Radio Ratings Roundup, March 2026, Part I

April 20, 2026

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in lock step with the data diviners from XTRENDS—are marching to the tune of our inner drummers as we present the MARCH survey. We go boldly forward into the breach, dear friends, to examine the ratings fates and fortunes that span the continent. The highs! The lows! The drama! The pathos! It’s all right here.

The MARCH survey ran from MARCH 5^th through APRIL 1^st. It spanned the period from the absurd clock adjustment through the changing of the season and culminated on the first day of PASSOVER.  Here is what NIELSEN declared was truth…

NEW YORK: Being Present

Wasn’t it WOODY ALLEN who said “80% of success is showing up?” That worked for iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM), which moved back to #1 6+ by maintaining the status quo (7.4-7.4). This ended the two-book winning string for AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS), which dipped to #2 (7.8-7.2). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) inched up to #3 with its best outing since NOVEMBER (5.0-5.6). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS stepped down to #4 (5.3-5.4), while NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC slipped to #5 (5.0-4.9). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS popped up to #6 with its highest mark since DECEMBER (4.4-4.8). SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) slid from #4 to #9 with its smallest share in over a year (5.0-4.2). It did add a 1.4 share from the interwebs. WLTW added 3.2% to its #1 cume total (3,642,300-3,758,200). The market grew by 4.8%.

WLTW was #1 25-54 for the second book in a row. WHTZ moved up to #2 and had closed the gap between the two stations to less than a half share. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) leapt from #9 to #3 with its best showing in over a year. WCBS advanced two places to #4 with a slight increase, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) dipped to #5 with a noticeable share loss. WSKQ fell from #2 to #7. It was paired with MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97), which slipped from #5 as it ended a two-book surge.

Despite a down book WLTW was #1 18-34 for the sixth straight survey. WHTZ was back at #2, also with a down book. However, it was forced to share that space with WNEW, which vaulted from #10 with its highest score since JULY. WBLS rose two slots to #4 with a slight increase, while WQHT slid two places to #5 with its lowest total since OCTOBER. It held the narrowest of margins over WWPR, which dipped to #6. WCBS fell four spots to #8 as it halted a strong three-book surge.

WHTZ stepped up to #1 18-49 with its best book since NOVEMBER. This pushed WLTW, which had a slight increase, down to #2. WNEW moved from a tie at #6 to #3, again with its highest share in over a year. WWPR moved down to #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU inched up to #5 with its best book in exactly a year. WQHT was down to #6, while WSKQ slid from #4 to #7. Its stream came in at #18.

LOS ANGELES: KOSTing Along

For the fifth book in a row iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was #1 6+ (6.2-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MY FM) moved up to #2 with its best showing in over a year (5.3-5.9). Conversely, AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) dipped to #3 with its least productive outing in over a year (5.8-5.0). Audacy Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) repeated at #4 (4.5-4.9), while SBS Mexican Regional KLAX (LA RAZA 97.9) stepped up to #5 (4.2-4.4). AUDACY News KNX slid from #4 to #6 (4.5-4.1) and was tied with AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE), which moved up a spot (3.9-4.1). KOST kept its cume lead with a 2.8% increase (2,218,400-2,280,500). The market rose by 2.6%.

Last month AUDACY Alternative KROQ and KBIG were #2 and #3, respectively, 25-54. This time KBIG had its best book since SEPTEMBER, while KROQ scored its largest number in over a year. When the dust settled, they were tied at #1. KOST moved up to #3 with its best Frosty-free share in exactly one year. KRTH went from first to fourth as it surrendered most of last survey’s solid increase. KCBS dipped to #5 with a small share gain as it narrowly edged iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7), which held steady at #6 as it rebounded from a down book.

KOST repeated as the 18-34 leader for the fifth straight survey. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9) jumped three spaces to #2 as it regained some of last month’s lost share. KROQ dipped to #3 as it returned a good portion of last month’s share increase. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM), which advanced from a tie at #5 with a small increase. KRTH and KYSR went from #3 and #4, respectively, to a tie at #5. KYSR experienced a slight increase, while KRTH had a larger decrease. They were joined there by KTWV, which rose from #8 as it bounced back from a down book.

There is a lot to unpack in the 18-49 sphere of influence. Last month KOST, KROQ and KRTH were tied at #1. KOST remained in place with a solid increase. It was paired with KBIG, which advanced from #4 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER. KROQ slipped to #3 with its first down book since NOVEMBER. KCBS stepped up to #4 with a slight increase, while KRTH landed at #5.

 CHICAGO: Triple A One

Say hello to your new 6+ leader. AUDACY AAA WXRT (93 XRT) rose to the top spot with its best showing in over a year (5.6-6.1). This ended the two-book run at #1 for AUDACY News WBBM-A, which stepped down to #2 (5.9-6.0). HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) repeated at #3 (5.4-5.6), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) was back at #4 (5.0-5.0). AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) rounded out the top five once again (4.8-4.4). WLIT padded its cume lead with a 9.8% increase (1,247,700-1,370,200). The market was up 0.3%.

