April 20, 2026
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in lock step with the data diviners from XTRENDS—are marching to the tune of our inner drummers as we present the MARCH survey. We go boldly forward into the breach, dear friends, to examine the ratings fates and fortunes that span the continent. The highs! The lows! The drama! The pathos! It’s all right here.
The MARCH survey ran from MARCH 5th through APRIL 1st. It spanned the period from the absurd clock adjustment through the changing of the season and culminated on the first day of PASSOVER. Here is what NIELSEN declared was truth…
NEW YORK: Being Present
Wasn’t it WOODY ALLEN who said “80% of success is showing up?” That worked for iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM), which moved back to #1 6+ by maintaining the status quo (7.4-7.4). This ended the two-book winning string for AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS), which dipped to #2 (7.8-7.2). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) inched up to #3 with its best outing since NOVEMBER (5.0-5.6). AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS stepped down to #4 (5.3-5.4), while NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO N/T WNYC slipped to #5 (5.0-4.9). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS popped up to #6 with its highest mark since DECEMBER (4.4-4.8). SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) slid from #4 to #9 with its smallest share in over a year (5.0-4.2). It did add a 1.4 share from the interwebs. WLTW added 3.2% to its #1 cume total (3,642,300-3,758,200). The market grew by 4.8%.
WLTW was #1 25-54 for the second book in a row. WHTZ moved up to #2 and had closed the gap between the two stations to less than a half share. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) leapt from #9 to #3 with its best showing in over a year. WCBS advanced two places to #4 with a slight increase, while iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1) dipped to #5 with a noticeable share loss. WSKQ fell from #2 to #7. It was paired with MEDIACO Rhythmic CHR WQHT (HOT 97), which slipped from #5 as it ended a two-book surge.
Despite a down book WLTW was #1 18-34 for the sixth straight survey. WHTZ was back at #2, also with a down book. However, it was forced to share that space with WNEW, which vaulted from #10 with its highest score since JULY. WBLS rose two slots to #4 with a slight increase, while WQHT slid two places to #5 with its lowest total since OCTOBER. It held the narrowest of margins over WWPR, which dipped to #6. WCBS fell four spots to #8 as it halted a strong three-book surge.
WHTZ stepped up to #1 18-49 with its best book since NOVEMBER. This pushed WLTW, which had a slight increase, down to #2. WNEW moved from a tie at #6 to #3, again with its highest share in over a year. WWPR moved down to #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU inched up to #5 with its best book in exactly a year. WQHT was down to #6, while WSKQ slid from #4 to #7. Its stream came in at #18.
LOS ANGELES: KOSTing Along
For the fifth book in a row iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST was #1 6+ (6.2-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MY FM) moved up to #2 with its best showing in over a year (5.3-5.9). Conversely, AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) dipped to #3 with its least productive outing in over a year (5.8-5.0). Audacy Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM) repeated at #4 (4.5-4.9), while SBS Mexican Regional KLAX (LA RAZA 97.9) stepped up to #5 (4.2-4.4). AUDACY News KNX slid from #4 to #6 (4.5-4.1) and was tied with AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE), which moved up a spot (3.9-4.1). KOST kept its cume lead with a 2.8% increase (2,218,400-2,280,500). The market rose by 2.6%.
Last month AUDACY Alternative KROQ and KBIG were #2 and #3, respectively, 25-54. This time KBIG had its best book since SEPTEMBER, while KROQ scored its largest number in over a year. When the dust settled, they were tied at #1. KOST moved up to #3 with its best Frosty-free share in exactly one year. KRTH went from first to fourth as it surrendered most of last survey’s solid increase. KCBS dipped to #5 with a small share gain as it narrowly edged iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7), which held steady at #6 as it rebounded from a down book.
KOST repeated as the 18-34 leader for the fifth straight survey. TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KSCA (LA NUEVA 101.9) jumped three spaces to #2 as it regained some of last month’s lost share. KROQ dipped to #3 as it returned a good portion of last month’s share increase. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KIIS (102.7 KISS FM), which advanced from a tie at #5 with a small increase. KRTH and KYSR went from #3 and #4, respectively, to a tie at #5. KYSR experienced a slight increase, while KRTH had a larger decrease. They were joined there by KTWV, which rose from #8 as it bounced back from a down book.
There is a lot to unpack in the 18-49 sphere of influence. Last month KOST, KROQ and KRTH were tied at #1. KOST remained in place with a solid increase. It was paired with KBIG, which advanced from #4 with its highest mark since SEPTEMBER. KROQ slipped to #3 with its first down book since NOVEMBER. KCBS stepped up to #4 with a slight increase, while KRTH landed at #5.
