Hot Topics
Radio Ratings Roundup, January 2026, Part I
February 23, 2026
Welcome to the JANUARY survey. Or, as we like to refer to it around the radio ratings ranch, a return to normalcy. This is the book where programmers in PPM markets start paying attention to the numbers again. Why? Santa. The previous two books are always clouded by the scourge of CHRISTMAS music. Hopefully, during this one the wandering herds of listeners have found their collective way home.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the data shepherds from XTRENDs— are back in the saddle again. This book ran from JANUARY 8TH through FEBRUARY 4TH. It featured ice, snow, and a federally mandated three day weekend. Let’s take a look at the results…
NEW YORK: This Just In…
Apparently if you give them 22 minutes, they’ll go to #1 6+. That’s what happened to AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS), which landed its largest share in over a year (6.2-7.5). Without Santa’s generosity iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) dipped to #2 (12.5-7.0). SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) repeated at #3 (5.6-5.4). The station also added a 1.5 share from the interwebs. AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS stepped up to #4 (4.6-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) slipped to #5 (5.3-5.1). It was paired with NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC, which moved up a spot with its best showing in a year (4.4-5.1). Despite a 25.9% decrease WLTW was still the cume leader (4,571,200-3,387,600). The market was off by 4.0%.
WSKQ experienced a slight share loss but that did not deter the station as it moved up to #1 25-54 for the first time since JUNE. WLTW landed its smallest share since JUNE as it dipped to #2. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) moved up to #3 with its highest score in over a year. WHTZ was down for the third book in a row as it stepped down to #4. In our last episode MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97FM) and WCBS were tied at #5. Both stations had solid but unequal increases as they stood at #5 and #6, respectively.
Despite a massive share loss WLTW was #1 18-34 for the eleventh time in the last 14 surveys. A flat WQHT inched up to #2, while WWPR was up two slots to #3 as it rebounded from a down book. WHTZ slid to #4 as it surrendered a good portion of last survey’s large increase. WCBS dipped to #5 with a small share gain. It was met there by the WSKQ STREAM, which advanced from #7. The broadcast version of WSKQ came in at #10.
WSKQ became the new 18-49 leader with a slight decrease. It narrowly defeated WLTW, which was down to #2. One click behind was WWPR, which rose to #3 with its best book in over a year. WHTZ had its lowest total in over a year as it dipped to #4. WQHT slipped to #5 as it ended a steep three-book slide.
LOS ANGELES: Sleigh Bells Don’t Ring
But plenty of folks were still listening. With the holidays just a distant memory, iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was still #1 6+ (13.3-6.3). AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101FM) remained at #2 (5.6-5.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) was back at #3 (5.1-5.3). AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) landed its largest share in over a year as it rose from #6 to #4 (3.9-4.4). AUDACY News KNX was back at #5 (4.1-4.3), while AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) receded three spots to #7 (4.3-4.1). KOST continued to win the cume despite a 31.9% loss (3,459,000-2,354,800). The market was up by 1.3%.
The 25-54 contest was hotly contested as the top six stations were separated by less than a share. A flat KBIG moved up to #1. AUDACY Alternative KROQ was also flat as it stepped up to #2. KRTH also came in at #2, arriving from #4, as it ended a three-book skid. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) leapt from #8 to #4 with its best showing in over a year. KCBS repeated at #5 but with a solid share increase. KOST fell from #1 to #6.
However, KOST still had enough left in its tank to remain #1 18-34 for the third book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) stepped up to #2 with a small increase. It was partnered with TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9), which came up from #5 with its highest score in over a year. KYSR leapt from #8 to #4 with a huge share gain. KRTH slipped from #2 to #5 and was tied with KTWV, which moved up as slot as it bounced back from a down book. KROQ fell from #3 to #7 as it returned all of last survey’s increase, plus a bit of value added.
KBIG was up to #1 18-49 with a slight increase, as KOST dipped to #2 with a huge share loss. KSCA advanced two spaces to #3 with its third up book in a row. KRTH dipped to #4 with a slight increase and just edged the two stations at #5. KROQ stepped down from #4 with a slight increase, while KCBS inched up from #6 with its largest share in over a year.
CHICAGO: Breaking News…
AUDACY News WBBM-A moved up to #1 6+ with its highest mark since MARCH (5.1-5.9). HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) was happy Santa skipped town as it rose from #5 to #2 with its best book in over a year (4.2-5.5). AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) also landed its largest share in over a year as it stepped up to #3 (4.5-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.3 LITE FM) fell from first to fourth (12.4 -5.2). NEXTSTAR N/T WGN-A (RADIO 720) slipped to #5 (4.6-4.8). One benefit of PPM technology is you can really see market influenced audience movement. WLIT still had the most cume despite a 42.9% drop (2,102,400-1,200,200). The market was down 2.3%.