WTMX was not only #1 25-54 for the third book in a row, the station landed its largest share in over a year. WXRT stepped up to #2 with its third up book in a row and still trailed the leader by better than three shares. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) dipped to #3, while WLIT was down a spot to #4 with a slight decrease. It found company there as a flat WUSN rose from #7.

WKSC was a dominant #1 18-34 for the third straight survey. AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) inched up to #2 with a slight decrease and was almost two shares off the pace. WTMX vaulted from #7 to #3 with its fourth up book in a row. WLIT stepped down to #4 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI remained at #5 and was paired with CRAWFORD Urban Contemporary WPWX (POWER 92), which moved up a slot with its highest score in over a year. WUSN slid from #2 to #7 as it surrendered all of last month’s massive increase.

For the third book in a row WTMX was #1 18-49. WXRT rose from #5 to #2 with its best outing in over a year but remained about a share off the lead. WKSC dipped to #3 with a slight decrease, while WGCI advanced two squares to #4 with its best book since MAY. WBBM-F slipped to #5 with a slight decrease, while WUSN fell from #3 to #7 as it, again, ceded all of last month’s huge increase.

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 DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Adding To The Mix

Though it surrendered all of last month’s solid share increase, iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) was again #1 6+ (5.2-4.5). Alas, it had a partner as K-LOVE INC Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) moved up to forge the tie (4.4-4.5). iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) moved up two places to #3 (4.2-4.3), while two stations moved up and into a tie at #4. AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) rose from #6 with its best outing since OCTOBER (3.8-4.2), while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) advanced from #8 with its highest share since NOVEMBER (3.6-4.2). IHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) dropped from a tie at #2 to #6 (4.4-4.1). As you can see these six stations are all within a half share of one another. KDGE remained in cume control with a 6.4% increase (1,233,100-1,312,500). The market was up 1.0%.

KLNO was #1 25-54 for the third straight survey. KDMX was back at #2 with a slight increase but still trailed the leader by about a share. KJKK remained at #3 with a slight increase and was partnered with KDGE, which moved up a slot with its best Frosty-free share since OCTOBER. Was it the anticipation of the RANGERS season or did JERRY say something eye rolling again? Either way it was a great book for AUDACY Sports KRLD (105.3 THE FAN), which advanced from #10 to #5 with its highest offensive output in over a year. KHKS slipped to #6 with a modest share loss and was tied with SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104), which arrived from #8 with a slight increase.

KKDA moved up to #1 18-34 despite a down book. A flat KLNO was up to #2, while KDMX went from first to third with its smallest share since OCTOBER. It was joined there by KHKS, which stepped up from #4 with a slight increase. KDGE inched up to #5 with its highest Frost-free share since OCTOBER.

KLNO rebounded back from a down book to move back up to #1 18-49. KDMX had to move down to #2 with a large share loss. KDGE was up to #3 with a slight increase, while KKDA dipped to #4 with a modest share loss. KJKK rose to #5 with its best book in over a year, while KHKS stepped down to #6 with a small decrease.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: The Great Eight

iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was #1 6+ for the eighth straight survey (9.0-9.0). The next three slots belonged to the same cluster. URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) repeated at #2 (6.7-6.9), while URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q) was back at #3 (6.6-6.6). URBAN ONE classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5) moved up to #4 with its highest flying survey since OCTOBER (4.7-5.4). UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON N/T KUHF advanced from #10 to #5 with its best performance in over a year (4.3-4.9). Both HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ and AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) landed their smallest shares since NOVEMBER. KSBJ slipped from #4 to #6 (6.0-4.6), while KHMX went from #5 to #7 (5.1-4.4). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ), which remained in place (4.5-4.4). KODA increased its #1 cume total by 1.3% (1,890,100-1,914,200). The market was down 0.9%.

KTBZ and KODA were #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54 last survey. Both stations had slight share losses and ended up tied atop the leaderboard. KKBQ repeated at #3, also with a slight decrease. KMJQ rose from #7 to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KHMX was back at #5, while KSBJ slipped three slots to #6 as it ended a strong four-book surge.

KTBZ was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row, the last two of which have been in double figures. KODA stepped up to #2 and was also dangerously close to hitting double digits. AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) moved up to #3 despite a down book. KMJQ advanced from #7 to #4 with its highest mark in over a year. KHMX fell from #2 to #5 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX) had its least productive outing in over a year as it dropped from #5 to #11.

KODA ended its three-book slide as it moved up to #1 18-49. KTBZ stepped down to #2 and was now about a share behind the leader. KKBQ returned all of last month’s share gain—plus a little extra—as it held steady at #3. KHMX was back at #4 but with its lowest total since OCTOBER. A flat KKHH stepped up, which pushed KSBJ down to #6.

We will continue our MARCH march tomorrow. Waiting in the queue are SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. Don’t touch that dial (you never know where it has been).

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