Tag: "KRMG-FM"
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Beasley Broadcast Group Second Quarter Net Revenue Up 96%. Reporting its financial data for the second quarter of 2021, Beasley Broadcast Group (parent company of Beasley Media Group) indicates net revenue was $59.6 million, an increase of 96.1% over the same period in 2020. The company posts operating income of $5.8 million compared to the $17.6 million operating loss it reported in Q2 of 2020. Station operating income also rebounded to $11.1 million compared to the $11 million SOI loss it posted in the same period a year ago. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley states, “Beasley’s strong 2021 second quarter financial results reflect growing momentum
across our media platform, as the continuing broad-based economic recovery accelerated demand from consumers and advertisers for our premium content and marketing and advertising services. With the significant rebound in the commercial advertising market, second quarter net revenue of $59.6 million increased 24% over first quarter 2021 levels and 96% over the comparable prior year period. Top line growth combined with the meaningful actions we have taken over the past year to permanently reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies, resulted in a significant rebound in net income to $0.2 
million and SOI to $11.1 million, as well as positive free cash flow of approximately $1.0 million. Throughout the second quarter, the resumption of advertising in key categories combined with the success of our content monetization strategies resulted in year-over-year revenue growth across all fifteen of our markets, with healthy double-digit revenue increases in Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia and Wilmington. Notably, our continued emphasis on strong local content and consumer engagement drove best-in-industry ratings performance for our station clusters, according to Nielsen. Our cumulative on-air audience share approached pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter, having grown consistently since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. While second quarter non-traditional revenue (NTR) and events revenue was minimal, we made the strategic decision to fully re-open our events business in the third quarter, given the continued strengthening of commerce and consumer activities in our markets, and expect incremental revenue from this source in the second half of 2021. As we work to return all of our revenue sources to pre-pandemic levels of operation, we are closely tracking potential impacts from the Delta variant and the uncertainty it may bring to businesses we serve and our future operating results. Our ongoing focus on digital innovation and the strategic investments we are making in our digital and esports infrastructure and content production capabilities are delivering positive results and continue to highlight the value of our long-term revenue and cash flow diversification strategies. Growing consumer and advertiser demand for Beasley’s digital audio content drove a 96% year-over-year increase in digital revenue, with digital accounting for approximately 13.4% of total second quarter revenue, compared to 13.4% in the prior year period and 12% in the 2021 first quarter. With growing audience share and engagement, Beasley’s digital network delivered record digital audience impressions in the second quarter, with total digital impressions growing 29% over the prior year period.”
Salem Media Group Q2 2021 Total Revenue Rises 20.6%. The total revenue for Salem Media Group’s second quarter of 2021 was $63.8 million, an increase of 20.6% over the same period in 2020. Salem posted operating income of $5.6 million for the quarter, compared to the operating loss of $900,000 it reported during the second quarter of 2020. The company’s net income for Q2 of this year was $2.3 million
compared to the net loss of $2.5 million it reported for the second quarter of 2020. Salem Media Group reports data for its three business segments and the Broadcast segment’s net revenue for this quarter was $46.8 million, up 18.5% from the same period a year ago. Station operating income rose 66.6% to $10.6 million. The Digital Media segment saw revenue rise 9.5% to $10.3 million and the Publishing segment revenue was $6.7, an increase of 68.3%. As of June 30, 2021, the Salem Media Group had $216.3 million outstanding on the 6.75% senior secured notes due 2024, no balance outstanding on the Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility, and $11.2 million outstanding on Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans from the Small Business Administration.
Saga Communications Q2 Net Revenue Up 49.7%. Second quarter financial data from Saga Communications, Inc. reveals that the company’s net revenue was $28 million, an increase of 49.7% over the same period in 2020. The company posted operating income of $4.6 million compared to the operating loss of $8.6 million it
reported in the second quarter of 2020. Station operating expense increased $2.4 million to $21.0 million for the quarter compared to the same period last year. Station operating income was $8.4 million for the quarter compared to a loss of $181,000 for the second quarter of 2020. Free cash flow was $4.2 million for the quarter compared to a negative $1.8 million for the same period last year. Saga’s balance sheet reflects $59.4 million in cash on hand as of June 30, 2021 and $59.6 million as of August 2, 2021. The company’s total bank debt remained at $10 million as of the end of the second quarter 2021.
