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Radio Ratings Roundup, June 2026 Part II

July 14, 2026

So here we are halfway through our broadcast year. A time when listening patterns begin to change. School is out, vacations begin, social media renews the debate of whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich (it is). While JUNE is not National BBQ month, it is when Weber grills across the land are contributing to the smells of summer. Ain’t that AMERICA.

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the math mavens from XTRENDS—are back for another look at the JUNE survey. This one ran from MAY 28^th through JUNE 24^th. We spent a weekend honoring those who paid the ultimate price for us, experienced the longest day of the year, and bought dad a tie. As long as no one put ketchup on those hot dogs, all was good.

Numbers time!

SAN FRANCISCO: Double Your Pleasure…

…double your fun. KQED, INC. N/T KQED was #1 6+ for the sixth straight survey and hit double figures for the first time in exactly one year (9.3-10.0). AUDACY News KCBS was back at #2 as is normally the case (8.8-8.5). CONNOUSSEUR AC KOIT became the leading music station again as it stepped up to #3 with its best Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER (4.8-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) wafted down to #4 (5.3-4.7), while the #5 tie remained intact. That featured CONNOISSEUR Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) and iHEARTMEDIA AC KIOI (STAR 101.3). Both stations went 4.7-4.1. KOIT remained the most listened to radio station with a 2.2% increase (1,054,700-1,077,500). The market fell by 2.4%.

KQED moved back to #1 25-54 with a small increase, while KOIT leapt from #5 to #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in exactly one year. KIOI went from first to third as it ended a robust six-book surge. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) was back at #4, while KMVQ slid from #2 to #5 with its smallest share since there was the incessant sound of way too many drummers. KISQ remained close behind at #6 with its best outing in over a year.

KOIT was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row and held a two and a half share lead over KMVQ, which moved from #4 to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. KISQ dipped to #3 and was met by the stationary KIOI. Both stations had down books. AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) and SBS Regional Mexican KRZZ (LA RAZA 93.3) were last spotted at #7. Both stations bounced back from down books. KITS landed at #5, while KRZZ fell into a tie at #6 with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KOSF (CLASSIC HITS 103.7). iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KMEL landed its lowest number in over a year as it fell from #4 to #10. It was tied with five other radio stations.

Last month three stations were tied at #3 18-49. Two of them moved up to forge a tie at #1. They were KYLD and KOIT. KIOI ended a three-book run at #1 and slipped into a tie at #3 with KMVQ. KQED slipped from that #3 tie to #5 and narrowly defeated the flat KISQ at #6.

ATLANTA: Talking The Talk

After a two-book hiatus, COX MEDIA N/T WSB-A was back at #1 6+ (7.1-7.5). URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC 107.5/97.5) repeated at #2 with its lowest score since JANUARY (7.4-6.8). COX MEDIA Urban AC WALR (KISS 104.1) was up two slots to #3 (5.9-6.1), while COX MEDIA AC WSB-F (B98.5) rebounded from a down book to rise from #6 to #4 (5.4-6.0). It was paired with COX MEDIA Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 THE RIVER), which slid from #1 with its smallest share since Grandma was roadkill (7.6-6.0). AUDACY Urban AC WVEE (V-103) went from #4 to #6 with its lowest mark since DECEMBER (6.1-5.5). WSB-F was still the cume commander with a 1.0% increase (757,600-765,200). The market was off by 1.9%.

The top five 25-54 was relatively unchanged from the previous survey. The top three stations also had down books. WAMJ was #1 for the third month in a row, WVEE remained at #2 while WSB-F was back at #3. WSRV repeated at #4 with a small increase, while a flat WALR held steady at #5. It had company as AUDACY Sports WZGC (92.9 THE GAME) advanced from #8 as it regained most of last month’s lost share.

Last month WSB-F dipped from #1 to #2 18-34 thanks to a massive share loss. The station got most of that back this time as it moved back to #1. WSRV stepped down to #2 with a modest share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WRDG (96.1 THE BEAT) and WALR were last seen at #5. WRDG rose to #3 as it halted a three-book slide, while WALR made it to #4 with a small decrease. WZGC advanced from #8 to #5 with a solid increase. AUDACY Rhythmic AC WSTR (STAR 94) and WVEE were tied at #3. WSTR landed at #6 with its lowest mark since NOVEMBER, while WVEE ended up at #8 with its smallest share in over a year.

As with the previous demo, WSB-F bounced back from a down book to move up from #3 to #1 18-49. WVEE held steady at #2 despite landing its third down book in a row. WAMJ went from first to third with a rather large share loss. WSRV repeated at #4, while WZGC worked it from #9 to #5 with its best showing since JANUARY. WSTR dropped from #5 to #9. It was partnered with WRDG and DICKEY BROADCASTING Sports WCNN-A (SPORTS RADIO 680/93.7FM THE FAN)—which happens to be the BRAVES flagship.

WASHINGTON, DC: We Play Both News And Talk

As is usually the case in the city that is the focus of a lot of newsy information, the top two 6+ slots were occupied by information stations. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU was #1 (11.6-12.5), while HUBBARD News WTOP was #2 (10.2-9.8). This was the first time in over a year that WTOP was not in double figures. HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR became the leading music source as it stepped up to #3, ending a three-book slide (5.2-5.6). ATLANTIC GATEWAY Contemporary Christian WGTS rose to #4 (5.1-5.5), while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) slipped from #3 to #5 (5.4-5.4). Despite a 9.5% drop WTOP was still the cume leader (842,500-762,300). The market was off by 1.8%.

WAMU was #1 25-54 for the sixth straight survey and at double-figures for the past five. WWDC was back at #2 but with its highest share in over a year. WTOP repeated at #3 but with its fourth down book in a row. A flat WGTS held steady at #4, while iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH remained at #5 with a small share loss. WHUR came in at #6 again with its best outing since FEBRUARY. Watch out for URBAN ONE Spanish Hot AC WLNO (LATINO 104.1/87.7). The station vaulted from #16 to #7.

Big news in the 18-34 race as iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100) leapt from #4 to #1. This ended WASH’s two-book winning streak as it dipped to #2. WWDC stepped down to #3 with its first down book since JANUARY. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIHT (HOT 99.5) went from #3 to #4 and was tied with WGTS, which arose from #7 with its highest mark in over a year. AUDACY Sports WJFK (106.7 THE FAN) returned most of last survey’s large increase as it fell from #5 to #9. Joining it there were WAMU, WHUR and GWET Classical WETA.

WAMU remained #1 18-49 and was dangerously close to hitting double digits. WWDC was still the #2 station but was three shares off the lead. WTOP remained at #3 but was forced to share as WGTS moved up a slot, again with its best book in over a year. WHUR inched up to #5, while WASH slipped to #6 with its lowest mark since JULY.

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PHILADELPHIA: Does The Tie Really Go To The Runner?

The top five stations on the 6+ leaderboard were all within a share of one another. AUDACY Sports WIP (94WIP SPORTSRADIO) was #1 for the third book in a row (8.0-7.1) but was joined there by BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR, which stepped up from #2 (6.7-7.1). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS dipped to #3 (6.7-6.6) and was paired with AUDACY AC WBEB (B101), which moved up a spot (6.2-6.6). BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK repeated at #5 with its first up book since FEBRUARY (6.0-6.3). WBEB again captured the most meters despite a 3.1% drop (1,154,800-1,119,100). The market was down 2.8%.

WMMR was #1 25-54 for the third book in a row and posted its largest number since NOVEMBER. WBEB went from #4 to #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WDAS dipped to #3 as it gave back about half of last month’s share increase. WIP stepped down to #4 as it halted a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WUSL (POWER 99) inched up to #5 with its best book in over a year. WHYY INC. N/T WHYY fell from #5 to #9 with its smallest share in over a year. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (ALT 104.5), iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIOQ (Q102) and BEASLEY Adult Hits WBEN (95.7 BEN FM).

WBEB landed its largest Frosty-free 18-34 share since SEPTEMBER as it moved up to #1. WRFF stood alone at #2 but with its fourth up book in a row. This stopped the three-book winning string for BEASLEY Country WXTU (92.5 XTU), which slipped to #3 with its third straight down book. WBEN repeated at #4 with a small increase and was paired with WMGK, which moved up from #5. WIP dropped from a tie at #5 to #10.

WMMR captured the 18-49 flag for the third book in a row. It held a slim lead over WBEB, which remained at #2. WIP came in at a distant #3 with its lowest score since FEBRUARY. WXTU was back at #4 with a slight decrease and was met there by WUSL, which moved up from #6 with a slight increase. WDAS stepped down to #6.

