Ratings Takeaways

February 2022 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three

February 2022 PPM Data – Information for the February 2022 ratings period has been released for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.

Nielsen Audio’s February 2022 sweep covered February 3 – March 2

Managing editor Mike Kinosian provides “Takeaways” for spoken-word stations finishing in their respective markets’ top twenty.

Cited as well are each particular city’s #1 station (6+) and loftiest (6+) upticks and drop-offs.

All comparisons noted are January 2022 – February 2022 (6+).

PORTLAND

News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 7.6 – 7.7, +.1, repeats in fourth-place

iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 2.8 – 3.1, +.3, #15 to #14

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 10.1 – 8.9, -1.2, #1 and KOPB’s internet stream 2.1 – 1.9, -.2, flat at #19

Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KOPB, second month in succession, 10.1 – 8.9, -1.2

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country KUPL (+.7)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KKCW (-1.5)

CHARLOTTE

News/Talk: Radio One-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 3.9 – 3.3, -.6, #13 to #14

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Radio One’s WFNZ-FM “Sports Radio 92.7” 2.2 – 2.1, -.1, flat at #16

Beasley Media Group-owned WSOC-HD3 “Fox Sports Charlotte” .3 – .4, +.1, stays at #20

Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 4.2 – 4.6, +.4, #12 to #8

South Carolina Educational Television Commission-owned WNSC .4 – .5, +.1, remains at #19

Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group adult contemporary WKQC, first month, 4.4 – 6.3, +1.9

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WKQC (+1.9)*

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF (-.7)

*Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets

Note: Roughly two weeks into the February 2022 sweep (2/16), Radio One flipped urban contemporary WQNC to sports talk WFNZ-FM.

SAN ANTONIO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” (Spurs) 4.4 – 5.1, +.7, eighth to seventh

Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 2.6 – 2.4, -.2, unchanged at #14

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 3.4 – 3.3, -.1, flat at #12

Number One 6+ (Tie): Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, first month, 6.8 – 7.1, +.3 and iHeartMedia adult contemporary KQXT, first month, 7.0 – 7.1, +.1

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase:  country KAJA (+1.4)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: classic rock KTKX (-1.4)

SACRAMENTO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 7.1 – 6.5, -.6, locked in third-place and cluster-mate KSTE “Talk 650” 3.7 – 3.3, -.4, #11 to #12

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s KIFM-AM “ESPN 1320” 1.3 – .9, -.4, #18 to #19

Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 5.0 – 4.6, -.4, seventh to sixth

Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KSEG, second month in a row, 9.3 – 10.2, +.9

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase:  country KNCI (+1.1)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: rock KRXQ (-.8)

PITTSBURGH

News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 5.0 – 4.8, -.2, sixth to seventh

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” 9.1 – 7.5, -1.6, second to fourth

Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 3.1 – 2.8, -.3, repeats at #11

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, fourth month in succession, 10.1 – 10.8, +.7

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase:  adult hits WRRK (+.8)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease:  sports talk KDKA-FM (-1.6)

SALT LAKE CITY

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 7.6 – 8.4, +.8, #2 to #1

Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 6.5 – 6.0, -.5, repeats in fourth-place

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 4.3 – 4.1, -.2, eighth to tenth

Number One 6+: news/talk KNRS, first month, 7.6 – 8.4, +.8

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase:  classical KBYU (+1.6)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KRSP (-1.2)

LAS VEGAS

News/Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned KDWN “The Talk Of Las Vegas” 1.4 – 2.2, +.8, #23 to #15

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Nevada Public Radio’s KNPR 2.5 – 2.2, -.3, #14 to #15

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE, first month, 6.9 – 7.4, +.5

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies KOAS (+1.5)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: rhythmic hot AC KXQQ (-.7)

ORLANDO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 6.2 – 6.3, +.1, sixth to fourth and cluster-mate WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.3 – 1.8, +.5, #19 to #16

Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 1.9 – 1.6, -.3, anchored at #17

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WYGM “96.9 The Game” (Magic) 2.0 – 1.5, -.5, #16 to #18

Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections’ WMFE 2.5 – 2.4, -.1, #13 to #15

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia CHR WXXL, second straight month, 8.3 – 7.9, -.4

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic rock WMMO (+1.0)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: Spanish contemporary WOEX (-.7)

CINCINNATI

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” 11.5 – 12.3, +.8, locked in second-place and cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 7.0 – 5.3, -1.7, repeats in fourth-place

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” 1.4 – 1.1, -.3, #17 to #19

Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio-owned WVXU 4.8 – 5.1, +.3, sixth to fifth

Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WGRR, second successive month, 13.4 – 12.6, -.8

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: news/talk WLW (+.8)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: news/talk WKRC (-1.7)**

**Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets

CLEVELAND

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Cavaliers) 4.7 – 5.5, +.8, seventh to sixth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” 5.4 – 4.2, -1.2, #6 to #11 and WKRK’s internet stream 1.1 – 1.0, -.1, #16 to #17

Public Radio News/Talk: Ideastream’s WCPN 4.1 – 4.4, +.3, #11 to #9

Kent State University-owned WKSU flat at 1.5, steady at #15

Number One 6+: Radio One urban AC WZAK, second month in a row, 11.3 – 11.1, -.2

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase (Tie): news/talk WTAM and country WGAR (+.8)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk WKRK (-1.2)

KANSAS CITY

News/Talk: Audacy’s KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 7.2 – 7.8, +.6, #3 to #1 and cluster-mate KMBZ-AM “Talk 980 AM” .5 – .9, +.4, #22 to #20

Cumulus Media-owned KCMO-AM “Talk Radio 710 AM” .5 – .9, +.4, #22 to #20

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” 2.9 – 1.5, -1.4, #12 to #18

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri’s KCUR 6.0 – 6.5, +.5, fifth to fourth

Number One 6+: news/talk KMBZ-FM, first month, 7.2 – 7.8, +.6

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase (Tie): hot AC KZPT and country KBEQ (+.9)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk KCSP (-1.4)

COLUMBUS

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 8.5 – 9.3, +.8, #3 to #1

News: iHeartMedia’s WYTS “Columbus’ BIN 1230” flat at .3, #19 to #20

Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” (Blue Jackets) 9.5 – 8.8, -.7, #1 to #2 and co-owned WBNS-AM “ESPN 1460 AM” flat at .6, #18 to #17

Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 7.7 – 8.3, +.6, fifth to third

Number One 6+: news/talk WTVN, first month, 8.5 – 9.3, +.8

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase:  adult contemporary WSNY (+1.2)

Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: CHR WNCI (-1.2)

Up next: February 2022 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.

Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

 

Front Page News Industry News

Tuesday, March 2, 2022

Radio One Swaps Frequencies in Charlotte; Sports Talk WFNZ Gets Full Market FM Signal. Charlotte sports talk WFNZ-AM is getting a full-market FM signal as Radio One swaps FM frequencies between WFNZ and hip hop/R&B “92.7 The Block.” WFNZ is now heard on WFNZ-FM at 92.7 (in addition to WFNZ-AM at 610) and “The Block” airs on FM translator W273DA at 102.5. Radio One Charlotte/Richmond regional VP Marsha Landess says, “Charlotte has continued to grow as a great sports city and Sports Radio WFNZ will continue to grow with it! Now on a more powerful FM signal, with continued live and local talent, we will be able to superserve more of our listeners and clients with broader market coverage on the FM dial.”

