RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, August 2024, Part IV

September 6, 2024

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – running cheek by jowl with the numbers nerds from XTRENDS – are back to give you the greatest variety of radio ratings. We bring them to you non-stop with limited commercial interruption. Five big markets in a row! Twenty incredible demos! The kind of ratings everyone at the office can agree on! Nobody plays more ratings than we do.

Now that you’re properly hyped, we’ll tell you this is our final foray into AUGUST. The survey began on JULY 18^TH and exited on AUGUST 14^TH. There were no holidays, vacations were a thing, and, in many places, it was as hot as hell. Here we go…

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: When Doves Don’t Cry

Of course, COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was #1 6+ again. What is noteworthy is that the station was in double digits for the seventh straight survey (10.4-10.7). BEASLEY Country WQYK was back at a distant #2 (6.6-6.4), while its arch nemesis – iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) – bounced back from a down book to advance from #6 to #3 (5.1-6.3). COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) repeated at #4 (6.1-6.2) but it had company. COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) moved up a spot as it ended a three-book slide (5.4-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) dropped three places to #6 as it gave back all of last survey’s share increase (6.2-5.7). WDUV still had the largest flock of listeners (612,200-617,200) – a 0.8% increase. The market was up 0.5%.

iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB had its best 25-54 book in over a year, which pushed the station up to #1. WDUV rebounded from a down book to move from #4 to #2 and was very close to the top spot. By posting its smallest share since MARCH, WMTX slid to #3, which ended the station’s three-book winning streak. WTBV repeated at #4 but with its highest mark since FEBRUARY. WFUS drifted down to #5. On our last visit COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) and COX MEDIA N/T WHPT (102.5 THE BONE) were tied at #10. Both stations had strong share increases as they landed at #6 and #7, respectively.

Last month WDUV slipped to a tie at #2 18-34 as its seven-book reign came to an end at the hands of WMTX. The station bounced back this time with a double-digit performance as it reclaimed the lead. However, WMTX said “Hold my beer” as it also hit double figures to maintain a share of first place. WQYK dipped to #3 but with its best showing in over a year. WFUS went from the tie at #2 with WQYK and WDUV into a tie at #4 with two other stations. WTBV was up from #6 with its highest score since NOVEMBER, while WXTB advanced from #8 as it ended a three-book slide. BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) moved from #5 to #7.

WXTB made it back-to-back 18-49 wins and expanded its lead over #2 WMTX from about a half share to almost a share and a half. WDUV regained some of last month’s massive share loss as it moved from #5 to #3. WFUS and WQYK had been tied at #3. They each had a slight share increase to maintain their treaty but down a spot at #4.

SAN DIEGO: It’s Always Sunny In…

AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was #1 6+ for the second straight survey and fifth time in the last six books (8.3-7.8). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS repeated at #2 (7.2-6.9), while LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) stepped up to #3 with its first up book since MARCH (5.0-5.2). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1), which remained in place as it returned most of last month’s big increase (6.2-5.2). TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) had its best book in over a year (3.6-4.9) as it rose from #12 to #5. Also landing at that spot was AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3 FM THE FAN), which posted its best number in exactly a year (4.2-4.9). LOCAL MEDIA Adult Hits KFBG (100.7 BIG FM) slipped from #5 (4.8-4.3) into an arrangement at #8 with AUDACY Country KSON (4.0-4.3). Despite a 5.2% dip, KXSN was still your cume leader (589,800-559,200). The market was off 0.3%.

Though it landed its lowest share since FEBRUARY, KXSN was #1 25-54 for the sixth straight survey. KLNV stepped up to #2 with its best rating in over a year but remained about a share and a half off the lead. XHRM stood alone at #3 with a slight increase, while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ was up to #4 with a small share gain. KMYI dropped three slots to #5 as it gave back all of last month’s rather large share increase. KPBS had its best book in over a year as it vaulted from #14 to #6. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) slipped to #7 and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 933) and KWFN.

Last month XHRM took a noticeable share hit as it slipped to #2 18-34. The station bounced back this time to reclaim the top spot. XTRA’s hold on the #1 position was all too brief as it stepped down to #2. It was not alone in that space. KPBS was up from a tie at #4 with its best showing since FEBRUARY, while KXSN recovered from a down book to advance from #8. KMYI slid from #2 to #5 with a small share loss. In the previous survey, there were three stations at #4. That situation did not continue. AUDACY Alternative KBZT slipped to #6. KHTS had its smallest share in over a year as it landed in a three-way tie with KSON and KWFN. LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTZ (Z90.3) ended up at #10 along with iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KSSX (JAM’N 95.7).

The 18-49 chart was in shuffle mode. KLNV leapt from #4 to #1 with its highest score in over a year. XHRM stepped up to #2 as it bounced back from a down book. KXSN dipped to #3, while KMYI went from first to fourth. It was tied with KIOZ, which was up a slot with a small increase. XTRA fell from #5 to #8 as it gave back most of last month’s large share increase.

DENVER-BOULDER: Drinking The Kool-Aid

For the first time since NOVEMBER, KSE VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) was #1 with everyone age 6 and over (6.8-7.3). It was also the station’s best book in over a year. BONNEVILLE Country KYGO was back at #2 (6.9-6.5). It was joined there by cluster sister BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1), which rose from #4 (6.5-6.5). The stay at the top was a brief one for iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX), which slid to #4 as it ended a three-book surge (7.1-6.3). In our previous episode, there were three stations claiming to be #5. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) remained in place (5.3-5.4), while AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) dipped to #6 (5.2-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO landed at #8 with its smallest share since MARCH (5.2-4.6). KOSI still had the most listeners (546,600-542,800) – a 0.7% drop. The market grew by 1.2%.

