Hot Topics
Radio Ratings Roundup, March 2026, Part IV
April 23, 2026
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—with a healthy assist from the playmakers at XTRENDS—bring you our fourth, and final, installment of the MARCH survey.
This one ran from MARCH 5th through APRIL 1st. We messed with the construct of time, survived the vernal equinox, and witnessed the first day of PASSOVER. Did you also know that the month features “What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day,” “International Fanny Pack Day,” and, for those who celebrate, “Corn Dog Day.” There was a lot of stuff to deal with during this time frame, but we’re laser focused on the radio ratings reality. Which went something like this:
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: It’s A Dove’s World
This was a great month to be COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (101.5 THE DOVE). The station was #1 6+ for the second book in a row and posted its largest Frosty-free share in over a year (8.6-9.8). RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) was back at #2 but with its lowest score since OCTOBER (7.3-7.0). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) repeated at #3 (6.5-6.5), while BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) remained at #4 with its fourth up book in a row (5.5-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) leapt from #8 to #5 with its highest share since APRIL (4.9-5.7). COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) dipped to #6 (5.3-5.1). WDUV was still the cume leader (653,500-655,100)—a 0.2% increase. The market was up by 1.8%.
WDUV made it back-to-back 25-54 wins with, again, its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WXTB rose from #6 to #2 with its best showing in a year. WRBQ stepped down to #3 as it ended a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) dipped to #4 as it stopped a five-book surge. WCIE was down to #5 and was met there by WWRM, which moved up a slot despite landing its fourth straight down book. iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) slipped two places to #7.
WDUV moved up to #1 18-34 with a double-digit share. WFLZ vacated the double-digit space as it moved down to #2. WXTB vaulted from #8 to #3 with its best book in over a year. WCIE rose two places to #4 with its highest mark since NOVEMBER. WXGL repeated at #5 and was paired with WWRM, which dropped from #3. WMTX slid from #4 into a tie at #8 with COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE).
WDUV completed the demo sweep as it remained #1 18-49 while landing its largest share—aided or unaided by performance enhancing music—in over a year. WXTB continued its MARCH march as it advanced from #6 to #2. WFLZ dipped to #3, while WCIE stepped down to #4. WWRM and WMTX were previously tied at #4. They slid to #5 and #6, respectively:
DENVER-BOULDER: Rocky Mountain Way
AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) was back as the leading 6+ station (7.0-7.1). However, #2 BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) crept closer to the leader (6.7-7.0). KSE MEDIA VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) was up two slots to #3 (5.0-5.2), while AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) repeated at #4 (5.1-4.9). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO SLIPPED TO #5 (5.3-4.8). KOSI still had the most cume (490,500-506,600)—a 3.3% increase. The market was up 0.7%.
iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) and KQMT were still #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54. Both stations had down books and were separated by a half share. KALC remained at #3 with a slight increase and was paired with KOSI, which was up a spot with a small share gain. A flat KXKL held steady at #5. KSE MEDIA VENTURES Sports KKSE (ALTITUDE SPORTS RADIO 92.5FM) fell from #6 to #16 last month. The station rebounded and moved back up to #6. It was tied with AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5).
ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) landed its largest 18-34 share since SEPTEMBER as it stepped up to #1. KOSI leapt from #5 to #2 as it halted a three-book slide. A flat KXKL slipped from #1 to #3. It was paired with KQKS, which stepped down from #2 despite bouncing back from a down book. Three stations were huddled together at #5. KQMT remained in place with a small share loss. KYGO moved up from #8 with a slight increase, while COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO N/T KCFR advanced from #10 with its best book in over a year. KTCL dropped from a tie at #5 to #8, while KSE MEDIA VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) fell from #2 to #12 with its smallest share in over a year.
KQKS ended a two-book slide as it jumped from #5 to #1 18-49. KOSI and KALC were last seen at #2. KOSI held steady with a slight increase, while KALC dipped to #3 with a slight decrease. KKSE again rebounded from a down book as it rose from #12 to #4. KXKL and KXPK moved from #7 and #8, respectively, up to a tie at #5. Three stations were massed together at #8. KTCL dropped from #1 with its lowest total in over a year. KQMT slid from #4 as it returned a portion of last month’s large increase. KCFR was up from #11, again with its highest mark in over a year. KIMN fell from #5 to #13 and was tied with EMF Contemporary Christian KLDV (K-LOVE).
SAN DIEGO: Do You Believe In Magic
You should, because LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) jumped from #3 to #1 6+ with its best outing in over a year (6.7-7.9). This pushed SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS down to #2 (8.1-7.6). AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) dipped to #3 with its smallest share in over a year (7.7-7.4). AUDACY AC KYXY remained at #4 with its third straight down book (6.3-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) was up two places to #5 (4.5-4.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 93.3) slid two places to #7 (4.9-4.1). KXSN remained the cume leader despite a 2.0% drop (603,500-591,200). The market was up 0.5%.
XHRM was also hot 25-54 as it went from #3 to #1 with, again, its best book in over a year. KXSN dipped to #2 and was about a half share off the lead. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) repeated at #3 with a slight decrease, while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) stepped up to #4 with a slight increase. KHTS dropped from #2 to #5 as it returned about half of last month’s strong increase. KYXY was down a spot to #6 with a slight decrease.
