Radio Ratings Roundup, February 2026, Part I

March 23, 2026

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in cahoots with our cohorts from XTRENDS—are back with another thrilling installment of ratings summaries. We are spanning the country to bring you the constant variety of ratings performances. Experience the thrill of ratings victories and the agony of ratings defeats. It’s the human (or AI generated) drama of ratings competition. This is the FEBRUARY survey. A period that lasted from FEBRUARY 5^th through MARCH 4^th. It featured one three-day holiday weekend and a ton of winter weather. Here’s how it unfolded…

NEW YORK: Another WINS

For the second book in a row, AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was #1 6+. The station also posted its largest share in over a year (7.5-7.8). iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was back as a close #2 (7.0-7.4). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS stepped up to #3 (5.3-5.3), while three stations were massed together at #4. SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) dipped from #3 (5.4-5.0). The station did garner a 1.1 share from its stream. NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) moved up from a tie at #5 with identical 5.1-5.0 shares. WLTW padded its cume lead with a 7.5% increase (3,387,600-3,642,300). The market was off by 0.2%.

Despite a slight decrease WLTW moved back up to #1 25-54. WSKQ slipped to #2 as it lost a noticeable chunk of share. The station’s stream placed at #17. WHTZ was up to #3 with a small share gain, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) stepped down to #4 with a small share loss. MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97FM) was back at #5 with its best showing since NOVEMBER. WCBS was a tick behind at #6.

WLTW was #1 18-34 for the fifth consecutive survey with its best Frosty-free share since JULY. WHTZ rebounded from a down book to advance two places to #2. WQHT dipped to #3 and was just ahead of WCBS, which was up to #4 with its third up book in a row. WWPR slipped to #5 with a slight decrease. Showing the volatility of stream numbers, the WSKQ STREAM dropped from a tie at #5 to #12.

A flat WLTW stepped up to #1 18-49. It held a very slight advantage over WHTZ, which moved up two slots to #2 as it again recovered from a down book. WWPR repeated at #3 but with a small share loss. WSKQ slid from first to fourth, while its stream dropped from #13 to #18. WQHT remained at #5 with a slight decrease.

LOS ANGELES: Same As It Ever Was

There was very little change atop the 6+ chart this month. iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was #1 for the fourth book in a row (6.3-6.2). AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101FM) was back at #2 (5.7-5.8), while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) repeated at #3 (5.3-5.3). AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) held steady at #4 (4.4-4.5). It was joined there by AUDACY News KNX, which stepped up from #5 with its highest mark since JULY (4.3-4.5). SBS Mexican Regional KLAX (LA RAZA 97.9) remained at #6 (4.2-4.2). KOST was still in cume control despite a 5.8% decline (2,354,800-2,218,400). The market was down 1.2%.

Last month KRTH and AUDACY Alternative KROQ were tied for second 25-54. This month KRTH moved into first place with its best book since NOVEMBER, while KROQ was left behind at #2 even though it landed its largest share in over a year. KBIG went from first to third with a slight decrease, while two stations moved up and into a tie at #4. A flat KCBS stepped up from #5, while KOST arrived from #6 with a small increase. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) slid to #6 with a modest share loss.

KOST was #1 18-34 for the fourth straight survey with a small share loss. KROQ vaulted from #7 to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. It was still about a share and a half off the lead. KRTH rose two places to #3 with a small share gain. KYSR repeated at #4 despite a down book. TELEVISIAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9) and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) were last spied at #2. Each station took the same share hit as they fell in tandem to #5. AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) slid three places to #8 with its lowest score since APRIL.

There was quite the commotion in the 18-49 ranks as three—count ‘em—three stations rose up to claim its share of the lead. KOST stepped up from #2 with a small increase. KRTH rose from #4 with its best outing since NOVEMBER. KROQ advanced from #5 with its best book in over a year. A flat KBIG slid from first to fourth, but it was as close to the leading trio as was mathematically possible. A flat KCBS stood alone at #5, while KSCA slid from #3 to #6 as it halted a three-book surge.

CHICAGO: It’s News To Us

For the second book in a row AUDACY News WBBM-A was the leading 6+ station (5.9-5.9). AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) inched up to #2 with its best showing in over a year (5.4-5.6). HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) dipped to #3 (5.5-5.4), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) remained at #4 (5.2-5.0). As you can see, the 6+ leaderboard is tight with four stations within a share of the top spot. AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) was up two slots to #5 with its best book since NOVEMBER (4.0-4.8). NEXTSTAR N/T WGN-A (RADIO 720) fell from #5 to #9 with its smallest share since OCTOBER (4.8-3.7). It was paired with WBEZ ALLIANCE N/T WBEZ (3.8-3.7). WLIT increased its #1 cume total by 4.0% (1,200,200-1,247,700). The market was up by 2.4%.