BOSTON: A Magic Show

AUDACY AC WMJX (MAGIC 106.7) landed its largest Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER as it rose from #3 to #1 6+ (6.1-6.6). This broke the first-place tie between BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR and BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR. WROR dipped to #2 (6.2-6.0), while WBUR landed at #3 (6.2-5.9). AUDACY Hot AC WBMX (MIX 104.1) was up two places to #4 with its third straight up book (5.3-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WXKS (KISS 108) and iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX were previously seen at #4. WXKS dipped to #5 (5.6-5.2), while WZLX ended up at #6 as it ended a four-book surge (5.6-5.1). Keep an eye on NORTHEAST BROADCASTING AAA WXRV (92.5 THE RIVER). The station moved up to #7 with its best showing in over a year (4.3-4.8). WMJX padded its cume lead with a 1.6% increase (858,700-872,200). The market was down 1.6%.

WBMX landed its largest 25-54 share in over a year as it stepped up to #1. WXKS moved down to #2 and was more than a share off the pace. WBUR went from #5 to #3 with a slight increase, while BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (98.5 THE SPORTS HUB) dipped to #4 with its lowest score since JULY. It was met there by WMJX, which was up from #6, again with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WZLX slipped to #6 with a small share loss.

WMJX was #1 18-34 for the eighth straight survey and was threatening to hit double figures. iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR WJMN (JAM’N 94.5) vaulted from #8 to #2 with its best outing in over a year. The stations were separated by less than a half share. WROR was a distant #3, while WBMX slipped to #4 with a noticeable share loss. WXKS dipped to #5 and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZRM (RUMBA 97.7), which moved up from #6. Both stations had down books. WZLX dropped from #4 to #9 thus ending a four-book surge.

Thanks to its third up book in a row WBMX moved up to #1 18-49. This ended a two-book winning string for WXKS, which dipped to #2. It held a slim lead over the two stations at #3. WMJX moved up a spot with a huge increase, while WJMN advanced from #7, again with its best showing in over a year. WBUR repeated at #5 with a slight decrease, while WZLX fell from #3 to #7.

Two down, two to go. Thank you for your attention to these matters. On tap are MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, DETROIT, and MINNEAPOLIS. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog at www.ResearchDirectorInc.com/Hot-Topics. And remember, sharing is caring—spread the word far and wide.

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Radio Ratings Roundup, June 2026, Part I

July 13, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

JUNE is busting out all over and The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the masters of the algorithm from XTRENDS—are about to bust a move while busting our butts (hopefully not simultaneously) to bring you the latest from the PPM ratings world.

This survey ran from MAY 28^th through JUNE 24^th. It featured the unofficial and official beginnings of summer plus a salute to dear old dad. We ask that you kindly peruse our prose or we may have to bust your chops. Tally ho…

NEW YORK: The Song Remains The Same

Go ahead, sing along. The top five on the 6+ leaderboard was unchanged from last month. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was #1 for the fourth straight survey (7.9-7.5). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was back at #2 (6.9-7.1), while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS came in at a somewhat distant #3 again (5.8-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) held on to the #4 spot (5.6-5.6), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) repeated at #5 (4.9-4.9). The closest other station to cracking the top five was NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC, which rose from #9 to #6 (4.1-4.2). Despite a 4.0% drop WLTW still had the most listeners (3,960,700-3,801,500). The market was off by 0.7%.

WHTZ and WLTW remained #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54 as both stations experienced a slight share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU) leapt from #7 to #3 with its best showing in over a year. WCBS inched up to #4 with a slight decrease, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) dipped to #5 with its lowest score since Santa was stalking you. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) slid from #3 to #6.

For the ninth book in a row, WLTW was the runaway 18-34 leader with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WHTZ remained at #2 but was more than two shares off the pace. SBS Spanish Contemporary WPAT (93.1 AMOR) vaulted from #11 to #3 with its best book in over a year. MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97FM) jumped from #7 to #4 as it halted a four-book skid. WCBS held steady at #5 and was joined there by WAXQ. WKTU rose from #12 to #7 and was close to breaking the top five. WNEW dropped from #3 to #8, while WWPR fell from #4 to #9 with its smallest share in over a year.

WLTW and WHTZ have been trading the top two 18-49 positions for the last five books. It was WLTW’S turn to lead as the station rebounded from a down book. WHTZ dipped to #2 with a small share loss. WKTU moved from #5 to #3, again with its best book in over a year. WQHT rose from #8 to #4 with its first up book since JANUARY. WNEW slipped two places to #5, while WPAT advanced from #12 to #6. The station has more than doubled its MARCH share. WWPR slid from #4 to #7.

LOS ANGELES: The Magic 8-Ball

Was iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST #1 6+ for the eighth book in a row? The answer is: “You may rely on it” (7.1-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) crept a bit closer at #2 (6.0-6.2), while AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) was not far behind at #3 (5.5-5.8). AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) remained at #4 (4.9-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFI-A stepped up to #5 with its best outing in over a year (3.9-4.5). AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) receded to #6 (4.4-4.3). KOST lost 4.3% of its listening audience but was still #1 in that category (2,477,200-2,371,100). The market was down 1.7%.

Not only was KBIG #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey but landed its largest share in over a year. This stretched its lead over #2 KRTH from less than a half share to more than a full share. KOST inched up to #3 with a small decrease, while KCBS slipped from #2 to #4 with its lowest mark since ELTON asked you to hop on a turntable (hope it was a QRK). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) and AUDACY Alternative KROQ ended up in a tie at #5. Both stations had down books.

Despite a noticeable loss of share, KOST was #1 18-34 for the eighth book in a row. Its advantage over #2 KRTH shrank from more than four shares to around two. KTWV stepped up to #3 with its best performance since NOVEMBER. KYSR dropped two places to #4 as it returned about half of last month’s increase. MOUNT WILSON Country KKGO (GO COUNTRY 105) moved up to #5 with its highest score in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) slipped to #7 with a small share loss and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary KRRL (REAL 92.3), which advanced from #15 as it bounced back from a down book.

KBIG stepped up to #1 18-49 with, again, its best book in over a year. This ended the FOUR-book run for KOST, which moved down to #2, KRTH and KCBS swapped places with KRTH up to #3 with a slight increase, as KCBS dipped to #4 with a small decrease. KROQ and KYSR did the same dance with KROQ up to #5 with a slight decrease as KYSR slipped to #6 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY.

CHICAGO: The Mix Is In

A mere 28 days ago, HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) and AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) were the 6+ co-leaders. Fast forward to the present and WTMX remained on top (5.6-6.0), while WXRT moved down to #2 (5.6-5.6). AUDACY News WBBM-A remained at #3 (5.5-5.5), while AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) rose to #4 with its best book in over a year (4.5-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) was back at #5 (4.6-5.1), while HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE) put it into reverse as in back up to #6 (5.3-4.4). It was double parked with iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103), which moved up a slot (4.4-4.4). WLIT experienced a 4.1% loss of listeners but was still the top dog (1,306,400-1,253,000). The market declined by 3.1%.

WTMX continued to crush the 25-54 competition. The station bounced back from a down book to hit #1 for the sixth straight survey. It held nearly a three-share advantage over iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM), which was back at #2 with a slight decrease. WXRT went from a tie at #4 into an arrangement at #3 with WUSN, which advanced from #6. Both stations landed their largest shares in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI dipped to #5 with a small share loss. Keep an eye on CRAWFORD Urban Contemporary WPWX (POWER 92). Over the last three books the station has gone from #23 to #19 to its current location at #7.

WKSC was #1 18-34 for the sixth straight survey, the last three of which have been in double digits. AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) was back at #2 but trailed the leader by four shares. WUSN was up two places to #3 with its third straight up book. WTMX dipped to #4 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY. WDRV and WPWX were last seen at #8 and #10, respectively. They carpooled it up to a tie at #5. WGCI slipped from #4 to #7 as it gave back all of last month’s huge increase, plus a bit more.

The 18-49 contest was far from a runaway. WTMX was #1 for the sixth book in a row but held a slim lead over #2 WKSC. WGCI repeated at #3, while WXRT stepped up to #4. Both stations had up books. WUSN inched up to #5, while WBBM-F slid two places to #6.

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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Star Power

Your returning 6+ champion was iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1), which also landed its largest Frosty-free share in over a year (4.9-5.4). Making the leap o’ the survey was EMF Contemporary Christian KYDA (AIR1), which advanced from #15 to #2 (2.5-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) dipped to #3 (4.8-4.4), while EMF Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) stepped down to #4 (4.1-4.3). AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) and AUDACY Classic Hits KSPF (98.7 THE SPOT) remained tied at #5. Both stations went 3.8-3.9. AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) slid from #4 to #9 (3.9-3.3). KDGE was still perched atop the cume summit despite a 0.6% decline (1,199,400-1,192,500). The market was off by 1.7%.

