Radio Ratings Roundup, May 2026, Part I

June 15, 2026

Welcome to the merry, merry month of MAY, one of only two on the calendar that can be both a noun AND a verb. That’s true versatility. And before you “at” me for AUGUST, it’s a noun and an adjective. Now let’s all diagram that last sentence…a little middle school English anxiety for everyone.

The MAY book ran from APRIL 30^th through MAY 29^th. We saluted Mommie dearest, took part in a federally mandated three-day weekend, and watched as gas prices spiked. (I include that last point not to be political but to point out that rising gas prices could lead to fewer driving miles, which has a direct effect on time spent listening to radio.)

Now, on with the countdown…

NEW YORK: Same Old, Same Old

The 6+ leaderboard in AMERICA’s largest city was relatively unchanged from last month as the top four stations remained the same. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was #1 for the third book in a row (8.1-7.9). AUDACY News WINS was back at #2 (7.1-6.9), while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS strengthened its hold on the #3 position with its highest mark in over a year (5.4-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) repeated at #4 (5.2-5.6). Breaking into the top five with its best showing since JULY was iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) (4.4-4.9). NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC slid from #5 to #9 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER (4.7-4.1). WLTW padded its market leading cume total with a 1.6% increase (3,898,300-3,960,700). The market was up by 0.4%.

WHTZ rebounded from a down book to move up to #1 25-54 for the first time since OCTOBER. This ended the three-book winning string for WLTW, which dipped to #2. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) stepped up to #3 with its best book in over a year. This pushed iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) down to #4. WCBS remained at #5 with a slight increase.

WLTW was #1 18-34 for the eighth straight survey. WHTZ was back at #2 and managed to cut its cluster sister’s lead down to a share. WNEW held steady at #3 with a solid increase, while WWPR stood still at #4 with a small increase. WCBS rounded out the top five again, also with a small increase. WAXQ rose from #10 to #6 with its best outing in over a year.

WHTZ regained all of last month’s lost 18-49 share as it moved back up to #1. WLTW stepped down to #2 with its lowest score since OCTOBER. WNEW and WWPR swapped places with WNEW up to #3 with a small increase and WWPR down to #4 with a slight decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU) remained at #5 but was just ahead of WAXQ, which leapt from #12 to #6.

LOS ANGELES: Seven Up

For the seventh straight survey iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was #1 6+ (7.1-7.1). The next three stations were in their same positions as last month. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) was back at #2 but with its first down book since OCTOBER (6.2-6.0). AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) held steady at #3 (5.0-5.5), while AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) remained at #4 (4.6-4.9). AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) swelled up to #5 with its highest score since NOVEMBER (4.0-4.4). AUDACY News KNX-A, which lost its FM simulcast during week three, slid from #5 to #8 with its smallest share in over a year (4.1-3.5). It was partnered with TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE 107.5), which rose from #13 (3.2-3.5) and the stationary PASADENA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KPCC (3.5-3.5). KOST was still the cume commander despite a 3.5% decline (2,566,700-2,477,200). The market was up 0.5%.

The top five 25-54 stations were all within a half share of one another. KBIG was #1 for the third book in a row. KRTH and KCBS moved up to a tie at #2 with small share gains. KOST slipped to #4 as it ended a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) stepped up to #5 with its best book in over a year. AUDACY Alternative KROQ dipped to #6 with a slight increase.

KOST was #1 18-34 for the seventh straight survey and landed its largest Frosty-free share in over a year. KRTH was back at #2 with a slight increase and was paired with KYSR, which rose from #4 with its best showing since OCTOBER. KTWV advanced from #9 to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) stepped up to #5 with a slight increase. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9) fell from #4 to #12 with its smallest share since JULY. It was tied with MEURELO MEDIA Rhythmic CHR KPWR (POWER 106FM) and SBS Mexican Regional KLAX (LA RAZA 97.9).

The top four 18-49 stations were unchanged from last survey. KOST was #1 for the fourth book in a row and was about a share ahead of a flat KBIG, which repeated at #2. KCBS was back at #3 with a small increase, while KRTH held firm at #4 with a slight increase. KYSR inched up to #5 with its highest score in over a year, while KROQ dropped two places to #6 with its lowest mark since DECEMBER.

CHICAGO: X Marks The Spots

For the third book in a row AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) was #1 6+ (6.3-5.6). However, the race got significantly tighter as HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) moved up to claim a share of first place (5.7-5.6). Close behind at #3 was AUDACY News WBBM-A (5.7-5.5), which narrowly defeated HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE), which remained idled at #4 (5.1-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) was up to #5 with its first up book since we were hanging hosiery on the mantle (4.0-4.6). AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) dipped to #6 (4.4-4.5). WLIT still had the most listeners despite a 0.6% decline (1,314,100-1,306,400). The market was up 1.7%.