 

Audacy Unveils New Audacy Digital Audience Network. In an effort to present advertisers with a “high-performing audience solution,” Audacy launches the Audacy Digital Audience Network, “an addressable aggregate of over 60 million listeners that other audio platforms and streaming platforms do not reach.” Audacy says that each month, it connects with 200 million fans across its broadcast and digital assets. Over 60 million of these listeners can be found on ADAN across its streaming content, on the Audacy app and on its podcasts. Through this, ADAN can target precise audiences at scale and deliver high-performing digital audio media strategies for Audacy’s advertising partners.” The company says it “continues to provide exclusive content across news, sports, talk, music and podcasts that its listeners seek and trust as a daily habit. ADAN audiences skew more affluent, are more likely to be college educated and are more diverse – collectively bringing the highest value consumers to advertisers. ADAN provides an unduplicated reach to listeners that other audio platforms do not deliver.” Components of the Audience Network include over 230 of Audacy’s broadcast brands and thousands of podcasts. Exclusive stations, curated music stations from Audacy brands, talent and influencers and digital streams of MLB play-by-play broadcasts via flagship partnerships are also included in ADAN.

 

WWO Blog: AM/FM Radio, Print, and Podcast Ads Lead in Attentiveness. The Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group releases a new Media Attentiveness and Ad Skipping Report that incorporates several new studies that examine consumer attentiveness and concentration levels when using various media platforms, ad-skipping tendencies, and the reasons why listeners choose to use various audio platforms. Cumulus EVP of marketing and Westwood One president Suzanne Grimes says, “Our new Media Attentiveness and Ad Skipping Report demonstrates that AM/FM radio leads all media in advertising attentiveness with the lowest levels of ad skipping. Consumers also devote very high levels of concentration to podcasts since listeners actively seek them out to learn something new, which justifies premium CPMs for podcasts.” Some of the highlights of the report include: 1) Attention grows in importance among marketers and agencies: Nearly half of advertisers have discussed consumer attentiveness as a metric. Two out of three say it is important for measuring media investments; 2) Traditional media ads have greater engagement compared to digital ads: AM/FM radio, print, and podcast ads lead in attentiveness. Consumers skip social and digital ads the most; 3) Social media disconnect: Agencies/marketers overestimate consumer concentration of social media. Two consumer studies reveal social media has the lowest attentiveness of media platforms; 4) AM/FM radio CPMs should be a premium to Pandora and Spotify: Pandora/Spotify audio impressions are not the same as AM/FM radio impressions. The greater proportion of spoken word content on AM/FM radio generates much higher levels of concentration and attentiveness. The information and personalities of AM/FM radio satisfy consumer needs for information and connection. See the full blog post here.

 

KLIF-AM, Dallas Adds ‘Markley, van Camp & Robbins’ Show. The Compass Media Networks nationally syndicated news/talk program “Markley, van Camp and Robbins” is added to the program lineup at Cumulus Media’s KLIF-AM, Dallas in the 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm slot. KLIF-AM program director Bruce Collins says, “These guys were just what we were looking for to add to KLIF’s lineup, news and information and a whole lot of laughs and fun. They understand entertaining radio.” The program stars Jamie Markley, David van Camp, and Scott Robbins. Van Camp says, I’m excited and honored to be on the legendary KLIF. Having spent several years in the Metroplex, being on that station means a lot to me. Many thanks to Bruce Collins, who’s been a great partner and supporter of the show from the beginning.”

 

Todd Starnes Speaks at CPAC 2022. Nationally syndicated talk radio host and best-selling author Todd Starnes was a featured speaker at last weekend’s CPAC 2022 in Orlando. In addition to appearing on the conference’s agenda, Starnes broadcast his national radio show from the CPAC radio row during which he interviewed former President Donald Trump and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (pictured here with Starnes).

 

 

KYW, Philadelphia Honors 2022 GameChangers. Pictured above are the recipients of the 2022 GameChangers honors from Audacy’s all-news KYW, Philadelphia. The annual GameChangers recognize people making a difference in communities of color around the Philadelphia region. This year’s honorees were recognized at a ceremony at Audacy’s Philadelphia headquarters on February 27. KYW Newsradio community impact reporter Racquel Williams, who has been highlighting the GameChangers honorees throughout February, hosted the ceremony. The 2022 recipients were nominated by members of the audience and selected by a panel of previous honorees. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “KYW Newsradio shines light on the stories of people from all backgrounds doing amazing things in our communities who might not otherwise get the recognition they deserve. That’s part of our mission 365 days a year, and we’re proud to award these meaningful honors to these outstanding community leaders during Black History Month.”

 

Cumulus Media’s WJR, Detroit Helps Raise $1.74 million for Salvation Army. Detroit news/talk WJR-AM helped raise more than $1.74 million for The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit during a 27-hour radio fundraiser that took place on February 24 and 25. The Cumulus Media station presented the 35th Annual Bed & Bread Club Radiothon as station personalities including Paul W. Smith (pictured here), Sean Baligian, Kevin Dietz, Lloyd Jackson, Chris Renwick, Mitch Albom, Ken Brown, Steve Courtney, Kevin O’Neill and Guy Gordon broadcast from The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Divisional Headquarters in Southfield, Michigan.

 

Norm Lewis to Perform at BFoA’s Golden Mike Award Dinner and Ceremony. The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces that this year’s entertainment for the Golden Mike Award Gala will be Broadway, film, and TV star Norm Lewis. Following a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the BFOA Golden Mike Award Dinner and Ceremony returns this year on Monday, March 14 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The annual event is the biggest fundraiser for the Broadcasters Foundation, whose sole mission is to provide financial aid to broadcasters in acute need from critical illness, accident, or serious misfortune. This year’s BFOA Golden Mike Award honoree will be Hilton Howell, Jr., chairman of the board and CEO of Gray Television and Atlantic American Corporation. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a broadcaster who has made invaluable contributions to the television and radio industries. This year, it will be presented to renowned sportscaster Lesley Visser.

 

TALKERS News Notes. A new podcast starring Dennis Prager and Julie Hartman is joining the Salem Podcast Network. After reading Prager’s book, Still the Best Hope, Hartman – a senior at Harvard University – realized she actually held many conservative beliefs. She reached out to Prager, who was so impressed with her that he invited her on to his national talk show. Not long after, she sat in for him for all three hours of the show. Now, the two are launching a weekly podcast titled, “Dennis and Julie.” She says, “Finding Dennis’ work changed my life. I discovered the historic significance of the American value system and just how much our society today has come to be guided by the wrong principles. I hope that Dennis and I can make the world more understandable to our audience and impart to our listeners — especially those my age — how important it is to resist the far-left push that comes at them every day. I’m honored to work with Dennis and I’m grateful to Salem for trusting me with this opportunity.”…..CNN debuts three new podcasts. “Breaking News Alerts” – previously only available to smart speaker listeners – this audio version of CNN’s breaking news alerts offer podcast listeners a more contextualized understanding of breaking news. “Tug of War” takes listeners to the most volatile corners of the world to document some of the greatest power struggles of our time – a mission that now feels more relevant than ever – and offers historical, political, and social context for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Diversifying” – hosted by Delyanne Barros – presents insightful discussions about how the financial system can work for us, instead of against us. It creates a space for people who have traditionally been left out of conversations around personal finance, and who are often faced with the challenge of balancing cultural expectations against their own financial needs…..ESPN Audio says that the 2021 Share of Ear from Edison Research finds that ESPN Audio accounts for over half of all sports listening, at 53%, marking a nine percentage point increase in the same category from 2020. ESPN Audio was also shown to account for 63% of the digital sports listening space and 47% of the terrestrial sports audio space, both up a significant 8% points from 2020, respectively…..SiriusXM announces that Hope Solo, the World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist goalkeeper, will launch a new and original SiriusXM podcast, “Hope Solo Speaks,” that debuts across all podcast platforms March 2. Solo will discuss a variety of topics on her mind, including her relentless fight for women’s rights and gender equality, motherhood and family, changing trends in sports and much more. Solo will be joined on episodes of the podcast by guests from various walks of life including world-class athletes, artists, and influencers for candid conversations on their experiences, passions and topics of the day.

