August 13, 2026
The bell has rung for the final lap of the JULY ratings race. What have we learned? Welp, predicting what will happen in any market is an inexact science. Some remain fixated on their previous positions, while others fluctuate wildly. You would think that since we have deep knowledge and experience in these matters, we could make a fortune on something like KALSHI. But betting on the meters may not be a sound investment.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC—along with the power players from XTRENDS—do our level best to give you insight and perspective every month. This one ran from JUNE 25TH through JULY 22ND. While radio folk were focused on the AC format, everyone else was focused on the AC thermostat.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: More Dove Love
For the sixth book in a row, COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was the runaway 6+ leader (11.0-9.9). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) flew up to #2 as it bounced back from a down book (5.6-6.1). RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) repeated at #3 (5.8-5.9), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) slipped to #4 as it surrendered most of last month’s share increase (6.0-5.4). BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) dipped to #5 with its smallest share since the geese were making more geese (5.6-5.2). Despite a 5.4% drop, WDUV remained in cume control (626,200-592,300). The market was down 1.2%.
There was a changing of the 25-54 guards as WDUV’s five-book winning string came to an end. The station moved down to #3. Two stations replaced it at #1. WRBQ rose from #3 as it rebounded from a down book, while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) advanced from #4 with its third up book in a row. Also coming in at #3 was COX MEDIA Hot AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9), which moved up from #5 with a slight increase. WMTX slid from #2 to #5 with its smallest share since MARCH. WCIE dipped to #6 and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ).
The 18-34 contest was both shaken and stirred. WXGL vaulted from #14 to #1 as it more than doubled its last number. It was being chased by three stations at #2, all of which improved their previous status. WCIE was up from #4 with a small share loss, while WFLZ rose from #5 with a slight increase. WWRM moved up from #6 as it regained a small portion of last month’s massive share loss. WDUV snapped its four-book winning string and dropped down to #5. It was met there by COX MEDIA Urban AC WTBV (101.5 THE VIBE), which was up from #8 with its largest share since SEPTEMBER. WXTB and WMTX were last seen at #2 and #3, respectively. They fell as one into a tie at #7.
Though WMTX returned all of last survey’s increase, the station still managed to repeat at #1 18-49. WWRM was up two slots to #2 with a slight increase and was paired with WFLZ, which advanced from #7 with its highest score since MARCH. They trailed the leader by less than a half share. WCIE stepped down to #4 with its lowest mark since AUGUST. WDUV slipped from #2 to #5 and was joined there by WRBQ, which rose from #8. WXTB slid from #4 to #7 but was very close to remaining in the top five.
DENVER-BOULDER: It’s Cozy, Not Koozie
Just wanted to clear up any confusion. For the third book in a row, BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) was #1 6+ (6.9-6.9). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO rose to #2 with its best outing since SEPTEMBER (5.3-6.0). AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) slid to #3 with its smallest share since OCTOBER (6.0-5.2). It was tied with the stationary iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3), which returned all of last month’s share gain (5.7-5.2). Also landing in third place was AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9), which rose from a tie at #6 as it ended a two-book slide (4.8-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO just missed joining that party as it stayed behind at #6 (4.8-5.1). KSE MEDIA Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) went from #4 to #7 with its lowest total since JANUARY (5.3-4.9). KOSI kept the cume lead despite a 6.8% decline (488,200-455,100). The market was off 0.6%.
KTCL continued to be the dominant 25-54 player. While it was flat this month it did extend its string of #1 books to seven. KALC inched up to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. KOSI dipped to #3 with a slight decrease. Two stations came charging up the chart to land at #4. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 93.7) advanced from #9 with its best showing in over a year. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) leapt from #7 with its highest score since AUGUST. KQMT and KXKL were tied at #4. They fell to #7 and #8, respectively.
KXPK exploded in the 18-34 realm. The station more than doubled last month’s share, landed in double figures, and moved from #3 to #1. This ended KTCL’s three-book winning streak though it did land its fourth double-digit book in a row. KOSI and KDHT moved their pairing from #4 to #3 with large share increases. KXKL slid from #2 to #5 and was joined there by COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO N/T KCFR, which advanced from #8 with its best showing in over a year. KQMT and KSE MEDIA Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) fell together from #4 to #9.
While KXPK was not quite as explosive 18-49, the station did go from #4 to #1 with its highest total in over a year. Once again, KTCL dipped to #2 as its three-book winning streak was halted. KOSI dipped to #3 with a slight increase. KALC and KDHT moved as a unit from #5 to #4 with solid increases. KXKL slid from #3 to #6.
SAN DIEGO: Sunny Side Of The Street
We’re running out of headline cliches for AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1). The station was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row (7.5-7.8). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS was back at #2 (6.5-6.4), while GROUPO IMAGEN Spanish AC XLTN (RADIO LATINA 104.5FM) rose two places to #3 with its best showing in over a year (5.0-5.6). AUDACY AC KYXY dipped to #4 (5.3-5.3), while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) remained at #5 (5.0-5.0). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) landed its smallest share in over a year as it fell from #3 to #7 (5.3-4.3). It was paired with TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5), which moved up a spot (4.2-4.3). KXSN was still the cume leader with a 0.2% decrease (597,200-596,300). The market was down 0.3%.
In JUNE, KXSN and LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X) shared the 25-54 lead. KXSN remained in place with a small increase, while XTRA moved down to #3 as it returned most of last month’s huge increase. In between them was KLNV, which vaulted from #9 to #2 with its largest number since NOVEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) dipped to #4 with its lowest mark since we were pretending a snowman was a member of the clergy. KMYI stepped up to #4 with a slight decrease, while XHRM went from #3 to #6.
