Radio Ratings Roundup, July 2026 Part II

August 11, 2026

Ahh. JULY.  When the radio ratings arrive with all the urgency of a heat advisory: people are traveling, sweating, dodging headlines, and (hopefully) remembering there is still a radio in their car. The real world has been doing its level best to steal quarter-hours, one beach trip, traffic jam, and breaking-news alert at a time.

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in cahoots with the algorithmic alchemists from XTRENDS—are here to break it all down just for you. It’s the personal touch that means so much. The book ran from JUNE 25^TH through JULY 22^ND. And it was hot! (How hot was it?) …insert your own punch line here.

SAN FRANCISCO: Same Old Song & Dance

Except the top two 6+ stations were neither singing nor shuffling. KQED INC. N/T KQED was #1 for the seventh straight survey (10.0-10.3). AUDACY News KCBS repeated at #2 but with its highest share in over a year (8.5-8.9). CONNOISSEUR AC KOIT was back as the leading music station at #3 (5.4-5.0), while iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) held steady at #4 (4.7-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) stood alone at #5 (4.1-4.2), while CONNOISSEUR Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) dipped to #6 with its smallest share since Mom and Santa were engaged in some questionable behavior (4.1-3.8). If you do the math (and we did) the top two spoken word stations had more share than the next four music stations combined. KOIT was still in cume control despite a 2.9% drop (1,077,500-1,046,500). The market was off 0.9%.

KQED repeated as the 25-54 winner and had a bit more than a half share lead over KOIT, which remained at #2 with its third up book in a row. A flat KIOI held firm at #3, while KISQ was up two places to #4 with a slight increase. AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) moved from #7 to #5, also with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) and KMVQ were previously at #4 and #5, respectively. They fell together and landed in a heap at #6.

Not only was KOIT #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row but the station landed its largest Frosty-free share in over a year. SBS Mexican Regional KRZZ (93.3 LA RAZA) more than doubled last month’s number as it vaulted from #6 to #2. It was less than a half share behind the leader. KMVQ stepped down to #3 with a slight decrease, while KIOI went from a tie at #3 to #4 with its lowest total since MARCH. Three stations were lumped together at #5. KISQ slipped from a tie at #3 while KITS remained in place. Both stations had down books. KYLD advanced from a tie at #10 as it ended a steep three-book slide.

A flat KOIT stood alone at #1 18-49. KIOI stepped up to a close #2 with a slight decrease. KQED and KISQ were also flat as they rose to #3 and #4 respectively. KYLD dropped from a share of first place to #5 as it returned all of last month’s increase, plus a bit extra. KMVQ slid from a tie at #3 into an arrangement at #6 with KITS.

ATLANTA: The Heat Is On…

Today’s ear worm. You’re welcome. The top of the 6+ leaderboard was a hot mess with four stations virtually tied for the lead. COX MEDIA N/T WSB-A was back at #1 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY (7.5-6.6). It was joined there by AUDACY Urban AC WVEE (V-103), which advanced from #6 as it bounced back from a down book (5.5-6.6). Two stations were close behind at #3. URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC 107.5/97.5) dipped from #2 (6.8-6.5), while COX MEDIA Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 THE RIVER) stepped up from #4 (6.0-6.5). CITY OF ATLANTA BOE N/T WABE moved from #7 to #5 with its fourth up book in a row (4.9-5.3). Two stations exited the top five with their lowest shares in over a year. COX MEDIA Urban AC WALR (KISS 104.1) went from #3 to #6 (6.1-5.0), while COX MEDIA AC WSB-F (B98.5) dropped from #4 to #7 (6.0-4.9). WSB-F still had the cume lead despite a 3.5% decline (765,200-738,500). The market fell by 1.8%.

WVEE landed its largest 25-54 share in over a year as it stepped up to #1. This ended the three-book winning string for WAMJ, which dipped to #2 and was more than a share and a half off the pace. WSRV inched up to #3, while AUDACY Sports WZGC (92.9 THE GAME) was up to #4. Both stations had slight decreases. WSB-A went from #7 to #5 as it halted a three-book slide. WSB-F dropped three places to #6, while WALR slipped from #5 into a tie at #7 with URBAN ONE Urban Contemporary WHTA (HOT 107.9), which posted its best number in over a year.

Despite a slight decrease, WSRV moved up to #1 18-34. This pushed WSB-F, which again landed its smallest share in over a year, down to #2. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #3. WZGC rose from #6 with a slight increase, while WVEE advanced from #9 as it regained some of last month’s large share loss. WAMJ moved up two slots to #5 with a slight increase. It was tied with the stationary WALR. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WRDG (96.1 THE BEAT) dropped from #4 to #8 and was paired with WSB-A, which moved up from #11.

WVEE ended a three-book slide as it moved up to #1 18-49. A flat WAMJ was up to #2, while WSRV moved up to #3 with a small share gain. WSB-F went from first to fourth, while WZGC was back at #5.