CHICAGO: Triple A One
Say hello to your new 6+ leader. AUDACY AAA WXRT (93 XRT) rose to the top spot with its best showing in over a year (5.6-6.1). This ended the two-book run at #1 for AUDACY News WBBM-A, which stepped down to #2 (5.9-6.0). HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) repeated at #3 (5.4-5.6), while iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) was back at #4 (5.0-5.0). AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) rounded out the top five once again (4.8-4.4). WLIT padded its cume lead with a 9.8% increase (1,247,700-1,370,200). The market was up 0.3%.
WTMX was not only #1 25-54 for the third book in a row, the station landed its largest share in over a year. WXRT stepped up to #2 with its third up book in a row and still trailed the leader by better than three shares. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) dipped to #3, while WLIT was down a spot to #4 with a slight decrease. It found company there as a flat WUSN rose from #7.
WKSC was a dominant #1 18-34 for the third straight survey. AUDACY Pop CHR WBBM-F (B96) inched up to #2 with a slight decrease and was almost two shares off the pace. WTMX vaulted from #7 to #3 with its fourth up book in a row. WLIT stepped down to #4 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WGCI remained at #5 and was paired with CRAWFORD Urban Contemporary WPWX (POWER 92), which moved up a slot with its highest score in over a year. WUSN slid from #2 to #7 as it surrendered all of last month’s massive increase.
For the third book in a row WTMX was #1 18-49. WXRT rose from #5 to #2 with its best outing in over a year but remained about a share off the lead. WKSC dipped to #3 with a slight decrease, while WGCI advanced two squares to #4 with its best book since MAY. WBBM-F slipped to #5 with a slight decrease, while WUSN fell from #3 to #7 as it, again, ceded all of last month’s huge increase.
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DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Adding To The Mix
Though it surrendered all of last month’s solid share increase, iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (MIX 102.9) was again #1 6+ (5.2-4.5). Alas, it had a partner as K-LOVE INC Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) moved up to forge the tie (4.4-4.5). iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) moved up two places to #3 (4.2-4.3), while two stations moved up and into a tie at #4. AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) rose from #6 with its best outing since OCTOBER (3.8-4.2), while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) advanced from #8 with its highest share since NOVEMBER (3.6-4.2). IHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) dropped from a tie at #2 to #6 (4.4-4.1). As you can see these six stations are all within a half share of one another. KDGE remained in cume control with a 6.4% increase (1,233,100-1,312,500). The market was up 1.0%.
KLNO was #1 25-54 for the third straight survey. KDMX was back at #2 with a slight increase but still trailed the leader by about a share. KJKK remained at #3 with a slight increase and was partnered with KDGE, which moved up a slot with its best Frosty-free share since OCTOBER. Was it the anticipation of the RANGERS season or did JERRY say something eye rolling again? Either way it was a great book for AUDACY Sports KRLD (105.3 THE FAN), which advanced from #10 to #5 with its highest offensive output in over a year. KHKS slipped to #6 with a modest share loss and was tied with SERVICE Urban Contemporary KKDA (K104), which arrived from #8 with a slight increase.
KKDA moved up to #1 18-34 despite a down book. A flat KLNO was up to #2, while KDMX went from first to third with its smallest share since OCTOBER. It was joined there by KHKS, which stepped up from #4 with a slight increase. KDGE inched up to #5 with its highest Frost-free share since OCTOBER.
KLNO rebounded back from a down book to move back up to #1 18-49. KDMX had to move down to #2 with a large share loss. KDGE was up to #3 with a slight increase, while KKDA dipped to #4 with a modest share loss. KJKK rose to #5 with its best book in over a year, while KHKS stepped down to #6 with a small decrease.
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: The Great Eight
iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY 99.1) was #1 6+ for the eighth straight survey (9.0-9.0). The next three slots belonged to the same cluster. URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC 102.1) repeated at #2 (6.7-6.9), while URBAN ONE Country KKBQ (93Q) was back at #3 (6.6-6.6). URBAN ONE classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE 106.9/107.5) moved up to #4 with its highest flying survey since OCTOBER (4.7-5.4). UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON N/T KUHF advanced from #10 to #5 with its best performance in over a year (4.3-4.9). Both HOPE MEDIA Contemporary Christian KSBJ and AUDACY Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5) landed their smallest shares since NOVEMBER. KSBJ slipped from #4 to #6 (6.0-4.6), while KHMX went from #5 to #7 (5.1-4.4). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ), which remained in place (4.5-4.4). KODA increased its #1 cume total by 1.3% (1,890,100-1,914,200). The market was down 0.9%.