KXSN was #1 18-34 for the fifth straight survey and hit the double-digit number in the process. KMYI inched to #2 though it gave up a chunk of last month’s increase. XLTN was up two places to #3 with a small increase. It was paired with KPBS, which advanced from #8 with its highest score in over a year. XTRA slipped from #2 to #5. It was partnered with KYXY, down from #4, and KLNV, up from #6.
For the third month in a row, KXSN was #1 18-49. KLNV rose from #5 to #2 and was about a half share off the lead. KMYI inched up to #3 with a slight increase, while XHRM dipped to #4. XTRA fell from #2 to #5 as it lost about half of last month’s rather large increase. KYXY stepped down to #6 with a small decrease.
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CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: Annnd…We’re Back
After taking last month off, UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE was back at #1 6+ for the third time in the last four books (5.9-7.0). This relegated iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) down to #2 (6.7-6.6). PACIFIC BROADCASTING Classic Hits WXRC (95.7FM THE RIDE) motored down to #3 as it stopped a strong three-book surge (6.6-6.0). It was double parked with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX), which advanced from #7 with its best book in over a year (5.2-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) repeated at #5 (5.8-5.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) fell from a tie at #3 to #10 with its lowest score since MARCH (5.9-4.7). WLKO still wore the cume crown despite a 5.3% decline (554,700-525,100). The market was down 1.5%.
WEND did end a strong three-book surge but the station was #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey. However, its margin over #2 WRFX shrank from over two and a half shares to less than a half point. WLKO was back at #3 as it regained all of last month’s lost share. WFAE repeated at #4 as it bounced back from a down book. WKKT and BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98) traded spaces with the former up to #5 and the latter down to #6.
Two books ago NORSAN Mexican Regional WOLS (LA RAZA 106.1) was #15 18-34. Last month it vaulted to #2 and this time it landed at #1 and in double figures. WRFX moved up to #2 with a solid increase, while WEND slipped to #3 as it left double-digit land. BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7FM) jumped from #7 to #4 as it regained some of last survey’s massive share loss. WLKO remained at #5 and was partnered with WFAE, which rose from #10 as it recovered from a down book. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1), in perhaps its last full survey fell from #3 to #7 as it surrendered most of last month’s large increase. It was not alone in that space. BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9) slipped from #5 to #7. But wait, there’s more. WXRC stepped up from #8, while NORSAN Spanish Tropical WGSP (LATINA 102.3/107.5) rose from #15. It was #23 just two books ago.
Those sly folks at WRFX stepped up to #1 18-49, which ended the two-book run at #1 for WEND. It dipped to #2 and was a share off the lead. WFAE inched up to #3 as it got back some of last month’s share loss. It was paired with WOLS, which advanced from #8 with a huge share gain. WKQC and WLKO moved their partnership from #6 to #5, They were flat. WPEG slipped to #7 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER, while WNKS fell from #3 to #8.
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): For The Wins
This was the seventh straight 6+ win for AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) (7.7-7.0). IHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) rocketed from #9 to #2 with its largest Frosty-free share in over a year (4.2-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) dipped to #3 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY (6.8-5.9). AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS Radio 101.9FM/66AM) was as flat as the YANKEES without AARON JUDGE as it stepped down to #4 (5.7-5.7). RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A was back at #5 (5.2-5.5). It narrowly defeated CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM), which held steady at #6 but with its best book since FEBRUARY (4.8-5.4). COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI slipped three places to #7 (5.3-5.2). Moving from #4 to #1 in the cume parade was WLTW, thanks to a 7.6% increase (367,300-395,200). The market was off by 4.1%.
WHTZ was a solid #1 25-54 for the fifth straight survey. However, it could not build upon its two-book double-digit streak. WALK remained at #2 as it bounced back from a down book, while WLTW inched up to #3 with a rather large share gain. WBLI moved down to #4 with its lowest score since some dude named Jack was invading our personal spaces. It was partnered with two other stations. WFAN was up a spot with a slight increase, while AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) rose from #9 as it recovered from a down book.
It was a good month to be WLTW. The station jumped from #5 to #1 18-34, more than doubling its last book and hitting double figures. WALK repeated at #2 with a slight increase but was about three shares in arrears. This stopped the three-book winning string for WBLI, which drifted down to #3 with its first down book since JANUARY. MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS advanced from #11 to #4 as it also more than doubled its previous share. WHTZ slid from #2 to #5, while CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) went from #4 to #6. Both stations had noticeable share losses. AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS fell from #5 into a tie at #9 with CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF).
WLTW didn’t quite double last month’s share, but it did quite well as it rose from #4 to #1 18-49. This stopped the four-book winning string for WHTZ, which dipped to #2. WALK remained at #3 with a small increase, while WBLI slipped two places to #4. WFAN was back at #5 with a small increase. It was joined there by WNEW, which advanced from #10.
Thanks for slogging along with us. Less than four weeks from now AUGUST will be here. It…just…never…ends. We’re always open to your thoughts, suggestions, critiques, and complaints about this here missive. A real human will answer this email: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com.
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August 12, 2026
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the data diviners from XTRENDS—are back to take another stab at the JULY ratings scene. Perhaps “stab” is not the best choice of words. That does imply a potentially inappropriate level of aggressiveness. We’re here to massage the numbers. No, that’s not right. How about—we’re all about parsing the numbers while providing perspective and context.
