Radio Ratings Roundup, May 2026, Part III

June 17, 2026

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—with a healthy assist from the fine folks at XTRENDS—are back with another edition of our renowned ratings revue. Or is it a review? Are we rating the ratings or merely providing you with a momentary diversion from your broadcast day?  We leave that interpretation up to you, dear reader.

The MAY survey began on APRIL 30^TH and reached its conclusion on MAY 27^TH. We had a three-day weekend that unofficially kicked off summer, Mom got her day, and the price at the pump gave everyone pause. How that affected radio ratings will now be revealed…

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Them Changes

This market is generally predictable from month to month with the usual suspects showing up in the usual places. Not so this time around. Your new 6+ leader was iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9), which vaulted from #5 to #1 with its best outing in over a year (5.3-6.2). This pushed AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) down to #2 (7.1-6.1). COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) was back at #3 but with its fourth straight down book (5.8-5.5). It was joined there by TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5), which advanced from #6 (5.2-5.5). SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3) slid from #2 to #5 as it ended a six-book surge (6.1-5.3). It was paired with COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105), which dipped from #4 with its smallest share in over a year (5.7-5.3). Despite a 10.2% decline WLYF was still in cume control (824,600-740,300). The market was off by 1.1%.

A flat WLYF was back at #1 25-54 but saw its lead over #2 WMIA cut in half. AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) advanced from #8 to #3 with its best book in over a year. WFEZ and COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) were last seen at #3. A flat WFEZ dipped to #4, while WFLC landed at #5 with a slight decrease. COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99JAMZ) vaulted from #11 to #6 with its best showing in over a year. WCMQ and WHQT dropped from a tie at #5 into one at #7.

WEDR recovered from a down book to go back to being a dominant #1 18-34. It had better than a three-share lead over the two stations at #2. Last month WLYF rose from #11 to #1. It stepped down to #2 this month. It was paired with WMIA, which moved up from #4 with a slight increase. WCMQ went from a tie at #2 into an arrangement at #4 with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT), which rose from #8 with a small share gain. AUDACY Country WKIS (KISS COUNTRY 99.9) rocketed from #18 to #6, more than doubling its previous share in the process. Things did not fare well for the three stations previously huddled together at #5. WHQT fell to #11 and was tied with WFLC and iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBGG (BIG 105.9). AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOW (POWER 96) dropped into a tie at #14 with WAMR. And iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHYI (Y100) landed in a three-way tie at #17.

WLYF surrendered most of last month’s huge share increase but had enough left in the tank to repeat at #1 18-49. WMIA moved up to #2 and was less than a half share off the pace. WMXJ and WEDR were at #7 and #8, respectively. Both stations had strong increases as they moved up to #3. WHQT remained at #5 and was paired with WFLC, which moved up a spot. Both stations had down books. WCMQ and WPOW were #2 and #3, respectively. They fell together and landed at #7.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Five Alive

For the fifth straight survey, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 6+ (10.6-10.1). BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) continued to rise the MARINERS’ success as the station was back at #2 (6.4-6.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) was still circling the #3 spot but with its highest share since NOVEMBER (5.3-6.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK was up for the fifth book in a row as it rose from #8 to #4 (4.3-5.6). AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) slipped to #5 (5.3-5.5), while CRISTA Contemporary Christian KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) found its way down to #6 with its smallest share since OCTOBER (5.3-4.4). KJEB climbed up to #1 in cume thanks to a 16.9% increase (583,300-682,000). The market was down 1.5%.

KISW was back at #1 25-54 as it posted its largest number in over a year. KUOW remained a somewhat distant #2 with a slight decrease, while KIRO-A stepped up to #3 with its third straight up book. KJEB moved up two places to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) remained at #5, while FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP dropped from #3 to #6 with its lowest score since DECEMBER.

After taking the last two books off, KISW was back at #1 18-34 and in double figures. KJEB ascended from #6 to #2 as it regained most of last month’s huge share loss. AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) repeated at #3 but with a large share loss. It was paired with KIRO-A, which moved up from #4 with its best offensive performance since OCTOBER. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) worked it from #9 to #5 with a huge share gain. KNDD slipped to #6 with its lowest mark in over a year. HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN’ 92.5) fell from #1 to #8, which is exactly where it was in FEBRUARY. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KJAQ (96.5 JACK FM) and AUDACY Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT 103.7).

For the first time in over a year, KISW captured the 18-49 flag. KIRO-A stepped up to #2, while KJEB rebounded from that down book to rise from #9 to #3. KNDD inched up to #4 despite a down book. KKWF and KBKS were last spotted at #7 and #10, respectively. Both stations added share as they advanced into a tie at #5. KEXP slipped from #4 to #7, while KQMV fell from #1 to #10. It was tied with KHTP and AUDACY AC KSWD (EMMA 94.1).