 

Russia’s Attack on Ukraine, COVID-19, State of the Union, Midterms/Trump & the GOP, UN Climate Report, and Sacramento Murder-Suicide Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (2/28). Russia’s continued attacks on the Ukraine and the rest of the world’s response; the rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and relaxing mask mandates; tonight’s State of the Union address by President Joe Biden; the battle for control of Congress in the November midterm elections and Donald Trump’s influence over the GOP; the dire warning on the effects of climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and the murder of three children and their chaperone by the children’s father in a Sacramento church were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Friday, February 25, 2022

 

NOW POSTED: This Weekend’s Installment of “The Michael Harrison Wrap: An Overview of the National Conversation.” The latest installment of the one-hour weekend special, “The Michael Harrison Wrap,” that looks back each week at the hottest topics discussed in American talk media per the research of TALKERS magazine, is now posted. This new episode titled, “Putin Shootin,’” looks back at this past week of 2/21 to 2/25. The program features guests (in order of appearance): Kevin Casey, executive editor, TALKERSVictoria Jones, executive director, DC Radio CompanyFrank Morano, talk show host, WABC, New York; Dr. Daliah Wachs, physician/talk show host, Genesis Communications NetworkRoss Kaminsky, talk show host, KOA, Denver; and Matthew B. Harrison, attorney/associate publisher, TALKERS. The show airs weekends on WONK-FM, Washington, DC; WTIC, Hartford; KSCO, Santa Cruz, CA; KDFD, Denver; KFNX, Phoenix; KTLK-FM, St. Louis; WPG, Atlantic City, NJ; SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, Nashville; KMZQ, Las Vegas;  WTPL, Manchester, NH; WEMJ, Laconia, NH; WTSN, Dover-Portsmouth, NH; WVLY, Wheeling, WV; WTRW-FM, Scranton/Wilkes Barre, PA; WVOX, Westchester, NY; KBDT, Dallas; KQSP, Minneapolis; WGDJ, Albany, NY; WJFN-FM, Richmond, VA; WZFG, Fargo; KTGO, Tioga, ND; KWAM, Memphis; K-NEWS, San Luis Obispo; WGMD, Rehoboth Beach, DE; WCHM, Clarkesville, GA; WPHM, Port Huron, MI; KSYL, Alexandria, LA; KTOE, Mankato, MN; WCED, DuBois, PA; K-NEWS 101.3, Owensboro, KY; WWTK, Sebring, FL; WSAR-AM/FM, Fall River, MA; WIZM-AM/FM, La Crosse, WI; WMVA, Martinsville, VA; KQEN, Roseburg, OR; the Virginia Talk Radio NetworkCRN Digital Talk Radio NetworkPodcast Radio, UK and many more. To listen to this week’s episode, please click here. To view the latest TALKERS magazine topic research, please click here. “The Michael Harrison Wrap” is now available in syndication via Talk Media Network to stations across America on a market exclusive basis. For affiliation information, please click here or call 616-884-8616.

 

Round Three of January PPMs Released. The third of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s January 2022 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including: Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. Nielsen’s January 2022 sweep covered January 6 – February 2. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM adds 1.7 shares for a 7.6 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and rises to the #4 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk KEX-AM tacks on a half share for a 2.8 share finish and the #15 rank. Radio One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte rises a full share to finish the month with a 3.9 share and leaps to the #13 rank. In Salt Lake City, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KNRS-AM/FM rises by 1.9 shares for a 7.6 share finish and climbs to the #2 rank, while Bonneville’s crosstown news/talk KSL-AM/FM adds 1.2 shares for a 6.5 share finish and wraps the survey ranked #4. Audacy’s Kansas City news/talk KMBZ-FM leaps 2.2 shares to wrap the survey with a 7.2 share good for the #3 rank in the market. You can see Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways for this group of markets (as well as the first two rounds) here.

 

Triton Digital Releases January Podcast Report. The January 2022 edition of Triton Digital’s U.S. Podcast Report has been released, revealing its ranking of the top 20 podcast networks and the top 100 podcasts based on average weekly downloads and on average weekly users for participating networks and publishers. Based on average weekly downloads, Stitcher Media (SXM Media) was the top podcast network (55.4 million AWD). It was followed by NPR at #2, Audacy Podcast Network at #3 and Cumulus Podcast Network at #4. For the ranking of top podcasts (based on average weekly download), “NPR News Now” (NPR) was #1. Following at #2 was “Crime Junkie” (SXM), with “The Ben Shapiro Show” (Cumulus Podcast Nework) at #3. There was a debut on the top 100 rank this month as “The Brian Kilmeade Show” (FOX News Podcasts) entered the chart at #87. You can see the complete report here.

 

Newsmax TV Has Boots on the Ground in Ukraine. The news and talk network Newsmax TV is delivering the latest from Ukraine thanks to its two correspondents Sarah Williamson and Chuck Holton. Since early February of this year, Newsmax has had two television correspondents stationed in Ukraine tracking the escalating tensions and full-scale invasion.  Australian Sarah Williamson joined Newsmax only in December and was quickly assigned to the European war zone. Her experience includes covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for Israel’s i24 News for four years. Veteran war correspondent Chuck Holton is described by Newsmax’s chief content officer Elliot Jacobson as the company’s conflict zone correspondent. Most recently, he was reporting from Panama about migrants moving north toward the U.S. border. Jacobson says of their work in Ukraine, “We’re getting some unique perspectives. We’re talking to people on the ground. We have interviewed Ukrainian officials. We’re not just reporting without any interaction with the locals.” Newsmax has taken a stance in the conflict saying it “strongly opposes Putin.” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy adds, “Newsmax believes Russia has made a major transgression and this should be condemned strongly by all people. I think we are seeing for conservatives a clarity moment where FOX News’ main host is stating categorically, he is siding with Putin and Russia in support of the invasion. Newsmax supports President Biden’s efforts to stop this invasion. If anything we think he is not being strong enough. We believe there is a bipartisan consensus in opposition to this dangerous aggression.”

 

Trevor Morini Named VP of Programming for iHeartMedia Raleigh. Programming pro Trevor Morini is appointed vice president of programming for iHeartMedia’s Raleigh station group that includes news/talk WTKK-FM and four music brands, including CHR WDCG-FM, for which Morini will also serve as program director. He previously served with iHeartMedia as format center executive producer for iHeartMedia’s National Programming Group. Morini says,, “I am thrilled for the opportunity to lead the talented programming team in Raleigh. Together we will build upon their success and continue to grow our market-leading brands, and I am honored to be a part of it. Thank you to the iHeartMedia senior leadership team for their continued support.”

 

 

Salem Radio Network on Radio Row at CPAC. Pictured above at the CPAC 2022 radio row in Orlando are Salem Radio Network hosts Sebastian Gorka (left) and Charlie Kirk (right).  In addition to hosting his program from the convention, Gorka is also taking part in a panel discussion called, “Fire Fauci” that features talk radio host Todd Starnes, Dr. Peter McCullough, and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.

 

Russian Invasion of Ukraine Top News/Talk Story for Week of February 21-25. The shelling and movement of Russian troops into the Ukraine was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Takers TenTM. At #2 this week was the state of the U.S. economy, the financial markets activity and the soaring inflation, followed by the COVID-related issues of masks, vaccines, mandates and the Truckers’ Convoy at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Ratings Takeaways

January 2022 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three

January 2022 PPM Data – Information for the January 2022 ratings period has been released for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.