Yea, that sounds much more professional.
The JULY book ran from JUNE 25TH through JULY 22ND. There were no major holiday breaks, but we were contending with heat domes, wildfires, dogs and cats living together. Let’s see what happened:
MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Miami Vise
There were six stations atop the 6+ leaderboard all within a share of first place. AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) moved from #3 to #1 (5.8-6.0), while COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) was back at #2 (5.9-5.9). AUDACY Classic Hits WMXH (102.7 THE BEACH) leapt from #7 to #3 with its best outing since DECEMBER (5.2-5.5). COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105) remained at #4 (5.7-5.4), while iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) dropped from #1 to #5 (6.1-5.1). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5) repeated at #6 (5.3-5.0), while SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3) slipped to #7 (5.5-4.6). Making a big move was EMF Contemporary Christian WMLV (K-LOVE), which rose from #15 to #8 with its third up book in a row (3.1-4.2). WLYF continued to lead the cume wars with a 1.5% decline (714,200-703,800). The market was down 2.1%.
WLYF was #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey. WFEZ continued at #2 and trailed the leader by a half share. WMXJ stepped up to #3, while WHQT inched up to #4. Both stations had small share losses. WMLV vaulted from #12 to #5 with its highest score in over a year. It was tied with COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3), which moved up a spot. WMIA dropped from #3 to #7 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY. It was paired with AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOW (POWER 96).
Not only was COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) #1 18-34 for the third book in a row, the station barreled through the double-digit barrier. WLYF remained at #2 but with a massive share increase. These two stations clearly outdistanced the rest of the field. WFEZ advanced from #7 to #3 with its best book since AUGUST. WMIA slipped to #4 and was met there by WPOW, which rose from #7 with its highest mark in over a year. Last month there were three stations resting at #4. WFLC slipped to #6, while WHQT dropped into a tie at #7 with WCMQ. WMXJ fell all the way to #11 and was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT).
WLYF was the 18-49 leader for the fourth book in a row. WEDR jumped from #5 to #2 with its best showing in over a year. WMLV accomplished the same feat as it advanced from #11 to #3. WPOW rose from #8 to #4, while two stations were residing at #5. WFLC remained in place and was joined by WHQT, which slid from a tie at #2. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBGG (BIG 105.9) went from #5 to #7. WMIA and WMXJ were previously spotted at #2T and #4. They dropped into a tie at #8.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: No Tunes For You
For the fourth straight survey, the top two 6+ stations were lacking a playlist. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 (7.4-7.7), while BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) was #2 (7.3-6.4). The next two stations rebounded from down books. AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) moved up to #3 (4.9-5.5), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK made its way from #7 to #4 (4.5-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) taxied down to #5 with its smallest share since a certain sleigh was on the radar (6.2-5.0). CRISTA Contemporary Christian KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) dipped to #6 (4.7-4.6). KJEB remained on top of the cume heap despite a 10.2% drop (669,500-601,300). The market was off by 1.9%.
KISW was the leading 25-54 station for the fourth book in a row. AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) jumped from #5 to #2 with its best book in a year but was still about a share behind its cluster bruh. KIRO-A stepped down to #3 as it ended a four-book surge, while KUOW dipped to #4 with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) stepped up to #5, also with a slight increase. KJEB descended from #3 to #7.
KIRO-A repeated as the 18-34 leader but was forced to share as KISW moved up from #2. Both stations had down books. KBKS was up to #3 with its best outing since JANUARY, while KNDD moved from #6 to #4 with a small share gain. KCMS was up two places to #5 with its highest mark in over a year. It was tied with AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF), which dipped from #4 with its third straight down book. KJEB fell from #2 into a four-way tie at #7.
The 18-49 race was very close. KISW moved up to #1, while KNDD stepped up to #2. They were separated by a slim margin. KIRO-A went from first to third, while KBKS remained at #4 but with its fourth straight up book. HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) moved up to #5 with its best showing since JANUARY. KKWF slipped to #6 as it ended a strong three-book surge.
PHOENIX: Sharing Is Caring
While they may not be sitting around a campfire singing Kumbaya, two stations did move up and into a share of the 6+ lead. iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) inched up from #2 (6.6-6.4), while HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX rose from #3 as it bounced back from a down book (5.4-6.4). Last month’s leader was iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A and it went from first to third (6.7-6.0). MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KJZZ moved up to #4 (4.8-4.9), which pushed iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) down to #5 (5.1-4.7). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX dipped to #6 (4.8-4.5). Despite a 7.5% drop KESZ still had the most listeners (913,800-845,500). The market dropped by 0.8%.
KESZ turned it up to eleven, capturing the 25-54 flag for the eleventh straight survey. KYOT stood alone at #2 but was nearly two shares off the pace. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD moved down to #3 as its three-book surge ground to a halt. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5) remained at #4 with its smallest share since JANUARY. It was joined there by iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9), which vaulted from #16 with its best showing since SEPTEMBER. KSLX dipped to #6 with a small decrease. It was met there by TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOMR (AMOR 106.3), which rose from #8.
KESZ moved back up to #1 18-34 with its best Frosty-free share in exactly a year. This ended the two-book winning string for KYOT, which moved down to #2. KUPD was back at #3 and was tied with AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5), which stepped up from #4. Both stations had down books. They were partnered with another station as KOMR advanced from #12 with its largest share in over a year. KNIX slipped to #7 and was paired with KMXP, which rose from #13.
