RADIO RATINGS ROUNDUP, December 2024, Part IV

December 30, 2024

Welcome back to the extended play version of the RRR. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – with a significant contribution from the data diviners from XTRENDS – are here to wrap up the DECEMBER survey. While the first three rounds revealed the usual avalanche of audience augmentation for those stations who changed their formats, this final take is just chock full of surprises. One could say that several markets were delivered lumps of coal.

This survey ran from NOVEMBER 7^TH through DECEMBER 4^TH. Besides the holiday hijinks, there was the hallowed three-day weekend devoted to our Veterans along with the uniquely American bacchanalian feast of THANKSGIVING. Let’s all go for one more sleigh ride …

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Where Are You CHRISTMAS?

This market featured several stations that made the holiday commitment, yet it seemed to have little effect on the ratings. Sure, COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was #1 6+ as usual. However, its CHRISTMAS commitment – which actually began during the NOVEMBER book – yielded a down book (9.4-9.3). The station was #1 a year ago with an 8.2 share. COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) returned at #2 but with its best outing in over a year (6.7-8.5). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) repeated at #3 with its highest mark since AUGUST (5.4-6.0). RADIO TRAINING Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) also got into the holiday spirit towards the end of the survey. It rose from #7 to #4, also with its best book in over a year (4.8-5.6). BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYK) dipped to #5 (5.3-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) joined the march of the wooden soldiers during week 2 and slipped to #6 as a result (5.2-4.9). WDUV was still the cume leader but with a 12.9% decrease (619,300-539,700). The market was up 0.7%.

WTBV was injected with a massive dose of 25-54 share as it rocketed from #10 to #1! WQYK was up three places to #2 as it bounced back from a down book. WDUV repeated at #3 with a slight increase, while WMTX went from first to fourth with a small share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Country WFUS (US 103.5) slipped to #5 with a slight decrease. BEASLEY Spanish Contemporary WYUU (92.5 MAXIMA) fell from #2 into a tie at #9 with BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1). WCIE moved up a slot to #7 with a small increase and hung out with WXGL.

WDUV was both #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the fifth book in a row. The station had a small share increase. WQYK remained at #2, while WMTX stayed at #3. The former had a slight increase, the latter a slight decrease. WTBV advanced from #8 to #4 with its best book since AUGUST. The three stations that were previously spied at #5 remained a trio in the same spot as each had a the same strong share increase. Those players were iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ), WCIE and WXGL. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) fell from #4 to #12, losing almost half its previous share in the process. It was tied with WYUU.

WDUV and WQYK were the 18-49 co-leaders last month. Both stations had solid share gains, but WDUV stood alone on the mount as WQYK dipped to #2. WMTX remained at #3 with a slight increase, while WFUS repeated at #4 with its smallest share since APRIL. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #5. WLLD rose from #7 with a small decrease, while WTBV turned it up from #11 with its highest score in over a year. WYUU and WXTB remained tied but dropped in unison from #4 to #7 to meet up with COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9).

DENVER-BOULDER: Warm And Cozy

The folks at BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) were conspiring by the fire as they got into the spirit at the beginning of the second week of the survey. The station stood alone at #1 6+ (7.1-9.3). A year ago it landed a 10.1 share. KSE VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) stepped up to #2 (6.2-6.5), while AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) moved up a spot to #3 (5.8-5.7). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO posted its smallest share in over a year (7.1-5.5) as it fell from a tie for first place to #4. PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO N/T KCFR worked it from #9 to #5 with its fifth up book in a row (4.1-5.1). AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) dipped to #6 (5.1-4.6), though it did get a 0.5 share from the web. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO (4.3-4.6). KOSI still led the cume pack but was 7.6% lighter in that department (514,000-474,700). The market was off 1.5%.

Though it had a small share loss, iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) was #1 25-54 for the second book in a row and fifth time in the last six surveys. KXKL was up to #2 with a solid increase, while KOSI rose from #7 to #3 with its best showing since AUGUST. KALC dipped to #4 and was partnered with KCFR, which advanced from #13 with its highest mark in over a year. KBCO and ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) were previously seen at #5. KBCO dipped to #6 with a slight decrease, while KXPK landed at #7 with its smallest share since JUNE. Also coming in at #7 was KYGO, which fell from #2 with its third down book in a row.