Nielsen Audio’s January 2022 sweep covered January 6 – February 2

Managing editor Mike Kinosian provides “Takeaways” for spoken-word stations finishing in their respective markets’ top twenty.

Cited as well are each particular city’s #1 station (6+) and loftiest (6+) upticks and drop-offs.

All comparisons noted are “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 (6+).

PORTLAND

News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 5.9 – 7.6, +1.7, fifth to fourth

iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 2.3 – 2.8, +.5, #16 to #15

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 8.3 – 10.1, +1.8, second to first and KOPB’s internet stream 2.7 – 2.1, -.6, #13 to #19

Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KOPB, first month, 8.3 – 10.1, +1.8

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: public radio news/talk KOPB (+1.8)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KKCW (-7.7)

CHARLOTTE

News/Talk: Radio One-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 2.9 – 3.9, +1.0, #15 to #13

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group’s WSOC-HD3 “Fox Sports Charlotte” .2 – .3, +.1, #20

Urban One-owned WLNK-HD3 .3, #20 (did not appear in “Holiday” 2021)

Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 3.1 – 4.2, +1.1, #14 to #12

South Carolina Educational Television Commission-owned WNSC steady at .4, #20 to #19

Number One 6+: Davidson College classical WDAV, first month, 4.4 – 6.4, +2.0

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: classical WDAV (+2.0)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WKQC (-5.8)

SAN ANTONIO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” (Spurs) 3.7 – 4.4, +.7, remains at #8

Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 1.8 – 2.6, +.8, #16 to #14

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 3.3 – 3.4, +.1, #11 to #12

Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic rock KTKX, first month, 5.4 – 7.3, +1.9

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase:  CHR KXXM (+2.1)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KQXT (-8.9)

SACRAMENTO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 6.7 – 7.1, +.4, stays at #3 and cluster-mate KSTE “Talk 650” 2.1 – 3.7, +1.6, #14 to #11

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s KIFM-AM “ESPN 1320” 1.1 – 1.3, +.2, #17 to #18

Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 4.0 – 5.0, +1.0, repeats in seventh-place

Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KSEG, first month, 8.1 – 9.3, +1.2

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase:  country KNCI (+2.1)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KYMX (-8.3)

PITTSBURGH

News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 4.4 – 5.0, +.6, eighth to sixth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” 7.6 – 9.1, +1.5, fourth to second

Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 2.2 – 3.1, +.9, #12 to #11

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, third month in succession, 15.5 – 10.1, -5.4

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase:  adult hits WRRK (+1.7)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease:  classic hits-oldies WWSW (-5.4)

SALT LAKE CITY

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 5.7 – 7.6, +1.9, sixth to second

Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 5.3 – 6.5, +1.2, seventh to fourth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 3.7 – 4.3, +.6, ninth to eighth

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KODJ, first month, 6.8 – 7.8, +1.0

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase:  news/talk KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM (+1.9)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KSFI (-10.3)*

*Represents the largest “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets

LAS VEGAS

News/Talk: Audacy’s KXNT “News Talk 840” 1.5 – 1.7, +.2, #21 to #19

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Nevada Public Radio’s KNPR 1.7 – 2.5, +.8, #18 to #14

Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic hits-oldies KKLZ, first month, 6.9 – 7.0, +.1

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: contemporary Christian KSOS (+1.3)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KSNE (-7.8)

ORLANDO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 4.8 – 6.2, +1.4, eighth to sixth

Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 1.5 – 1.9, +.4, repeats at #17

iHeartMedia’s WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.2 – 1.3, +.1, #18 to #19

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WYGM “96.9 The Game” (Magic) 1.7 – 2.0, +.3, #14 to #16

Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections’ WMFE 1.7 – 2.5, +.8, #14 to #13

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia CHR WXXL, first month, 7.1 – 8.3, +1.2

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: news/talk WTKS (+1.4)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WMGF (-6.1)

CINCINNATI

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” (Bengals) 10.0 – 11.5, +1.5, anchored in second-place and cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 4.7 – 7.0, +2.3, sixth to fourth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” 1.3 – 1.4, +.1, #16 to #17

Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio-owned WVXU 4.1 – 4.8, +.7, seventh to sixth

Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WGRR, first month, 9.5 – 13.4, +3.9

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: classic hits-oldies WGRR (+3.9)**

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease:  adult contemporary WRRM (-6.4)

**Represents the largest “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets

CLEVELAND

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Cavaliers) 4.4 – 4.7, +.3, repeats in seventh-place

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” 5.6 – 5.4, -.2, flat at #6 and WKRK’s internet stream, steady at 1.1, #17 to #16

Public Radio News/Talk: Ideastream’s WCPN 3.0 – 4.1, +1.1, #12 to #11

Kent State University-owned WKSU 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, #14 to #15

Number One 6+: Radio One urban AC WZAK, first month, 8.2 – 11.3, +3.1

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase:  urban AC WZAK (+3.1)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WDOK (-4.1)

KANSAS CITY

News/Talk: Audacy’s KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 5.0 – 7.2, +2.2, fifth to third

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” 2.2 – 2.9, +.7, #17 to #12 and KCSP’s internet stream, 1.2, #19 (unlisted in “Holiday” 2021)

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri’s KCUR 4.8 – 6.0, +1.2, seventh to fifth

Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic rock KCFX, fifth consecutive month, 8.5 – 7.6, -.9

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: news/talk KMBZ-FM (+2.2)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KCKC (-3.7)

COLUMBUS

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 6.0 – 8.5, +2.5, fifth to third

News: iHeartMedia’s WYTS “Columbus’ BIN 1230” .1 – .3, +.2, #20 to #19

Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” (Blue Jackets) 8.2 – 9.5, +1.3, second to first and cluster-mate WBNS-AM “ESPN 1460 AM” .7 – .6, -.1, #15 to #18

Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 6.6 – 7.7, +1.1, fourth to fifth

Number One 6+: sports talk WBNS-FM, first month, 8.2 – 9.5, +1.3

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase:  news/talk WTVN (+2.5)

Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult hits WODC (-6.3)

Up next: January 2022 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.

Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Front Page News Industry News

Friday, February 18, 2022

NOW POSTED: This Weekend’s Installment of “The Michael Harrison Wrap: An Overview of the National Conversation.” The latest installment of the one-hour weekend special, “The Michael Harrison Wrap,” that looks back each week at the hottest topics discussed in American talk media per the research of TALKERS magazine, is now posted. This new episode titled,“Good Gawd Y’All,” looks back at this past week of 2/14 to 2/18. The program features guests (in order of appearance): Kevin Casey, executive editor, TALKERSTodd Feinburg, talk show host, WTIC, Hartford; Mike Bendixen, Canadian broadcasting executive/personality, Toronto; Victoria Jones, executive director, DC Radio Company; Michael Riedel, theater critic/talk show host, WOR, New York; Matthew B. Harrison, attorney/associate publisher, TALKERS. The show airs weekends on WONK-FM, Washington, DC; WTIC, Hartford; KSCO, Santa Cruz, CA; KDFD, Denver; KFNX, Phoenix; KTLK-FM, St. Louis; WPG, Atlantic City, NJ; SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, Nashville; KMZQ, Las Vegas; WVLY, Wheeling, WV; WTRW-FM, Scranton/Wilkes Barre, PA; WVOX, Westchester, NY; KBDT, Dallas; KQSP, Minneapolis; WGDJ, Albany, NY; WJFN-FM, Richmond, VA; WZFG, Fargo; KTGO, Tioga, ND; KWAM, Memphis; K-NEWS, San Luis Obispo; WGMD, Rehoboth Beach, DE; WCHM, Clarkesville, GA; WPHM, Port Huron, MI; KSYL, Alexandria, LA; KTOE, Mankato, MN; WCED, DuBois, PA; K-NEWS 101.3, Owensboro, KY; WWTK, Sebring, FL; WSAR-AM/FM, Fall River, MA; WIZM-AM/FM, La Crosse, WI; WMVA, Martinsville, VA; KQEN, Roseburg, OR; the Virginia Talk Radio NetworkCRN Digital Talk Radio NetworkPodcast Radio, UK and many more. To listen to this week’s episode, please click here. To view the latest TALKERS magazine topic research, please click here. “The Michael Harrison Wrap” is now available in syndication via Talk Media Network to stations across America on a market exclusive basis. For affiliation information, please click here or call 616-884-8616.