WTMX had its best 25-54 outing in over a year as it rose to #1. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) stepped up to #2 with its best book since OCTOBER. WLIT went from first to third as it ended a five-book surge. WXRT advanced from #7 to #4 with its highest mark since JULY. WBEZ ALLIANCE N/T WBEZ repeated at #5 with a modest share gain. HUBBARD Adult Hits WTBC (THROWBACK 100.3) slipped to #6 with a slight increase.
WKSC had its best 18-34 book since OCTOBER as it moved up to #1. WLIT dipped to #2 as it shed more than half its previous share. WTMX vaulted from #7 to #3. It was sitting at #11 two books ago. CONNOISSEUR Active Rock WIIL (95 WIIL ROCK) advanced from #10 to #4 with its largest share in over a year. It was joined there by AUDACY Country WUSN (US99.5), which rose from #8 as it bounced back from a down book. CRAWFORD Urban Contemporary WPWX (POWER 92) slid to #7 with a slight decrease.
WTMX stepped up to #3 18-49 with its best showing since APRIL. WKSC was up to #2 with a strong share increase. WLIT slipped from first to third, while WBEZ leapt from #11 to #4 with its highest score in over a year. WXRT was also upwardly mobile as it went from a tie at #9 to join the fray at #4. In its final appearance, the station formerly known as AUDACY Rhythmic AC WBMX (104.3 JAMS) fell from #4 to #9.
Shameless plug: Want to know what is really happening in the book? We can give you a granular look at your numbers. 15 minutes can save you 15 hours of analytical time.
DALLAS-FT. WORTH: A Tight Race
The top of the 6+ leaderboard had all the stations closely bunched together. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) moved up to #1 (4.4-4.5), while Santa’s chosen station—iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1)— dipped to #2 (10.1-4.4). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) was up to #3 (4.2-4.2), while AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) advanced two squares to #4 (3.6-3.9). AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) leapt from #8 to #5 as it halted a four-book slide (3.4-3.8). While KDGE shed 34.9% of its cume, the station was still #1 in that category (1,789,000-1,165,500). The market was down 5.0%.
TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) landed its largest 25-54 share in over a year as it climbed up to #1. KDMX made the move to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. KDGE went from first to third, while KHKS held steady at #4 with a small share loss. AUDACY Mexican Regional KMVK (LA GRANDE 107.5) advanced two spaces to #5 with a slight increase.
After skidding for a couple of surveys KLNO was back at #1 18-34 with a massive share increase. KVIL advanced from #7 to #2 with its best outing in over a year. It was paired with KDMX which moved up a slot with a slight decrease. SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104) stepped up to #4, while KDGE slid from first place to #5. KHKS dropped three places to #7 as it stopped a strong two-book surge.
KLNO was back to #1 18-49 after a two-book hiatus. KDMX worked its way up to #2 despite a down book, while KVIL moved from #6 to #3 with its highest mark since MAY. KDGE fell from first to fourth and was tied with the stationary KHKS. A flat KKDA dipped to #6.
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Sunny Side Down
Despite the expected loss of its holiday influenced poundage, iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was #1 6+ for the sixth straight survey (13.3-9.7). URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) repeated at #2 (7.5-6.9), while URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q COUNTRY) stepped up to #3 (5.3-5.8). HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ dipped to #4 (5.6-5.3), while AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) remained at #5 (5.2-5.1). KODA shed 19.2% of its cume but still had the most listeners (2,387,500-1,928,000). The market was off 0.6%.
KODA extended its long uninterrupted string of #1 25-54 books. It held about a share advantage over iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ), which moved up to #2 with a solid increase. KHMX was up to #3 with its best book in over a year. KMJQ slipped to #4 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. It was tied with KSBJ, which advanced from #8 with its third up book in a row. KKBQ was just a tick behind at #6 as it rebounded from a down book. SBS Mexican Regional KROI (LA LEY 92.1) fell from #5 to #9. It was partnered with URBAN ONE Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5) and URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX).
Last survey KTBZ and KHMX were #2 and #3, respectively, with the 18-34 crowd. Both stations flirted with double figures as they each landed at #1. KODA went from first to third and was nearly two shares off the pace. KBXX was up two slots to #4 with its highest score in over a year. KMJQ slipped to #5 with a modest share loss.
KODA led the 18-49 pack for the fourth book in a row. KTBZ was back at #2 and narrowed the gap between the two stations from about seven-ish shares to close to a share and a half. KHMX repeated at #3 with its fourth straight up book. KKBQ moved up to #4 with a strong share increase. KBXX moved from #8 to #5 with its best book since MAY. KMJQ dropped from #4 into a tie at #9 with TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOVE (AMOR 106.5). KROI fell from #5 to #14.
Thus ends our first roundup. Thank you for reading. We’re working on the next batch which will focus on SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. In the meantime, please use your turn signals.
If you’re a first-time caller but long-time listener be sure to sign up for our blog. And feel free to pass it along to others in your chat group. www.ResearchDirectorInc.com/Hot-Topics.
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.
Comments are closed.