RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, November 2024, Part III

November 27, 2024

Merrily we roll along through the survey known as NOVEMBER. Well, we’re not actually merry about the survey itself, but we are pleased that this is the final book of the year that has not been spoiled by overpowering pine-scented vapors wafting throughout the land. This is just another one of your garden variety books. It began on OCTOBER 10^TH and shuffled off this mortal coil on NOVEMBER 6^TH. There was a three-day weekend, better known for appliance and furniture sales, and some sort of national election.

As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the data diviners from XTRENDS – are here to peel back the layers and reveal NIELSEN’s version of reality.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: High Five

This was the fifth straight 6+ win for UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW (8.5-8.1). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK was back at #2 as it returned half of last month’s solid increase (7.1-6.6). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) landed its best Frosty-free share in over a year to hold firm at #3 (5.6-6.1). BONNEVILLE N/T KIRO-F moved up two places to #4 (5.0-5.3), while AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) remained at #5 (5.1-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) descended to #6 as it gave back all of last month’s share increase (5.5-4.9). KRWM became the leading cumer again, despite a 3.6% decrease (527,200-508,300). The market was down 1.2%.

HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN’ 92.5) made it back-to-back 25-54 wins. However, the station did have a down book, and that allowed KISW to move up claim its share of the lead. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) landed its largest share in over a year as it moved up two places to #3 and within striking distance of the leaders. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) stepped down to #4 with a small share loss, while AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) dipped to #5 with a slight decrease.

No, KRWM was not playing the sultry strains of BURL IVES during this survey, so the station earned its #1 rank and double-digit 18-34 share on its own merit. KKWF bounced back from a down book to move up to #2 but trailed the leader by better than three shares. KQMV slipped to #3 as it returned most of last month’s huge increase. It was paired with KNDD, which stepped up from #4 with its highest mark since MARCH. KBKS saw its three-book winning streak screech to a halt as it fell to #5.

The 18-49 contest was very tight as the top five stations were all within a share of one another. KNDD leapt from #4 to #1 with its best book in over a year. Not far behind was KRWM, which arrived from #5 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. KKWF was back at #3 with a slight increase. It was partnered with KQMV, which dropped from #1. KBKS slid from #2 to #5 with its lowest score since JUNE.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: When You’re Hot, You’re #1

That has been the general theme for COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105 FM). The station ran away with the 6+ demo, as it usually does (9.1-9.9). The race was for second place. That official title was bestowed upon TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR 107.5), which remained in place though it surrendered most of last month’s huge increase (6.4-5.5). COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) eased into third place (5.6-5.4), while iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) dipped to #4 (5.7-5.3). It was met there by MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS N/T WLRN, which moved up from #6 with its highest mark since APRIL (4.9-5.3). AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) slipped to #6 with its lowest total in over a year (5.1-5.0). WFEZ lost 5.8% of its cume but was still #1 in that category (693,700-653,300). The market grew by 1.3%.

For the first time since JUNE, there was a new 25-54 leader. Meet COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3), which rose from #3 with its best book in over a year. This quashed the five-book winning streak for WMIA, which dipped to #2 with its smallest share since JULY. WFEZ advanced three spaces to #3 with its fourth straight up book. WAMR slipped to #4 with a small decrease, while WHQT moved up to #5 with a small increase. WLYF slid to #6 with – again – its smallest share in over a year.

Last month WLYF went from #1 to #2 18-34 with a flat book. The station was off slightly this time so, naturally, it moved back to #1. It held a half-share lead over the two stations at #2: SBS Latino Urban WRMA (RITMO 95.7) and WFLC, which advanced from #12 with a huge share increase. COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) slid to #4 as its three-book winning streak came to an end. The station posted its lowest number in exactly a year. It was also tied with WHQT, which moved up a spot with a small increase. AUDACY Rhythmic Oldies WPOW (POWER96) gave back all of last month’s large increase – plus a bit more – as it slid into a four-way tie at #6 with iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TÚ 94.9), iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) and TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WRTO (MIX 98.3). WAMR fell from #5 to #10. It was hanging with WFEZ and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHYI (Y100).

Despite a down book, WMIA was #1 18-49 for the fourth straight survey. However, it was not alone as WFEZ advanced from #4 and forced a jump ball, thanks to its best book since MAY. WFLC and WHQT were last seen at #6. Both stations were up this survey as they moved up to #3 and #4, respectively. WLYF slipped to #5, while WPOW dropped from #2 to #7. WEDR dropped from #5 to #11 where it was swimming with AUDACY Alternative WSFS (104.3 THE SHARK).

Phoenix: It’s So Easy

Ho-hum. Normalcy reigned once again as iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) was the clear 6+ leader (8.4-8.3). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was in second place for the 11th straight survey (5.5-6.4). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A landed its largest share in over a year to remain at #3 (4.6-4.9). HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD dipped to #4 (4.6-4.1) and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN), which moved up from #6 (4.1-4.1). MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KJZZ fell three places to #8 as it gave back all of last month’s solid increase (4.5-3.7). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX (3.6-3.7) and AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) (3.8-3.7). KESZ padded its cume lead with a 7.9% increase (770,500-831,500). The market was up 0.7%.