A flat KXSN moved up to #1 18-34. This ended the four-book winning streak for KYXY, three of which were in double figures. The station was down to #2 where it was met by XHRM, which rose from #5 its highest mark since MAY. XTRA was back at #4 with its third straight up book, while two stations ran headlong into each other at #5. KMYI slipped from #3, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary KSSX (JAM’N 95.7) was up from #8 with its best showing in over a year.
At the risk of being redundant XHRM went from #3 to #1 18-49 with its fifth up book in a row. This halted the two-book winning string for KXSN, which was relegated to #2. KIOZ moved up two places to #3 with a small increase, while a flat XTRA made it up to #4. Both stations had been tied at #5. KHTS was also at #4, down from #3, while KYXY fell from #2 to #6 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER.
Shameless plug: For over 30 years we have specialized in helping radio stations get the most out of their large NIELSEN investment. We work wonders for both programming and sales.
CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Special K
For the second book in a row, BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) was #1 6+. The station landed its largest Frosty-free share since JULY (7.9-8.1). IHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) stood alone at #2 but with its best book—Frosty-free or otherwise—in over a year (6.3-7.9). BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98) dipped to #3 but with its fifth straight up book (6.3-7.4). UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE rebounded from a down book to move up to #4 (5.7-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) was stationary at #5 (6.0-6.0). URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (106.5 RnB) fell from #4 to #12 with its lowest score in over a year (6.1-3.9). It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END), which held steady (4.1-3.9) and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHQC (HITS 96.1), which was up from #16 (3.1-3.9). WLKO kept its cume lead with a 0.4% increase (470,000-472,100). The market was up 0.3%.
WPEG repeated as the 25-54 champ and surpassed the double-digit mark. WLKO vaulted from #6 to #2 but was nearly four shares off the pace. WKQC stepped up to #3 with a small share loss, while WEND dipped to #4 with a larger share decrease. It was tied with WKKT, which inched up from #5, also with a down book. WFAE jumped from #10 to #6, while WOSF fell from #2 to #7 with its smallest share since JULY.
WPEG hit double figures 18-34 for the second book in a row and this time that was enough to propel the station to #1. WLKO rose from #5 to #2 and was dangerously close to hitting double digits. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) repeated at #3 but with its fourth consecutive down book. WKQC stepped up to #4 with its highest mark in over a year, while two stations settled in at #5. WHQC was there last time while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX) advanced from #8 with its best number in exactly a year. Last month BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) was #1 with a large double-digit share. The station ceded more than half its previous number as it dropped to #7. WOSF fell from #4 to #9.
WPEG was #1 and in double digits 18-49 for the second book in a row. WNKS repeated at #2 with a small increase. Three stations, last seen at #7 moved up and into the top five. WLKO landed at #3 as it bounced back from a down book. WFAE and WHQC made it to #4 with solid increases. WEND dipped to #6 as it returned most of last month’s increase. It was paired with the motionless WKQC, which had a down book. WBAV and WOSF were previously #2 and #4, respectively. They fell into a tie at #9 along with BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7).
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Three WINS In A Row
As the headline says, this was the third straight first place 6+ finish for AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) (10.6-8.9). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) had its best showing since NOVEMBER as it moved up two places to #2 (5.5-6.9). RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A dipped to #3 (6.0-6.1), while AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS RADIO 101.9FM/66AM) was up to #4 with its highest offensive output since OCTOBER (4.5-5.6). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) slipped to #5 (5.7-5.3), while COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI moved down to #7 (4.8-4.2). WINS was still the top cuming station despite a 1.6% drop (424,300-417,700). The market was up 0.5%.
WHTZ stepped up to #1 25-54 and was awfully close to hitting double figures. This stopped the three-book winning streak for WALK, which moved down to #2 with a slight decrease. Despite a down book WBLI went from #5 to #3. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) was up two spots to #4 with a slight increase, while iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) went from #7 to #5 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WFAN vaulted from #11 to #6. WINS dropped from #3 into a tie at #7 with WABC-A. AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS fell from #4 into a partnership arrangement at #9 with COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB.
WINS vaulted from #4 to #1 18-34 with its highest total in over a year. This pushed a flat WBLI to #2. WALK repeated at #3 but with its third straight down book. It was paired with WHTZ, which moved up from #4 with a solid increase. Also coming in at #3 was CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3), which advanced from #8 with its best outing since OCTOBER. WNEW fell from #4 to #10, while WCBS dropped from #1 to #13, shedding well more than half its previous share in the process.
WHTZ had its best 18-49 book since NOVEMBER as it seized control of the demo. WALK dipped to #2 and was about two shares off the pace. WNEW and WBLI traded places as the former moved up to #3 with a slight decrease, while the latter was down to #4, thus ending a four-book surge. WINS was also at #4, moving up a spot despite a small share loss.
Another book bites the dust. Thank you for participating. See you in four weeks for the APRIL survey. In the meantime, pass only on the left.
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.
About XTrends: XTrends is radio’s favorite tool for reviewing ratings. Click here to see why all of radio’s major groups love XTrends!
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
e-mail info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
Comments are closed.