The 18-34 crowd was on the move. A flat KOSI went from #4 to #1, while KXKL moved from #8 to #1 as it ended a steep three-book slide. This stopped the three-book #1 slash double-digit streak for KYGO, which drifted to #3. It was sharing the moment with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX), which dipped from #2 with its lowest score since MAY. AUDACY Rhythmic AC KQKS (KS 107.5) stepped down to #5 as it surrendered most of last month’s huge increase. KTCL dropped from #2 to #6. Also in that space were KQMT, iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) and EMF Contemporary Christian KLDV (K-LOVE).

KOSI had its best 18-49 book since JUNE as it leapt from #7 to #1. KXKL went from #6 to #2 with a solid share increase. KXPK moved from first to third with a noticeable share loss. KBCO repeated at #4 with a down book and it was not alone. KCFR advanced from #13 to #4 with its best performance in over a year. KTCL and KALC were last spotted at #2 and #4, respectively. Both stations lost share and landed in tandem at #6. KYGO had its lowest number in over a year as it dropped from #3 into a tie at #9 with ENTRAVISION Spanish Adult Hits KJMN (LA SUAVECITA 92.1FM).

SAN DIEGO: The Sunny Season

Despite the onslaught of holiday tuneage, AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was #1 6+ for the sixth straight survey (7.3-7.1). AUDACY AC KYXY made the Frosty flip at the beginning of week three of the survey. It moved up to #2 (4.8-6.6). Last year it was #1 with a 7.8 share. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) was up two places to #3 as it bounced back from a down book (5.4-6.0). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS slid to #4 (6.1-5.7), while LOCAL MEDIA Adult Hits KFBG (100.7 BIG FM) dropped from a tie at #3 to #5 (5.5-5.5). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) was also last seen at #3. It landed at #7 with its lowest mark in over a year (5.5-4.5). KXSN was still in first place in the cume wars, despite a 6.6% decrease (532,100-497,000). (KYXY went from #6 to #2). The market was down 0.8%.

For the fourth book in a row, KLNV was #1 25-54. KYXY was up two places to #2 and trailed the leader by a half share. KXSN repeated at #3 with a solid increase, while XHRM slipped to #4 with a small share loss. AUDACY Country KSON had its best showing since MAY as it vaulted from #8 to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) slipped to #6 with its smallest share since JULY. It was partnered with LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X).

XTRA was #1 18-34 for the fourth straight survey, even though the station posted its lowest number of the streak. KXSN went from a tie at #4 to one at #2 with its best showing since MAY. Also coming it at #2 was KYXY, which rose from #7. That dynamic duo was about a half-share off the lead. XHRM dipped to #4 with a down book and was paired with AUDACY Alternative KBZT (ALT 94.9), which remained in place with a slight decrease. KPBS dropped from a tie at #1 to #9, losing half its previous share. Also, in at #9 were iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTZ (CHANNEL 933) and LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTS (Z90.3).

Things were tight atop the 18-49 leaderboard. KLNV was #1 for the fifth book in a row. However, KYXY advanced from #6 to #2 and was very close to knocking off the leader. KXSN repeated at #3 with a solid increase, while XHRM slipped to #4. Three stations were amassed at #5. KIOZ dipped from #4 with its lowest score since we last heard the incessant drumming, while XTRA held steady with a small decrease. KBZT arrived from #10 with its best book since JULY.

SHAMELESS PLUG: Tick tock. One more book until the three-minute rule becomes reality. Are you ready? We are and we can help you take full advantage of the change.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Santa Sidelined

Yes, there was an in-market holiday hitmaker and one that bled in from outside the market. However, the big, ahem, news was that AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was #1 6+ with its best book in over a year (6.5-7.1). The station padded that lead with a 1.2 share from its digital presence. This ended the eleven-book winning streak for COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB, which drifted down to #2 with its smallest share since the last time BURL IVES was in town (7.4-6.4). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) made the Yuletide turn at the beginning of the third week. The station stepped up to #3 (4.9-5.0). It had a 6.2 share a year ago. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) was down to #4 with its third down book in a row (5.6-4.8). COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) was up two slots to #5 with its highest score in over a year (3.9-4.6). AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS RADIO 101.9FM/66AM) fell from #5 to #11 (4.6-3.2). It was tied with CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF) (3.3-3.2). iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) rose from #11 to #6 (3.2-4.4). Despite a 2.7% decline, WALK became the cume leader (358,800-349,000). The market lost 2.9%.

