RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, AUGUST 2023, PART I

September 5, 2023

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The link to subscribe is below but it’s now time to get into the AUGUST survey. This one ran from JULY 20^th through AUGUST 16^TH.  There were no notable holiday breaks, but we were smack-dab in the middle of vacation season and the dog days of summer. Here’s what happened:

NEW YORK: Turn It Up To Ten

This marked the tenth straight #1 6+ book for iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM), which was also up for the second straight survey (7.7-8.1). It held a comfortable margin over cluster mate iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3), which landed in second place for the sixth consecutive survey (7.1-6.5). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS had its first up book since APRIL as it rose to #3 (5.1-5.4). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS had its smallest share since the waterfowl from the family Anatiade were paddling along as it dipped to #4 (6.1-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) slipped to #5 (5.4-5.1) and was just a beat in front of iHEARTMEDIA top 40/M WKTU, which moved up to #6 with its finest performance in over a year (4.2-5.0). WLTW still had the most listeners (3,633,500-3,697,500) – an increase on 1.8%. The market was off 0.1%.

Though WLTW had its smallest 25-54 share since JANUARY, the station captured the demo flag for the tenth book in a row. A flat WHTZ stepped up to #2 and was a little more than a half share off the pace. WKTU moved up to #3 with, once again, its best outing in over a year. WCBS slipped to #4 as it ended a strong two-book surge, while SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) advanced to #5 with its best book since APRIL. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) and WAXQ had been tied at #5. Both stations had slight decreases and remained an item at #6.

Not only was WLTW #1 with that fickle 18-34 crowd for the third straight survey, the station also cracked the double-digit barrier. WAXQ had its first down book since FEBRUARY but repeated at #2. WSKQ jumped four spaces to #3 with its best showing since MARCH. WHTZ dipped to #4 and was met there by WKTU, which moved up from #6, as it rebounded from a down book. A flat WNEW slipped to #6, while WCBS fell from #4 to #10 with its lowest number in over a year.

WLTW completed the demo sweep by finishing #1 18-49 for the tenth book in a row. It also hit double digits for the fourth time during that span. WKTU got back most of last month’s share loss to move up to a distant #2, while WHTZ dipped to #3 with its third down book in a row. WSKQ jumped three places to #4 with its best outing since APRIL. WNEW and WCBS had been tied at #4. Both stations had down books and landed at #5 and #8, respectively.

LOS ANGELES: It’s A Large World After All

We apologize for the worst earworm imaginable. AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) had its first down book since APRIL (6.8-6.4) but still ran away with the 6+ prize for the sixth straight survey. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) inched up to #2 (5.2-5.1), while iHEARTMEDIA Talk KFI-A gave them something to, ahem, talk about as it rose to #3 with its best outing in over a year (4.2-4.8). AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) saw its three-book surge recede as it ebbed to #4 (5.5-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST stepped down to #5 (4.9-4.5). It was hearing footsteps from TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KRCD (RECUERDO 103.9/98.3), which remained at #6 with its fourth up book in a row (4.1-4.3). KRTH’s cume was off by 0.2%, but the station was still #1 in that category (2,321,300-2,316,900). The market fell by 0.3%.

The 25-54 race suddenly became hotly contested. KRTH was #1 for the seventh straight survey though it returned all of last month’s solid share increase. KBIG had its best book since NOVEMBER to move up to #2. The stations were separated by the slimmest of all possible margins. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE 107.5) ended its three-book surge but remained at #3. AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) stepped up to #4, despite a slight decrease. KOST remained behind at #5 with its smallest share in over a year. KRCD advanced four slots to #6 with its best book in over a year, while KTWV dropped from #2 to #7 – its first down book since FEBRUARY.