In the 25-54 realm, KDGE stood alone at #1 and, as with the previous demo, posted its biggest Frosty-free share in over a year. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) inched up to #2 with a slight increase but was better than a share off the pace. KJKK stepped up to #3, while last month’s co-leader KDMX landed at #4 with its smallest share in over a year. SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104) dipped to #5 with a slight decrease. KYDA vaulted from #12 to #6 with its best outing in over a year.

Despite surrendering a good portion of last month’s huge increase, KKDA was still #1 18-34. KDMX was back at #2 as it also gave away some of last month’s gain. The stations were about a half share apart. KDGE held steady at #3 with a slight increase and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM), which rose from #5 with its best showing since JULY. KYDA leapt from #9 to #4, while KVIL dropped from #4 to #7. It was tied with KJKK.

KDGE continued its star turn 18-49 as it was elevated from #5 to #1. KDMX stepped down to #2 but was as close as mathematically possible to the leader. KLNO repeated at #3 with a slight increase, while two stations met up at #4. KKDA slipped from #2 while KYDA arose from #10. KHKS moved down to #6 despite a small increase, while KVIL fell from #4 to #8 thus ending a strong two-book surge.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Turn It Up To Eleven

iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was the 6+ champ for the eleventh straight survey. The station also had its best book since JANUARY (8.6-9.4). URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) was back at #2, also for the eleventh straight time (7.2-7.3). URBAN ONE Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5) remained nested in at #3 but with its fourth up book in a row (6.4-6.9). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ) bounced back from a down book (5.1-5.6) to move from #6 to #4. URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q COUNTRY) repeated at #5 (5.2-5.0), while HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ slid from #4 to #8 (5.6-4.6). KODA padded its cume lead with a 4.1% increase (1,892,800-1,969,800). The market was down 1.7%.

KTBZ was #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row and was flirting with double digits. KODA repeated at #2 with a slight increase but was more than two shares off the lead. KMJQ stepped up to #3, also with a slight increase, while KGLK soared from #8 to #4 with its highest score in over a year. AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) was back at #5, while KSBJ slipped from #3 to #6 with its lowest total since we had hallucinations about pitted fruits. The station was tied with AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) and URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX).

KTBZ continued to run roughshod over the 18-34 field. It was #1 for the sixth straight survey, the last five of which have been in double figures. KKHH was back at #2, while KODA remained at #3. Both stations had small increases. KBXX inched up to #4 with its third up book in a row. KGLK slipped two places to #5 ending a three-book surge.

KTBZ continued its 18-49 dominance with its third win in a row. KODA was back at #2 as it rebounded from a down book. However, it was still about two shares shy of the lead. KGLK rose from #6 to #3 with its best showing in over a year. KHMX and KBXX were last seen at #7. They kept that arrangement as they rose together to #5. KSBJ dropped from #3 to #9 and was partnered with SBS Mexican Regional KROI (LA LEY 92.1) and AUDACY Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA 101.1FM).

Thank you for playing along. We will take a short break and return with even more numbers. Waiting in the queue are SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. They will be in your inbox tomorrow.

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Oh, the Humanity

June 30, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

Another quarter, another round of firings at iHEART. Lives are upended but, sadly, we have almost become numb to this.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

I am not here to throw slings and arrows at companies who are doing this. They have the right to handle their business as they see fit. Any employee in any business knows they are officially day-to-day.

That said, several things struck me with this latest mass casualty event:

First, so many of those whose jobs were “eliminated” were seasoned veterans. These are people with high levels of experience with a deep familiarity of their markets who have, likely, developed on-air relationships with their fans. Yes, those same relationships radio touts as one of its core strengths.

These are also people who rise to the top of the salary spreadsheet.

Second, it seems these cuts always come from the bottom up, in terms of market size. Radio has always had a major market bias. What happens in New York, LA, or Chicago is much more important than what happens in smaller markets. I live in a two-book market and can tell you, firsthand, that local media is much more important here than in a Washington, DC.

Smaller markets are more cohesive. There really is a sense of community and caring. It is much easier being involved and local in places like this. As a comparison, what does being local actually mean in, say, New York? Other than a major sports, crisis, or weather story, what can appeal to all five boroughs? I can tell you that the annual county fair in my market unites everyone. (I mean, who doesn’t love a goat agility course?)

I realize the revenue in larger markets makes them more important; however, expenses are also higher.

Finally, notice how many people were wearing four, five, six, or more hats. Those responsibilities still exist. So, the three stations they were programming and the four they were voice tracking are now handed to someone else. This is not to cast aspersions, but what human being has the focus and energy to perform at an “A” level while juggling so many balls? Things will fall through the cracks. The lure of “good enough” will be too strong to resist as the checklist gets ever larger.

This de-humanization of radio may reduce expenses, but it comes at a greater cost.

As the “expensive” veterans are shown the door, where are their replacements? This brain drain is real. If this were a natural evolution of a business, with new blood replacing old, then it could be a boon for radio. But is that really happening? Where are the young guns who will breathe new life into our industry? What are the incentives for them to even consider joining us?

Are we getting close to a tipping point on the talent exodus? Are we slowly replacing “live & local” with homogenization? Wendy’s may be tasty and consistent but it’s a shallow replacement for my local burger joint.

The other consequence of these actions is that radio is ghosting its fan base. Those humans who turn on their radios tomorrow morning to spend time with their trusted companion are greeted by…what? An empty space with no explanation. What if the new voice is unsatisfying to the loyal listeners? In an industry that seems to play more defense than offense, why do we continue to provide listeners with reasons to tune out?

Not exactly a relationship building exercise, is it?

But it’s all OK. AI will fix everything. Guaranteed human, right?

Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com

A Dollar A Holler

June 25, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

Dollar General has more than 21,000 stores in the US. There are more Dollar General locations than Starbucks or McDonald’s. 75% of Americans live within five miles of a Dollar General. Annually, people visit a Dollar General store 2.7 BILLION times. That is a lot of cume.

The company is building their own version of a retail audio network. It is already in 6,000 stores with plans to expand to 12,000. This is nothing new. Wal-Mart has been doing this for years. 7-11 is also entering this space. The use of audio as a selling medium at the point of purchase is also not new. Radio has been doing this for years.

Image by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels.

However, radio cannot hyper focus on a targeted ad to a specific store. Radio can drive traffic to that location, but it is difficult to accurately track the effectiveness of that particular ad.

The powers that be at Dollar General not only tout the localization possibilities of their network, but they also point out that having music piped into their stores enhances both customer and employee experiences.

They talk about this in a recent episode of The Drum’s “Basket Case” podcast (link below).

Apparently, the company is using AI to select the music. They also claim that employees will have a say in the song selections.

They do not mention anything about personalities (something Wal-Mart radio has). Perhaps this will evolve.

What I found interesting about their approach is that there was no mention of who the architects of this network are. Are real radio people involved? Or is this a bespoke concoction developed by non-audio folks?

One thing is for sure—more and more retailers will create their own in-house “radio” networks. This presents an opportunity to the hundreds of riffed programmers and personalities. There is a wealth of creative, competent, and successful radio professionals on the beach who would welcome an opportunity to build a network like Dollar General’s.

How do we make that connection?

Can radio use this as a marketing tool? (Don’t snicker.) Imagine running a 15 second ad inside a Dollar General inviting shoppers to tune in once they leave the store?

How does radio turn this threat to its share of ear into an opportunity?

It’s certainly worth a conversation.

Here’s the link to the podcast. Its only about ten minutes long: https://www.thedrum.com/news/dollar-general-thinks-retail-media-s-future-is-hiding-in-plain-sight

Radio Ratings Roundup, May 2026, Part IV

June 18, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

MAY is one of those charming little months when radio stations get to discover, yet again, that warm weather, long weekends, graduations, vacations, and the general human desire to be anywhere but inside can influence usage patterns. Of course, your mileage and ratings could vary. That’s why it behooves us to factor in the real world when looking at ratings performance.

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the expert data diviners from XTRENDS—are here to put things in perspective. The MAY book ran from APRIL 30^TH through MAY 27^TH. We had the MEMORIAL DAY holiday weekend, Mom’s Day and, of course, that one day when Taco Bell thinks it serves MEXICAN food.

Now, on with the countdown:

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: A Bevy Of Wins

COX MEDIA AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was nested atop the 6+ leaderboard for the fourth book in a row (9.7-9.0). RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) was back at #2 (7.2-7.3), while COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) was perched at #3 once again (6.0-6.4). Moving up to #4, COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) had its best showing in over a year (5.7-6.3). BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) dipped to #5 (5.8-5.4) and was being threatened by iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) at #6 (5.3-5.3). WDUV remained in cume control despite a 1.3% decline (652,200-643,600). The market was off by 0.7%.