The top four 25-54 stations were the same as before. WHTZ was #1 for the 12th book in a row and held a two-share lead over a flat WALK at #2. CONNOISSEUR Mainstream Rock WWSK (94.3 THE SHARK) had its best outing in over a year to remain at #3. WBAB repeated at #4 with a slight decrease and was joined by WINS, which advanced from #7 with its third up book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) and AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) had been tied at #5. Both stations were down this month as they alit at #8 and #9, respectively.

Despite landing its lowest 18-34 share since SEPTEMBER, WBAB was #1 for the third book in a row. It was tied with WWWF last month, but that station slipped to #3 with its lowest mark since APRIL. In between those two was WWSK, which leapt from #7 to #2 with a massive share influx. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) stepped up to #4 as it recovered from a down book. WBLI dipped to #5 with a slight decrease. It was partnered with WLTW, which moved up from #7. WHTZ slid four places to #7 and was tied with WALK, which dropped from #5 despite a slight increase.

WBAB and WHTZ had been tied at #1 18-49. WBAB remained in place for the third book in a row (and sixth time in the last seven surveys), while WHTZ dipped to #2. WWSK again landed its largest share in over a year as it vaulted from #6 to #3. WALK stepped down to #4 with a slight decrease. WBLI remained at #5 with a small share gain and was joined there by WINS, which rose from #6. WWWF returned almost all of last month’s huge increase as it fell from #3 to #8.

CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: A Study In Contrasts

Two stations made the Rudolph run within a day of each other with dramatically different results. Neither was #1 6+ as that honor was bestowed upon BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9), which was down for the third book in a row (6.7-6.1). BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) flipped formats on day five of the book. It rose from #7 to #2 (5.0-5.7). Last year it was #1 with a 7.8 share. URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) advanced from #9 to claim its share of the #2 position with its best performance since JANUARY (4.8-5.7). BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) dipped to #4 (6.3-5.6), while its chief competitor – iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) – remained at #5 (5.3-5.5). Also in that spot was UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE, which moved up from #7 with its sixth straight up book (5.0-5.5). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) went jolly on day six of the survey. It fell from #1 to #7 (8.3-5.3). It was #3 with a 6.5 share last year. BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98) dropped from #4 to #8 (5.5-5.1) and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END), which was flat (5.1-5.1). URBAN ONE AC WLNK (MIX 107.9) became the cume leader despite a 3.0% decrease (390,300-378,600). The market was off by 4.3%. WLKO and WKQC also lost cume.

Your new 25-54 leader was URBAN ONE Sports WFNZ (SPORTS RADIO 92.7 FM), which moved up from #4 with its best offensive performance in over a year. WEND and WPEG had been tied at #1. WEND was up for the fourth book in a row as it dipped to #2, while WPEG landed at #3 as it gave back all of last month’s big increase, plus a little extra. WBAV stepped down to #4 with a slight decrease, while WOSF advanced four spaces to #5 with its highest score since APRIL. WKQC and WLKO had been tied at #5. A flat WKQC slipped to #6, while WLKO landed at #9 with its lowest total in over a year.

WPEG hit double figures 18-34 as it stepped up to secure the crown. WFNZ rebounded from a down book to move up to #2. This snapped the four-book winning streak for WBAV, which slid to #3 with its lowest total since JULY. WEND rose to #4 with its best book since FEBRUARY, while WSOC dipped to #5 with a modest share loss. WKQC jumped from #12 to a four-way kerfuffle at #8, while WLKO fell from #6 to #12.

WPEG was in shouting distance of double digits as it won the 18-49 demo for the third book in a row. WEND stood alone at #2 and was about a half-share off the pace. WBAV dipped to #3 as it returned all of last month’s large increase, plus a little added value. WFNZ stepped up to #4 with a small increase. It was joined in that space by WKQC, which advanced from #8 with its highest mark since JANUARY. WSOC slid to #6 with a small decrease. WLKO fell from #5 to #9 and was tied with BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1).

This concludes our audience participation portion of the blog. We’ll have other stuff next week but the Roundup rests for a month until we parse the HOLIDAY numbers. Have a Happy New Year!

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