KTBZ and KODA were #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54 last survey. Both stations had slight share losses and ended up tied atop the leaderboard. KKBQ repeated at #3, also with a slight decrease. KMJQ rose from #7 to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KHMX was back at #5, while KSBJ slipped three slots to #6 as it ended a strong four-book surge.
KTBZ was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row, the last two of which have been in double figures. KODA stepped up to #2 and was also dangerously close to hitting double digits. AUDACY Adult Hits KKHH (95.7 THE SPOT) moved up to #3 despite a down book. KMJQ advanced from #7 to #4 with its highest mark in over a year. KHMX fell from #2 to #5 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. URBAN ONE Rhythmic CHR KBXX (97.9 THE BOX) had its least productive outing in over a year as it dropped from #5 to #11.
KODA ended its three-book slide as it moved up to #1 18-49. KTBZ stepped down to #2 and was now about a share behind the leader. KKBQ returned all of last month’s share gain—plus a little extra—as it held steady at #3. KHMX was back at #4 but with its lowest total since OCTOBER. A flat KKHH stepped up, which pushed KSBJ down to #6.
We will continue our MARCH march tomorrow. Waiting in the queue are SAN FRANCISCO, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. Don’t touch that dial (you never know where it has been).
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About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or e-mail info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
April 16, 2026
I was listening to a sports radio morning show the other day. It was the seven o’clock hour. As the hosts meandered towards their break, they invited me to “stick around” because they had a guest coming up at…wait for it…9:15.
Image by congerdesign of Pixabay.
I listen from home so, if motivated, I could wait for two hours for that guest to come on. However, I’m willing to wager that the vast majority of their audience was in their cars. Likely commuting to work. The chances of them “tuning in” at 9:15 were probably somewhere between slim and none.
If you are an on-air performer, you control a very important component of your show’s ratings—Time Spent Listening (Average Weekly Time Exposed to you Nielsen nerds).
As a reminder, TSL (AWTE) is composed of two elements:
Occasions: This is how many times a listener (or diary keeper or meter) tunes in to your station. If someone listens to you two days a week, getting them to come back one more time during the week can dramatically affect your AQH share.
This type of recycling can be horizontal or vertical. Vertically, you might try to get a morning listener to return in the afternoon. There is a logical flow to that as their commuting pattern is usually the same every day.
In Horizontal recycling, your goal is getting them to tune in during the same time tomorrow. That has a higher potential success rate as it fits THEIR listening habits.
Durations: This is how long someone listens to you in a given occasion. In PPM world that has to be at least three minutes inside a given quarter hour (it’s five minutes for you diary players). We know that the average duration in PPM is somewhere between eight and twelve minutes.
Durations can be determined by two factors: what you are doing on the radio and a listener’s real life. Great content could extend a duration. A 17 unit stop set will diminish it. Regardless, if your listener gets to their destination (or receives a call from their kids), the duration ends.
Every time on-air performers key the mic, they are in complete control of the product. You may not control the music or the spot load, but what you do between those elements can make a huge difference in how successful you (and your station) are. Make the most out of those moments.
Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
PS—In the above sports radio scenario, the hosts could help their ratings by inviting their listeners to listen to a podcast version of that interview. If the “get” is big or newsworthy enough, people might actually make the effort to find the content and click on it.
April 3, 2026
If you’ve been around the radio business for any length of time, you’ve likely built up quite the archive. Rubbermaid containers full of tapes, CDs, pictures, memos, staff phone lists, etc. I recently went through my archives in an attempt to reduce clutter. I found this from The Radio Consultants, Inc., a Minneapolis-based radio consulting firm. The article, “A Great Program Director,” was previously published in Radio Ink (October 30, 1995). It is reproduced here for historical and educational purposes.