While WDUV was #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey, the station landed its first down book since JANUARY. As a result, it held a very narrow lead over the two stations at #2. WRBQ repeated at #2 with its highest score in over a year, while WWRM moved up a spot with a solid increase. WCIE stepped up to #4 with a strong share gain, while WMTX dipped to #5 with a slight decrease.

WDUV was #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the third book in a row. WWRM was back at #2 and was dangerously close to landing in double-digit territory. WCIE remained at #3 with its highest mark since NOVEMBER. WMTX leapt from #7 to #4 as it recovered from a couple of soft surveys. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) slipped from #3 to #5 with its smallest share since OCTOBER. COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE) dipped to #6 though its stream came in at #16. WXGL rebounded from a down book as it moved up to claim its share of the #6 position.

WDUV was unable to extend its 18-49 winning streak to four as it slipped to #3. WWRM moved up to #1 with its best book since DECEMBER, while WCIE rose to #2 with a solid increase. WMTX held steady at #4, while WRBQ inched up to #5. Both stations had slight increases. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) stood alone at #6 with a slight decrease, while WFLZ slipped from #5 to #7.

DENVER-BOULDER: Cozying Up

For the first time since JANUARY, BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) was #1 6+ (6.5-6.7). The next six stations on the chart were within a share of each other. AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) dipped to #2 as its three-book winning string was reduced to gravel (6.8-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) stepped up to #3 (5.2-5.2) and was paired with BONNEVILLE Country KYGO, which rose from #7 (5.0-5.2). KSE MEDIA VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) was down to #5 (5.1-5.0). iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO slipped from #3 to #6 (5.5-4.9). It was joined there by AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9), which was last seen at #4 (5.2-4.9). KOSI was still the cume leader (496,400-481,800) —a 2.9% decline. The market was up by 0.1%.

KTCL was #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row and widened its lead over #2 KALC from a half share to nearly two shares. A flat KKSE MEDIA VENTURES Sports KKSE (ALTITUDE SPORTS RADIO 92.5FM) stepped up to #3 and was joined there by KOSI, which rose from #5 with a slight increase. KQMT went from #3 to #5 with its smallest share since MARIAH CAREY was relevant. KXKL dipped to #6 with its first down book since JANUARY.

KTCL was both #1 and in double digits 18-34 for the second straight survey. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) was up two places to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. KXKL dipped to #3 as it returned all of last month’s large increase plus a tad more. KYGO stepped down to #4 with a small share loss. Last survey four stations were massed together at #5. This time only KOSI remained in place. It did have a new partner as iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) advanced from a tie at #12 with its best showing since NOVEMBER. KALC and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) fell together to #7 and were joined by KSE MEDIA VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100), which moved up from a tie at #12. The final member of that #5 quartet was COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO N/T KCFR. It landed in a tie at #10 with KQMT.

KTCL made it back-to-back 18-49 wins. A flat KKSE stepped up to #2, while KOSI moved from #6 to #3 with a solid increase. KALC dipped to #4, while KXPK advanced from #7 to #5. KXKL slid from #2 into a tie at #6 with KDHT. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) fell from #5 to #11. It was partnered with KQMT, COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO AAA KVOQ, and KRFX.

SAN DIEGO: Time Is Tight

The 6+ competition remained very tight. AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was back at #1 (7.4-7.7) but was being closely pursued by #2 SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS (7.3-7.6). AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3 FM THE FAN) was up two places to #3 (5.3-5.4) while the next two stations landed their lowest shares in over a year. LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) stepped down to #4 (6.7-4.9), while AUDACY AC KYXY landed at #5 (6.0-4.7). KXSN was still the most listened to radio station despite a 0.5% decline (611,100-608,100). The market was up 0.5%.

The 25-54 race was also close as iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) vaulted from #4 to #1 with its best showing in over a year. KXSN moved down to #2 but was under a half share off the lead. KWFN dipped to #3 as it returned some of last month’s rather large increase. KPBS advanced from #10 to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KYXY was back at #5 with a small share loss and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 93.3), which moved up from #8 with a small increase. XHRM fell from #3 to #10 with its lowest score in over a year.

KXSN was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row and was flirting with double digits. It held better than a three share lead over the three stations at #2. KYXY remained in place but with its lowest total since NOVEMBER. LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) stepped up from #3 with a small decrease, while KWFN advanced from #4 with a slight increase. There was also a threesome at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) dipped from #4 with a large share loss. GRUPO IMAGEN Spanish Hot AC XLTN (RADIO LATINA 104.5FM) rose from #10, while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) leapt from #14. Both stations landed their largest shares in over a year.

After taking a two-book hiatus, KXSN was back at #1 18-49 with its best showing since the weather outside was frightful (though not in this market). KIOZ moved up to #2 with a slight increase, while KPBS jumped from #10 to #3 with its best book in over a year. KLNV vaulted from #11 to #4 with a huge share increase. KYXY slipped to #5 and was tied with KHTS, which moved up from #8. XHRM fell from #1 to #10, again with its lowest score in over a year.

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CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Ties Don’t Bind

Last month UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE and iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) were tied atop the 6+ chart. This time around, WFAE was alone at #1 with its third up book in a row (6.5-7.6), while WLKO moved down to #2 (6.5-6.9). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) was back at #3 (6.4-5.8), while PACIFIC BROADCASTING GROUP Classic Hits WXRC (95.7FM THE RIDE) cruised from #9 to #4 with its highest mark since AUGUST (5.1-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) leapt from #10 to #5 with its best showing in over a year (4.9-5.6). It was met there by BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7FM), which rose from #7 (5.3-5.6). BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1FM) slid from a tie at #4 to #7 (5.7-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX) also vacated the #4 hole as it made its way down to #9 (5.7-4.7). It was tied with BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9), which moved up from #11 (4.6-4.7). WLKO kept the cume lead despite a 4.9% drop (533,600-507,700). The market was down 0.4%.

WEND repeated as the 25-54 leader and was coming awfully close to hitting double figures. WFAE zoomed from #7 to #2, while WLKO was back at #3. Both stations had their best books in over a year. BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98) slipped to #4 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. WRFX and WKKT remained together at #5 but welcomed a new member to the club as URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) dropped from 3.

WNKS was both #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the second book in a row. WEND leapt from #6 to #2 and was on the doorstep of double digits. WLKO moved up to #3 as it regained most of last month’s dramatic share loss. WKQC rose from #6 to #4 with its largest number in over a year. WRFX slid from #2 to #5 as it surrendered all of last month’s massive increase, plus a bit more. It was tied with WFAE, which moved up from #8. WPEG fell from #3 to #7, while WOSF dropped from #4 to #12.

WEND increased its previous 18-49 share by about a third as it rose from a tie at #4 to #1. This pushed WNKS down to #2. They were about a half share apart. WFAE moved up into contention at #3, again with its best outing in over a year. WLKO and WKQC were last seen at #8. They rose to #4 and #5, respectively, with large share gains. WRFX slid from #2 to #6, while WPEG fell from #3 to #7.

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): News You Can Use

For the fifth straight survey, AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was #1 6+ (8.8-8.3). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) was back at #2 (6.2-7.3), while AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS RADIO 105.9FM/66AM) inched up to #3 (5.4-5.5). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) strolled up to #4 (5.1-5.1), while COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) moved up to #5 (4.9-4.8). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS had its best outing in over a year (4.2-4.7) as it rose from #9 to #6. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) fell from #3 to #10 as it gave back all of last month’s large increase plus a skosh more (5.5-3.5). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM), which remained in place (3.8-3.5). For the first time since NOVEMBER, WHTZ was the leading cume station, thanks to a 9.6% increase (381,300-417,900). The market was up 1.3%.

WHTZ landed in double figures as it won the 25-54 competition for the third book in a row. WALK was back at #2 as it rebounded from a down book. It was about two shares off the lead. WBLI repeated at #3 though it gave back a good portion of last month’s share increase. WLTW and WCBS were previously spied at #5 and #6, respectively. They rose together and settled in at #4. WNEW dropped two places to #6 as it ended a very strong seven-book surge.

WBLI was back at #1 18-34, while WHTZ vaulted from #6 to #2. Both stations landed their largest shares in over a year and were a half share distant. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) also has its best performance in over a year as it leapt from #7 to #3. WALK dipped to #4 despite a strong share increase. Five—count ‘em—five stations were languishing at #5. WNEW and WLTW slipped from a tie at #3, while WINS dropped from #2. COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB rose from a tie at #8 as it bounced back from a down book. WCBS advanced from #10.