Urban One Second Quarter Net Revenue Climbs 41.6%. Today’s second quarter 2021 financial report from Urban One, Inc., parent company of Radio One, indicates the company’s net revenue was approximately $107.6 million, an increase of 41.6% from the same period in 2020. Broadcast and digital operating income was approximately $49.6 million, an increase of 64.3% from the same period in 2020. Urban One reports operating income of approximately $37.9 million for Q2 of 2021, compared to approximately $20.4 million for the same period in 2020. Net income was approximately
$17.9 million compared to approximately $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2020. Urban One CEO and president Alfred C. Liggins, III says, “Overall we had an extremely strong second quarter; not only was Adjusted EBITDA up 82.4% year-over-year, but we also surpassed our Q2 2019 pre-pandemic Adjusted EBITDA. We are experiencing unprecedented advertiser interest in our audience across 
the entire Urban One platform. The radio advertising business saw a robust rebound from the worst impacts of the pandemic in Q2 2020, with segment revenues up by 73% and radio syndication revenues up 50.2%. We also benefitted from strong TV scatter markets, with TV advertising revenues up 21.3% in the quarter; furthermore, registered interest in our 2021-22 TV upfront sales presentations has also been extremely encouraging, which will help our fourth quarter revenue performance. Demand for our digital products remains high, with digital revenues up by 147.9% for the quarter and Adjusted EBITDA up by over $6 million; a significant help to our top and bottom-line growth. For Q3, our core radio business excluding political is currently pacing up by over 40%, and we are comfortable increasing our FY21 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to mid-$130 million, excluding casino chase costs. During the quarter we completed the second tranche of our Class A ATM share sale program, which yielded $21.2 million net of fees. This cash influx further strengthened our balance sheet, and we ended the quarter with $129.8 million of cash on hand, which is a healthy place to be ahead of the exciting new investment opportunity in the One Casino & Resort in Richmond, Virginia.”
Ralph Nader is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast. Legendary consumer advocate, political activist, prolific author, Pacifica radio talk show host and five-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Harrison and Nader engage in a fascinating discussion about “left/right political
thinking” in America as well as social and business changes influenced by advancements in technology, plus more. Nader says working class Democrats and Republicans alike have far more in common than they have differences and that unbridled corporatism is the true enemy of the poor and working class regardless of race or political ideology. To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here.
NAB Announces 2021 Marconi Finalists. The finalists for the 2021 Marconi Awards have been announced. The news/talk Station of the Year finalists are: WSB-AM, Atlanta; WTOP-FM, Washington; KSSZ-FM, Columbia, Missouri; WLW-AM, Cincinnati; and KNX-AM, Los Angeles. (NAB lumps all-news and news/talk stations into the same category.)
WSB-AM, Atlanta is also up for Legendary Station of the Year. Talk radio hosts making the finals include, for Major Market Personality of the Year, George Dunham, Craig Miller, and Gordon Keith from sports talk KTCK-AM, Dallas “The Ticket.” In the Large Market Personality of the Year category, finalists include: WFLA-AM, Tampa’s Jack Harris; WBAL-AM, Baltimore’s C4 and Bryan Nehman; WHPT-FM, Tampa’s Mike Calta; and WWTN-FM, Nashville’s Dan Mandis. Medium Market Personality of the Year category finalists include: KRMG-FM, Tulsa’s Dan Potter; KIDO-AM, Boise’s Kevin Miller; KYKX-FM, Tyler, Texas’ Harlen the Sports Guy and Pigskin Bob; and WHO-AM, Des Moines’ Simon Conway. See all the finalists here.