A Great Program Director understands that radio is a ratings driven business and delivers winning numbers to the sales department. A Great Program Director is an advocate for target listeners, a champion for P-1 listener wants and needs. A Great Program Director puts research to work to stay in touch with his/her target. A Great Program Director understands the incredible powers of imagination, knowledge, creativity, attitude and focus. “The play’s the thing” so said Shakespeare, and A Great Program Director knows that great radio is great theater. A Great Program Director is a leader, a coach, a director, a business person. A Great Program Director values “people skills” and is devoted to being a good and fair person with a reputation for creating a stimulating, positive and challenging environment for creative individuals. A Great Program Director knows building a great radio station is a marathon with no finish line; the price of success is always more competition. A Great Program Director is decisive, a strategic thinker, an excellent listener, a person who “hears” ideal radio playing in his/her head and strives to put that station on the air every set, every quarter-hour, every day. A Great Program Director is a competent fiduciary and accepts responsibility for diligent planning and prudent allocation and care of the company’s most precious resources — talent, time, and cash. A Great Program Director demands, and works to sustain, a “no surprises” environment, keeping the GM and GSM aware of what’s happening — on the air, in the programming department and in the market. A Great Program Director understands that every programmer has the same sixty minutes to “program” each hour and uses every minute to full advantage in the battle for listener’s time, mind, loyalty and recall. A Great Program Director keeps his/her station fresh, compelling, entertaining, informative, topical, local, relatable, memorable and “on strategy” every hour of every day. A Great Program Director knows where his/her time goes. A Great Program Director is focused on taking positive, pro-active action to change the reality in which they live and work. A Great Program Director puts integrity first and always under-promises and over-delivers, especially when the GM, clients, and listeners are involved. A Great Program Director knows he/she can never execute a plan alone and must inspire, motivate, direct, and lead a team to consistently win. A Great Program Director realizes that the studio is a stage and not an office. The single most important activity in the entire radio station (where every hope, wish, plan, promise, strategy and tactic come into sharp focus) happens in a room where performers talk to themselves and push buttons. A Great Program Director focuses his/her efforts on results rather than on his/her work. A Great Program Director builds on strengths — his/her own strengths, the strengths of his/her superiors, colleagues, and subordinates. A Great Program Director “under-programs” his/her radio station always knowing what he/she keeps off the air is often of more strategic value than what is put on. A Great Program Director constantly stays in touch with cutting-edge developments and concepts in his/her format and has developed a network of gifted minds; a speed dial of world-class thinkers. A Great Program Director ensures that the most effective, best written, best produced, most engaging and entertaining creative on his/her air is the latest station promo involving a client. A Great Program Director protects the license because without it there is no radio station. A Great Program Director is always giving listeners reasons to listen longer and to listen again. A Great Program Director knows there is never an excuse for bad manners and understands the most effective way to deal with vendors, record people, and others who are paid to get their attention is to let them do their jobs (always aware that some day these folks may be of value to the radio station). A Great Program Director realizes that jingles, promotions, contesting, promos, and station advertising are first, tools to get and keep the staff excited and enthusiastic; and secondly, tools to accomplish the station’s audience goals. A Great Program Director welcomes objective, outside opinions and counsel because he/she is always open to new ideas. A Great Program Director never underestimates the competition. A Great Program Director genuinely enjoys what he/she is doing, has fun doing it, and customarily wins as a result. A Great Program Director is enthusiastic about sharing what he/she knows and is committed to a lifetime of learning, reading, observing, and growing. A Great Program Director possesses boundless curiosity and an almost childlike, contagious exuberance: he/she dares to be naive. A Great Program Director stays impassioned about creating, reinventing, and staging great radio every day.
Whether you’re a Program Director, Operations Manager, Content Director, or whatever new titles have been ginned up, these words still ring true today. Yes, we have more competition, responsibilities, and pressures than ever before. But the above piece still remains a useful roadmap to creating great radio. Regardless of the platforms, the magic always begins in the studio.
I used to have this posted in my office to remind me of my responsibilities, requirements, and opportunities. I urge you to do the same. Creating radio is a gift. Cherish the process.
Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
PS: Does anyone remember who The Radio Consultants were?
March 26, 2026
Appropriately enough for MLB’s opening weekend, we’re rounding third and heading for home with the FEBRUARY survey. We do not need any robot umps to call the balls and strikes of these final five markets. The numbers will always speak for themselves. Well, not entirely as they have yet mastered how to use a keyboard.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in a committed relationship with the wizards of XTRENDS—present FEBRUARY. A survey that began on FEBRUARY 5th and ended its tenure on MARCH 4th. There was a three-day holiday, some severe winter weather and a SUNDAY commercial extravaganza. Here’s how we see it:
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: A Wild Ride
Chaos was the word of the month for this market. We begin with 6+. COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) flew back to #1 (8.4-8.6). RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) landed its lowest share since OCTOBER as it stepped down to #2 (8.8-7.3). Last month there was a threesome at #5. COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) landed at #3 as it ended a three-book slide (5.3-6.5). BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) inched up to #4 (5.3-5.5), while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) slid to #8 (5.3-4.9). COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) dipped to #5 (5.7-5.3), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ rose from #10 to #6 with its best outing in over a year (4.0-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) fell from #3 to #7 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER (5.9-5.0). WDUV remained the cume leader with a 3.1% increase (633,800-653,500). The market was down 0.7%.
WDUV rebounded from a down 25-54 book to post its best Frosty-free share in over a year. This drove the station from #4 to #1. WRBQ advanced from #6 to #2 with its third up book in a row. WFLZ vaulted from #7 to #3 with its fifth straight up book. Last month WCIE and WMTX were the demo co-leaders. Both stations experienced large share losses as they slipped to #4 and #5, respectively. WWRM dropped three slots to #6 with its first down book since SEPTEMBER. It was paired with WXTB, which had a slight decrease.
