Radio Ratings Roundup, February 2026, Part II

March 24, 2026

So here we are reviewing the shortest month of the year. The symmetry between the real-world calendar and the way NIELSEN rates us all is striking. Both the month and the book have 28 days (mind blown). You would think that once, just once, the stars would collide and we would achieve a level of ratings oneness.

Perhaps another time.

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—running cheek by jowl with the numbers nerds from XTRENDS—are here to break down the aforementioned month for a second time. This book, as they call it, ran from FEBRUARY 5^th through MARCH 9^th. It featured a three-day weekend and a ton of frigid weather. There was also a big football game a few may have watched. Here’s the scoop:

SAN FRANCISCO: Back To Normal            

Now that Santa is but a distant memory, the ratings chart has reverted to its usual status. KQED INC N/T KQED was #1 6+ again (9.8-9.9), while AUDACY News KCBS-A was in its customary #2 position (8.3-8.8). There was a rather large bay between those two stations and the rest of the field. BONNEVILLE AC KOIT stepped up to #3 (4.7-5.0), while iHEARTMEDIA AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) rose two places to #4 with its best book in over a year (3.7-4.7). BONNEVILLE Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) remained at #5 (4.6-4.6), while USC Classical KDFC (CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA) dropped three spots to #6 with its smallest share since JUNE (4.9-4.3). KOIT continued as the cume commander with a 3.1% increase (985,900-1,016,200). The market was down 0.5%.

KQED remained #1 25-54 with a small increase, while KMVQ was back at #2 with a slight decrease. Those two were separated by about a share. KIOI jumped from #6 to #3 with its third up book in a row. KOIT repeated at #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) held steady at #5. Both stations had solid share increases. AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) slid from #3 to #6. Keep an eye on TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KBRG (AMOR 100.3), which leapt from #11 to #7. The station has more than doubled its share over the last two surveys.

KMVQ was the repeat 18-34 winner with a slight decrease. KOIT remained at #2 but with a down book, while iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KMEL was steady at #3 with a solid increase. KIOI and KBRG continued to occupy the #4 position as each station had a good book. They were joined in that space by SBS Mexican Regional KRZZ (LA RAZA 93.3), which advanced from #11 as it rebounded from a down book.

KQED remained #1 18-49 with a slight increase. KIOI jumped from #6 to #2 with its best outing in over a year and was less than a half share off the lead. KOIT stepped up to #3 with a small increase, while a flat KMVQ dipped to #4. KYLD was back at #5 as it stopped a three-book slide. KITS fell from #2 to #6 and was paired with KBRG, which arrived from #10.

ATLANTA: Do You Believe In Majic?

URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC 107.5/97.5) jumped from #4 to #1 6+ with its highest mark since APRIL (6.2-7.2). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 THE RIVER) moved up to #2 with its best showing since AUGUST (6.4-6.8). Thus ended the six-book winning string for COX MEDIA N/T WSB-A. The station slid to #3 with its smallest share in over a year (7.8-6.6). AUDACY Urban AC WVEE (V-103) repeated at #4 (6.2-6.0), while COX MEDIA AC WSB-F (B98.5) inched up to #5 (5.8-5.9). COX MEDIA Urban AC WALR (KISS 104.1) dropped from #2 to #6 with its lowest score since MARCH (6.7-5.7). WSB-F padded its cume lead with a large 13.1% increase (673,700-762,100). The market grew by 2.6%.

WVEE was back at #1 25-54. However, the station landed its lowest share since SEPTEMBER, which opened the door for WAMJ, which moved up from #4 to forge a tie for the lead. WSB-F was back at #3 with a slight increase, while AUDACY Sports WZGC (92.9 THE GAME) slipped to #4 as it returned all of last month’s modest increase. WSRV stepped up to #5 with a small increase, while WALR dipped to #6

WSRV assumed control of the 18-34 space thanks to its best book in over a year. WSB-F stepped down to #2 as it gave back some of last month’s huge increase. WSB-F went from leading the demo by over two shares to trailing by about a half share. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WRDG (96.1 THE BEAT) remained at #3, while WVEE was back at #4. Both stations had solid increases. WZGC rose two places to #5 with its highest score in over a year. WALR and AUDACY Rhythmic AC WSTR (STAR 94) were last spotted at #5. Both stations experienced a down book as they drifted to #6 and #7, respectively.

WVEE was #1 18-49 for the third book in a row. A flat WSB-F was back at #2, while WAMJ moved up two slots to #3 with its third straight up book. WSRV dipped to #4 with a slight decrease, while WRDG stepped down to #5 with a slight increase.

 WASHINGTON, DC: I Heard The News Today…

…and it had something to do with the partial government shutdown which happened in the middle of this book. That was good news for HUBBARD News WTOP, which was #1 6+ for the ninth book in a row and posted its largest share in over a year (13.5-15.2). AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU repeated at #2 with its best book since JUNE (11.0-11.8). HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR was again the leading music station at #3 (6.6-7.0), while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) remained at #4 (5.4-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH stepped up to #5 despite landing its lowest number since SEPTEMBER (4.9-4.6). ATLANTIC GATEWAY Contemporary Christian WGTS slipped to #6 (5.4-4.3). WTOP was back as the cume leader with an 8.4% increase (851,200-922,600). The market was off 0.6%.

WAMU and WTOP were back at #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54. Both stations also achieved double-digit status. I think that means they get a free donut. WWDC repeated at #3 but with a noticeable share loss. WASH was up to #4, while WHUR inched up to #5. Both stations had slight decreases. WGTS slipped two slots to #6 as it ended a strong two-book surge.