Those 18-34 folks seem to be lovin’ their ’80s hits as KRTH was #1 for the fourth straight survey. The station was almost a share ahead of KCBS, which rose to #2 with its best outing in over a year. As recently as MARCH, it was sitting at #11. KBIG moved up two places to #3 as it ended a two-book slide. KTWV returned all of last month’s huge share increase – plus a little extra – as it slide from #2 to #4. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) stepped up to #5 with a slight increase. It narrowly edged iHEARTMEDIA Urban KRRL (REAL 92.3), which halted its three-book slide. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KIIS (102.3 KISS FM) landed its lowest number since NOVEMBER as it slid from #4 to #7. This was the first time the station was out of the top five in over a year.

There was quite the 18-49 battle brewing. KBIG moved from #3 to #1 with a small increase. It had a very small lead over KRTH, which slipped to #2. Three stations – count ‘em – were spending quality time together at #3. KLVE was up from #5 despite a small decrease, while KCBS arrived from #7 with its sixth up book in a row. KRCD advanced from #11 with its largest share in over a year. KTWV and KIIS had been #2 and #3, respectively. Both stations had down books and landed together at #6.

CHICAGO: The Incredible Lite-ness Of Being

iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) kept its unbeaten 6+ streak alive as it won the demo for the eleventh book in a row (7.0-7.7). For the seventh straight survey, HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE) finished in second place (6.1-6.2), while AUDACY AAA WXRT landed at #3 again, though it ended a rather strong two-book surge (5.7-5.0). AUDACY News WBBM-A was back as the #4 station as it also halted a two-book surge (5.0-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) was up two slots to #5 (3.8-4.0), while AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) slipped two places to #7 (4.1-3.6). Despite a 5.4% decrease, WLIT still had the most listeners (1,372,900-1,298,900). The market was up a modest 0.2%.

Last month WLIT and TELEVISAUNIVISION Regional Mexican WOJO (QUÉ BUENA 105.1) were announced as co-leaders of the 25-54 sphere of influence. WLIT remained in place for its tenth consecutive victory as it rebounded from a down book. WOJO dipped to #2 as it ended a two-book surge. WUSN repeated at #3 but with a small decrease, while AUDACY Rhythmic AC WBMX (104.3 JAMS) stepped up to #4, thanks to its highest share in over a year. WXRT was off slightly as it slipped to #5.

WOJO made it back-to-back 18-34 wins and posted its best number in exactly a year. WLIT zoomed from #6 to #2 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WXRT dipped to #3 with a slight decrease, while WDRV was up three slots to #4 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) and iHEARTMEDIA Urban WGCI had been tied at #4. WKSC had its third down book in a row to slip to #5, while WGCI returned all of last month’s large share influx to slide to #6. WUSN fell from #3 to #7.

While WOJO notched its sixth 18-49 win in a row, the race was much tighter as WLIT repeated at #2 but with its largest share since FEBRUARY. WBMX had its best outing in over a year to climb up to #3. WXRT dropped two slots to #4, while WUSN stepped down to #5 with a slight decrease. It narrowly defeated a flat WDRV, which remained at #6.

SAN FRANCISCO: Taking The Fifth

BONNEVILLE AC KOIT was the 6+ leader for the fifth straight survey as it maintained a healthy lead over the rest of the field (8.1-8.0). AUDACY News KCBS-A was back at #2 with its best book since APRIL (6.7-7.1). KQED INC. N/T KQED bounced back from a down book (4.6-5.3) as it stepped up to #3. iHEARTMEDIA AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) wafted down to #4 with its smallest share since BURL IVES was fouling the airwaves (5.9-5.0). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R KMEL dipped to #5 (4.6-4.4). KOIT continues as the cume leader with a 0.2% increase (1,148,600-1,150,800). The market rose by 0.9%.

KOIT made it an even dozen 25-54 wins in a row with a slight share increase. BONNEVILLE Top 40/M KMVQ (99.7 NOW) had the presence of mind to move up to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. However, the stations were separated by almost two shares. KMEL stepped down to #3 as it returned most of last month’s large share increase, while KISQ dipped to #4 with its second straight down book. SBS Regional Mexican KRZZ (93.3 LA RAZA) was on fire as it leapt from #8 to #5 with its best showing in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KOSF (103.7FM 80’S+) fell from #5 to #9.