Brett Winterble Celebrates Second Anniversary of Joining WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte. Talk radio host Brett Winterble begins his third year as host of the afternoon drive show on Radio One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte. Winterble, who spent almost 10 years as a producer of “The Rush Limbaugh Show” before launching his own talk show in 2008, joined WBT in February of 2020 after hosting a talk show at KFMB-AM, San Diego, among other outlets. WBT program director Mike Schaefer says, “Brett made an immediate impact on WBT two years ago, and our listeners have welcomed him into their lives every day from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.  We couldn’t be happier that he is starting his third year as we move towards WBT’s 100th Anniversary on April 10.”

iHeartMedia to Use Veritone Technology to Translate Podcasts into Foreign Languages. A deal between iHeartMedia and Veritone, Inc. will see the former use Veritone’s synthetic voice solution that allows celebrities, athletes, influencers, broadcasters, podcasters and other talent across numerous industries to securely create and monetize verified synthetic voices that can be transformed into different languages, dialects, accents and more. iHeartMedia will leverage Veritone’s AI platform to make more shows across the iHeartPodcast Network available in multiple languages. The first use case is to translate iHeartMedia’s marquee podcasts for Spanish-speaking audiences. iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “With the hyper-growth of our podcast network over the past decade, we are always looking for what is new and next in the medium, too – and Veritone’s synthetic voice solution is a great example of that. Being able to easily offer our podcasts in other languages, in the talents’ unique style, will be an awesome and innovative way to grow market share in the global marketplace.”

Michael Harrison Guests on Maria Milito PodcastTALKERS founder Michael Harrison is this week’s guest on the iHeartMedia podcast, “Maria’s Mutts & Stuff,” hosted by longtime Q104.3, New York classic rock midday personality, Maria Milito. The podcast series focuses on Milito’s ongoing interest in animals and their welfare – a passion shared by Harrison. The two old radio friends discuss Harrison’s YouTube hit “I Know You’re Real” which he co-wrote and performed with the legendary album rock band Gunhill Road that was released last spring on the group’s fourth album, What Year Is This! They talk about animals, cosmic consciousness and, of course, their experiences in radio. You can check out the podcast by clicking here. To view the video of “I Know You’re Real” please click here.

Promotions and Staff Additions at Today’s Homeowner Media. There are a number of personnel moves to report at Today’s Homeowner Media, the company that produces the “Today’s Homeowner” radio and television shows starring Danny Lipford. First, Stephanie Greenwood rises from VP of PR, marketing and digital to general manager of the company. Scott Basilotta, formerly director of television and radio syndication, is now vice president of distribution, and Thomas Boni is now digital content director. Danny Lipford says, “I couldn’t be more pleased with the performances of these three individuals and how each has shown growth in their areas of expertise year over year. I look forward to their continued leadership of the company and the impact their efforts will have our Today’s Homeowner Media’s success.” Additionally, the company brings aboard Carey Bradley as content coordinator, Glenn Johnson as audio operations manager, and Karmen Baker as PR & marketing manager.

TALKERS News Notes. The Talk Shows USA-syndicated program “Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk” adds new affiliates WORK, Canandaigua, New York; KDGO, Durango, Colorado; KLIN, Lincoln, Nebraska; and WLNL, Horseheads, New York. Gresham says, “The continued growth of the show mirrors the spectacular increase in the number of gun owners across the country. More than 10 million people have purchased a first gun over the last two years, and the research shows this group to be fully representative of America’s demographics. These new owners need and want information on safe gun handling and storage, and we provide that weekly on Gun Talk.”…..PodcastOne launches the “Third Wheel with Jenny Mollen” podcast on February 22.  “Third Wheel with Jenny Mollen” features the actress and best-selling author in conversation with some of the most-talked-about couples in pop culture, from Chelsea Handler and Jo Koi to Karamo Brown and Carlos Medel to Heather and Terry Dubrow, discovering what makes a healthy, committed relationship. PodcastOne president Kit Gray says, “Jenny Mollen’s witty, raw and honest commentary on relationships, parenting, and life in general delivers an honest take on topics at the forefront of everyone’s minds. PodcastOne is thrilled to give Jenny a platform to explore other people’s insights and thoughts on relationships and couple goals. We cannot wait for everyone to be able to listen and hear what celebrity relationships are all about.”…..SiriusXM announces today that TikTok star Tinx, a.k.a. Christina Najjar, joins the company to create a range of new audio content for SiriusXM and its platforms. Those include a new podcast titled, “It’s Me, Tinx,” and a weekly radio show, “It’s Me, Tinx Live,” on SiriusXM’s Stars channel…..Your Public Radio, operator of Baltimore public radio outlets WYPR-FM and WTMD-FM and publisher of award-winning podcasts, announces a new, limited podcast series, “Wavelength: Baltimore’s Public Radio Journey” that examines the history and impact of public radio in Baltimore. Hosted by noted storyteller and actress Maria Broom, and featuring interviews and archival tape, the podcast will take listeners on a journey from public radio’s early days to now. Listeners will learn about the evolution of WYPR, WTMD, WEAA and WBJC, how the stations responded to major news stories, featured local and national musicians, and how they found their place in Baltimore’s current radio scene.

COVID-19 Vaccines, Masks, Mandates & Canadian Truckers Top News/Talk Story for Week of February 14-18. COVID-19 vaccines, mandates, masks and the Canadian truckers’ Freedom Convoy combined as the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was Russia’s continuing buildup of military forces at the Ukraine border and the threat of a global conflict, followed by the combination of the economy, record-setting inflation, the supply chain woes, the labor force, and remote working at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Front Page News Industry News

Thursday, February 3, 2022

WTOP, Washington’s Joel Oxley Testifies on Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. At a Senate subcommittee hearing in Washington, DC on Wednesday (2/2), numerous media executives provided testimony as the subcommittee considers the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act that “creates a four-year safe harbor from antitrust laws for print, broadcast, or digital news companies to collectively negotiate with online content distributors (e.g., social media companies) regarding the terms on which the news companies’ content may be distributed by online content distributors.” Joel Oxley, general manager of Hubbard Radio’s WTOP-FM, Washington, DC testified on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters. He said, “Quality journalism delivered through our uniquely free service has only been made possible over many decades through advertising revenues. As you all are aware, these revenues have experienced a free-fall in recent years, due almost exclusively to the rapid, often anticompetitive, expansion of the dominant online platforms who have upended the advertising marketplace. The market power of the tech platforms undermines the online advertising model for local broadcast journalism in two important ways. First, the tech platforms’ role as content gatekeepers stifles our ability to generate user traffic. Second, anticompetitive terms of service and a ‘take it or leave it’ approach leave local broadcasters with a below-market sliver of those advertising revenues derived through their products. For local broadcasters and our viewers and listeners who rely on quality journalism, this is a real catch-22: To attract online user traffic, we must be accessible through the major platforms, yet the terms of access dictated by the online platforms devalue our product. For example, not only is WTOP not being compensated by Facebook and Google for its content, WTOP is actually paying to make sure its content is being accessed on their platforms.” He added, “The dominant online platforms have flourished, siphoning off huge amounts of advertising revenues that are the lifeblood of free, local journalism. Consider the big storm that just blew through the Northeast over the weekend – a nor’easter and blizzard conditions. Tons of work at a lot of cost and time for local broadcasters to cover it for millions of people. But not for Facebook, Google and the like. They simply take our coverage and profit from it, and virtually nothing comes back to us. But without local news, my guess is a lot of people would have not evacuated places like Cape Cod last weekend, and lives would have been risked. We just can’t have that.” You can read his complete testimony here.