KESZ swapped places with KUPD to become the 18-49 winner. Both stations had down books. As did KYOT, which remained at #3. KALV repeated at #4 and was tied with KMXP, which rocketed up from #16. ZELUS Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9) also moved up to #4 with a slight increase.
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DETROIT: Same Time, Same Station
The 6+ chart was relatively unchanged from JUNE. Same players, slightly different arrangement. AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was #1 for the seventh straight survey (9.3-9.2). Coming in at #2 for the third book in a row was AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC (8.1-7.5). AUDACY Country WYCD repeated at #3 (7.2-7.2). iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC stepped up to #4 as it rebounded from a down book (5.8-6.4). This pushed iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.5) down to #5 (6.5-6.1). WNIC may have lost 9.3% of its listening audience but it was still #1 in your cume program (1,004,600-911,500). The market shrank by 2.4%.
WXYT continued to dominate the 25-54 space. The station was #1—and in double figures—for the seventh straight survey. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF remained at #2 but managed to narrow the deficit to two shares. WRIF was also up for the fourth book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) was up two places to #3 as it halted a three-book slide. WOMC repeated at #4 with a slight decrease, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB slid to #5 with its lowest total since JANUARY.
A lot happened in the 18-34 world. WJLB was #1 for the fourth book in a row and just missed extending its double-digit string to five. WRIF moved up to claim its share of the lead and also narrowly missed double figures. Just three surveys ago WRIF sat at 11. WKQI dipped to #3 and was less than a half share behind the leaders. WYCD stepped up to #4 with its largest share in over a year. WXYT dipped to #5 with a slight decrease, while WOMC moved down to #6.
WRIF was up 18-49 for the fourth book in a row and posted its best number in over a year as it moved up to #1. WXYT was up to #2 with a slight increase. WJLB went from #1 to #3 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY. WKQI maintained its #4 presence with a solid increase, while WYCD inched up to #5, again with its best outing in over a year. WOMC went from #4 to #6 with a small share loss.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Hitting The Fan
Keen observers of this missive have noticed that the ratings picture in some markets is somewhat incomplete. We are bound by duty and law to only list those stations that subscribe to NIELSEN. The delisted stations are still on the air, still attract listeners, and still serve advertisers. If we shared their numbers with you, well, we’d have to kill you—and no one wants that. Now, back to the countdown…
After falling to #3 6+ last month, iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN FM 100.3) was back on top this survey (7.2-8.2). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) stepped down to #2 (8.0-7.5), while iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) dipped to #3 (7.3-7.3). MPR N/T KNOW was back at #4 (6.8-6.8). The station did generate a 0.7 share from cyberspace. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS moved up two slots to #5 (5.3-5.8), while HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) was back at #6 (5.7-5.6). AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) slipped to #7 with its first down book since MARCH (6.0-5.4). It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB, which moved up from #9 (5.2-5.4). KQQL remained the cume leader with a 4.6% decline (750,400-715,900). The market was down 0.8%.
KFXN remained hot 25-54. The station was #1 for the twelfth time in the last 14 surveys and in double figures for the 13th time during that span. MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) stepped up to #2 with its highest mark since DECEMBER. KQQL dipped to #3 as it returned all of last month’s increase, plus a bit more. KEEY moved up to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KDWB repeated at #5 with a slight decrease.
KQQL was both #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the third book in a row. KCMP leapt from #5 to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. It remained about two shares off the lead. KZJK held steady at #3 with a small decrease, while two stations were nestled together at #4. KDWB dropped from #2 with its lowest total since MARCH, while KEEY inched up from #5 with a slight decrease.
Thirteen out of fourteen. That’s how many times KFXN has been #1 and in double-digits 18-49 over the last year. The rest of the top five was the same as before. KCMP finished in second place for the seventh straight survey, while KDWB was back at #3 though it ended a three-book surge. KQQL was again at #4, while a flat KZJK repeated at #5.
But wait…there’s more. Stay tuned for TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.
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As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. stand ready to help you grow your ratings and revenue. Click the link below to get the gruesome details.
About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or email
info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
August 11, 2026
Ahh. JULY. When the radio ratings arrive with all the urgency of a heat advisory: people are traveling, sweating, dodging headlines, and (hopefully) remembering there is still a radio in their car. The real world has been doing its level best to steal quarter-hours, one beach trip, traffic jam, and breaking-news alert at a time.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in cahoots with the algorithmic alchemists from XTRENDS—are here to break it all down just for you. It’s the personal touch that means so much. The book ran from JUNE 25TH through JULY 22ND. And it was hot! (How hot was it?) …insert your own punch line here.
SAN FRANCISCO: Same Old Song & Dance
Except the top two 6+ stations were neither singing nor shuffling. KQED INC. N/T KQED was #1 for the seventh straight survey (10.0-10.3). AUDACY News KCBS repeated at #2 but with its highest share in over a year (8.5-8.9). CONNOISSEUR AC KOIT was back as the leading music station at #3 (5.4-5.0), while iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) held steady at #4 (4.7-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) stood alone at #5 (4.1-4.2), while CONNOISSEUR Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) dipped to #6 with its smallest share since Mom and Santa were engaged in some questionable behavior (4.1-3.8). If you do the math (and we did) the top two spoken word stations had more share than the next four music stations combined. KOIT was still in cume control despite a 2.9% drop (1,077,500-1,046,500). The market was off 0.9%.
