2). Despite a 5.2% loss KXSN was back at #1 in cume (604,000-572,400). This was due, in large part, to the 28.3% decline for KYXY. The market was off 2.9%.

Despite a small share loss KXSN moved up to #1 25.54. XHRM was up to #2 with its best showing since MAY. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) vaulted from #9 to #3 as it halted a steep three-book slide. KYXY went from first to fourth and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3), which stepped up a spot with its highest mark since JULY. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 933) dropped from #4 to #10 with only a slight decrease. LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTZ (Z90.3) fell from #5 to #13 with its smallest share since AUGUST.

KYXY left double-digit land but was still strong enough to lead the 18-34 pack for the third book in a row. KXSN was back at #2 though it did not remain in double figures. It was joined in that space by AUDACY Country KSON, which rose from #5 as it more than doubled last survey’s share. KMYI and XHRM had been tied at #3. Both stations had very good books but still drifted to #4 and #5, respectively. XTRA rocketed from #16 to #6 with its best showing since AUGUST.

KXSN moved up to #1 18-49 despite a large share loss. KYXY dipped to #2 and was paired with XHRM, which moved up a spot with its third up book in a row. KMYI stepped up to #4, while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) was up to #5. Both stations had strong share gains. KHTS fell from #4 to #10 despite a slight increase.

Shameless plug: This is where we usually tell you about how our sales research will increase revenue and our programming research will give you deeper insight into your ratings. But we’re not doing that this time.

 CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Get On The Soul Train

This was another market where there were dueling Santa stations. However, as the polar express left the station the tracks were cleared for URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) to move back to #1 6+ (7.5-7.7). BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) stepped down to #2 (14.9-7.4), while UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE leapt from #7 to #3 with its highest score since FEBRUARY (4.4-6.3). The other holiday hit machine was iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE). It dipped to #4 (7.4-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) advanced from #13 to #5 with its best showing since MARCH (3.3-5.4). BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) slipped to #6 with its smallest share in over a year (6.5-5.0). It was tied with BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98), which remained in place (4.5-5.0). BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WBAV (V101.9) was down for the third book in a row as it slid from #5 to #8 (5.1-4.8). WLKO still had the cume lead despite a 29.3% drop (593,100-419,600). WKQC remained #2 with a 45.3% decline. The market was down 8.8%.

WOSF did not duplicate last survey’s double-digit share, but the station did rise to #1 25-54. WPEG stepped up to #2 with a slight increase, while WKQC went from first to third. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) inched up to #4 as it halted a three-book skid. WLKO dipped to #5 and was paired with WKKT, which was up from #7 with its best book in over a year.

WOSF was both in double figures and #1 18-34 for the second straight survey. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) repeated at #2 but was unable to extend its double-digit streak to three. WLKO moved up to #3 with a strong increase, while WBAV dipped to #4 despite a nice share gain. WFAE vaulted from #13 to #5, more than doubling its previous number. WPEG stepped down into a three-way tie at #6. Also in that mix were WKKT, which was up from #9, and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHQC (HITS 96.1). WKQC fell from a tie at #6 into one at #11 with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFK (99.7 THE FOX).

WOSF completed the demo sweep by capturing the 18-49 flag for the seventh straight survey, the last two of which have been in double digits. WNKS stepped up to #2 with a small increase, while WPEG was up to #3 with its third consecutive up book. A flat WLKO inched up to #4, while WFAE zoomed from #11 to #5. It was paired with a flat WBAV, which moved up a slot. WKQC fell from #2 into a tie at #7 with WKKT and WEND.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): It’s News To Us

The 6+ leaderboard was topped by stations that don’t play songs for a living. AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) went from third to first with its highest share in over a year (7.0-9.2). RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A advanced two spaces to #2 (6.5-6.3), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) moved up to #3 (5.6-5.8). COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) was elevated to #4 with its best book in over a year (4.3-5.7). The local holiday station was CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK. It slipped three places to #5 (7.6-5.6). The holiday outsider was iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM). It fell from #1 to #10 (8.5-3.5). WINS became the cume commander with a 4.9% increase (420,700-441,200). WALK was down 21.9% and WLTW was off 37.3%. The market fell by 2.4%.

Despite a modest share loss WALK repeated at #1 25-54. WHTZ stepped up to #2 with a solid increase and was putting the pressure on the leader. WBLI inched up to #3 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER. It was paired with WINS which advanced from #7. AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS and WABC-A were last seen at #5. WCBS remained in place with a small increase, while WABC-A slid to #7 with its third straight down book. WLTW fell from #2 to #8.

WALK was back at #1 18-34 and held a full share lead over WBLI, which moved up two spots to #2. RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WLIR vaulted from #15 to #3, almost quadrupling its previous number. WABC-A dipped to #4 with its lowest score since MARCH. It was paired with WCBS, which was up from #6 with its third up book in a row. WHTZ stepped down to #6 and was joined there by WLTW, which dropped from #2.

WHTZ stepped up to #1 18-49 with a small increase and held a very small advantage over WALK, which slipped to #2. WBLI was up two places to #3 with its best showing since SEPTEMBER. WINS rose to #4 with its highest total in over a year. WABC-A dipped to #5 with a huge share loss. It was partnered with WCBS, which was up from #7 with a slight decrease. WLTW fell from #2 into a tie at #7 with AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) and COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB.

Thank you for reading this here missive. We’ll see you in 28 days as we dive into FEBRUARY. In the meantime, please remember to wash your vegetables.

If you haven’t done so already, please subscribe to our blog right now.  www.ResearchDirectorInc.com/Hot-Topics.  Or, and consider this, you could share this with your industry friends who are pining for this kind of monthly analysis. They’ll thank you for it.

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.

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 email info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.

• Tweet