As with the 25-54 cell, WHTZ hit double digits 18-49 for its third win in a row. WALK stepped up to #2 as it bounced back from a down book, while WBLI remained behind at #3 with a small share loss. WNEW slipped from #2 to #4 with a huge share loss. WKJY jumped from #11 to #5, again with its highest score in over a year. WINS stepped down to #6 and was paired with WFAN, which moved up from #7.

Thank you for playing along. We’ll be back in about four weeks to dissect the JUNE survey. Feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, critiques, and complaints to our customer care department, which is definitely not AI driven. A real human will answer this e-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com.

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Radio Ratings Roundup, May 2026, Part III

June 17, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—with a healthy assist from the fine folks at XTRENDS—are back with another edition of our renowned ratings revue. Or is it a review? Are we rating the ratings or merely providing you with a momentary diversion from your broadcast day? We leave that interpretation up to you, dear reader.

The MAY survey began on APRIL 30^TH and reached its conclusion on MAY 27^TH. We had a three-day weekend that unofficially kicked off summer, Mom got her day, and the price at the pump gave everyone pause. How that affected radio ratings will now be revealed…

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Them Changes

This market is generally predictable from month to month with the usual suspects showing up in the usual places. Not so this time around. Your new 6+ leader was iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9), which vaulted from #5 to #1 with its best outing in over a year (5.3-6.2). This pushed AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) down to #2 (7.1-6.1). COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) was back at #3 but with its fourth straight down book (5.8-5.5). It was joined there by TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5), which advanced from #6 (5.2-5.5). SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3) slid from #2 to #5 as it ended a six-book surge (6.1-5.3). It was paired with COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105), which dipped from #4 with its smallest share in over a year (5.7-5.3). Despite a 10.2% decline WLYF was still in cume control (824,600-740,300). The market was off by 1.1%.

A flat WLYF was back at #1 25-54 but saw its lead over #2 WMIA cut in half. AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) advanced from #8 to #3 with its best book in over a year. WFEZ and COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) were last seen at #3. A flat WFEZ dipped to #4, while WFLC landed at #5 with a slight decrease. COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99JAMZ) vaulted from #11 to #6 with its best showing in over a year. WCMQ and WHQT dropped from a tie at #5 into one at #7.

WEDR recovered from a down book to go back to being a dominant #1 18-34. It had better than a three-share lead over the two stations at #2. Last month WLYF rose from #11 to #1. It stepped down to #2 this month. It was paired with WMIA, which moved up from #4 with a slight increase. WCMQ went from a tie at #2 into an arrangement at #4 with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT), which rose from #8 with a small share gain. AUDACY Country WKIS (KISS COUNTRY 99.9) rocketed from #18 to #6, more than doubling its previous share in the process. Things did not fare well for the three stations previously huddled together at #5. WHQT fell to #11 and was tied with WFLC and iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBGG (BIG 105.9). AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOW (POWER 96) dropped into a tie at #14 with WAMR. And iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHYI (Y100) landed in a three-way tie at #17.

WLYF surrendered most of last month’s huge share increase but had enough left in the tank to repeat at #1 18-49. WMIA moved up to #2 and was less than a half share off the pace. WMXJ and WEDR were at #7 and #8, respectively. Both stations had strong increases as they moved up to #3. WHQT remained at #5 and was paired with WFLC, which moved up a spot. Both stations had down books. WCMQ and WPOW were #2 and #3, respectively. They fell together and landed at #7.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Five Alive

For the fifth straight survey, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 6+ (10.6-10.1). BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) continued to rise the MARINERS’ success as the station was back at #2 (6.4-6.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) was still circling the #3 spot but with its highest share since NOVEMBER (5.3-6.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK was up for the fifth book in a row as it rose from #8 to #4 (4.3-5.6). AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) slipped to #5 (5.3-5.5), while CRISTA Contemporary Christian KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) found its way down to #6 with its smallest share since OCTOBER (5.3-4.4). KJEB climbed up to #1 in cume thanks to a 16.9% increase (583,300-682,000). The market was down 1.5%.

KISW was back at #1 25-54 as it posted its largest number in over a year. KUOW remained a somewhat distant #2 with a slight decrease, while KIRO-A stepped up to #3 with its third straight up book. KJEB moved up two places to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) remained at #5, while FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP dropped from #3 to #6 with its lowest score since DECEMBER.

After taking the last two books off, KISW was back at #1 18-34 and in double figures. KJEB ascended from #6 to #2 as it regained most of last month’s huge share loss. AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF) repeated at #3 but with a large share loss. It was paired with KIRO-A, which moved up from #4 with its best offensive performance since OCTOBER. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) worked it from #9 to #5 with a huge share gain. KNDD slipped to #6 with its lowest mark in over a year. HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN’ 92.5) fell from #1 to #8, which is exactly where it was in FEBRUARY. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KJAQ (96.5 JACK FM) and AUDACY Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT 103.7).

For the first time in over a year, KISW captured the 18-49 flag. KIRO-A stepped up to #2, while KJEB rebounded from that down book to rise from #9 to #3. KNDD inched up to #4 despite a down book. KKWF and KBKS were last spotted at #7 and #10, respectively. Both stations added share as they advanced into a tie at #5. KEXP slipped from #4 to #7, while KQMV fell from #1 to #10. It was tied with KHTP and AUDACY AC KSWD (EMMA 94.1).

PHOENIX: Ending The String

For the last seven surveys in a row, iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) was #1 6+. That ended this month as HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX stepped up to #1 (6.4-6.7). KESZ was forced to step down to #2 (6.9-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A moved up to #3 with its best book in over a year (4.8-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX dipped to #4 (5.2-5.2), while MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KJZZ remained at #5 (4.5-4.5). KESZ still had the most listeners (950,600-964,200)—a 1.4% increase. The market was up 1.1%.

KESZ did extend its 25-54 winning streak to nine with a solid increase. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) remained at #2 but was still about two shares off the pace. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5) moved up to #3 with a slight increase. It was met there by TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KHOT (QUÉ BUENA 105.9) which had a slight decrease. KSLX was up to #5 while AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) was down to #6.

Last month KESZ and HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) were the 18-34 co-leaders. That partnership did not endure. Your new demo leader was KYOT, which rose from #3 with its best outing in over a year. KESZ dipped to #2 despite a small increase, while KNIX was up to #3. KDKB slid to #4 as it gave back some of last month’s huge share gain. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD and KHOT were tied at #4. Each station had the same large share loss as they drifted together to #6. AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5) was also part of that #4 scenario. It fell to #8 with its lowest score in over a year. It was joined there by a flat AUDACY Country KMLE, which moved up from #10.

KESZ repeated as the 18-49 leader and was about two shares in front of the two stations at #2. KLNZ remained in place, while KYOT rose from #5 with its highest score since NOVEMBER. KHOT stepped down to #4 with a small decrease. KDKB dipped to #5 and was met there by KUPD, which advanced from #8. KOOL and KALV were formerly partners at #5. KOOL dropped to #7 and was joined there by KMLE, KNIX, KSLX and SIERRA H Rhythmic AC KZCE (101.1 THE BOUNCE). KALV ended up at #12 along with ZELUS Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9).

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DETROIT: Punching Their Ticket

For the fifth straight survey, AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was #1 6+ (11.3-9.8). AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC stepped up to #2 (7.3-6.9), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC dipped to #3 as it stopped a three-book surge (7.5-6.8). AUDACY Country WYCD stood alone at #4 with its highest mark in over a year (6.0-6.6). Its former partner in that space—iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3)—moved down to #5 (6.0-6.1). Despite a 4.0% decline WNIC was still #1 in cume (1,038,400-997,300). The market grew by 1.7%.

WXYT was both #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF rose from #4 to #2 with its best showing since JANUARY yet still trailed the leader by five shares. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) moved down to #3 with a small share loss, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB was down to #4 with a slight increase. WOMC repeated at #5 but with its third down book in a row.

Last month WJLB and WXYT were both #1 18-34 and in double digits. This time WJLB remained on top— and in double figures—while WXYT was pushed down to #2. WKQI was back at #3 but with a huge share loss. WRIF vaulted from #11 to #4 with its best book since NOVEMBER. A flat AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) remained at #5. WNIC slid from #4 to #8 as it returned all of last month’s massive increase.