KQED repeated as the 25-54 winner and had a bit more than a half share lead over KOIT, which remained at #2 with its third up book in a row. A flat KIOI held firm at #3, while KISQ was up two places to #4 with a slight increase. AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) moved from #7 to #5, also with a slight increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) and KMVQ were previously at #4 and #5, respectively. They fell together and landed in a heap at #6.
Not only was KOIT #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row but the station landed its largest Frosty-free share in over a year. SBS Mexican Regional KRZZ (93.3 LA RAZA) more than doubled last month’s number as it vaulted from #6 to #2. It was less than a half share behind the leader. KMVQ stepped down to #3 with a slight decrease, while KIOI went from a tie at #3 to #4 with its lowest total since MARCH. Three stations were lumped together at #5. KISQ slipped from a tie at #3 while KITS remained in place. Both stations had down books. KYLD advanced from a tie at #10 as it ended a steep three-book slide.
A flat KOIT stood alone at #1 18-49. KIOI stepped up to a close #2 with a slight decrease. KQED and KISQ were also flat as they rose to #3 and #4 respectively. KYLD dropped from a share of first place to #5 as it returned all of last month’s increase, plus a bit extra. KMVQ slid from a tie at #3 into an arrangement at #6 with KITS.
ATLANTA: The Heat Is On…
Today’s ear worm. You’re welcome. The top of the 6+ leaderboard was a hot mess with four stations virtually tied for the lead. COX MEDIA N/T WSB-A was back at #1 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY (7.5-6.6). It was joined there by AUDACY Urban AC WVEE (V-103), which advanced from #6 as it bounced back from a down book (5.5-6.6). Two stations were close behind at #3. URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC 107.5/97.5) dipped from #2 (6.8-6.5), while COX MEDIA Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 THE RIVER) stepped up from #4 (6.0-6.5). CITY OF ATLANTA BOE N/T WABE moved from #7 to #5 with its fourth up book in a row (4.9-5.3). Two stations exited the top five with their lowest shares in over a year. COX MEDIA Urban AC WALR (KISS 104.1) went from #3 to #6 (6.1-5.0), while COX MEDIA AC WSB-F (B98.5) dropped from #4 to #7 (6.0-4.9). WSB-F still had the cume lead despite a 3.5% decline (765,200-738,500). The market fell by 1.8%.
WVEE landed its largest 25-54 share in over a year as it stepped up to #1. This ended the three-book winning string for WAMJ, which dipped to #2 and was more than a share and a half off the pace. WSRV inched up to #3, while AUDACY Sports WZGC (92.9 THE GAME) was up to #4. Both stations had slight decreases. WSB-A went from #7 to #5 as it halted a three-book slide. WSB-F dropped three places to #6, while WALR slipped from #5 into a tie at #7 with URBAN ONE Urban Contemporary WHTA (HOT 107.9), which posted its best number in over a year.
Despite a slight decrease, WSRV moved up to #1 18-34. This pushed WSB-F, which again landed its smallest share in over a year, down to #2. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #3. WZGC rose from #6 with a slight increase, while WVEE advanced from #9 as it regained some of last month’s large share loss. WAMJ moved up two slots to #5 with a slight increase. It was tied with the stationary WALR. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WRDG (96.1 THE BEAT) dropped from #4 to #8 and was paired with WSB-A, which moved up from #11.
WVEE ended a three-book slide as it moved up to #1 18-49. A flat WAMJ was up to #2, while WSRV moved up to #3 with a small share gain. WSB-F went from first to fourth, while WZGC was back at #5.
WASHINGTON, DC: Double Speak
Not to imply anything Orwellian but, as usual, the top 6+ stations were all about the info. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU was #1 for the third book in a row as it extended its double-digit streak to five (12.5-11.3). HUBBARD News WTOP was back at #2 and in double figures again (9.8-10.3). ATLANTIC GATEWAY Contemporary Christian WGTS became the leading purveyor of music as it stepped up to #3 (5.5-5.7). HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR dipped to #4 (5.6-5.6), while two stations were in fifth place. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) repeated in that spot (5.4-5.5). It was paired with iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH, which stepped up from #6 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year (4.7-5.5). After two books at #2, WASH ousted WTOP as the cume leader thanks to a 6.9% increase (750,900-802,900). The market was up 0.4%.
WAMU was #1 25-54 for the seventh straight survey but was unable to extend its double-digit streak past five. WWDC repeated at #2, though the station did stop a three-book surge. WTOP remained at #3 as it halted a four-book skid. WGTS held steady at #4 with a slight decrease, while WASH was again at #5 with a small share gain.
It was an impressive 18-34 performance for WASH. The station moved back to #1 and in double figures as it came close to doubling last month’s number. WWDC stepped up to #2 with its best book since AUGUST. It was tied with last survey’s leader, iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100), which moved down with a small increase. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIHT (HOT 99.5) repeated at #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Country WMZQ moved up two spots to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. WGTS fell from a tie at #4 to #10 with its smallest share in over a year.
Despite a down book, WAMU was #1 18-49 for the third straight survey. WASH vaulted from #6 to #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WWDC dipped to #3 as it bounced back from a down book. WTOP stepped down to #4 with its fifth down book in a row. WHUR remained at #5 with a slight increase. WGTS slipped from a tie at #3 to #6.
