December 2021 PPM Data – Information for the December 2021 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 December 2021 sweep covered November 11 – December 8.
TALKERS magazine 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+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 2.6 – 2.4, -.2, flat at #15
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.4 – 2.3, -.1, #17 to #16
News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 3.6 – 3.8, +.2, steady in eighth-place and co-owned WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 2.3 – 2.2, -.1, #18 to #17
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Giants and Nets) 3.2 – 3.0, -.2, #11 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation-owned WNYC-FM 2.9 – 3.1, +.2, unchanged at #12
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, fifth straight month, 6.8 – 9.7, +2.9
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WLTW (+2.9)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM (-1.0)
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” 3.5 – 3.1, -.4, eighth to seventh
News: Audacy’s KNX-AM “1070 News Radio” 2.9 – 2.6, -.3, #10 to #11
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC 1.8 – 1.9, +.1, #21 to #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST, fifth successive month, 6.0 – 11.6, +5.6
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOST (+5.6)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: sports talk KLAC (-1.1)
Note: Two days prior to the conclusion of the December 2021 sweep (12/6), Audacy CHR KNOU began simulcasting all-news KNX-AM and has since changed calls to KNX-FM. KNOU finished the December 2021 survey period at #21 (1.4 – 1.8, +.4)
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” (Blackhawks) steady at 3.7, ninth to eighth
News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” (Bears) flat at 5.7, first to second
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 4.7 – 5.1, +.4, fifth to third
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT, second month in succession, 5.7 – 11.8, +6.1
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WLIT (+6.1)*
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease (Tie): classical WFMT and classic rock WDRV (-.8)
*Represents the largest November 2021 – December 2021 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 1.5 – 1.7, +.2, #21 to #20
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 7.2 – 6.7, -.5, second to third
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (49ers) 4.0 – 3.4, -.6, sixth to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 7.8 – 8.6, +.8, #1
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KQED, twelfth straight month, 7.8 – 8.6, +.8
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOIT-FM (+3.7)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: news/talk KGO (-.7)
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 3.4 – 2.8, -.6, #10 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” (Stars) 4.1 – 3.5, -.6, #6 to #11
Audacy’s KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Cowboys) steady at 2.2, #19 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting-owned KERA unchanged at 2.8, #15 to #14
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KDGE, first month, 4.3 – 8.8, +4.5
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KDGE (+4.5)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: CHR KHKS (-.7)
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” 4.9 – 4.4, -.5, sixth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston-owned KUHF 2.4 – 2.3, -.1, flat at #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, eighth consecutive month, 6.6 – 10.8, +4.2
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KODA (+4.2)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease (Tie): Spanish contemporary Christian KHVU and sports talk KBME (-.9)
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 9.3 – 6.6, -2.7, first to fourth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Falcons and Hawks) 2.5 – 2.2, -.3, #14 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools’ WABE 2.7 – 2.4, -.3, #13 to #14
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WSRV first month, 7.5 – 7.3, -.2, replaces news/talk WSB-AM & WSBB, which had been #1 the past 30 months
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: contemporary Christian WFSH (+2.2)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: news/talk WSB-AM & WSBB (-2.7)**
**Represents the largest November 2021 – December 2021 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: Audacy-owned WPHT “Talk Radio 1210” 1.5 – 1.1, -.4, #19 to #20 and WPHT’s internet stream, which debuts with a 1.1, thus tying WPHT’s AM signal at #20
News: Audacy’s KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 5.2 – 4.6, -.6, fourth to sixth
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WIP “Sports Radio 94” (Eagles) 5.1 – 4.6, -.5, flat at #6
Beasley Media Group’s WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers and Flyers) 2.3 – 1.9, -.4, #14 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY’s WHYY 5.2 – 5.7, +.5, fourth to fifth
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WBEB, first month, 4.8 – 10.1, +5.3
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WBEB (+5.3)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: country WXTU (-.9)
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 3.0 – 2.9, -.1, #13 to #12
News: Audacy’s WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 3.5 – 3.3, -.2, flat at #10 and cluster-mate WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 3.0 – 2.8, -.2, repeats at #13
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Giants and Nets) 4.5 – 4.0, -.5, fourth to seventh
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation-owned WNYC-FM 1.4 – 1.8, +.4, #24 to #19
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM, fifth straight month, 6.9 – 7.3, +.4
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: hot AC WALK-FM (+3.0)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: adult contemporary WKJY (-1.3)
RIVERSIDE
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFI “AM 640” 2.6 – 2.5, -.1, #13 to #14
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+: Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA, ninth straight month, 7.5 – 8.0, +.5
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOST (+3.5)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: regional Mexican KRQB (-.9)
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KGO “810 AM” 2.3 – 1.7, -.6, #14 to #16
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 6.2 – 5.6, -.6, second to fourth
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KNBR “The Sports Leader” (49ers) flat at 2.0, #17 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 8.3 – 9.3, +1.0, first to second
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary KOIT-FM first month, 5.7 – 9.7, +4.0
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOIT-FM (+4.0)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: hot AC KLLC (-1.4)
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” steady at 4.6, remains in eighth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Giants and Nets) 2.6 – 2.8, +.2, continues at #13
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 3.5 – 4.1, +.6, ninth to tenth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, first month, 5.9 – 8.3, +2.4
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WMGQ (+2.5)
Largest 6+ November 2021 – December 2021 Decrease: Spanish tropical WSKQ (-2.6)
Up next: December 2021 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.