Despite a rather large share loss, WTMX was a dominant #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) was back at #2 but still trailed the leader by more than two shares. WXRT repeated at #3 with a small decrease. It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI, which rose from #5 with its fifth up book in a row. WUSN held steady at #5 with a small increase, while AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) slipped to #6 with a small decrease.

For the second straight survey WKSC was in double figures 18-34. This extended the station’s demo winning streak to five. WBBM-F stepped up to #2 with its highest mark in over a year yet still trailed the leader by more than three shares. WTMX dipped to #3 with a small decrease, while WGCI moved up to #4 with its best book since OCTOBER. WUSN stepped down to #5 despite a small share gain. SBS Mexican Regional WLEY (LA LEY 107.9) was close behind as it jumped from #9 to #6 with its largest share in over a year.

The 18-49 contest got much tighter. WTMX was #1 for the fifth book in a row but saw its lead over #2 WKSC sink to under a half share. WGCI repeated at #3 while WBBM-F moved up to #4. Both stations had small increases. WXRT dipped to #5, also with a small share loss.

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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: A Star Is Born

iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) moved up to #1 6+ with its best Frosty-free share since OCTOBER (4.2-4.9). It just edged out iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9), which dipped to #2 (4.3-4.8). EMF Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) bounced back from a down book to vault from #11 to #3 (3.2-4.1). The two stations previously spied at #6 moved up the chart. AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) made it to #4 (3.6-3.9), while AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) was awarded the #5 position (3.6-3.8). AUDACY Sports KRLD (105.3 THE FAN) slid from #3 to #9 as it surrendered all of last month’s share increase, plus a bit more (4.0-3.4). KDGE maintained its cume lead with a 3.8% increase (1,155,400-1,199,400). The market grew by 0.1%.

Two stations rose up to forge a tie at #1 25-54. KDMX stepped up from #2 with a small increase, while KDGE arrived from #4 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year.   TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) went from first to third with its smallest share since JUNE, which ended the station’s four-book winning string. KJKK was up two slots to #4 and was joined there by SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104), which stepped up from #5. KRLD slid from #3 to #6.

KKDA moved into first place 18-34 by landing its largest share in over a year. KDMX rose from #5 to #2 with a rather large share increase, while KDGE slipped from #1 to #3 with a slight decrease. It was tied with KVIL, which dropped down a spot with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) remained at #5, while URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBFB (97.9 THE BEAT) slid from #3 to #6.

KDMX and KKDA ended two-book slides as they rose to #1 and #2, respectively, 18-49. KLNO halted a two-book winning streak as it slipped from #1 to #3. KVIL advanced from #7 to #4, while KDGE repeated at #5. It was joined in that space by KHKS, which moved up from #8 as it regained last month’s lost share. KJKK went from #5 to #7, while KRLD fell from #3 to #8.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Ten For Ten

For the tenth straight survey iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) and URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) were #1 and #2, respectively, 6+. KODA (9.0-8.6) still had a strong lead over KMJQ (7.1-7.2). URBAN ONE Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5) was up to #3 with its highest share in over a year (5.5-6.4). HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ was up to #4 (5.3-5.6), while URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q) rose to #5 (5.2-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ) slid from #3 to #6 (5.6-5.1). KODA added 7.1% to its #1 cume total (1,766,700-1,892,800). The market was up by 2.5%.

Despite a down book KTBZ extended its 25-54 winning streak to four. KODA was back at #2 and was a little more than a share off the pace. KSBJ repeated at #3, while KMJQ remained at #4. Both stations had solid increases. AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) inched up to #5 with its best showing in over a year. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOVE (AMOR 106.5) was close behind at #6 with its largest share since JUNE. AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) slipped to #7 with a slight decrease.

KTBZ was #1 18-34 for the fifth book in a row, the last four of which were in double figures. KKHH advanced two places to #2, again with its best outing in over a year. However, the station was about four shares off the lead. KODA dipped to #3 with its smallest share since AUGUST. It joined up with the stationary KGLK, which posted a slight increase. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX) stepped up to #5 with a strong share increase.

The top three 18-49 stations were the same as last month. KTBZ was #1, followed by KODA at #2. Both stations had down books. KSBJ repeated at #3 with a slight increase. KKHH and KOVE rose together from #5 to #4. KHMX slipped from #4 to #7 with a slight decrease and was tied with KBXX.

We’ve only just begun. More markets and more numbers are still waiting to be crunched.  Waiting in the queue are SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. They will be in your inbox tomorrow.

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