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PHILADELPHIA: Moving Day
There was a flurry of activity atop the 6+ leaderboard. In JUNE, AUDACY Sports WIP (94WIP SPORTSRADIO) and BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR were the co-leaders. Both stations went 7.1-6.4 as they landed together at #4. This paved the way for AUDACY AC WBEB (B101) to move from #3 to #1 with its best Frosty-free performance in over a year (6.6-7.7). BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK rose from #5 to #2 with its highest score since AUGUST (6.3-7.4). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS remained a rock of consistency at #3 with its best outing in over a year (6.6-7.1). WBEB still attracted the most meters (1,119,100-1,076,300) – a 3.8% decline. The market fell by 3.3%.
Despite a large share loss, WMMR was #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey. WBEB repeated at #2 with a down book and was paired with WDAS, which stepped up from #3 with a solid increase. That duo was a half share off the lead. WIP remained at #4 with a slight increase, while WMGK stepped up to #5, again with its best showing since AUGUST. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WUSL (POWER 99) dipped to #6 with a slight increase.
WBEB was back at #1 18-34 but was forced to share as BEASLEY Country WXTU (92.5 XTU) stepped up from #3 to forge the tie. WMMR leapt from #6 to #3 with its third up book in a row. Four stations were muddling about at #4. WMGK and BEASLEY Adult Hits WBEN (95.7 BEN FM) remained in place with small decreases. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (ALT 104.5) drifted down from #2 as it halted a robust four-book surge. WUSL advanced from #9 as it halted a three-book slide.
WBEB moved up to #1 18-49 despite a small share loss. This ended the three-book winning string for WMMR, which moved down to #2. The stations were separated by very little. WMGK vaulted from #7 to #3, while WIP dipped to #4 with a slight decrease. WUSL and WXTU went in tandem from #4 to #5 with slight increases.
BOSTON: Listener Supported Radio
That is true in more ways that one as BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR moved back to #1 6+ with its best book in over a year (5.9-6.8). This forced AUDACY AC WMJX (MAGIC 106.7) down to #2 (6.6-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WXKS (KISS 108) moved from #5 to #3 with its best showing in over a year (5.2-6.2). BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR slipped to #4 (6.0-5.8), while AUDACY Hot AC WBMX (MIX 104.1) dipped to #5 (5.6-5.6). WMJX retained the cume crown despite a 3.0% decrease (872,200-846,100). The market was down 1.8%.
The 25-54 race became a lot closer this month. WBMX was back at #1 with a down book, while WXKS repeated at #2 with an up book. The gap between the two stations went from than a share to less than a half share. BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (98.5 THE SPORTS HUB) stepped up to #3, while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX rose two places to #4. Both stations were flat. WMJX dipped to #5 with a small decrease, while WBUR dropped from #3 to #6 with its lowest total since MARCH.
Despite a down book WMJX was #1 18-34 for the ninth book in a row. WBMX moved from #4 to #2 with its best outing since AUGUST but was still more than a share off the lead. Last month iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR WJMN (JAM’N 94.5) leapt from #8 to #2 while more than doubling its number. This time the station surrendered a good portion of that increase as it dipped to #3. It was paired with WXKS was up from #5 with a large share increase. WROR slid to #5 ending a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZRM (RUMBA 97.7) slipped to #7 and was tied with BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT 96.9).
WXKS landed its largest 18-49 share in over a year as it rose to #1. WBMX moved down to #2 with a small increase, while a flat WMJX was back at #3. WBUR stepped up to #4 with a slight increase, while WJMN slid to #5 as it gave back most of last month’s large share increase.
How hot was it? The cows were making evaporated milk (rimshot). Hey, we’re here all week. Don’t forget to tip your waitstaff. We’ll be back with 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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About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or email
info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
August 10, 2026
There is reality and then there is radio ratings reality. The glorious disconnect between the two is spurious at best. Out in the wild, people are slapping mosquitoes, screaming over jet skis, and arguing about who forgot the bag of ice. Meanwhile, inside the spreadsheet, that very same chaotic chaos is translated into neat little decimal points representing cumulative reach and listener loyalty. It is a world where an extra three minutes of air conditioning in a grocery store parking lot can rewrite the fortune of a morning drive show. We do, however, applaud NIELSEN for their steadfast dedication to order, quietly quantifying the unquantifiable while the rest of humanity is just trying not to get sunburned.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the tall, tanned and lovely numbers crunchers from XTRENDS—bring you the JULY book. It ran from JUNE 25TH through JULY 22ND and it was hot, damned hot.
NEW YORK: Summer In The City
The heat on the street led to stagnation atop the 6+ leaderboard as the top five was unchanged from last month. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) was #1 for the fifth book in a row (7.5-7.9). AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was back at #2 with its best showing since FEBRUARY (7.1-7.4). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS repeated at #3 (5.8-5.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) remained at #4 (5.6-5.2). Rounding out the top five again was iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) (4.9-4.8). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS ended a three-book slide as it rose from #11 to #6 (3.7-4.5). WLTW was still in cume control (3,801,500-3,791,300)—a 0.3% decline. The market fell by 2.6%.
After a two-book hiatus, WLTW was back at #1 25-54 with its best Frosty-free share since NOVEMBER. WHTZ dipped to #2 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU) remained at #3, while WINS advanced from #7 to #4. Both stations landed their largest shares in over a year. WCBS stepped down to #5 with a slight decrease, while a flat iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) slipped to #6.