Though KESZ had its smallest 25-54 share in exactly a year, the station kept its long unbroken string of #1 books alive. KUPD was back at #2 with its lowest mark since JULY and was paired with KSLX, which had its best outing since that very same month. HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) stepped up to #4 with its first up book since MAY, while KYOT moved down to #5 with a slight increase. Nipping at its imaginary heels was BONNEVILLE Sports KMVP (ARIZONA SPORTS 98.7), which rose to #6 with its most productive outing in over a year.

KESZ was #1 18-34 for the fifth straight survey and produced its fourth consecutive double-digit effort. KFYI-A was back at #2 with its highest score in over a year. As recently as JULY it was #19. KUPD moved up to #3 as it rebounded from a down book, while KDKB advanced two spaces to #4 as it ended a steep three-book slide. KYOT dipped to #5 with a slight increase. AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5) slid to #6 with its smallest share in over a year. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KZZP (104.7 KISS FM), which vaulted from #15.

As with two of the previous three demos, KESZ extended its long running 18-49 winning streak, though with its lowest total in exactly a year. KUPD remained the #2 station with a small decrease, while KDKB was up two slots to #3 with a solid share gain. Three stations were circling each other at #4. KFYI-A dipped from #3 with a slight decrease, while KYOT held steady with a slight increase. KSLX rose from #9 as it halted a three-book slide.

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DETROIT: Punching Their Ticket

Riding that blue wave, AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (11.4-9.7). The station also garnered a 2.1 share from its online presence. iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC was back at #2 but with its best outing since MARCH (7.3-8.8). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) stepped up to #3 (6.4-6.6), while AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC dipped to #4 as it ended a solid three-book surge (7.0-6.2). AUDACY Country WYCD recovered from a down book to step up to #5 (5.4-5.9). It shared that moment with BEASLEY Classic Rock WCSX, which rose from #9 as it halted a four-book slide (5.0-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) slid to #7 (6.0-5.5). WNIC extended its cume lead with a 7.8% increase (896,700-966,800). The market was essentially flat.

WXYT was #1 25-54 for the fourth book in a row and hit double figures for the third straight survey. WNIC stepped up to #2 and was threatening to hit double figures. WKQI slipped to #3 with a small share loss. There was quite a gap between these three stations and the rest of the field. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF was up to #4 with its best book since JUNE but more than two shares outside the top three. WYCD was up to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. WOMC surrendered most of last month’s large increase as it slid to #6.

While we cannot provide exact numbers, the top four 18-34 stations pulled about a 40 share combined! WNIC moved up from #4 and hit double figures to take the top spot. WXYT was in double digits for the third book in a row but was forced to step down to #2. WRIF repeated at #3 with a slight decrease. WKQI slipped to #4 as its ten-book double-digit streak came to an end. WYCD was up to a distant #5 with a slight increase. WOMC dropped into a tie at #7 with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB.

The 18-49 field was topped by a three-headed monster. WNIC hit double figures as it jumped from #3 to #1. The next two stations were within spitting distance of double digits. WXYT stepped down to #2 as it ended a two-book #1 run, while WKQI was down to #3 with a slight decrease. WRIF was up to #4 with its highest score since JUNE. WYCD and AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) moved up and into a tie at #5. WOMC fell three places to #7.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Fan Fest

The SAM DARNOLD fantasy year continued to propel iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3), which was #1 6+ for the third book in a row (13.0-11.0). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS was back at #2 but with its smallest share in over a year (8.5-7.7). MPR N/T KNOW moved up to #3 with its best showing since MARCH (6.7-7.5). The station also added a 1.5 share from its digital presence. HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) stepped up to #4 as it ended a three-book skid (6.1-7.1). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) slid to #5 with its lowest mark since JUNE (7.4-6.8). It still had the most cume, despite a 6.5% drop (706,900-660,900). The market was down 0.4%.

As with the previous demo, KFXN was #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the third straight survey. It had better than a four-share lead over the two stations hanging out at #2. KSTP was up from #4 as it bounced back from a down book, while KQQL stepped up from #3 with a slight increase. KTIS had its least productive outing since APRIL as it dropped to #4. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB remained at #5 with a solid increase.

The 18-34 crowd decided that rock music was their thing this month as two cluster mates moved up to the top of the chart. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) and CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS were previously #2 and #3, respectively. Both stations hit double digits, as well. KFXN slipped to #3 as it ended a monster three-book surge. It was paired with KQQL, which moved up from a tie at #5 with its best book since MARCH. KDWB stood alone at #5 as it rebounded from a down book. MPR AAA KCMP (THE CURRENT) nearly doubled its previous share as it advanced from #10 to #6. KTIS dropped from #4 to #9.

We’ve seen this before. KFXN was #1 and in double digits 18-49 for the third consecutive survey. KQQL was up to #2 and threatening the double-digit ceiling, while KSTP was up to #3, thus ending a steep three-book slide. KTIS dropped to #4, halting a three-book surge, while KXXR repeated at #5 with a small increase.

We can see the light at the end of the NOVEMBER tunnel! Our ratings run is set to conclude with TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE and NASSAU-SUFFOLK. Thank you for playing along.

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-Steve Allan, Programming Research Consultant

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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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