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RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, November 2024, Part I
November 25, 2024
Welcome to the final survey of 2024. “Wait,” you say, “there are two more books scheduled in this calendar year.” This is true, young padawan, but those surveys will be permanently scarred by the presence of BURL IVES and his evil minions. For the most part, this book is free from all things holly and jolly, though there may be a few outliers. The book ran from OCTOBER 10TH through NOVEMBER 6TH. It featured a federally-endorsed three-day weekend and the day of elections.
As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with our numbers-crunching cohorts from XTRENDS – are here to serve the public interest and shine the light on the ratings results.
NEW YORK: Same Old Song And Dance
While iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) resisted the urge to flip the Frosty switch early, the top of the 6+ leaderboard was the same as we last saw it. However, it is worth noting that each of the top five stations had a down book. WLTW was back at #1 (8.2-7.8), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) held steady at #2 (6.1-6.0). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS repeated at #3 as it halted a five-book surge (5.8-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) remained at #4 (5.7-5.4), while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS once again rounded out the top five (5.5-5.3). Making a bid to crack the top five was SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9), which rose three places to #6 with its best outing in over a year (4.0-4.9). The station also added a 0.7 share from its stream. WLTW still had the most listeners (3,470,000-3,513,500) – a 1.3% increase. The market was up 0.5%.
For the first time since APRIL, WLTW was the 25-54 leader. This ended the six-book winning streak for WHTZ, which dipped to #2. The stations were less than a half-share apart. WSKQ strengthened its hold on the #3 position with its highest mark in over a year. Despite a small share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU)stepped up to #4. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) moved down to #5 as it ended a solid three-book surge. It narrowly edged out WBLS, which moved up to #6 as it rebounded from a down book.
WLTW was still the runaway 18-34 leader and hit double figures for the 12th time in the last 14 surveys. WNEW stepped up to #2 with its best book in over a year and still trailed the leader by better than four shares. WAXQ slipped to #3, despite a solid share increase, while WHTZ was up to #4 as it regained some of last month’s rather large share loss. WSKQ dipped to #5, despite landing its third up book in a row.
For the third straight survey, WLTW was both #1 and in double digits with the 18-49 crowd. It held a more than three-share advantage over the dynamic duo sitting at #2. WHTZ remained in place but with its lowest score since that stupid Grinch song was playing. WSKQ was up from #4 with, again, its highest mark in over a year. WNEW moved down to #4 with a slight decrease, while WAXQ remained firmly ensconced at #5 with a slight increase.
LOS ANGELES: The World Keeps Turning
All is right in the radio world as AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101 FM) was #1 6+ for the tenth book in a row (5.8-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) was back at #2 (5.3-5.1), while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) stood alone at #3 (5.0-4.9). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE 107.5) dipped to #4 (5.0-4.8), while iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was back at #5 (4.8-4.7). KRTH continued to record the most listeners (2,027,000-2,021,000) – a 0.3% drop. The market was up a modest 0.1%.
Despite a small share loss, KIIS was #1 25-54 for the second book in a row and fourth time in the last five surveys. A flat KBIG stepped up to #2 and was about a share off the pace. KRTH had its smallest share since JUNE as it dipped to #3. KLVE moved up to #4 with a small decrease, while KOST dipped to #5 with its lowest score in over a year. It was joined in that space by TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9), which moved up from #6 with its highest mark in over a year.
Even though it returned most of las month’s strong 18-34 share increase, KIIS was #1 with that group for the third book in a row. KRTH stood alone at #2 with a slight increase, while KBIG dipped to #3 with its lowest total since MAY. Three upwardly mobile stations were occupying the #4 space. MERUELO Rhythmic CHR KPWR (POWER 106 FM) moved up from #6 with a slight increase. KSCA rose from #7 with a larger slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) advanced from #11 with its best book in over a year. KOST fell three places to #7, while MERUELO Classic Rock KLOS dropped from #5 to #10 with its lowest mark since JUNE.
KIIS was #1 18-49 for the second straight survey with a small decrease. KBIG stood alone at #2 with a slight increase, while its former partner in that space – KRTH – dipped to #3 with a slight decrease. KSCA had its fourth up book in a row as it moved up to #4. KLVE stepped down to #5 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY. It joined up with the stationary KOST, which logged a small share loss.
CHICAGO: Pull Up To The Bumper, Baby
A little earworm for your listening pleasure. After taking last month off, HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE) was back at #1 6+ (6.0-6.5). However, the object in its rearview mirror was closer than it appeared as AUDACY News WBBM-A, which dipped to #2, was in tailgating mode (6.3-6.4). The station also benefitted from a 0.3 share from its stream. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) did take the polar plunge during week four of the survey. As a result, the station moved up to #3 with its best showing since JULY (4.8-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) dipped to #4 with its fourth straight down book (5.4-5.0). CUMULUS Classic Hits WLS-F was back at #5 (4.6-4.6). Though it was essentially flat, WLIT remained the cume leader (1,195,500-1,195,300). The market was off by 0.3%.
TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional WOJO (QUÉ BUENA 105.1) kept its 25-54 mojo working as the station was #1 for the fourth straight survey. WLIT stepped up to #2 and was about a half-share off the lead. WLS-F was at #3 with its fourth up book in a row. It was forced to share that moment with AUDACY Country WUSN (US99), which rose from #7 with its highest share since JUNE. A couple of stations charged up the chart and landed together at #5. WDRV rose from #12 with its best book since MAY. HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) arrived from #14 with its highest score since DECEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI slipped to #7 with its first down book since APRIL. WVAZ fell from #2 to #13 and was tied with AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT).
