January 2022 PPM Data – Information for the January 2022 ratings period has been released for New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Dallas; Houston; Atlanta; Philadelphia; Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario; San Jose; and Middlesex-Somerset-Union.
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+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 2.3 – 3.0, +.7, #16 to #12
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.1 – 2.8, +.7, #18 to #13
News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 4.4 – 4.3, -.1, fifth to seventh and co-owned WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 2.6 – 2.8, +.2, steady at #13
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets) 3.0 – 3.8, +.8, tenth to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 2.7 – 3.5, +.8, #12 to #10
Number One 6+: Emmis urban AC WBLS, first month, 6.2 – 6.6, +.4
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase (Tie): sports talk WFAN and public radio news/talk WNYC-FM (+.8)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WLTW (-5.2)
Note: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW had been #1 the past six months
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” 3.0 – 3.7, +.7, eighth to seventh
News: Audacy-owned KNX-FM “News 97.1” 3.1, #10
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC 1.9 – 2.4, +.5, #19 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST, seventh successive month, 13.4 – 6.3, -7.1
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: classic hits-oldies KRTH (+1.2)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KOST (-7.1)
Note: KNX-FM was unlisted in “Holiday” 2021, while KNX-AM was #11 (2.8); the latter is unlisted in January 2022.
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” (Blackhawks) 3.5 – 5.2, +1.7, seventh to fourth
News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” 5.6 – 5.7, +.1, third to first
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WSCR “670 The Score” (Bulls) 1.5 – 2.0, +.5, #23 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 4.8 – 5.3, +.5, fourth to third
Number One 6+ (Tie): news/talk WBBM-AM & WCFS, first month, 5.6 – 5.7, +.1, and iHeartMedia urban AC WVAZ, first month, 5.9 – 5.7, -.2
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: news/talk WGN (+1.7)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WLIT (-9.3)
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 1.4 – 1.8, +.4, #22 to #17
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 6.7 – 7.1, +.4, third to second
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” 3.3 – 4.6, +1.3, seventh to fourth
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 7.9 – 8.5, +.6, second to first
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KQED, first month, 7.9 – 8.5, +.6
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: hot AC KLLC (+1.4)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KOIT-FM (-5.2)
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 3.0 – 3.1, +.1, locked at #14
News – Talk: Audacy’s KRLD-AM “News Radio 1080” 1.6 – 2.1, +.5, #22 to #19
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” (Stars) 2.6 – 3.7, +1.1, #16 to #7
Audacy-owned KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Cowboys) 2.4 – 2.6, +.2, repeats at #17
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA 3.1 – 3.5, +.4, #13 to #12
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic rock KZPS, first month, 4.9 – 5.3, +.4
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: sports talk KTCK (+1.1)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KDGE (-6.3)
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” 4.2 – 4.7, +.5, seventh to sixth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston-owned KUHF 2.1 – 2.2, +.1, #20 to #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, tenth consecutive month, 12.8 – 7.4, -5.4
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: CHR KRBE (+2.2)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KODA (-5.4)
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 5.8 – 6.9, +1.1, fifth to third
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Hawks) 2.3 – 2.4, +.1, #13 to #15
Dickey Broadcasting-owned WCNN “The Fan” 1.1 – 1.9, +.8, #22 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools-owned WABE 2.2 – 2.8, +.6, #14 to #12
Number One 6+ (Tie); Cox Media Group urban AC WALR, first month, 7.4 – 7.1, -.3 and co-owned classic hits-oldies WSRV, first month, 7.3 – 7.1, -.2
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: CHR WWWQ (+1.7)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: contemporary Christian WFSH (-4.3)
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: Townsquare Media’s WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 1.2 – 1.3, +.1, #19 to #20
In the Audacy cluster, WPHT “Talk Radio 1210” .9 – 1.3, +.4, #23 to #20 and WPHT’s internet stream, which posts an identical .9 – 1.3, +.4, #23 to #20
News: Audacy-owned KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 4.7 – 5.2, +.5, anchored in sixth-place
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WIP “Sports Radio 94” 3.7 – 3.9, +.2, eighth to ninth
Beasley Media Group-owned WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers and Flyers) 1.6 – 3.1, +1.5, #17 to #11
WIP’s internet stream, .7 – 1.9, +1.2, #25 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY-owned WHYY 5.9 – 7.4, +1.5, fourth to second
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group rock WMMR, first month, 7.1 – 7.6, +.5
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: country WXTU (+2.4)*
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WBEB (-9.6)**
*Represents the largest “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
**Represents the largest “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: Red Apple Media-owned WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 1.8, #15
News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 2.7 – 3.5, +.8, #13 to #5 and cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 3.1 – 3.0, -.1, repeats at #8
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets) 3.1 – 3.5, +.4, eighth to fifth
Emmis’ WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” 1.2 – 1.3, +.1, #22 to #16
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM, first month, 7.5 – 7.4, -.1
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: rock WWSK (+1.0)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: hot AC WALK-FM (-4.7)
Note: WABC-AM & WLIR-FM was unlisted in Long Island’s “Holiday” 2021 sweep.
RIVERSIDE
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC .2 – .3, +.1, #22 to #15
San Bernardino Community College District’s KVCR, flat at .3, #21 to #15
Number One 6+: Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA, first month, 6.6 – 8.4, +1.8
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: classic hits-oldies KOLA (+1.8)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: country KFRG (-.9)
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KGO “810 AM” 1.4 – 2.0, +.6, #16 to #11 and cluster-mate KSFO “Talk Radio 560” .7 – 1.4, +.7, #23 to #15
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” unchanged at 5.4, continues at #4
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” 2.4 – 3.5,+1.1, #11 to #8
Audacy’s KGMZ “95.7 The Game” flat at .9, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Bonneville classic rock KUFX first month 5.4 – 6.0, +.6
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase (Tie): country KRTY and regional Mexican KSOL (+1.4)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease adult contemporary KOIT-FM (-6.2)
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 4.9 – 5.9, +1.0, seventh to second
News: In the Audacy cluster, WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 1.6 – 1.9, +.3, #19 to #12; WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” flat at 1.1, #22 to #16; and WINS’ internet stream .4, #20
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets) 2.0 – 2.9, +.9, #16 to #10
Emmis’ WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” 1.5 – 1.0, -.5, #20 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Spanish Broadcasting System Spanish tropical WSKQ, first month, 6.6 – 6.0, -.6
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Increase: rhythmic CHR WQHT (+1.3)
Largest 6+ “Holiday” 2021 – January 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WMGQ (-2.8)
Note: WINS’ internet stream was unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
Up next: January 2022 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.