WTOP vaulted from #4 to #1 18-34. The station was in double figures and came close to doubling its previous share. iHEARTMEDIA Country WMZQ was forced to step down to #2 as it was unable to duplicate last month’s double-digit performance. WHUR remained at #3 with its highest score in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100) advanced two spaces to #4 with a small increase, while WASH was back at #5 with a small decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIHT (HOT 99.5) slid from #2 to #6 as it surrendered a healthy portion of last month’s massive increase.

WTOP and WAMU were back at #1 and #2, respectively, 18-49 as they both surpassed the double-digit threshold. WHUR advanced from #7 to #3 with, again, its highest mark in over a year. A flat WASH was back at #4, while WWDC slipped to #5 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. WGTS and WMZQ were previously aligned at #4. Both stations had a down book as they dropped to #6 and #7, respectively.

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 PHILADELPHIA: They Call It Rock

Two flavors of music that rocks rose up in defiance of the man to become co-leaders of the 6+ cohort. BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR stepped up from #2 (7.1-7.1), while its older cluster bro, BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK, advanced from #3 (6.6-7.1). AUDACY AC WBEB (B101) jumped three spaces to #3 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year (5.4-6.5). With the EAGLES no longer in flight, AUDACY Sports WIP (94WIP SPORTSRADIO) went from first to third (8.5-6.5). AUDACY News KYW slipped to #5 (6.6-6.3), while iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS dipped to #6 (5.7-6.1). WBEB increased its #1 cume total by 7.0% (1,028,800-1,101,300). The market was down 0.8%.

WMMR was back as a dominant #1 25-54 for the second straight survey. WBEB inched up to #2 with a solid increase but still trailed the leader by better than two shares. WDAS rose two spots to #3, while EMF Contemporary Christian WKVP (POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING 106.9 K-LOVE) took two steps upward to #4. Both stations had solid increases. WIP slid from #2 to #5, while WHYY INC N/T WHYY slipped to #6. It was paired with BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK, which advanced from #9.

WMMR was unable to match last month’s double-digit outcome but had enough left in the tank to repeat at #1 18-34. BEASLEY Country WXTU (92.5 XTU) remained #2 and was about a share off the pace. WBEB remained at #3 with a strong share increase. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WUSL (POWER 99) was up to #4 with its best outing in over a year. WMGK dipped to #5 and was tied with BEASLEY Adult Hits WBEN (95.7 BEN FM), which advanced from #9. WIP dropped from #5 into an arrangement at #11 with WHYY and URBAN ONE Urban AV WRNB (100.3 RnB).

WMMR was both #1 and in double figures 18-49 for the second book in a row. WBEB moved up two places to #2 with its best Frosty-free share since AUGUST. WMGK rose from #6 to #3, while WDAS stepped up to #4. Both stations had what would be considered to be a “nice” book. WIP slid from #2 to #5, while WXTU dropped from #3 to #6.

 BOSTON: Oh, Oh, Oh, It’s…

…not Ozempic. It’s AUDACY AC WMJX (MAGIC 106.7), which stepped up to #1 6+ (6.2-6.2). BEASLEY Adult Hits WROR inched up to #2 (5.5-5.7), while BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (98.5 THE SPORTS HUB) went from first to third with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER (7.6-5.3). It was paired with AUDACY Hot AC WBMX (MIX 104.1), which advanced from #7 with its highest score since JULY (4.5-5.3). BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR moved from #7 to #5 with its best showing in exactly a year (4.5-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WXKS (KISS 108) slipped to #6 (5.1-4.9), while iHEARTMEDIA N/T WBZ-A drifted down to #7 (5.0-4.3). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX, which moved up from #10 (3.8-4.3). WMJX added 6.1% to its best-in-class cume total (779,800-827,000). The market was up 0.2%.

WBMX stepped up to #1 25-54 with its best book since JUNE. WBZ-F was unable to replicate last month’s double-digit share as it dipped to #2. WXKS was down to #3 as it returned all of last month’s share increase. WMJX repeated at #4 with a slight decrease, while WZLX remained at #5 as it rebounded from a down book. It was not alone as WROR moved up from #6 to forge the tie.

For the fourth book in a row—and sixth time in the last seven surveys—WMJX was #1 18-34. Vaulting from #8 to #2 was iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR WJMN (JAM’N 94.5). The station was also #2 two books ago before hitting a rough patch. WBMX remained at #3 with a slight increase, while four stations were massed together at #4. WXKS held steady but with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT 96.9) stepped up from #5 with a slight increase. WROR rose from #8, while WBUR advanced from #12. BEASLEY Country WKLB (COUNTRY 102.5) fell from #2 to #8 as it surrendered all of last month’s huge increase. It was met there by AUDACY Sports WEEI, which was last seen at #15. WBZ-F offense was held in check (ouch) as it dropped from #5 to #11. It was partnered with AUDACY Adult Hits WBGB (BIG 103) and WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION N/T WGBH.

WMBX rode its third straight up book to first place in the 18-49 space. WXKS stepped up to #2 and WMJX was up to #3. Both stations had down books. WROR advanced to #4 with a strong increase, while WBZ-F fell from first to fifth. WJMN leapt from #12 to #6, while WKLB fell from #5 to #11.

Thanks for taking time to read this here missive. Enjoy the halftime festivities as we prep the next batch of markets.  On tap are MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, DETROIT, and MINNEAPOLIS. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog at www.ResearchDirectorInc.com/Hot-Topics.   And remember, sharing is caring— spread the word far and wide.

-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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