TALKERS News Notes. Next Tuesday (8/10), McVay Media’s Mike McVay is joining Loyd Ford from Rainmaker Pathway Consulting Works, LLC for “The Radio State Of The Union Live Event” on The Encouragers on Clubhouse. It’s being billed as “a frank
discussion about employment, job search, career management, corporate & local radio and the future” and takes place at 7:00 pm ET. Ford says, “We have been discussing the people we love in this business, the talent. This is 
a unique time in our history. If you are on the talent side of the business, it takes some skill to navigate your way through what is happening. I reached out to Mike because he really does have such deep experience and knows radio as a talent, a consultant and someone who ran programming for one of the largest broadcasters in the country. Plus, he’s willing (like I am) to be candid. This will be a conversation with red meat and a lot of helpful hacks to get ahead, stay balanced and help others.”…..Legendary WGN-AM and WGN-TV sports producer Jack “Rosey” Rosenberg will be recognized by the City of Chicago with an honorary street sign. The southeast corner of E. Illinois Street and Cityfront Plaza Drive will double as “Jack
Rosenberg Way.” Rosenberg’s career at WGN began in 1954 where he was a producer, news writer, and sports editor and worked with celebrated sports voices including Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, and others. WGN says, “Rosey was a pioneer in modern sports production and broadcasting and is credited with its development. While Rosey himself was rarely heard on-air, the sound of his typewriter clacking in the background was unmistakable.” Rosenberg died December 26, 2020 at the age of 94…..Futuri 
announces the launch of AdMatic, “a revolutionary system that helps podcast platforms and creators make their content more discoverable and monetizable using advanced metadata sorting and deployment.” Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig adds, “Two million podcasts all have the same problem: poor metadata sorting that leads to mismatched recommendations for listeners and ineffective advertising for businesses. AdMatic solves this by using Futuri’s AI-driven technology to individually categorize podcast episodes and align with the businesses and products that best match on a case-by-case basis, rather than the hopelessly broad one-size-fits-all approach we currently see in the market.”
COVID-19 Delta Variant/Outbreaks & Mask Policies, Eviction Moratorium, Cuomo Allegations-Impeachment Possibility, Infrastructure Bill, January 6 Investigation, the Tokyo Olympic Games, and California Wildfires Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (8/4). The fast-rising number of COVID-19 Delta variant cases in numerous U.S. states, governors under fire and mask policies; President Joe Biden’s moratorium on evictions; the allegations of sexual impropriety against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the possibility of his being impeached; the bi-partisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill; the investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack; the Tokyo Olympics; and the California wildfires were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Friday, September 8, 2017
NAB/RAB Radio Show Report. Media consultant Holland Cooke files this report from Austin and the NAB/RAB Radio Show. In Cooke’s convention notes this morning are takeaways from the “Creating Unforgettable User Experiences” panel, some thoughts from the “Advertiser Breakfast,” a bunch of handy tips for sales people in the “Selling to Car Dealers” session, and some wisdom for “Attracting and Retaining Top Sales Talent.” Check out Cooke’s report here.
2017 Marconi Award Winners Announced. The winners of the 2017 Marconi Awards from the
National Association of Broadcasters were announced at the NAB Marconi Awards Dinner & Show at the NAB/RAB Radio Show in Austin last night (9/7). Some notable winners from the spoken-word formats include: all-news WCBS-AM, New York wins Legendary Station of the Year; all-news WTOP-FM, Washington is named Major Market Station of the Year; news/talk WDBO-FM, Orlando is honored with News/Talk Station of the Year; news/talk KRMG-FM, Tulsa wins Medium Market Station of the Year; and KTCK-FM, Dallas takes home the Sports Station of the Year honors.
Hofstra University’s WRHU-FM, Hempstead Wins Second Marconi Award. College station WRHU, Hempstead, New York was honored with its second NAB Marconi Award for Non-Commercial Station of the Year. WRHU won the award in the same category in 2014. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison is a Hofstra graduate, charter inductee in the WRHU Hall of Fame, and member of the university’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication executive advisory board. Harrison states, “I am bursting with pride at my association with this amazing institution and radio station. Receiving the Marconi Award as best non-commercial radio station in the nation – not just once, but twice in the past three years – is a remarkable accomplishment. It is a tribute to Dean Evan Cornog, station general manager Bruce Avery and WRHU operations director John T. Mullen, as well as the Hofstra faculty and serious-minded students that this school continually attracts.” Pictured at the Marconi Awards last night (l-r): Hofstra alumnus Mike Leslie, Avery, and Weiss Agency executive VP (and member of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication executive advisory board) Heather Cohen.
NYPost: Carton Charity Reported ‘Zero’ Money Spent on Program Expenses. Things are not getting better for suspended WFAN, New York morning personality Craig Carton after his arrest on Wednesday (9/6) on federal fraud charges in connection with an alleged concert tickets resale Ponzi 
scheme. Today, the New York Post is reporting that Carton’s charitable foundation Tic Toc Stop – set up in 2013 to “fight Tourette Syndrome” – documented in its 2015 tax filing that it spent $0 on program expenses. Those expenses would be to fund programs designed to serve those with Tourette. The story quotes charity watchdog group Charity Navigator saying, “We rarely ever see organizations report zero for program expenses…we occasionally see low ratios, but this is definitely far outside the norm.” There’s no official allegation that Carton spent funds donated to the charity on gambling debts – the alleged reason for his involvement in the Ponzi scheme – but, obviously it doesn’t look good for Carton. Read the Post story here.