WFLZ went from second place to first 18-34 as it smashed through the double-digit barrier. WDUV was up two slots to #2 with a slight increase but was more than four shares off the lead. WWRM repeated at #3 but with its lowest score since AUGUST. WMTX went from first to fourth, which ended its two-book double-digit run. WXGL leapt from #11 to #5. The station has more than doubled its share over the last two surveys. WCIE dipped to #6 with a small share loss. WXTB halted a four-book surge as it slid from a tie at #5 into one at #8 with WRBQ. BEASLEY Rhythmic CHR WLLD (WiLD 94.1) lost more than half its previous share is it dropped from a tie at #5 into a situation at #13 with Q BROADCASTING Mexican Regional WAMA (LA LEY 107.7FM/1550AM).
WDUV rebounded from a down book to leap from #4 to #1 18-49. WFLZ rose from #6 to #2 with, again, its best showing in over a year. WCIE and WMTX were last seen at #1. Both had down books as they landed at #3 and #4, respectively. WWRM was also at #4, slipping a spot with its lowest total since JUNE. WXTB went from #4 to #6 as it returned most of last month’s share increase.
DENVER-BOULDER: Rocky Mountain High
Sometimes, the headlines just write themselves. AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) moved up to #1 6+ with its highest score in over a year (5.7-7.0). This halted the twelve-book winning string of BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1), which dipped to #2 (7.0-6.7). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO repeated at #3 (5.6-5.3), while AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) remained at #4 (5.2-5.1). KSE MEDIA VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105) was up two slots to #5 with its best book since JULY (4.6-5.0). With the BRONCOS riding off into the sunset BONNEVILLE Sports KKFN (104.3 THE FAN) dropped from #5 to #13 (5.0-2.9). KOSI still had the most cume despite a 6.0% decline (521,800-490,500). The market was off 0.3%.
For the second book in a row iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) was #1 25-54. The station also had its best showing since JUNE. KQMT went from #4 to #2, again with its largest share in over a year. It was about a half share off the lead. KALC and KOSI were previously seen at #2. Both stations experienced a down book as they landed at #3 and #4, respectively. KXKL was up from #7 to #5 with its highest total in a year. KYGO advanced from #14 to #6 with its best book since SEPTEMBER. KKFN dropped from #5 to #18 where it was hanging with two other stations.
Last month KXKL and ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) were tied at #4 18-34. KXKL landed at #1, while KXPK ended up at #2. It was sharing that moment with two other stations. AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5) stepped down from #1, while KSE MEDIA VENTURES Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) rose up from #3. Both of those stations had down books. KOSI was also in first place last month. It drifted down to #5 this time with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. It was partnered with KTCL, up from #6, and KQMT, which advanced from #7.
KTCL landed its largest 18-49 share since JUNE as it went from third to first. KALC and KOSI were last month’s co-leaders. They moved down together to #2 and were a half share off the pace. KQMT vaulted from #10 to #4 with, yup, its best book in over a year. KQKS slipped two places to #5 and was tied with KIMN, which advanced from #8 with its best performance in over a year. KSE MEDIA VENTURES Sports KKSE (ALTITUDE SPORTS RADIO 92.5FM) fell from #5 to #12.
SAN DIEGO: Wait, Wait…
…don’t tell me, but who is the new 6+ leader? Why it was SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS, which posted its largest share in over a year (7.6-8.1). This pushed AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) down to #2 (7.7-7.7). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) was back at #3 (6.8-6.7), while AUDACY AC KYXY remained at #4 (6.7-6.3). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 93.3) vaulted from #11 to #5 with its highest score in over a year (3.4-4.9). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1) fell from #5 to #7 as it returned most of last month’s large share increase (5.2-4.5). KXSN continued as the cume commander with a 5.4% increase (572,400-603,500). The market was off 1.0%.
Despite a slight decrease KXSN was #1 25-54 for the second book in a row. KHTS advanced from #10 to #2 with, again, its best book in over a year. It still trailed the leader by nearly a share. A flat XHRM dipped to #3, where it was paired with the stationary LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X), which had a small increase. KYXY and iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) were tied at #4. Both stations were flat as they drifted down to #5.
KYXY was #1 18-34 for the fourth book in a row and hit double figures for the third time during this run. KXSN remained at #2, while KMYI stepped up to #3. Both stations had down books. XTRA rose two places to #4. The station has more than tripled its share from the HOLIDAY survey. XHRM repeated at #5 with a slight increase, while AUDACY Country KSON fell from #2 to #6 as it surrendered most of last month’s massive increase.