Erick Erickson Show Adds New Affiliates; Reports Ratings Growth. Nationally syndicated talk radio personality Erick Erickson announces the addition of two new affiliate stations as Audacy’s KXNT, Las Vegas and Willamette Broadcasting’s KYKN, Salem, Oregon add the show to their program schedules. The show says, “In every Nielsen PPM market carrying his show, either live or delayed, Erickson is generating higher ratings than the show he replaced, including Rush Limbaugh’s show in Atlanta, Georgia on Erickson’s flagship station, WSB Radio. Erickson is also seeing robust digital growth. From June to December 2021, Erickson’s live-streaming audience increased 339% and his podcast audience grew 188%.”

Terry Foxx Named to Programming Role at Public Outlet KUT, Austin. Radio programming pro Terry Foxx is joining public radio station KUT, Austin as director of programming and audience. The organization says Foxx will oversee KUT 90.5’s on-air programming and KUT and KUTX Studios’ podcast strategy. He will collaborate with the KUT newsroom and sister station KUTX 98.9, the Austin Music Experience, on developing audience-centered engagement strategies and expanding KUT’s reach. Foxx has most recently been serving as brand manager for Radio One’s sports talk WFNZ-AM, Charlotte and sister AC WLNK-FM. KUT and KUTX general manager Debbie Hiott comments, “Terry has deep knowledge and experience when it comes to identifying and expanding audiences. He grew up in Texas, has always had family in Austin, and understands how KUT can serve our community. With those things he will help us develop and provide programming that reaches into new areas important to Central Texas.” Foxx says, “KUT has a rich heritage and is part of the fabric of Central Texas. I look forward to joining the strong team at KUT and engaging new listeners in creative ways.”

BIN: Black Information Network Names Andrea Coleman News Director; Ramses Ja to Host New Daily Podcast. News pro Andrea Coleman is promoted from news anchor to news director for iHeartMedia’s BIN: Black Information Network. In this new role, Coleman will be responsible for leading day-to-day newsroom operations, reporter and anchor development, and coordinating live news and specialty programming. She’ll be based in Atlanta, reporting to Tanita Myers, VP/news operations for the Black Information Network. Coleman joined iHeartMedia as an anchor/reporter for the Black Information Network in the summer of 2020. She says, “I welcome the opportunity to serve as news director of the Black Information Network and to continue to be a part of the dynamic team of Black professionals who have made the Network a relevant, trusted source of news and information for our community. We look forward to keeping our listeners informed and educated on all matters important to the Black experience.” BIN: Black Information Network also announces that media personality Ramses Ja is joining the Network as the host of the new daily podcast, “Our Daily Story with Ramses Ja.” The program will feature Black journalists from across America telling the most meaningful stories of the day, from their perspective. The daily talk show-style podcast will premiere later this month, with new episodes launching every weekday morning. Ja says, “I’m excited to be partnering with BIN: Black Information Network. This partnership helps show the company’s commitment to helping create a more equitable experience for Black people in this country, and the other projects we have in the works are also sure to continue that trend.” BIN: Black Information Network president Tony Coles comments, “As BIN: Black Information Network continues to grow, I am thrilled to have Ramses Ja and Andrea Coleman as part of our team. They are incredibly talented, with proven track records, and dedication to delivering significant and trusted news coverage to the Black community. I know they will contribute to the network’s mission and ongoing success.”

Newsmax Claims Big Ratings for Trump Rally Coverage. Citing Nielsen data from last weekend, Newsmax says it was the big ratings winner with its exclusive cable coverage of former President Donald Trump’s rally in Texas. Newsmax reports “some 2.9 million cable viewers tuned in to watch the event live from Conroe — and 1.1 million of them were adults ages 35-64, the demographic craved by advertisers… though Newsmax is carried in 20 million fewer homes than FOX, total audience impressions for both networks during Trump’s speech was almost at parity, both drawing around 1.4 million viewers per minute, according to Nielsen.” Newsmax points to a piece in Business Insider that said, “Newsmax’s audience skyrockets during Trump rallies that other networks, including FOX News, ignore.’” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy comments, “We can’t speak to FOX News’ decisions, but we believe this rally was a significant news event that was worthy of coverage.”

TALKERS News Notes. Former WIBC, Indianapolis talk host Greg Garrison has filed papers to run for prosecutor of Hamilton County, Indiana. According to the Indianapolis Star, the 74-year-old Garrison will face off against three-term Republican prosecutor D. Lee Buckinham in the primary. Garrison, who also had a long career as a personal injury lawyer, retired from his radio program in 2017. He was part of the prosecution team that helped convict boxer Mike Tyson of rape charges in 1992…..Reporter Mara Hoplamazian is named New Hampshire Public Radio’s energy and environment reporter, a role in which they will anchor NHPR’s “By Degrees” climate reporting initiative. NHPR news director Dan Barrick says, “Awareness and dialogue are the best tools we have to fight climate change. The work of journalists such as Mara are crucial not simply to inform but to create awareness of what is at risk, and what we can do together.” Hoplamazian came to NHPR as the Barbara and Dick Couch Fellow. Before joining NHPR, Hoplamazian worked as an investigative reporting intern at The Sacramento Bee and a media intern at the Smithsonian Institution.

Trump & the GOP/Midterm Elections, January 6 Investigation, Ukraine Tensions, COVID-19, Spotify’s Joe Rogan Controversy, Whoopi Goldberg Suspension, Financial Markets/Economy, CNN’s Zucker Resigns, Beijing Olympics, Winter Weather, and Washington Football Team Reveals New Name Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (2/2). Former President Donald Trump’s influence within the GOP and November’s midterm elections; the investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack; diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Russia over the latter’s military build-up at the Ukraine border; the rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and abroad and mask & vaccine mandates; the controversy over artists pulling their music from Spotify because of the conspiratorial tone of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast; ABC is slammed for suspending Whoopi Goldberg over her holocaust comments; the world’s financial markets and concerns about the COVID-hampered U.S. economy; Jeff Zucker resigns from CNN after failing to acknowledge his romantic relationship with an employee; the political aspects of the Beijing Winter Olympics; severe winter weather affecting much of the U.S.; and reactions to the NFL’s Washington franchise revealing its new Commanders moniker were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Monday, January 24, 2022

Monday Memo: Improving Results from Endorsement Spots. “Radio – stations and personalities – can make big money with the personal pitch that cuts through listeners’ mental clutter. BUT…” in this week’s column, consultant Holland Cooke warns against common technique faux pas. Read it here.