St. Louis Personality Frank O. Pinion Moving to Crosstown KFNS. Afternoon drive talk show host Frank O. Pinion announced recently that he’s leaving CH Holdings talk station KTRS, St. Louis after
20 years there. Now, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan Caesar reports that O. Pinion, a.k.a. John Craddock, will join Randy Markel-owned sports talker KFNS for the afternoon drive slot. O. Pinion doesn’t talk sports – he even confesses he knows little about sports – so he’ll do the kind of show he’s been doing in the market. As was his deal with KTRS, O. Pinion will broker his show on KFNS. KTRS president and GM Mark Dorsey says KMOV-TV meteorologist Kent Ehrhardt will host afternoons Monday through Thursday while they seek a full-time host. Paul Harris continues to host the Friday show. Get the Post-Dispatch story here.
Dave Ramsey’s Smart Money Tour in Baton Rouge. With the help of affiliate station WBRP, Baton Rouge “Talk 107.3 FM,” nationally syndicated talk superstar Dave Ramsey brought his “Smart Money” tour to the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge . At yesterday’s event, Ramsey personalities Chris Hogan and Anthony O’Neal walked attendees through topics like budgeting, paying off debt and saving for retirement. Pictured above are Guaranty Media team members with Chris Hogan, all holding a copy of his latest book. They are: Mike Benson, Trey Honore, Stephanie Morris, Ellen Diedrich, John Burke, Jessi Mapes, Leah Gaiennie, TJ Solis, Mary LeBlanc, Casey McKenzie, Blain Bech and Hogan.
Skyview Networks and NHL’s Golden Knights Partner. Broadcast solutions firm Skyview Networks and the NHL’s newest franchise – the Vegas Golden Knights – announce their partnership for maximum distribution of Golden Knights programming broadcast on radio partner Lotus
Broadcasting’s network of affiliates. The companies say that as the season begins, Skyview will “provide the Golden Knights with their turnkey satellite distribution, as well as AdView Inventory Management and Live Read Logging software for full control of the organization’s advertising inventory. The seamless communication between Skyview’s full menu of services will allow the highest quality of broadcast management from advertiser to on-air performance.” Golden Knights president Kerry Bubolz comments, “Skyview is an innovative leader in the broadcast technology industry. Their expertise in this space will ensure that our network affiliates receive best-in-class broadcast quality and business services.”
Westwood One Reveals Podcast Research. It’s called The Podcast Download Fall 2017 Report and syndication and sales unit Westwood One calls it a “deep-dive into the consumption habits of podcast listeners” that brings to light some major takeaways on listeners’ tolerance for advertising 
within the on-demand space. The report was created in partnership with MARU/Vision Critical to “give brands, content creators, and podcast producers a look at the consumption habits and attitudes of these coveted media junkies.” WW1 says some of the key findings include that: Heavy podcast listeners are voracious media and tech junkies; Podcasts are under commercialized – there is an opportunity to add more commercial breaks and ad units; Heavy podcast consumers are more accepting of pre-produced ads; and “speed listening” is real – 42% of weekly podcast listeners say they have increased the speed of the podcast. Half of heavy podcast listeners have speed-listened. This DVR-style “ad zipping” is a reality for podcasting. See more here.
Trump’s Deal with Democrats Top News/Talk Story of the Week. The deal President Trump struck with Democratic leaders for disaster relief, a temporary budget and a short-term debt ceiling hike was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was Hurricane Irma’s path toward Florida and the related Hurricane Harvey aftermath. Coming in at #3 was North Korea’s nuclear threats, followed by Hillary Clinton’s latest book at #4. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.