KXSN was #1 18-49 for the second straight survey with a slight increase. KYXY stood alone at #2, while XHRM dipped to #3. It was paired with KHTS, which advanced from #9. Those four stations were separated by less than a half share. XTRA rose from #8 to #5 with its best showing since MAY. It was tied with the stationary KIOZ, which scored its largest number since JULY. KMYI fell from #4 to #9 as it returned most of last month’s large increase.
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CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: mmmm…K
BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7) moved back to #1 6+ with its best Frosty-free share since JULY (7.4-7.9). Two stations raced up the chart to meet up at #2. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) rose from #4 (6.2-6.3), while BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98) advanced from #6 with its best performance in over a year (5.0-6.3). URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) went from first to fourth with its smallest share since JULY (7.7-6.1). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) repeated at #5, also with its highest score in over a year (5.4-6.0). UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE slipped from #3 to #6 (6.3-5.7). It was tied with BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7), which remained in place (5.0-5.7). WLKO padded its cume lead with a 12.0% increase (419,600-470,000). The market grew by 6.0%.
WPEG stepped up to #1 25-54 and was dangerously close to hitting double figures. WOSF dipped to #2 with its lowest mark since SEPTEMBER, while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END) inched up to #3 with its best book since OCTOBER. A flat WKQC dipped to #4, while WKKT stood alone at #5 with a slight increase. Its former partner in that space—WLKO—was down to #6 with a slight decrease.
BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V 101.9) jumped from #4 to #1 18-34. The station landed in double digits with its best showing in over a year. WPEG rose from #6 to #2. The station was also in double figures as it more than doubled last month’s share. As strong as both these stations were, the gap between them was a bit over three shares. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1FM) dipped to #3 with its third down book in a row. WOSF went from #1 to #4 as its two-book double-digit string came to an end. WLKO slipped to #5 with its lowest total since AUGUST. It was joined there by WKQC, which turned it up from #11 as it regained all of last month’s lost share. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHQC (HITS 96.1) also moved up to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. WFAE fell from #5 into a tie at #11 with WKKT.
WPEG hit double figures 18-49 as it rose from #3 to #1. WNKS repeated at #2 but with a down book. It was paired with WBAV, which rose from #5 with its first up book since NOVEMBER. This halted the seven-book winning string for WOSF, which slid to #4 and out of double digits. WEND was up two places to #5 with a solid increase. WLKO and WFAE were #4 and #5, respectively. They fell together to #7 and were joined by WKKT and iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX), which arrived from #11.
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): Double Talk
AUDACY News WINS was again #1 6+ with its best outing in over a year (9.2-10.6). RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A was back at #2 but with its fourth down book in a row (6.3-6.0). CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) was up two places to #3 (5.6-5.7), while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) dipped to #4 (5.8-5.5). COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI stepped down to #5 as it returned a good portion of last month’s share increase (5.7-4.8). WINS still had the most listeners (441,200-424,300)—a 3.8% decline. The market was off 2.3%.
WALK was #1 25-54 for the third straight survey. The station was up slightly. WHTZ remained at #2 with a modest decrease. The gap between the two stations went from very small to about a share. WINS stood alone at #3 with its third up book in a row. AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS stepped up to #4 with its largest number in over a year. WBLI slipped to #5 despite a small increase.
There was a first-place tie 18-34. WBLI stepped up from #2 with a small increase, while WCBS advanced from #4 with its fourth straight up book. This ended the two-book winning streak for WALK, which slipped to #3 with its lowest score since NOVEMBER. Three stations moved up and into a tie at #4. WHTZ rose from #6 as it bounced back from a down book. WINS advanced from #8 with its best outing in over a year. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) vaulted from #15 as it more than doubled last month’s number. WABC-A fell from #4 to #10 with its lowest total since MARCH.
WALK rebounded from a down book as it moved back up to #1 18-49. This pushed WHTZ down to #2 as it landed its lowest share since MARCH. WBLI held firm at #3 with its fourth up book in a row. WNEW leapt from #7 to #4 with its best performance in over a year. WINS dipped to #5, while WCBS stepped down to #6. Both stations had solid share increases. WABC-A fell from a tie at #5 to #9.
Thank you for slogging through this with us. We hope you were at least mildly entertained. We’ll be back in about 28 days with the MARCH results. In the meantime, be kind.
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March 25, 2026
We often see blogs and columns that downplay the importance of ratings to radio stations. While we never believe anyone should program their station(s) TO NIELSEN, to ignore the ratings entirely would deprive you of important data and feedback. Let’s face it, radio people are highly competitive. We love to keep score.
But since we are The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., we’re kind of biased. The same can be said of our data partners from XTRENDS. That’s why we perform this labor of love every survey.