Five was again the number for WXYT as it won the 18-49 race for the fifth book in a row. WJLB remained at #2 as it trimmed the lead from close to three shares to under a share. WRIF advanced from #7 to #3 and just nipped WKQI, which dipped to #4. WOMC was back at #5 with a slight increase, while WNIC fell from #3 to #7.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: A Triple Play

It was crowded atop the 6+ chart as three stations laid claim to the #1 position. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3) was there for the third book in a row (8.2-7.8). iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) was up from #3 with its fifth straight up book (7.2-7.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) arrived from #4 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year (7.0-7.8). MPR N/T KNOW slipped to #4 with its lowest total since OCTOBER (8.1-6.4). The station did add a 1.1 share from the interwebs. AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) had its best showing in over a year as it rose from #8 to #5 (5.2-6.0). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) dipped to #6 with its lowest score since some big guy from up north was violating our privacy (6.8-5.8). KQQL kept cume control with a 6.9% increase (705,500-754,500). The market was up 2.7%.

For the fifth book in a row KFXN was #1 25-54. The station also turned up its double-digit streak to eleven. KQQL was back at #2 with a slight decrease, while KEEY rose from #5 to #3 with its best outing in over a year. It narrowly edged out MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT), which dipped to #4 with a noticeable share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB remained at #5 but with its best book since JANUARY.

KQQL leapt from #4 to #1 18-34 and landed in double figures. KFXN held steady at #2 with its highest mark since the place was lousy with leaping lords. KCMP went from first to third with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. It was paired with KZJK, which moved up from #5 with its best book since JULY. KDWB slid from #2 to #5 as it returned some of last month’s huge share increase.

As with the 25-54 space KFXN was #1 18-49 for the fifth book in a row and reached double digits for the eleventh straight survey. KCMP remained at #2 with a share loss, while KDWB repeated at #3 with its highest mark in over a year. KQQL was back at #4 with its best Frosty-free share since JUNE. KZJK rounded out the top five again with a strong share gain. KEEY was up to #6 and threatening to crash the top five.

We appreciate your continued support of this here missive. More to follow. Stay tuned for TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.

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Radio Ratings Roundup, May 2026 Part II

June 16, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with our intrepid cohorts from XTRENDS—are back to regale you with stories and sagas contained within the MAY survey. This survey ran from APRIL 30^th through MAY 27^th. There was a long weekend, a salute to Mom, and a perfect excuse for day drinking. It was a month of celebrations and remembrances.

Did you know it was also Older Americans Month? It’s actually a thing, sponsored by a government agency and it has been around since 1963. The best part? It’s all about a demo that radio (and too many advertisers) ignores, despite the fact they are one of our most loyal demos. I’m speaking, of course, about 65+.

You won’t see any results of that kind as we proceed with the countdown:

SAN FRANCISCO: The AC Is On

The 6+ leaderboard is almost always a spoken word thing. And that did not change this month. KQED INC. N/T KQED was #1 for the fifth straight survey (9.2-9.3). In its customary #2 position was AUDACY News KCBS (8.7-8.8). The music flavor of MAY was various spins on the Adult Contemporary format. iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) stepped up to #3 with its best showing in over a year (4.3-5.3). CONNOISSEUR AC KOIT dipped to #4 (4.6-4.8). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) and iHEARTMEDIA AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) remained tied as they slipped from #4 to #5. Both stations went 4.4-4.7, which was a 14-book high for KMVQ. KOIT was still picked up by the most meters (1,022,900-1,054,700) – a 3.1% rise. The market was off by 0.3%.

Last month KIOI and KQED were the 25-54 co-leaders. KIOI remained on top with its sixth up book in a row. KQED stepped down to #2 with a slight decrease. It was paired with KMVQ, which moved up a spot with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) repeated at #4 with a slight share loss. KOIT was up to #5 as it halted a two-book slide. KISQ rose from #10 to #6 with its best showing since OCTOBER. SBS Mexican Regional KRZZ (LA RAZA 93.3) fell from #5 to #9 as it returned all of last month’s share increase, plus a bit extra.

The 18-34 space was another AC haven. KOIT repeated as the leader with its best Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER. KISQ moved from a tie at #4 to #2 but remained two shares off the pace. KIOI stepped up from a tie at #4 to #3 with its highest score in over a year. KMVQ was still at #4 but with a new partner in iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KMEL, which slipped from a tie at #2 as it gave back all of last month’s increase. KRZZ was also last seen at #2. It dropped into a tie at #7 with AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105).

A flat KIOI was #1 18-49 for the third book in a row. KMVQ inched up to #2 with a slight increase and was less than a half share off the lead. Three—count ‘em—three stations were languishing at #3. KYLD dipped from #2 with a small share loss. KQED was up from #5, while KOIT advanced from #7. Both stations had up books. KISQ rose from #11 to #6, while KRZZ fell from #3 to #9.

ATLANTA: Rollin’ On The River

The big NIELSEN wheel kept turning as COX MEDIA Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 THE RIVER) posted its fifth straight up book in the 6+ realm. This moved the station up to #1 (7.4-7.6). However, it was feeling the heat from a couple of other stations. URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC 107.5/97.5) stepped down to a very close #2 (7.5-7.4), while COX MEDIA N/T WSB-A remained in place at #3 (7.0-7.1). AUDACY Urban AC WVEE (V-103) was back at #4 (6.7-6.1), while COX MEDIA Urban AC WALR (KISS 104.1) repeated at #5 (6.3-5.9). COX MEDIA AC WSB-F (B98.5) remained in the mix at #6 but with its smallest share since the geese were making more geese (6.1-5.4). Despite a 3.8% decline, WSB-F continued as the cume leader (787,500-757,600). The market was down 0.7%.

Last month WAMJ and WSB-F were tied atop the 25-54 leaderboard. This time WAMJ stood alone in first place with its best book in over a year. WSB-F slipped to #3 as it returned most of last month’s large increase. Between those two was WVEE, which moved up to #2 with a slight increase. WSRV was back at #4 but with a small share loss. WALR stepped up to #5 with a slight increase, while AUDACY Sports WZGC (92.9 THE GAME) fell from #5 to #8 as it also returned most of last month’s gain.

In APRIL WSB-F and WSRV were #1 and #2, respectively 18-34. They also were well ahead of the rest of the field. This time, both stations suffered huge share losses and when the dust settled WSRV was #1 with WSB-F placing at #2. WVEE was back at #3 but with its lowest mark since OCTOBER. It was paired with AUDACY Rhythmic AC WSTR (STAR 94), which advanced from #8 with its best Frosty-free share in a year. WALR and iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WRDG (96.1 THE BEAT) slipped in tandem from a tie at #4 to #5 thanks to noticeable share losses.

WAMJ vaulted from #4 to #1 18-49 with its best outing in over a year. WVEE was back at #2 with a slight decrease and trailed the leader by the narrowest of possible margins. WSB-F went from first to third with its first down book since JANUARY. WSRV dipped to #4 with a rather large share loss. WSTR rose from #8 to #5 as it bounced back from a down book. WSB-A went from #5 into a tie at #6 with WALR.

WASHINGTON, DC: Lucky #13

For the first time since last JUNE, HUBBARD News WTOP was not the leading 6+ station. If you’re keeping track, that’s a twelve-book winning string. The Station dipped to #2 with its smallest share in over a year (12.9-10.2). Rising to #1 was AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU (10.4-11.6). Moving up from #6 to #3— and claiming leading music station status—was iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) (4.9-5.4). HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR was back at #4 (5.4-5.2), while ATLANTIC GATEWAY Contemporary Christian WGTS slipped from #3 to #5 as it ended a strong two-book surge (5.7-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH stepped down to #6 (5.0-4.9). Despite a 2.9% drop WTOP was still your cume commander (868,000-842,500). The market was off by 0.6%.

For the fifth book in a row, WAMU was #1 25-54. The station also extended its double-digit share streak to four. WWDC moved up to #2 with its best outing since JANUARY but trailed the leader by three shares. WTOP stepped down to #3 with its lowest mark since Grandma was roadkill. A flat WGTS moved up to #4, while WASH dipped to #5 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER.

Despite a significant share loss, WASH was back at #1 18-34. WWDC rose from #5 to #2 and was under a share behind the leader. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIHT (HOT 99.5) repeated at #3, while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100) remained at #4. Both stations had modest share losses. AUDACY Sports WJFK (106.7 THE FAN) advanced from #8 to #5 with its best offensive performance in over a year. As recently as JANUARY the station was sitting at #15. WTOP fell from #2 to #7, losing more than half its previous share. Also coming in at #7 were WGTS, WHUR, AUDACY Classic Hits WIAD (94.7 THE DRIVE) and AUDACY Rhythmic CHR WPGC.