Last month three – count ’em – three stations were arranged together at #1. This time only one remained and that honor went to WGCI, which posted its largest number since MARCH. WOJO was up two slots to #2 and was dangerously close to the market leader. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) rose four places to #3 with its largest share since APRIL. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WPPN (AMOR 106.7) went from a tie at #1 into a tie at #4 with WLIT. WUSN was the third member of that former #1 triad. It dropped to #6 with only a slight decrease. It was partnered with AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96), which rose from #10, and WLS-F. If you’re wondering, that’s eight stations within about a share of the lead. WDRV dropped from a tie at #5 to #10.
WOJO was #1 18-49 for the fourth straight survey. WUSN was up to #2 with its best outing in over a year and was under a half-share behind the leader. WGCI dipped to #3 with its first down book since APRIL. WLIT ended a four-book slide as it moved up to #4, while WLS-F repeated at #5 with a slight increase. WVAZ fell from #4 into a tie at #13 with WPPN.
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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Ticket To Ride
For the third book in a row, CUMULUS Sports KTCK (96.7 & 1310 THE TICKET) was #1 6+ (5.9-5.9). Clearly, complaining about the local gridiron club is good for business. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) was back at #2 (5.0-4.9), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) moved up to #3 with its best book in over a year (4.3-4.8). NORTH TEXAS PUBLIC BROADCASTING N/T KERA dipped to #4 (4.4-4.7), while AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) repeated at #5 (4.1-4.2). It was feeling the heat from three stations at #6. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR 92.5) was up from #13 with its best showing in over a year (3.4-4.1). Completing that triumvirate was CUMULUS Country KSCS (NEW COUNTRY 96.3) (4.0-4.1) and SALEM AC KLTY (3.9-4.1). iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) was still in cume control with a 3.3% increase (991,400-1,024,000). The market fell by 2.1%.
The top two 25-54 stations were as we last saw them. A flat KTCK was #1, while KLNO sat at #2 with a slight decrease. KHKS rose from #8 to #3 with its highest mark since JUNE. Five stations were huddled together at #4. KSCS and KERA were there last time. Both stations had a slight decrease. AUDACY Mexican Regional KMVK (LA GRANDE 107.5) dipped from #3 with its first down book since MARCH. CUMULUS Country KPLX (99.5 THE WOLF) rose six slots to join the crowd, while KZPS rocketed up from #19 with its best book in over a year. KDGE dropped from the tie at #4 into a collection at #9 along with KJKK and iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9).
Say hello to your new 18-34 leader. EMF Contemporary Christian KYDA (AIR1) moved up from #3. The station has more than doubled its share over the last two books. KLNO dipped to #2 as it returned a good portion of last month’s massive increase. Two stations moved up to forge a tie at #3. KHKS rose from #6 – it was at #17 just two books ago. KDMX advanced from #9 with its best showing in over a year. KDGE dropped three places to #5, while KSCS slipped from #4 to #6. SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104) fell from #5 into a tie at #9 with KPLX and KJKK.
Though it was slightly off, KLNO turned it up to 11 straight #1 18-49 books. KTCK was back at #2, though it ended a three-book surge. KHKS stepped up to #3 with, again, its best book in over a year. KDGE slipped to #4 with a slight decrease. It was paired with KPLX, which advanced from #10, also with its best outing in over a year. KMVK fell from #3 to #6 and was partnered with KSCS.
SAN FRANCISCO: It’s News To Us
Not only did KQED INC N/T KQED capture the 6+ flag for the fifth book in a row, but the station also smashed through the double-digit barrier (8.6-10.3). AUDACY News KCBS was back at #2 with its smallest share since JULY (7.0-6.5). Bonneville AC KOIT was again the leading music station, coming in at #3 (5.5-5.4). USC Classical KDFC was up to #4 with its third up book in a row (4.7-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) wafted down to #4 with its third straight down book (5.0-4.9). BONNEVILLE Pop CHR KMVQ (99.7 NOW) slipped to #6 (4.8-4.5). Despite a 1.4% decline, KOIT still had the largest cume (962,200-948,400). The market grew by 1.3%.
There was quite a bit of movement within the 25-54 ranks. For the first time in over a year, KOIT was not the #1 station. It dipped to #2 with its third straight down book. Your new market leader was KQED, which landed its largest number in over a year. KMVQ dipped to #3 with a slight increase, while AUDACY Hot AC KLLC (ALICE @ 97.3) was up two places to #4, also with its best book in over a year. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #5. AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) rose from #7 with a small decrease, while SBS Mexican Regional KRZZ (93.3 LA RAZA) advanced from #9 with its highest score in over a year. The two stations formerly aligned at #4 fell down the chart. iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KMEL came to rest at #7, ending a two-book surge, while KISQ settled in at #10 with its lowest mark since JANUARY.
For the second book in a row – and third time in the last four surveys – KMEL was #1 18-34. KISQ was back at #2. Both stations had down books and were separated by less than a half share. Last month there was a threesome at #3. KOIT stood alone this time as it rebounded from a down book. KMVQ dipped to #4 with a slight decrease, while KITS ended up at #5 with its smallest share since APRIL.
KQED had its sixth straight up book as it advanced to #1 18-49. This forced KMVQ to step down to #2. The gap between the two stations stood at about two shares. KRZZ vaulted from #8 to #3 with its best showing in over a year, while KOIT dipped to #4 with its smallest share in over a year. KMEL moved down to #5 and was tied with the incumbent KITS. Both stations registered down books and were hearing footsteps from iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9), which rose from #11 to #7 as it bounced back from a down book.
One down, three to go. Thanks for reading. Next up in the queue: HOUSTON, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA and BOSTON in that order.
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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 e-mail info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
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