Here’s our third foray into the FEBRUARY book. It ran from FEBRUARY 5th through MARCH 9th. There was a federally mandated three-day weekend, some ridiculously cold weather, and some football stuff. Let us proceed…
MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: When You’re Hot…
The 6+ contest is usually a two-horse race. The winning entry this month belonged to COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105), which rose to the occasion with its best outing since SEPTEMBER (6.7-7.2). This ended the three-book winning string for COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1), which dipped to second place (7.5-7.0). AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) moved up to #3 with its highest mark since OCTOBER (4.9-6.3). AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) stepped down to #4 (5.4-5.1), where it met up with the rising SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3), which was last seen at #5 (5.0-5.1). WFEZ still had the most listeners (746,900-790,600) – a 5.9% rise. The market was off 0.7%.
WFEZ continued to run away with the 25-54 situation. Though it had a down book it maintained better than a share lead over WHQT, which was up to #2 with its best book in over a year. WLYF moved down a spot to #3 with a slight increase, while COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) was up to #4 as it ended a two-book slide. WMXJ dipped to #5 with a slight decrease, while a flat AUDACY Classic Hip Hop WPOW (POWER 96) slipped to #7.
COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row. WHQT has been on quite the ascent. It has gone from #11 to #5 and was granted second place in this book. The station has more than doubled its share during this run. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) was up to #3 with its best showing in over a year. Two stations were circling each other at #4. SBS Spanish Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7) slipped from #2 with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. WCMQ rose from #8 with its best book in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZTU (TÚ 94.9) fell from #3 to #13 with its least productive outing in over a year.
A flat WFEZ was #1 18-49 for the sixth straight survey. WHQT stepped up to #2 with its best book in over a year and was now only about a share off the lead. WLYF dipped to #3 with a slight increase, while two stations moved up to #4. WFLC made the small step from #5 with a slight increase, while WPOW moved up two places as it bounced back from a down book. WMXJ dropped from #4 to #8 with a small share loss.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: To The Nines
For the eighth book in a row UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW topped a nine share 6+ (9.7-9.5). It led the rest of the field by a wide margin. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) cruised up to #2 (5.5-5.6), while CRISTA Christian AC KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) dipped to #3 (5.7-5.4). AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) was up two places to #4 (5.0-5.1), while FRIENDS OF KEXP Alternative KEXP worked it from #9 to #5 with its best outing in over a year (4.3-4.7). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM 106.9) cooled off a bit as it slipped to #6 (5.3-4.6). It was paired with AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF), which was up from #8 (4.5-4.6). With the big game now a distant memory BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710AM) slid from #5 to #10 (5.1-3.8). It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK (3.6-3.8). Despite a 5.4% drop KRWM was still in cume control (648,000-613,200). The market was down 2.3%.
KEXP and KISW were still #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54. However, the gap between the two stations went from about two shares to less than a share. KUOW repeated at #3 with a slight increase, while AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) rose from #7 to #4 as it rebounded from a down book. KCMS remained at #5 but was joined there by HUBBARD Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN’ 92.5), which advanced from #10 as it halted a steep three-book skid. KJEB descended from #4 to #7 as it returned some of last month’s large share increase.
KISW and KNDD were back at #1 and #2, respectively, 18-34. However, the gulf between the two stations expanded from about a half share to more than two shares. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1) dipped to #3 with a noticeable share loss. It was partnered with KKWF, which rose from #6 with its best outing since MAY. KJEB stepped down to #5 and was tied with AUDACY Hot AC KSWD (EMMA 94.1), which advanced from #9 with its third consecutive up book. KRWM fell from #5 to #13 and was paired with LOTUS Country KPLZ (101.5 HANK FM).
Despite a large share loss KEXP was back at #1 18-49. KUOW moved up to #2 with a small increase, while KISW was down to #3 with a slight decrease. KNDD was up two slots to #4 and was joined there by KQMV, which advanced from #10 as it halted a three-book slide. KCMS slipped to #6, while KJEB fell from #3 to #8.
PHOENIX: The Easy Button
For the fifth book in a row iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) was #1 6+ (7.5-8.0). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was back at #2 with its best outing since NOVEMBER (6.2-6.8). iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A moved up to #3 (4.6-4.6), while four stations were languishing at #4. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) dipped from #3 (5.2-4.5), while MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Classical KBAQ (K-BACH 89.5) remained in place (4.9-4.5). AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) was up from #6 (4.4-4.5), while iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX advanced from #7 with its best book in over a year (4.3-4.5). KESZ retained the cume crown despite a 3.5% drop (1,044,300-1,007,700). The market was down 1.4%.