For the first time since NOVEMBER, WAMU was #1 18-49. WWDC went from #4 to #2 with its highest mark in over a year. However, it was more than two shares off the pace. This ended the four-book winning string for WTOP, which slipped to #3. WASH dipped to #4 with its smallest share since JULY. It was paired with WGTS, which stepped up from #5 despite a small share loss. WHUR rose from #8 to #6.

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PHILADELPHIA: Good Sports

AUDACY Sports WIP (94WIP SPORTSRADIO) was back at #1 6+ with its third up book in a row (7.4-8.0). BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR was back at #2 (6.9-6.7) but it was not alone. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS rose from #5 to forge a tie thanks to its best outing in over a year (5.9-6.7). AUDACY AC WBEB (B101) remained at #4 (6.1-6.2), while BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK slipped from #3 to #5 (6.3-6.0). AUDACY News KYW held steady at #6 (5.5-5.7). WBEB still had the most listeners (1,158,500-1,154,800) – a 0.3% decline. The market was down 0.1%.

For the second book in a row—and eleventh time in the last 14 surveys—WMMR was #1 25-54. WDAS was up two places to #2, again with its best book in over a year. The stations were separated by a share and a half. WIP remained at #3 with a slight increase, while WBEB slipped from #2 to #4 with a slight decrease. WHYY INC. N/T WHYY stepped up to #5 as it ended a three-book slide. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WUSL (POWER 99) dipped to #6 with a small share loss.

BEASLEY Country WXTU (92.5 XTU) was #1 18-34 for the third straight survey. WBEB remained at
#2 but was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (ALT 104.5), which moved up a slot with its highest score in over a year. That dynamic duo trailed the leader by about a share. BEASLEY Adult Hits WBEN (95.7 BEN FM) was back at #4 and held a narrow lead over two stations at #5. WMGK moved up from #6 with a small increase, while WIP advanced from #7. WUSL slipped from #5 to #7 with its third down book in a row.

The top three 18-49 stations were the same as last month. WMMR was #1, WBEB #2 and WIP #3. All three stations had small increases. WXTU inched up to #4, while WDAS rose from #9 to #5. Both stations rebounded from down books. WUSL slipped to #6 with a small share loss.

BOSTON: Fit To Be Tied

BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR was back at #1 6+ (6.6-6.2) but was forced to share as BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR advanced from #5 with its best book since OCTOBER (5.6-6.2). AUDACY AC WMJX (MAGIC 106.7) stepped up to a very close #3 as it bounced back from a down book (5.8-6.1). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WXKS (KISS 108) slipped two places to #4 (5.9-5.6). It was met there by iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX, which rose from #6 with its fourth up book in a row (5.2-5.6). BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (98.5 THE SPORTS HUB) landed its lowest share since AUGUST as it fell from a tie at #2 to #7 (5.9-4.7). WMJX kept the cume crown despite a 0.3% decline (860,900-858,700). The market also fell by 0.3%.

WXKS was #1 25-54 for the second book in a row but saw its lead shrink to under a share as AUDACY Hot AC WBMX (MIX 104.1) stepped up to #2 with its highest score since JULY. WBZ-F dipped to #3 with a small share loss, while WZLX stepped up to #4 with its best showing since AUGUST. WBUR dipped to #5 as it halted a strong four-book surge.

Despite landing its lowest share since AUGUST, WMJX was #1 18-34 for the seventh straight survey. WBMX returned at #2 but cut the lead from almost a share and a half to less than a share. WROR vaulted from a tie at #9 to #3 with its best book since DECEMBER. WXKS slipped from a tie at #2 to #4 and joined up with the stationary WZLX. AUDACY Adult Hits WBGB (BIG 103) slipped to #6 and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZRM (RUMBA 97.7), which advanced from #13 with its largest share since JUNE. iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR WJMN (JAM’N 94.5) dropped from a tie at #4 to #8 with only a slight decrease.

WXKS and WBMX were back at #1 and #2, respectively, 18-49. WZLX rose from #6 to #3 with its highest mark in over a year. WMJX repeated at #4 with a slight increase, while WBUR went from #3 to #5 as its four-book surge ground to a halt. WBZ-F slipped from #4 to #6 with its least productive outing in over a year.

We appreciate you taking the time to read this here missive. More to come! On tap are MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, DETROIT, and MINNEAPOLIS. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog at www.ResearchDirectorInc.com/Hot-Topics. And remember, sharing is caring—spread the word far and wide.

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Radio Ratings Roundup, May 2026, Part I

June 15, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

Welcome to the merry, merry month of MAY, one of only two on the calendar that can be both a noun AND a verb. That’s true versatility. And before you “at” me for AUGUST, it’s a noun and an adjective. Now let’s all diagram that last sentence…a little middle school English anxiety for everyone.

The MAY book ran from APRIL 30^th through MAY 29^th. We saluted Mommie dearest, took part in a federally mandated three-day weekend, and watched as gas prices spiked. (I include that last point not to be political but to point out that rising gas prices could lead to fewer driving miles, which has a direct effect on time spent listening to radio.)

Now, on with the countdown…

NEW YORK: Same Old, Same Old

The 6+ leaderboard in AMERICA’s largest city was relatively unchanged from last month as the top four stations remained the same. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was #1 for the third book in a row (8.1-7.9). AUDACY News WINS was back at #2 (7.1-6.9), while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS strengthened its hold on the #3 position with its highest mark in over a year (5.4-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) repeated at #4 (5.2-5.6). Breaking into the top five with its best showing since JULY was iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) (4.4-4.9). NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC slid from #5 to #9 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER (4.7-4.1). WLTW padded its market leading cume total with a 1.6% increase (3,898,300-3,960,700). The market was up by 0.4%.

WHTZ rebounded from a down book to move up to #1 25-54 for the first time since OCTOBER. This ended the three-book winning string for WLTW, which dipped to #2. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) stepped up to #3 with its best book in over a year. This pushed iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) down to #4. WCBS remained at #5 with a slight increase.

WLTW was #1 18-34 for the eighth straight survey. WHTZ was back at #2 and managed to cut its cluster sister’s lead down to a share. WNEW held steady at #3 with a solid increase, while WWPR stood still at #4 with a small increase. WCBS rounded out the top five again, also with a small increase. WAXQ rose from #10 to #6 with its best outing in over a year.

WHTZ regained all of last month’s lost 18-49 share as it moved back up to #1. WLTW stepped down to #2 with its lowest score since OCTOBER. WNEW and WWPR swapped places with WNEW up to #3 with a small increase and WWPR down to #4 with a slight decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU) remained at #5 but was just ahead of WAXQ, which leapt from #12 to #6.

LOS ANGELES: Seven Up

For the seventh straight survey iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was #1 6+ (7.1-7.1). The next three stations were in their same positions as last month. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) was back at #2 but with its first down book since OCTOBER (6.2-6.0). AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) held steady at #3 (5.0-5.5), while AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) remained at #4 (4.6-4.9). AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) swelled up to #5 with its highest score since NOVEMBER (4.0-4.4). AUDACY News KNX-A, which lost its FM simulcast during week three, slid from #5 to #8 with its smallest share in over a year (4.1-3.5). It was partnered with TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE 107.5), which rose from #13 (3.2-3.5) and the stationary PASADENA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KPCC (3.5-3.5). KOST was still the cume commander despite a 3.5% decline (2,566,700-2,477,200). The market was up 0.5%.

The top five 25-54 stations were all within a half share of one another. KBIG was #1 for the third book in a row. KRTH and KCBS moved up to a tie at #2 with small share gains. KOST slipped to #4 as it ended a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) stepped up to #5 with its best book in over a year. AUDACY Alternative KROQ dipped to #6 with a slight increase.

KOST was #1 18-34 for the seventh straight survey and landed its largest Frosty-free share in over a year. KRTH was back at #2 with a slight increase and was paired with KYSR, which rose from #4 with its best showing since OCTOBER. KTWV advanced from #9 to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) stepped up to #5 with a slight increase. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9) fell from #4 to #12 with its smallest share since JULY. It was tied with MEURELO MEDIA Rhythmic CHR KPWR (POWER 106FM) and SBS Mexican Regional KLAX (LA RAZA 97.9).

The top four 18-49 stations were unchanged from last survey. KOST was #1 for the fourth book in a row and was about a share ahead of a flat KBIG, which repeated at #2. KCBS was back at #3 with a small increase, while KRTH held firm at #4 with a slight increase. KYSR inched up to #5 with its highest score in over a year, while KROQ dropped two places to #6 with its lowest mark since DECEMBER.