WASHINGTON, DC: Double Speak

Not to imply anything Orwellian but, as usual, the top 6+ stations were all about the info. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU was #1 for the third book in a row as it extended its double-digit streak to five (12.5-11.3). HUBBARD News WTOP was back at #2 and in double figures again (9.8-10.3). ATLANTIC GATEWAY Contemporary Christian WGTS became the leading purveyor of music as it stepped up to #3 (5.5-5.7). HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR dipped to #4 (5.6-5.6), while two stations were in fifth place. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) repeated in that spot (5.4-5.5). It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH, which stepped up from #6 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year (4.7-5.5). After two books at #2, WASH ousted WTOP as the cume leader thanks to a 6.9% increase (750,900-802,900). The market was up 0.4%.

WAMU was #1 25-54 for the seventh straight survey but was unable to extend its double-digit streak past five. WWDC repeated at #2, though the station did stop a three-book surge. WTOP remained at #3 as it halted a four-book skid. WGTS held steady at #4 with a slight decrease, while WASH was again at #5 with a small share gain.

It was an impressive 18-34 performance for WASH. The station moved back to #1 and in double figures as it came close to doubling last month’s number. WWDC stepped up to #2 with its best book since AUGUST. It was tied with last survey’s leader, iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100), which moved down with a small increase. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIHT (HOT 99.5) repeated at #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Country WMZQ moved up two spots to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. WGTS fell from a tie at #4 to #10 with its smallest share in over a year.

Despite a down book, WAMU was #1 18-49 for the third straight survey. WASH vaulted from #6 to #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WWDC dipped to #3 as it bounced back from a down book. WTOP stepped down to #4 with its fifth down book in a row. WHUR remained at #5 with a slight increase. WGTS slipped from a tie at #3 to #6.

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PHILADELPHIA: Moving Day

There was a flurry of activity atop the 6+ leaderboard. In JUNE, AUDACY Sports WIP (94WIP SPORTSRADIO) and BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR were the co-leaders. Both stations went 7.1-6.4 as they landed together at #4. This paved the way for AUDACY AC WBEB (B101) to move from #3 to #1 with its best Frosty-free performance in over a year (6.6-7.7). BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK rose from #5 to #2 with its highest score since AUGUST (6.3-7.4). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS remained a rock of consistency at #3 with its best outing in over a year (6.6-7.1). WBEB still attracted the most meters (1,119,100-1,076,300) – a 3.8% decline. The market fell by 3.3%.

Despite a large share loss, WMMR was #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey. WBEB repeated at #2 with a down book and was paired with WDAS, which stepped up from #3 with a solid increase. That duo was a half share off the lead. WIP remained at #4 with a slight increase, while WMGK stepped up to #5, again with its best showing since AUGUST. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WUSL (POWER 99) dipped to #6 with a slight increase.

WBEB was back at #1 18-34 but was forced to share as BEASLEY Country WXTU (92.5 XTU) stepped up from #3 to forge the tie. WMMR leapt from #6 to #3 with its third up book in a row. Four stations were muddling about at #4. WMGK and BEASLEY Adult Hits WBEN (95.7 BEN FM) remained in place with small decreases. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (ALT 104.5) drifted down from #2 as it halted a robust four-book surge. WUSL advanced from #9 as it halted a three-book slide.

WBEB moved up to #1 18-49 despite a small share loss. This ended the three-book winning string for WMMR, which moved down to #2. The stations were separated by very little. WMGK vaulted from #7 to #3, while WIP dipped to #4 with a slight decrease. WUSL and WXTU went in tandem from #4 to #5 with slight increases.

BOSTON: Listener Supported Radio

That is true in more ways that one as BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR moved back to #1 6+ with its best book in over a year (5.9-6.8). This forced AUDACY AC WMJX (MAGIC 106.7) down to #2 (6.6-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WXKS (KISS 108) moved from #5 to #3 with its best showing in over a year (5.2-6.2). BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR slipped to #4 (6.0-5.8), while AUDACY Hot AC WBMX (MIX 104.1) dipped to #5 (5.6-5.6). WMJX retained the cume crown despite a 3.0% decrease (872,200-846,100). The market was down 1.8%.

The 25-54 race became a lot closer this month. WBMX was back at #1 with a down book, while WXKS repeated at #2 with an up book. The gap between the two stations went from than a share to less than a half share. BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (98.5 THE SPORTS HUB) stepped up to #3, while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX rose two places to #4. Both stations were flat. WMJX dipped to #5 with a small decrease, while WBUR dropped from #3 to #6 with its lowest total since MARCH.

Despite a down book WMJX was #1 18-34 for the ninth book in a row. WBMX moved from #4 to #2 with its best outing since AUGUST but was still more than a share off the lead. Last month iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR WJMN (JAM’N 94.5) leapt from #8 to #2 while more than doubling its number. This time the station surrendered a good portion of that increase as it dipped to #3. It was paired with WXKS was up from #5 with a large share increase. WROR slid to #5 ending a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZRM (RUMBA 97.7) slipped to #7 and was tied with BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT 96.9).

WXKS landed its largest 18-49 share in over a year as it rose to #1. WBMX moved down to #2 with a small increase, while a flat WMJX was back at #3. WBUR stepped up to #4 with a slight increase, while WJMN slid to #5 as it gave back most of last month’s large share increase.

How hot was it? The cows were making evaporated milk (rimshot). Hey, we’re here all week. Don’t forget to tip your waitstaff. We’ll be back with 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.

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