KESZ was #1 25-54 for the sixth straight survey but with its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. Say that three times fast. KYOT was back at #2. It narrowly defeated ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5), which leapt from #7 to #3 with its highest score in over a year. KSLX repeated at #4 with a solid increase, while KOOL slipped to #5 with a slight decrease.
KESZ led the 18-34 field for the fourth book in a row. It held almost a share and a half lead over HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3), which jumped from #6 to #2 with its best outing since OCTOBER. KYOT remained at #3 with a solid increase, while KOOL slipped to #4 with a down book. KSLX and AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5) rose from a tie at #9 to one at #5. Both stations had strong share increases. KNIX dropped from #4 to #8 as it gave back half of last month’s huge increase.
KESZ was the 18-49 champ for the sixth book in a row. KLNZ leapt from #8 to #2 with its best showing in over a year but was still about two shares off the pace. KOOL repeated at #3 with a small increase, while KSLX stepped up to #4. KYOT fell from #2 to #5 with a small share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KZZP (104.7 KISS FM) and iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX 96.9) fell in tandem from #4 to #7.
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DETROIT: Yea, That’s The Ticket
AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) made it back-to-back 6+ wins (8.9-8.6). AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC was back at #2 with its best outing in over a year (7.4-7.7). iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC stepped up to #3 (6.3-6.3), while iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX 92.3) dipped to #4 with its smallest share since MAY (6.4-6.1). AUDACY Country WYCD was up to #5 (5.4-5.5), while AUDACY News WWJ-A moved down to #6 (5.5-5.3). WNIC padded its cume lead by 6.4% (924,200-983,600). The market was up 1.5%.
WXYT was both #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the second straight survey. WOMC inched up to #2 with its highest mark since MARCH. Beasley Active Rock WRIF stepped down to #3 as it gave back some of last month’s large increase. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) repeated at #4, also with its best book since MARCH. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB was up to #5 with its largest share in over a year. WMXD dipped to #6 with its lowest score since JULY.
Last month WKQI and WXYT were tied at #1 18-34. Both stations had down books this month. The end result saw WKQI stand alone in first place while WXYT slipped to #3. In between was WJLB, which again had its best book in over a year. WOMC stepped up to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) leapt from #11 to #5 with a massive share increase. WRIF slipped to #6 with its lowest total in over a year. WNIC and WMXD were tied at #5. WNIC landed at #7, while WMXD fell into a tie at #9 with BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WMGC (105.1 THE BOUNCE).
WXYT was back at #1 18-49 but could not quite duplicate last month’s double-digit performance. WOMC advanced two squares to #2 with its best book in over a year. WKQI remained at #3 with a slight increase, while WJLB stepped up to #4 with – again – its highest mark in over a year. WRIF slid from #2 to #5 as it surrendered most of last month’s large increase.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Time Is Tight
The 6+ contest became much more compressed this month. MPR N/T KNOW stepped up to #1 as it returned a good portion of last survey’s increase (8.6-7.7). The station did pocket a 1.4 share from cyberspace. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (K-FAN FM 100.3) stepped down to #2 with its lowest score in over a year (8.9-7.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) moved up to #3 (6.2-7.2), while HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) dipped to #4 (6.9-7.1). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL Contemporary Christian KTIS repeated at #5 as it regained some of last month’s huge share loss (5.7-6.2). KOOL was still #1 in cume with a 3.3% increase (612,400-632,500). The market was up 1.0%.
For the eighth book in a row KFXN was in double-digits 25-54. The station was #1 in seven of those surveys, including the last two. KQQL had its best Frosty-free share in over a year as it jumped from #5 to #2. MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) dipped to #3 with a large share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB stepped down to #4 as it returned about half of last month’s large increase. It was tied with AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM), which was up a spot with a solid increase. KNOW slipped from #4 to #6 but its stream came in at #17.
KCMP was back at #1 18-34 but it had company as KQQL advanced from #3 to forge the tie. KFXN was down to #3 with its lowest total in over a year. KZJK stood alone at #4 with a small increase. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KTCZ (CITIES 97.1) moved up two slots to #5. KDWB went from a tie at #4 to #6, while KSTP fell from its share of the #4 position into an arrangement at #13 with iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102).
As with an earlier demo, KFXN was in double figures 18-49 for the eighth straight survey. It held more than a two-share advantage over KCMP, which repeated at #2 but with a large decrease. KQQL vaulted from #6 to #3 with its highest Frosty-free share since JULY. KDWB dipped to #4 with a small share loss, while KZJK held steady at #5 with a small share gain. KNOW slipped two slots to #6.
But wait—there’s more to come. We’ll be back after the break with TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.
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-Steve Allan, Programming Research Consultant
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About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or e-mail info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