Not only was WLTW #1 18-34 for the tenth book in a row, the station also cracked double figures. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) rebounded from a down book as it leapt from #8 to #2. WHTZ moved down to #3 with a slight increase, while WAXQ stepped up to #4 with its best outing in over a year. WBLS turned it up from #11 to #5 ending another three-book skid. Three stations dropped out of the top five. MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97) went from #4 to #7 as it returned most of last month’s increase. SBS Spanish Contemporary WPAT (93.1 AMOR) went from #3 to #8, while WCBS fell from #5 to #10 with its smallest share in over a year.
WLTW was back at #1 18-49 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WHTZ remained at #2 and was about two shares off the lead. WKTU repeated at #3 and was paired with WNEW, which moved up from #5. WINS vaulted from #11 to #5 with its highest score in over a year. WQHT slid from #4 to #8.
LOS ANGELES: Big Time
As a wise basketball coach said, luck is when preparation meets opportunity. iHEARTMEDIA Hot KBIG (104.3 MYFM) was ready for its closeup as it moved up to #1 6+ (6.2-6.2). AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101.1) stepped up to #2 (5.8-5.9). This ended the eight-book winning string for iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST, which drifted down to #3 with its smallest share since OCTOBER (6.5-5.8). AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE) rose to #4 with its highest water mark since SEPTEMBER (4.3-4.8). AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) dipped to #5 (4.6-4.7), while iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFI-A stepped down to #6 (4.5-4.4). KOST still had the most listeners despite a 9.3% drop (2,371,100-2,150,400). The market was down 2.2%.
Despite a down book, KBIG was #1 25-54 for the fifth straight survey. However, its lead over #2 KRTH shrank to a half share. Last month the #5 position was the Alternative battleground as both AUDACY Alternative KROQ and iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) occupied that space. KROQ was up to #3 with a solid increase, while KYSR inched up to #4 with a slight decrease. KOST and KCBS were last seen at #3 and #4, respectively. Both stations had down books as they landed together at #5.
KRTH got some major ratings love as it stepped up to #1 18-34 with its best book since NOVEMBER. KTWV was up to #2 with its highest mark in over a year. This ended another eight-book winning string for KOST, which slipped to #3. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary KRRL (REAL 92.3) and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) were previously partners at #7. KRRL rose to #4, while KIIS was up to #5. Both stations had up books. KYSR fell from #4 to #9 with its lowest total since the swans were swanning. MOUNT WILSON Country KKGO (GO COUNTRY 105 FM) dropped from #5 to #14 as it ended a robust three-book surge. It was tied with ENTRAVISION Spanish Adult Hits KLYY (JOSÉ FM 97.5/107.1).
KBIG returned a good portion of last month’s increase but had enough left in the tank to remain #1 18-49. KRTH moved up to #2 with its best book since NOVEMBER. A flat KCBS was up to #3, while KOST slid from #2 to #4. KROQ repeated at #5 with a slight increase.
CHICAGO: A Media Mix
This month the top of the 6+ chart became much more contested. HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) was #1 for the third straight survey (6.0-6.0). AUDACY News WBBM-A moved up to #2 with its first up book since MARCH (5.5-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) jumped from #6 to #3 with its best book in over a year (4.4-5.5). AUDACY AAA WXRT (93XRT) slipped to #4 with its smallest share since JANUARY (5.6-5.4). AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) dipped to #5 (5.4-4.9). It was tied with the stationary iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) (5.1-4.9). The station was still the cume leader with a 4.6% rise (1,253,000-1,310,900). The market was down 1.4%.
WTMX dominated the 25-54 space for the seventh book in a row. WXRT moved up to #2 with a slight decrease and was more than three shares off the pace. WUSN stood alone at #3. It narrowly edged iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI, which inched up to #4 with its highest grade in over a year. A small step behind was iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM), which slid from #2 with its lowest mark since JANUARY.
That said, WKSC was the 18-34 leader for the seventh straight survey. The station was unable to extend its three-book double-digit streak but held nearly a two-share lead over WLIT. It vaulted from #10 to #2, more than doubling its previous number in the process. AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) dipped to #3, while WVAZ rose from #8 to #4 with its third up book in a row. WUSN went from #3 to #5 as it halted a three-book surge. WTMX slipped to #6 and was tied with HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1 THE DRIVE).
This month’s column is sponsored by the number seven. That’s how many consecutive #1 18-49 books WTMX has posted. It held a very small advantage over two stations at #2. WKSC remained in place with a noticeable share loss, while WGCI moved up a slot with a slight increase. WLIT advanced from #12 to #4 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WXRT dipped to #5, while WUSN stepped down to #6. Both stations had small share losses.
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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Shining Star
For the second book in a row iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) was the 6+ leader. The station also posted its largest Frosty-free share in over a year (5.4-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) stepped up to #2 (4.4-4.8), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) jumped from #7 to #3 (3.6-4.1). TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) vaulted from #9 to #4 as it stopped a three-book slide (3.3-4.0). AUDACY Classic Hits KSPF (98.7 THE SPOT) remained at #5 (3.9-3.9). EMF Contemporary Christian KYDA (AIR1) surrendered most of last month’s massive increase as it fell from #2 to #9(5.2-3.6). KDGE retained the cume crown with a 2.9% increase (1,192,500-1,227,200). The market was off by 0.4%.
KDGE was back at #1 25-54 with its third up book in a row. KLNO repeated at #2 with its best outing since MARCH. KDMX stepped up to #3 as it bounced back from a down book. AUDACY Sports KRLD (105.3 THE FAN) jumped from #8 to #4, while KHKS moved from #7 to #5. Both stations had strong share increases. AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) slipped three places to #6 thus ending its two-book surge.