CHICAGO: X Marks The Spots

For the third book in a row AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) was #1 6+ (6.3-5.6). However, the race got significantly tighter as HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) moved up to claim a share of first place (5.7-5.6). Close behind at #3 was AUDACY News WBBM-A (5.7-5.5), which narrowly defeated HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE), which remained idled at #4 (5.1-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) was up to #5 with its first up book since we were hanging hosiery on the mantle (4.0-4.6). AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) dipped to #6 (4.4-4.5). WLIT still had the most listeners despite a 0.6% decline (1,314,100-1,306,400). The market was up 1.7%.

Despite a rather large share loss, WTMX was a dominant #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) was back at #2 but still trailed the leader by more than two shares. WXRT repeated at #3 with a small decrease. It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI, which rose from #5 with its fifth up book in a row. WUSN held steady at #5 with a small increase, while AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) slipped to #6 with a small decrease.

For the second straight survey WKSC was in double figures 18-34. This extended the station’s demo winning streak to five. WBBM-F stepped up to #2 with its highest mark in over a year yet still trailed the leader by more than three shares. WTMX dipped to #3 with a small decrease, while WGCI moved up to #4 with its best book since OCTOBER. WUSN stepped down to #5 despite a small share gain. SBS Mexican Regional WLEY (LA LEY 107.9) was close behind as it jumped from #9 to #6 with its largest share in over a year.

The 18-49 contest got much tighter. WTMX was #1 for the fifth book in a row but saw its lead over #2 WKSC sink to under a half share. WGCI repeated at #3 while WBBM-F moved up to #4. Both stations had small increases. WXRT dipped to #5, also with a small share loss.

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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: A Star Is Born

iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) moved up to #1 6+ with its best Frosty-free share since OCTOBER (4.2-4.9). It just edged out iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9), which dipped to #2 (4.3-4.8). EMF Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) bounced back from a down book to vault from #11 to #3 (3.2-4.1). The two stations previously spied at #6 moved up the chart. AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) made it to #4 (3.6-3.9), while AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) was awarded the #5 position (3.6-3.8). AUDACY Sports KRLD (105.3 THE FAN) slid from #3 to #9 as it surrendered all of last month’s share increase, plus a bit more (4.0-3.4). KDGE maintained its cume lead with a 3.8% increase (1,155,400-1,199,400). The market grew by 0.1%.

Two stations rose up to forge a tie at #1 25-54. KDMX stepped up from #2 with a small increase, while KDGE arrived from #4 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) went from first to third with its smallest share since JUNE, which ended the station’s four-book winning string. KJKK was up two slots to #4 and was joined there by SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104), which stepped up from #5. KRLD slid from #3 to #6.

KKDA moved into first place 18-34 by landing its largest share in over a year. KDMX rose from #5 to #2 with a rather large share increase, while KDGE slipped from #1 to #3 with a slight decrease. It was tied with KVIL, which dropped down a spot with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) remained at #5, while URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBFB (97.9 THE BEAT) slid from #3 to #6.

KDMX and KKDA ended two-book slides as they rose to #1 and #2, respectively, 18-49. KLNO halted a two-book winning streak as it slipped from #1 to #3. KVIL advanced from #7 to #4, while KDGE repeated at #5. It was joined in that space by KHKS, which moved up from #8 as it regained last month’s lost share. KJKK went from #5 to #7, while KRLD fell from #3 to #8.

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Ten For Ten

For the tenth straight survey iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) and URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) were #1 and #2, respectively, 6+. KODA (9.0-8.6) still had a strong lead over KMJQ (7.1-7.2). URBAN ONE Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5) was up to #3 with its highest share in over a year (5.5-6.4). HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ was up to #4 (5.3-5.6), while URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q) rose to #5 (5.2-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ) slid from #3 to #6 (5.6-5.1). KODA added 7.1% to its #1 cume total (1,766,700-1,892,800). The market was up by 2.5%.

Despite a down book KTBZ extended its 25-54 winning streak to four. KODA was back at #2 and was a little more than a share off the pace. KSBJ repeated at #3, while KMJQ remained at #4. Both stations had solid increases. AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) inched up to #5 with its best showing in over a year. TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOVE (AMOR 106.5) was close behind at #6 with its largest share since JUNE. AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) slipped to #7 with a slight decrease.

KTBZ was #1 18-34 for the fifth book in a row, the last four of which were in double figures. KKHH advanced two places to #2, again with its best outing in over a year. However, the station was about four shares off the lead. KODA dipped to #3 with its smallest share since AUGUST. It joined up with the stationary KGLK, which posted a slight increase. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX) stepped up to #5 with a strong share increase.

The top three 18-49 stations were the same as last month. KTBZ was #1, followed by KODA at #2. Both stations had down books. KSBJ repeated at #3 with a slight increase. KKHH and KOVE rose together from #5 to #4. KHMX slipped from #4 to #7 with a slight decrease and was tied with KBXX.

We’ve only just begun. More markets and more numbers are still waiting to be crunched. Waiting in the queue are SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. They will be in your inbox tomorrow.

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Bot Bait

June 11, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

Radio has been fighting—and losing—the digital wars for far too long. Our once vaunted advertising medium is considered passe in too many circles. The bright shiny promise of a brave new digital world has hypnotized too many products and services into thinking that this is the only way to compete.

If only there was an alternative narrative.

Photo by Alex Knight from Pexels.

Here’s one. According to a recently released study by Cloudflare, bots and AI agents now outnumber humans in the digital realm. According to their study, 57.4% of internet traffic is generated by bots. That means only 42.6% is coming from humans.

The fraud in digital advertising has been well documented and is likely growing. That potential advertiser who touts all their “traffic” may not be aware that more than half of the visits to their web site are not potential customers.

But wait, there’s more.

According to an article by NBC news, humans may visit five web sites before making a purchase while bots will “visit” 5,000 (oh, and they don’t make purchases). Additionally, user-driven AI requests account for just 3% of all traffic.

Imagine, if you will, that more than half the listeners to your radio station were actually machines. (Insert your favorite listener joke here).

Advertisers often say Google is their number one referral tool. However, radio is a prime driver of awareness for those Google searches. Yes, things like SEO are important. Google is today’s version of the Yellow Pages (look that up, kids). Radio plants the seed in the minds of real people who use that knowledge to look for more detail on products they are interested in. You could say radio is a prime catalyst for that process.

This is not to say digital advertising is bad. It has a place in any media mix. But Radio not only delivers results – it reaches actual human beings.

Our strength is that human to human connection. Studies like the one cited above point to the urgent need for radio to invest in that human capital. Expand our emotional involvement with our audience. Develop a level of trust AI agents cannot deliver.

Not yet, anyway.

Here is the NBC article I referenced.

Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com

Selling Community

June 4, 2026

Filed Under: Hot Topics

Mark Ritson recently wrote a column in The Drum about the decline of Peloton. The company was built on selling bicycles. Roughly 75% of their sales were product based, while the remainder of their income was from subscription sales. Their rise was fueled by the pandemic and their decline stemmed from people’s desire to get back in the gym. Peloton lost their “must have” status because they were not able to develop a sense of community around their participation model. (Google their stock trajectory.)

Image by Stocksnap from Pixabay.

I couldn’t help but think of the parallels to radio.

As a free platform, we were a must-have item. We had radios everywhere. Now, we’re trying to hold on to our last stronghold—the car. We gave people information, companionship, and music at work that everyone can agree on.

There was a time when we actually valued our connection to community.

Unfortunately, consolidation and the annual budget cuts/layoffs have eroded that bond with our audience. While we were able to weather the portability of recorded music, we were not primed to combat the on-demand world.

As Ritson points out, back during Covid, if you saw a Peloton on your Zoom call you thought, “Cool.” Now, when you see one you ask, “Why?”

Fortunately for us, the radio industry is in a much stronger financial position than Peloton. We hear a lot about our ultimate demise, but we still reach a significant portion of the American public every day. And we continue to excel as an advertising medium.

The question is, is our current trajectory sustainable? Can we afford to continue to ignore our local communities? Can we afford to continue to cut back on talent? Can we afford the lack of a pipeline for new talent?

Radio once offered the element of surprise to our listeners. Conservative programming, the fear of “tune outs,” and the dogged pursuit of creating a product that plays it safe every day has taken us from “must have” to “nice to have.” That does not engender passion.

Everyone I have ever met or worked with in radio got into the business because they loved it. They loved the challenges, the people, and the competition. That passion fueled what came out of the speakers.

Have we lost that passion or are we just afraid to translate that into compelling content because one meter might switch off?

A lot of people who are much smarter than me have been saying similar things for years. I read about it weekly in the trades.

Radio became great because we took chances. We risked doing something that did not appeal to everyone, all the time. Those actions developed loyal audiences. They brought us repeat customers. They created communities.

That magic still exists…if we want it to.

If you still believe in great radio, call us. You’re the kind of person who appreciates and values the services and insights we provide.

Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com

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