 

Pending Business: Comfortably Numb. Radio sales pro Steve Lapa says that radio sales proposals missing the answer to the “Why Buy?” question are missing the chance to tell your station’s unique story. If your station has personalities that connect with listeners and get thousands of them to act when it comes to charity giving and live appearances, sellers should tell those stories. “Move on from empty ‘reach’ numbers. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok and geo-targeted others will win the numbers game. But when it comes to showing results, radio is still a primary medium.” Read more here.

Starnes Media Group Partners with Hibbard Group for Affiliate Relations. The Starnes Media Group announces that it is engaging The Hibbard Group as its agency of record for affiliate relations and acquisition for “The Todd Starnes Show” and “The Todd Starnes Commentary.” Todd Starnes’ daily talk radio program airs live from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET and Starnes Media produces three separate 90-second daily commentaries by Todd Starnes that are heard on more than 650 stations nationwide. The Hibbard Group president Jack Hibbard says, “I am excited to be working with Todd Starnes. Todd’s high standard of journalistic integrity is rare these days. We believe that, combined with his unique style of communication, he has created a show that any radio station would be proud to air.” Starnes says the partnership is “an important step for us. We believe they have the experience to assist us in growing our affiliate base and serving our stations well.”

Radio One Partners with Charlotte FC for Radio Broadcasts. As part of a partnership between Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC and Radio One, sports talk WFNZ-AM/W273DA, Charlotte will serve as the club’s flagship radio station. Radio One says it will broadcast most matches on WFNZ, while the remaining matches will be carried on sister news/talk station WBT-AM/FM. Radio One regional vice president Marsha Landess says, “Our team at Radio One Charlotte is thrilled to bring the passion of Charlotte FC to “Sports Radio” WFNZ. With the growing excitement of professional soccer that’s evident in Charlotte, we look forward to a long successful partnership and are glad that we are a part of this historic time in Charlotte sports.”

COVID-19, Ukraine Tensions, Biden Approval Ratings/Midterm Elections, Inflation & Supply Chain, Boris Johnson Troubles, Beijing Olympics, and NFL Playoffs Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The COVID mandates protest in Washington, DC and the rate of Omicron cases in the U.S. and abroad; the tensions over Russia’s military build-up at the Ukraine border; President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings and the battle for control of Congress in the midterm elections; high retail and oil prices and the ongoing supply chain woes; UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s political troubles; the politics and health policies at the Beijing Winter Olympics; and the NFL Playoffs were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Monday, January 17, 2022

Talk Radio Legend Michael Jackson Passes at 87. Talk radio host Michael Jackson, who achieved legendary status during his career in Los Angeles, died on Sunday (1/16) at his home in L.A. at the age of 87. Jackson, who retired from radio in 2007, had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for the past 10 years. He is best remembered for his iconic work at KABC, Los Angeles that lasted from 1966 to 1998. TALKERS founder Michael Harrison (who served as a talk show host on rocker KMET in Los Angeles between 1975 and 1986) issued the following statement: “Michael Jackson was one of the all-time greats – a founding father – of talk radio. During his 32-year run at KABC, his very presence gave the station prestige and national stature as one of – if not THE – first very rare commercial outlets fully committed to the spoken-word format. Michael Jackson and KABC were synonymous with the phrase ‘talk radio.’ It should also be pointed out that his heyday in the format began prior to the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 which, in my opinion, marked the beginning of the modern era of talk radio.  That made him the member of an exclusive club of radio performers whose historical relevance and influence on things to come in the broadcasting industry are incalculable.” Jackson’s longtime producer Lyle Gregory remembers Jackson in a piece you can read here.

Monday Memo: Podcasting ‘Will Continue to Explode.’ In a marketing piece to the advertising community, iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman sees “no signs of growth abating.” In this week’s column, consultant Holland Cooke outlines opportunities at the station level. Read it here.

 

Pending Business: Early Warning. According to the “sales calendar,” January is over, and the first quarter is headed toward spring. Radio sales pro Steve Lapa says it’s time for an early review of your sales game plan. “Like any other performance skill, practice, evaluation and repetition makes for improvement. The skills required for success in today’s sales environment may be different from the last few years.” Read about Lapa’s six questions you can ask yourself here.

Chicago Sports Personality Les Grobstein Dead at 69. Windy City sports media personality and WSCR “The Score” overnight talk host Les Grobstein was found dead at his home in suburban Elk Grove Village on Sunday, according to a report from Chicago media writer Robert Feder. He reports that WSCR operations director Mitch Rosen said Grobstein had been away from his show since last Wednesday due to illness. During his career, Grobstein was sports director at WLS-AM, Chicago for 10 years. He served at sports talk WMVP from 1991 to 1997. He began his overnight stint with WSCR in 2009.

Pioneering Talk Host Susan Bray Dies at 79. A number of news outlets are reporting that former talk host Susan Bray (pictured here on C-SPAN) died in her native Australia last week at age 79. The Des Moines Register has a nice story written by her longtime friend Julie Gammack, who would replace her on WHO-AM. During her career, Bray worked at such outlets as WHO-AM, Des Moines and WWDB-FM, Philadelphia. She earned the nickname the “Saucy Aussie” because of her ribald sense of humor. After a long talk radio career in the U.S., Bray, who had married American Ed DeLong, returned to her hometown of Mudgee, Australia where she and DeLong ran a bed and breakfast.

Maine Station Fires Sportscasters After Body Shaming Incident. The owner of Houlton, Maine radio station WHOU-FM has fired two sportscasters who were caught on a hot mic body-shaming female basketball players during a game between two high school teams. Jim Carter and Steve Shaw were calling the game while watching it on a livestream and made comments about the weight of some of the teenage girls. Carter is a former coach from another school and Shaw had been the athletic director at one of the schools playing in the contest that night. Carter told the Portland Press-Herald that he has apologized to the superintendent of one of the schools, adding, “I don’t even know what to say. Hopefully everybody can get through this and be OK.” Northern Maine Media owner Fred Grant posted a notice of the pair’s dismissal on the station website saying, in part, “Our mission has been to highlight the best of our communities, our schools, the programs we love, and most importantly – our students.  Last night, two broadcasters made comments that were not only inappropriate, they were also blatantly wrong.  Those broadcasters were terminated… We’ve heard from many of you, and many have shared clips of the event in question. While it’s wrong that it happened, I’m going to ask each of you to help us shift the focus back on the excellence we see every day in our students. If you’ve shared the video post, I’m hoping you will take it down, not to downplay the incident, but to better help all of our students move on to the important work and events in their lives.”

MIW Names Three to Board of Directors. Three new members are joining the board of directors for Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio. Haley Jones of MRC Data, Melissa Mitchell of Bonneville International, and Brittney Jackson of Urban One/Radio One are joining the board of the organization that “consists of top-level female radio professionals who use their experience, influence, and resources to help other women in radio develop management and leadership skills.” Jackson currently serves as the general and digital sales manager for Urban One/Radio One in Richmond where she is responsible for recruiting and developing new talent, leading multi-platform sales efforts, and increasing annual revenue. Jones serves as head of independents for MRC Data where she oversees independent labels, small radio groups, and managers with music intelligence for today. Mitchell is Bonneville International’s director of finance, corporate controller and is based in their Denver market. MIW board president Ruth Presslaff says, “We are extremely fortunate to have not one, but three powerhouses join our board. Their success speaks for itself; it’s their willingness to pay it forward for the good of women and our industry that makes each so special and appreciated. I’d be remiss in not thanking the three members leaving our board as their terms end: Kay Olin, principal of Olin & Associates, and past MIW spokeswoman, whose constant leadership, dedication, and long term participation profoundly impacted MIW and me personally; Valerie Blackburn, principal at VKB Consulting, whose financial expertise led MIW through the arduous process of establishing a formal 501(c)(3) status; and Beth Neuhoff, president & CEO Neuhoff Media who provided invigorating energy and challenging ideas that MIW will push ever forward.”