KDMX regained most of last survey’s share loss, which propelled the station to #1 18-34. KDGE and KHKS were previously an item at #3. A flat KDGE inched up to #2, while KHKS remained behind at #3 with a noticeable share loss. AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) was up two slots to #4 and got back about half of last month’s rather large share loss. URBAN ONE Urban AC KKDA (K104) fell from #1 to #5 with its smallest share since JANUARY. It was paired with KYDA, which dropped down from #4.
KDMX landed its largest 18-49 share in over a year as it stepped up to #1. This pushed KDGE, which had a slight increase, down to #2. KLNO remained at #3 with a solid increase, while KHKS was up two places to #4 with its highest score since SEPTEMBER. KRLD worked it from #9 to #5 with its best offensive performance in over a year. KKDA and KYDA were last seen at #4. KKDA slipped into a tie at #6 with KJKK, while KYDA dropped to #8.
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Spot Remover
It’s a radio cliché that the last book for a station changing formats is often its best one. We’re going to bury the lead here and tell you that iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was #1 6+ for the twelfth straight survey (9.4-9.6). Moving up to a distant #2 was URBAN ONE Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5), which ended a four-book surge (6.9-6.8). URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) dipped to #3 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER (7.3-6.6). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ) was back at #4 (5.6-5.5), while URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q COUNTRY) remained at #5 (5.0-5.4). Now to our top story. This was the final full survey for AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) before it disappears into the ether. The station was still at #6 but, naturally, with its best book in over a year (4.7-5.3). Despite a 8.5% drop, KODA still found the most meters (1,969,800-1,802,600). The market was down 0.8%
KTBZ continued to run roughshod over the 25-54 field as the station notched its sixth straight win. KKHH jumped from #5 to #2 with—you guessed it—the station’s best outing in over a year. KODA dipped to #3 with a slight decrease, while HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ moved from #6 to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KMJQ slipped to #5, while AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) repeated at #6 but with its highest mark since FEBRUARY. KGLK slid from #4 to #7.
KTBZ continued to be the station of choice with the 18-34 crowd. It was #1 for the seventh straight survey, though its double-digit streak ended at five. KKHH held steady at #2, again with its highest share in over a year. KODA was back at #3 with a solid increase, while KGLK moved from #6 to #4 with a slight increase. AUDACY Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA 101 fm) was up two slots to #5 despite a slight decrease. KHMX dipped to #6. It was partnered with KMJQ—up from #8—and KSBJ—up from #10. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX) slid from #4 to #9 as it ended a strong three-book surge.
KTBZ continued to hold sway with the 18-49 situation, capturing their attention for the fourth book in a row. KODA returned at #2 as it cut the lead in half. KKHH stepped up to #3 with—surprise!—its best book in over a year. KSBJ rose from #9 to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KGLK slipped to #5 and was tied with the stationary KHMX. KBXX went from #5 to #7.
Thanks for listening. Up after the break are SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. They will be in your inbox tomorrow.
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As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are ready to help you grow your ratings and revenue. Click the link below to get the gruesome details.
About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or email info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
August 6, 2026
Image by deeznutz1 from Pixabay.
Contesting on the radio is almost as old as the medium itself. Recently, Paige Nienaber mentioned that only 4% of your audience will participate in your contest.
I think he is optimistic.
Most stations today are stuck with the nationwide cash contest. Most of the winners come from somewhere else. Nothing screams local like hearing a winner with a thick Boston accent on a promo in Louisville. That said, this is a lemons/lemonade situation. Paige had some great ideas on re-skinning these generic contests to sound more fun. Or to at least stand out from the ground clutter.
But will that increase participation? This is all about perception. Your P-1 listener can walk into 7-11 today, plunk down a buck, and have a chance to win one million dollars! The perceived odds of winning the local state lottery are about as low as winning your national contest.
We also know from years of research that being known as “the station with the best contests” is not a high priority for most listeners. Still, I am not anti-contesting. I think it has a place…when done with thought and purpose.
First, your contesting and prizes are a part of your station’s image. How you package and present it is part of the overall emotional experience you are generating with your product. In a perfect world you are doing a locally based contest with a prize that has a perceived value to your listeners. I know, we live in anything but a perfect world.
Second, ANY contesting should be fun. It should have a level of vicarious participation. 99.99% of Americans will never appear as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. Yet, millions watch it every night. There is nothing participatory about listening for the key word at :10 past the hour. That may appeal to the prize swine, but it is audio wallpaper to your average listener.
There was a time when stations did contests like “Secret Sound” or song scrambles. They had a “play along” element that text-to-win games lack. These types of games flow directly into radio’s theater-of-the-mind strengths. They also provide solid social media content.
I’d be curious to hear how many stations have seen a spike in their TSL (or AWTE) caused by tuning in five times a day to enter a key word that COULD win you $1000. Even if that trick does work, it creates a sugar high that evaporates when the game is done (unless you give them a reason to listen more often because of a compelling product). It certainly is not a cume builder because who markets contesting anymore?
Finally, great contesting can be a boon to your culture. Your on-air performers get juiced by being a game show host. They get to be, well, performers. Your sales department gets psyched because you are (hopefully) including sponsors in the game who will come back for more.
Focusing on increasing contest participation from, say, four to five percent may feel good, but it still means 95% of your audience is unmoved. Creating a show will increase engagement and make your brand more memorable. That’s entertainment!
Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