Despite a small share loss WTMX was a dominant #1 25-54 for the second book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) repeated as a distant #2 with a slight increase. WLIT was close behind at #3 and was partnered with WXRT, which moved up a slot with, once again, its best book in over a year. AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) accomplished the same feat as it rose from #8 to #5.

WKSC was #1 18-34 for the second book in a row with its best book in over a year. WUSN was up two places to #2, while WBBM-F rose from #7 to #3. Both stations landed their largest shares in over a year. Also coming in at #3 was WLIT, which dipped from #2 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI worked it from #9 to #5 with its best outing since OCTOBER. WTMX slipped from #3 to #6 with a slight increase, while CONNOISSEUR Active Rock WIIL (96 WIIL ROCK) fell from #4 to #9 as it returned a good portion of last month’s huge increase.

WTMX repeated at #1 18-49 with a small decrease, while WKSC was back at #2 with a small increase. WUSN advanced from #6 to #3, while WBBM-F rose from #7 to #4. Once again, each station landed its largest share in over a year. WXRT dipped to #5 though it, too, posted its best number in over a year. WLIT slid from #3 to #7 with a slight decrease, while WBEZ dropped from #4 to #9.

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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Mix Master

For the second book in a row iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) was #1 6+ (4.5-5.2). EMF Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) advanced from #7 to #3 with its highest mark in over a year (3.6-4.4). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) was back at #3 (4.2-4.4), while iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) slipped to #4 (4.4-4.2). AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) remained at #5 (3.8-3.8). AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) slid four places to #8 (3.9-3.5). It was tied with SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104), which had its first up book since OCTOBER (2.9-3.5). KDGE was still the cume commander with a 5.8% increase (1,165,500-1,233,100). The market grew by 3.7%.

Despite a small share loss TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) was still #1 25-54. KDMX was back at #2 as it bounced back from a down book. The stations were separated by about a half share. KJKK vaulted from #7 to #3 with its best performance in over a year. KHKS repeated at #4 with a slight increase, while KDGE slipped from #3 to #5 with a slight decrease.

KDMX landed its largest 18-34 share in over a year as it leapt from #3 to #1. KKDA rose to #2, also with its best outing in over a year. Yet it was about a share behind the leader. KLNO went from first to third as it returned almost all of last month’s huge share increase. KHKS was up three places to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. EMK Contemporary Christian KYDA (AIR 1) jumped from #10 to #5 with its highest score since AUGUST. KDGE dipped to #6, while KJKK dropped to #7. It was tied with KVIL, which fell from #2 with a rather large share loss.

KDMX stepped up to #1 18-49 with its best outing since SEPTEMBER. This forced KLNO to move down to #2 as it had a modest share loss. KKDA advanced from #7 to #3 with its highest share in over a year. KDGE stood alone at #4 with a solid increase. KHKS dipped to #5 with a small increase, while KVIL dropped from #3 to #6.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: It’s Always Sunny

For the seventh straight survey iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was #1 6+ (9.7-9.0). URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) was back at #2 but with its fourth down book in a row (6.9-6.7). The month leading up to rodeo was a boon for URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q) as it repeated at #3 but with its highest mark in over a year (5.8-6.6). HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ was back at #4 with its best book since AUGUST (5.3-6.0). AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) rounded out the top five once again (5.1-5.1). KODA was still the cume leader despite a 2.0% drop (1,928,000-1,890,100). The market was up 3.4%.

Boosted by a slight increase iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ) stepped up to #1 25-54 for the first time since MARCH. It narrowly defeated KODA, which dipped to #2. This was the first time in over a year that KODA was not #1 in this demo. KSBJ stepped up to #3 with its fourth up book in a row. It was partnered with KKBQ, which advanced from #6 with its highest mark in exactly a year. KHMX slipped to #5 as it ended a strong four-book surge. SBS Mexican Regional KROI (LA LEY 92.1) advanced three spaces to #6 as it bounced back from a down book. KMJQ slid from #4 to #7 with its smallest share since APRIL.

Last month KTBZ and KHMX were the 18-34 co-leaders. That partnership was dissolved as KTBZ remained in first place as it crashed through the double-digit barrier. KHMX dipped to #2 with its first down book since OCTOBER. KODA remained at #3 but with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) rose five places to #4 with its best showing in over a year. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOXX) dipped to #5, while KMJQ stepped down to #6.

A flat KTBZ moved up to #1 18-49. This ended KODA’s four-book winning string as it dipped to #2. KKBQ inched up to #3 with its best book since NOVEMBER, while KHMX stepped down to #4 as it returned all of last month’s huge increase, plus a tad more. KSBJ was up to #5 with a solid increase, while KBXX was down a spot to #6. It was joined there by KKHH, which vaulted from #12.

Our long trek into the ratings multiverse has just begun. Grab some snacks as we prepare for round two. That will feature SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA and BOSTON. In the meantime, please use your turn signals.

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

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