Cowboys Great Chad Hennings Takes Part in SRN News Series. Pictured here is Salem Radio Network VP of news Tom Tradup (left) with three-time Dallas Cowboys Superbowl champion Chad Hennings. Hennings is in the SRN studios working with Tradup on a special, week-long series on SRN News aimed at getting men involved in Christian ministries. The five-part series titled, “Get Off the Bench,” begins airing today (1/17)

Tuscaloosa Sports Talker Jay Barker Arrested on Assault Charges. Former University of Alabama star quarterback Jay Barker was arrested in Nashville and charged with aggravated assault after allegedly trying to ram the car his estranged wife was riding in. Barker hosts the midday show on Townsquare Media’s sports talk WTUG-HD2/W256CG, Tuscaloosa “Tide 100.9” and is married to country artist Sara Evans. She filed for divorce from Barker in August.

COVID-19, Midterm Elections/Trump & the GOP, Texas Synagogue Assault, Djokovic Booted from Australia, NFL Playoffs, Winter Weather, and Martin Luther King, Jr Day Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The high rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Joe Biden vaccine mandate; the battle for control of Congress in November midterm elections and Donald Trump’s influence in the GOP; the Texas synagogue hostage incident; Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is kicked out of Australia ahead of the Australian Open after violating the country’s COVID protocols; the NFL’s Wild Card weekend; intense winter weather hitting the Eastern U.S.; and the Martin Luther King, Jr weekend and holiday were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Ratings Takeaways

December 2021 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three

December 2021 PPM Data – Information for the December 2021 ratings period has been released for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.

Nielsen Audio’s December 2021 sweep covered November 11 – December 8.

Managing editor Mike Kinosian provides “Takeaways” for spoken-word stations finishing in their respective markets’ top twenty.

Cited as well are each particular city’s #1 station (6+) and loftiest (6+) upticks and drop-offs.

All comparisons noted are November 2021 – December 2021 (6+).

 

PORTLAND

News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” flat at 7.1, second to fourth

iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 3.1 – 2.5, -.6, unchanged at #16

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 6.9 – 7.2, +.3, fourth to third and KOPB’s internet stream steady at 2.2, #19 to #17

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KKCW, first month, 7.1 – 12.4, +5.3

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KKCW (+5.3)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: hot AC KRSK (-.8)

CHARLOTTE

News/Talk: Radio One-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” (Carolina Panthers) 4.5 – 3.8, -.7, #8 to #11

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFNZ “Sports Radio The Fan” (Hornets) 1.0 – 1.1, +.1, remains at #18

Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation-owned WFAE 4.1 – 4.3, +.2, tenth to ninth

South Carolina Educational Television Commission’s WNSC steady at .5, locked at #20

Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group adult contemporary WKQC, first month, 5.0 – 8.8, +3.8

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WKQC (+3.8)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: classical WDAV (-.8)

SAN ANTONIO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” (Spurs) 4.3 – 4.2, -.1, tenth to eighth

Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 2.1 – 2.2, +.1, #16 to #14

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 3.3 – 3.1, -.2, #13 to #12

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KQXT, first month, 5.9 – 10.8, +4.9

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KQXT (+4.9)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KONO-FM (-1.8)

SACRAMENTO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 9.1 – 7.3, -1.8, first to third and cluster-mate KSTE “Talk 650” 2.7 – 2.9, +.2, #14 to #12

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s KIFM-AM “ESPN 1320” 1.0 – .9, -.1, #18 to #19

Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio’s KXJZ 4.9 – 4.5, -.4, seventh to eighth

Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KSEG, first month, 8.3 – 10.2, +1.9

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KYMX (+3.1)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: adult contemporary KBEB (-2.2)*

*Represents the largest November 2021 – December 2021 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets

PITTSBURGH

News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 4.1 – 3.7, -.4, remains in ninth-place

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” 8.7 – 7.8, -.9, stays at #4

Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 3.3 – 2.7, -.6, #11 to #13

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, first month, 8.9 – 11.1, +2.2

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase:  adult contemporary WSHH (+2.5)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: sports talk KDKA-FM (-.9)

SALT LAKE CITY

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 7.2 – 7.1, -.1, anchored in second-place

Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 7.5 – 6.0, -1.5, first to fifth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER steady at 4.1, repeats at #8

Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI, first month, 5.5 – 10.9, +5.4

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KSFI (+5.4)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: news/talk KSL (-1.5)

LAS VEGAS

News/Talk: Audacy’s KXNT “News Talk 840” 1.9 – 1.8, -.1, #21 to #16

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: None in the top twenty

Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE, first month, 6.0 – 13.1, +7.1

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KSNE (+7.1)**

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: contemporary Christian KSOS (-2.1)

**Represents the largest November 2021 – December 2021 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets

ORLANDO

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 5.6 – 5.3, -.3, seventh to eighth

Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 2.1 – 1.9, -.2, flat at #16

iHeartMedia’s WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.8 – 1.3, -.5, #18 to #19

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WYGM “96.9 The Game” (Magic) 2.3 – 2.2, -.1, #15 to #14

Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections’ WMFE 2.5 – 1.7, -.8, #13 to #17

Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMGF, first month, 6.1 – 12.0, +5.9

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WMGF (+5.9)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: rock WJRR (-1.5)

CINCINNATI

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” 11.8 – 10.2, -1.6, flat at #2 and cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 5.8 – 5.2, -.6, fourth to sixth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” (Bengals) locked at 1.4, repeats at #17

Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio-owned WVXU steady at 3.9, tenth to eighth

Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WGRR second month in a row, 12.3 – 11.0, -1.3

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WRRM (+1.8)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: news/talk WLW (-1.6)

CLEVELAND

News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Cavaliers) 4.7 – 4.0, -.7, stays in ninth-place

News: iHeartMedia-owned WMMS-HD2 “BIN 99.1 Because Truth Matters” unchanged at .2, #18 to #20

Sports Talk: Audacy’s WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” (Browns) 5.5 – 4.6, -.9, seventh to eighth and WKRK’s internet steam debuts with a 1.5, #14

Public Radio News/Talk: Ideastream-owned WCPN steady at 2.6, #13 to #12

Kent State University’s WKSU 1.3 – 1.1, -.2, #15 to #17

Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WDOK first month, 9.8 – 10.4, +.6

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase:  iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WMJI (+1.4)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: sports talk WKRK (-.9)

KANSAS CITY

News/Talk: Audacy’s KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 5.0 – 4.6, -.4, seventh to sixth

News: None in the top twenty

Sports Talk: Audacy’s KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” 2.1 – 2.3, +.2, remains at #16

Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KCUR 6.6 – 6.1, -.5, continues in third-place

Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic rock KCFX, third consecutive month, 8.9 – 9.7, +.8

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KCKC (+3.4)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: country WDAF (-1.6)

COLUMBUS

News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 6.7 – 6.5, -.2, remains in fourth-place

News: iHeartMedia’s WYTS “Columbus’ BIN 1230” .2 – .1, -.1, locked at #19

Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” (Blue Jackets) 9.6 – 10.3, +.7, #1 and cluster-mate WBNS-AM “ESPN 1460 AM” .6 – .5, -.1, #16 to #18

Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 6.2 – 6.5, +.3, sixth to fourth

Number One 6+: sports talk WBNS-FM, fourth successive month, 9.6 – 10.3, +.7

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult hits WODC (+2.1)

Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: classic rock WLVQ (-1.2)

 

Up next: December 2021 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.

 

Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.