For the tenth time in the last 14 surveys – and the second book in a row – KTCL was #1 25-54. KXKL repeated at #2 but cut into the lead, thanks to its best outing in over a year. KOSI rebounded from a down book to move up to a somewhat distant #3. KYGO dipped to #4 as it shed about half of last month’s huge increase. KBCO held steady at #5 as it ended a four-book surge. It was partnered with KSE VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100), which arrived from #8 with a slight decrease. KRFX posted its lowest score since APRIL as it fell from #3 to #9.

That said, KRFX was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row. However, it was forced to share as KXKL moved up to force the tie with its fourth up book in a row. KOSI slipped to #3 and was about a half-share behind the leaders. KTCL remained at #4 but with its lowest total in over a year. It was tied with KYGO, which rose from #7 as it bounced back from a down book. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) stepped down to #6 with a modest share loss.

As with the three previous demos, KXKL had its best 18-49 book in over a year, this time to repeat as the demo champion. KOSI went from #5 to #2 with a slight increase but was about two shares off the pace. KTCL slipped to #3, again with its smallest share in over a year. KYGO remained in place at #4 as it lost some of last month’s big share increase. It was tied with KBCO, which stepped down from #3. KRFX fell from #5 to #8.

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NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Eight Is Never Enough

COX MEDIA  Classic Rock WBAB continued to wield its influence over the 6+ sphere with its eighth win in a row (8.0-9.3). The race was certainly for second place which belonged, again, to iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100), which saw its three-book surge come to a close (5.4-4.8). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was back at #3 (5.0-4.7) with the added bonus of a 1.3 share from its stream. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) repeated at #4 (4.1-4.4), while CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) stood alone at #5 (4.0-4.3). COX MEDIA  Pop CHR WBLI dipped to #6 (4.0-4.2). WBAB was the cume commander for the seventh straight survey (443,800-448,500) – a 1.1% increase. The market rose by 0.3%.

Speaking of the number eight, WHTZ was #1 25-54 for the eighth straight survey. WBAB was back at #2 but the gap between them shrank to about a half-share. WAXQ stepped up to #3 with its best book since FEBRUARY. WBLI dipped to #4 with a slight increase, while WALK repeated at #5 but with its third down book in a row.

Last month WBAB ended a three-book 18-34 winning streak as it slid to #3. The station announced its presence with authority this time, moving back to #1 and hitting double figures. CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF) remained at #2 but also landed a double-digit share. Last month’s leader was WBLI. It slipped to #3 with a slight decrease. WHTZ stepped down to #4 with its smallest share since we were getting sugar plum flashbacks. WALK inched up to #5 with a small decrease. It was paired with AUDACY Sports WFAN (WFAN SPORTS RADIO), which arrived from #15, more than doubling its previous share. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) fell from #5 into a five-way tie at #12.

In the previous survey, WBAB and WHTZ were co-leaders with the 18-49 crowd. WBAB stood alone atop the standings with its best book in over a year, while WHTZ drifted down to #3 where it met up with WAXQ. Moving up to #2 was WBLI, which also landed its largest share in over a year. WWWF held firm at #5 with its best book since it went all canis lupus, all the time.

CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: The Lake Rises

iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) corralled its best Frosty-free 6+ share in over a year as it rose to #1 (7.1-7.5). This snapped the six-book winning streak for BEASLEY Country WSOC, which ebbed to #2 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY (7.4-7.0). BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V 101.9) maintained its #3 presence (6.7-6.7), while URBAN ONE N/T WBT-A advanced from #9 to #4 with its highest mark in over a year (4.5-6.6). BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) stepped up to #5 with its fourth up book in a row (4.9-5.6). Two stations were excused from the top five proceedings. PACIFIC Classic Hits WXRC (95.7 THE RIDE) drove from #4 to #6 (5.5-5.4), while iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) also landed at #6 (5.3-5.4). WLKO still had the most cume with a 6.9% increase (365,500-390,900). The market fell by 1.9%.

Consider the progression of WLKO over the last five books: #7, #6, #5, #3 and now #1 25-54. It held about a half-share advantage over BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98), which ended a four-book winning streak as it stepped down to #2. URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ halted a two-book slide as it leapt from #7 to #3. WSOC slipped to #4 with its lowest mark since APRIL. URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) stood alone at #5 with a small increase. WBAV was down to #6 with its third down book in a row. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END), which was off slightly.

WPEG was #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row and had to share the spotlight with WBAV, which moved up from #2 with its best outing since OCTOBER. The stations were dangerously close to hitting double figures. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) came close to doubling its previous share as it advanced from #8 to #3. WFNZ stepped up to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. WOSF fell from a tie at #3 to #5 with a small decrease. It was paired with WEND, which rose from a tie at #11 with its best performance since MARCH. Four stations were massed together at #8. WSOC dropped from the tie at #3 with its lowest number in over a year, while WKQC slid from #5 as it ended a four-book surge. The other members of that foursome were WLKO and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHQC (HITS 96.1). URBAN ONE AC WLNK (THE MIX 107.9) dropped from #5 to #12 as it surrendered most of last survey’s huge increase.

WPEG was #1 18-34 for the third straight survey. It had been sharing that honor with WSOC, but that station dropped to a tie at #5 with a significant share loss. WBAV moved up to #2 with a slight decrease but was less than a half-share behind the leader. WLKO and WEND advanced from #4 and #5, respectively, to forge a tie at #3. Also in the tie at #5 was WFNZ, which had been at #7 but picked up a sizeable chunk of share. WOSF dropped from a tie at #5 to #8.

This is the end of the line for AUGUST. As always, we appreciate your attention to these matters. We’ll return in about four weeks to chat about SEPTEMBER.

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