PHOENIX: Ending The String

For the last seven surveys in a row, iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) was #1 6+. That ended this month as HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX stepped up to #1 (6.4-6.7). KESZ was forced to step down to #2 (6.9-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A moved up to #3 with its best book in over a year (4.8-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX dipped to #4 (5.2-5.2), while MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KJZZ remained at #5 (4.5-4.5). KESZ still had the most listeners (950,600-964,200)—a 1.4% increase. The market was up 1.1%.

KESZ did extend its 25-54 winning streak to nine with a solid increase. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) remained at #2 but was still about two shares off the pace. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5) moved up to #3 with a slight increase. It was met there by TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KHOT (QUÉ BUENA 105.9) which had a slight decrease. KSLX was up to #5 while AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) was down to #6.

Last month KESZ and HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) were the 18-34 co-leaders. That partnership did not endure. Your new demo leader was KYOT, which rose from #3 with its best outing in over a year. KESZ dipped to #2 despite a small increase, while KNIX was up to #3. KDKB slid to #4 as it gave back some of last month’s huge share gain. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD and KHOT were tied at #4. Each station had the same large share loss as they drifted together to #6. AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5) was also part of that #4 scenario. It fell to #8 with its lowest score in over a year. It was joined there by a flat AUDACY Country KMLE, which moved up from #10.

KESZ repeated as the 18-49 leader and was about two shares in front of the two stations at #2. KLNZ remained in place, while KYOT rose from #5 with its highest score since NOVEMBER. KHOT stepped down to #4 with a small decrease. KDKB dipped to #5 and was met there by KUPD, which advanced from #8. KOOL and KALV were formerly partners at #5. KOOL dropped to #7 and was joined there by KMLE, KNIX, KSLX and SIERRA H Rhythmic AC KZCE (101.1 THE BOUNCE). KALV ended up at #12 along with ZELUS Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9).

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DETROIT: Punching Their Ticket

For the fifth straight survey, AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was #1 6+ (11.3-9.8). AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC stepped up to #2 (7.3-6.9), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC dipped to #3 as it stopped a three-book surge (7.5-6.8). AUDACY Country WYCD stood alone at #4 with its highest mark in over a year (6.0-6.6). Its former partner in that space—iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3)—moved down to #5 (6.0-6.1). Despite a 4.0% decline WNIC was still #1 in cume (1,038,400-997,300). The market grew by 1.7%.

WXYT was both #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF rose from #4 to #2 with its best showing since JANUARY yet still trailed the leader by five shares. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) moved down to #3 with a small share loss, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB was down to #4 with a slight increase. WOMC repeated at #5 but with its third down book in a row.

Last month WJLB and WXYT were both #1 18-34 and in double digits. This time WJLB remained on top— and in double figures—while WXYT was pushed down to #2. WKQI was back at #3 but with a huge share loss. WRIF vaulted from #11 to #4 with its best book since NOVEMBER. A flat AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) remained at #5. WNIC slid from #4 to #8 as it returned all of last month’s massive increase.

Five was again the number for WXYT as it won the 18-49 race for the fifth book in a row. WJLB remained at #2 as it trimmed the lead from close to three shares to under a share. WRIF advanced from #7 to #3 and just nipped WKQI, which dipped to #4. WOMC was back at #5 with a slight increase, while WNIC fell from #3 to #7.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: A Triple Play

It was crowded atop the 6+ chart as three stations laid claim to the #1 position. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3) was there for the third book in a row (8.2-7.8). iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) was up from #3 with its fifth straight up book (7.2-7.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) arrived from #4 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year (7.0-7.8). MPR N/T KNOW slipped to #4 with its lowest total since OCTOBER (8.1-6.4). The station did add a 1.1 share from the interwebs. AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) had its best showing in over a year as it rose from #8 to #5 (5.2-6.0). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) dipped to #6 with its lowest score since some big guy from up north was violating our privacy (6.8-5.8). KQQL kept cume control with a 6.9% increase (705,500-754,500). The market was up 2.7%.

For the fifth book in a row KFXN was #1 25-54. The station also turned up its double-digit streak to eleven. KQQL was back at #2 with a slight decrease, while KEEY rose from #5 to #3 with its best outing in over a year. It narrowly edged out MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT), which dipped to #4 with a noticeable share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB remained at #5 but with its best book since JANUARY.

KQQL leapt from #4 to #1 18-34 and landed in double figures. KFXN held steady at #2 with its highest mark since the place was lousy with leaping lords. KCMP went from first to third with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. It was paired with KZJK, which moved up from #5 with its best book since JULY. KDWB slid from #2 to #5 as it returned some of last month’s huge share increase.

As with the 25-54 space KFXN was #1 18-49 for the fifth book in a row and reached double digits for the eleventh straight survey. KCMP remained at #2 with a share loss, while KDWB repeated at #3 with its highest mark in over a year. KQQL was back at #4 with its best Frosty-free share since JUNE. KZJK rounded out the top five again with a strong share gain. KEEY was up to #6 and threatening to crash the top five.

We appreciate your continued support of this here missive. More to follow. Stay tuned for TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.

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