Last month KOIT saw its long, uninterrupted string of #1 18-34 books come to an end at the hands of KMEL. That situation was reversed this month. KOIT was back at #1 and dangerously close to double digits, while KMEL dipped to #2 as it returned most of last month’s massive share gain. How dramatic was this? KOIT went from trailing KMEL by about two shares to leading by that number. KMVQ has its best book in exactly a year as it stepped up to #3. KQED has its sixth up book in a row to advance from #9 to #4. KISQ slipped to #5 with a rather large share loss. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KYLD (WiLD 94.9), which slipped from #4 with its lowest score in over a year, and AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105), which moved up from #6 despite a slight decrease.

For over a year, KOIT has been the #1 18-49 station. That trend endured this month as the station had a slight increase. KMVQ bounced back from a down book to move back up to #2 but was about two shares off the pace. KMEL dipped to #3, while KISQ stepped down to #4. KQED posted its best grade since JANUARY to leap from #10 to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) fell six slots to #11 with its smallest share in over a year.

DALLAS-FT. WORTH: The Incredible Tightness Of Being

The 6+ leaderboard was quite congested as the top seven stations were within a share of one another. AUDACY Classic Hits KSPF (98.7 THE SPOT) was back at #1 for the third book in a row (5.3-4.9), but it had company. CUMULUS Country KSCS had its best outing in over a year (4.5-4.9) to advance from #3 and forge a tie at the top. CUMULUS Sports KTCK (1310 & 96.7 THE TICKET) had its lowest score since Alvin wanted a hula hoop (4.7-4.4) as it dipped to #3. CUMULUS Talk WBAP-A landed its largest share since NOVEMBER (3.9-4.3) as it jumped from #9 to #4, sharing the spot with TELEVISAUNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1)(4.2-4.3). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) slipped two slots to #6 (4.3-4.2), while CUMULUS Country KPLX (99.5 THE WOLF) dropped to #7 (4.2-4.1). KSPF (there’s a sunscreen joke in there somewhere) was the leading cume station for the first time since APRIL, thanks to a 7.0% increase (980,000-1,048,600). The market was up 0.5%.

The 25-54 arena was also quite compressed as the top six stations were within a share of each other. KLNO and KTCK were back at #1 and #2, respectively, as both stations were off slightly. KSCS stepped up to #3 with its highest mark since MARCH, while KHKS dipped to #4 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZPS (LONESTAR 92.5) and AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) had been tied at #4. Both stations had slight share losses and ended up at #5 and #6, respectively.

There was a threesome atop the 18-34 leaderboard. KLNO repeated in that position, though it gave back about half of last month’s large share increase. KVIL stepped up from #2, while SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) advanced from #3, posting its largest share in over a year. KHKS slipped to #4, while URBAN ONE Top 40/R KBFB (97.9 THE BEAT) moved up two spaces to #5 with its best showing since MAY. KSCS dipped to #6 with a modest share loss.

KLNO was #1 18-49 for the third book in a row and had a comfortable lead over KSCS, which stepped up to #2 with its third straight up book. KVIL dipped to #3, while KHKS repeated at #4. AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) and KSPF had been tied at #5. KJKK remained in place with a slight decrease, while KSPF dropped to #8 as it returned most of last month’s solid share increase.

-Steve Allan, Programming Research Consultant

Thank you for your time. This concludes round one of our Radio Ratings Roundup. To ensure prompt delivery of future editions, subscribe to our blog here! Also, please share this in your industry circle.

As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. stand ready to help you grow your ratings and revenue. Stay tuned for round two featuring HOUSTON, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA and BOSTON.

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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 email info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.

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