Radio Prepares for Hurricane Irma. With Hurricane Irma predicted to hit Florida this weekend, Beasley Media Group reports that its stations in the state have their Hurricane Action Plans in place. The company says, “All of our stations in Tampa are doing regular updates on air with our weather
partner, ABC Action News. The jocks are giving updates on weather, shelters, sand bag stations, etc. We’re directing everyone to the station websites /Storm (ex. 995QYK.com/Storm) for all updates. On the Storm pages, we’re populating feeds from ABC Action News and posting information and announcements from our local governments and the state. The pages are featured in our rotators and we have a breaking news bar across the top of the sites. When we social any updates we direct people back to this page where all of the information is being updated.” In the Fort Myers market, Beasley is teaming 
with WBBH-TV (NBC) and WZVN-TV (ABC) to co-ordinate and provide hurricane information. In the Boca Raton market, the company is teaming with WPEC-TV (CBS). At iHeartMedia, the company says that its five Tallahassee stations – led by news/talk WFLA-FM – are regularly tracking updates and are prepared with a full staff to broadcast wall-to-wall coverage of the storm, including up-to-date storm and traffic information as well as resources for emergency situations and community relief. The company says if the storm
comes close to the region, they will simulcast WFLA-FM across all stations with staff from each station helping with the broadcast, station operations and phones. On the network level, ABC News Radio is providing extensive live coverage with correspondents Jim Ryan and Alex Stone reporting from Florida. ABC will provide multiple one-minute updates each hour beginning 6:00 am ET on Saturday. On Sunday, live coverage will be anchored by correspondent Aaron Katersky from 6:00 am – 12:00 noon, ET and 7:00-8:00 pm, ET, joined by Ryan and Stone, and correspondent Karen Travers.
TALKERS News Notes. During the third annual Interactive Advertising Bureau Podcast Upfront, iHeartRadio unveils four new, original podcasts. iHeartRadio says the announcement underscores “a year of tremendous growth from the podcast platform, which has seen a 60% increase in listenership from iHeartRadio’s more than 100 million registered users.” The new shows are: “The Oh My Disney Podcast,” celebrating all things Disney and pop culture by Disney fans, for Disney fans; “The Fatherly Podcast,” a weekly podcast about parenting, hosted by veteran journalist and Fatherly editor-at-large Joshua David Stein; “Scrubbing In With Becca Tilley,” hosted by beloved two-time contestant of “The Bachelor,” Becca Tilley; and “Summit: Chairlift,” a weekly podcast that gives listeners a substantive look into the minds of today’s most innovative thinkers, recorded as they ride a chairlift to the summit of Powder Mountain in Utah…..Just ahead of last night’s 2017 NFL season opener
between the reigning champion New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs, CBS RADIO announced that it and the Patriots have inked a multi-year contract extension to keep Pats games on sports talk WBZ-FM, “98.5 The Sports Hub.” CBS reports that Bob Socci and Scott Zolak will continue as play-by-play host and color analyst, respectively. CBS RADIO has served as the flagship radio partner of the Patriots since 1994 when the games aired on all-news WBZ-AM, before transitioning to then-rock WBCN-FM in 1995…..Cox Media Group’s Atlanta stations – led by news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM “News 95.5 and AM750 WSB” – partnered with WSB-TV and the Atlanta Journal Constitution on a bottled water drive for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Listeners, viewers and readers came out to support the Convoy of Care in force, packing 10 trucks of clean drinking water over only two days. At times, the line of vehicles waiting to drop off bottled water stretched nearly a half mile. Donations came from private citizens as well as local businesses and organizations…..CBS RADIO Philadelphia radio stations KYW “Newsradio,” news/talk WPHT, sports talk WIP-FM, classic hits WOGL, AC WTDY, and country WXTU are partnering with The Travis Manion Foundation to host 9/11 Heroes Run 5K races and 1 mile Fun Runs in the Philadelphia region during the month of September. The Travis Manion Foundation’s Houston office is currently assisting in flood recovery and aid. At all 9/11 Heroes Run race locations around the country, CBS will run with a Texas flag that will then be sent to Houston, which hosts the largest 9/11 Heroes Run in the country each year (more than 5,000 participants). Due to the tragic flooding, the Houston 9/11 Heroes Run has been postponed until November 11 – Veterans Day…..ESPN O&O WEPN, New York “ESPN 98.7FM” adds the services of New York Giants safety Landon Collins to its Giants coverage with his weekly, Monday afternoon appearances on the afternoon drive Michael Kay program. Also, New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott will be a part of WEPN’s coverage of Jets football this season.
Michael Berry Is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast. One of the most interesting and provocative individuals on talk radio today, Michael Berry of KTRH, Houston, is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “Up Close and Far Out with Michael Harrison,” as Texas’ largest city remains in the spotlight of our nation’s concerns. Harrison and Berry discuss the talk show host’s personal and terrifying experience during the devastation of the storm. He was in Louisiana on business when he got word that his wife and two young sons had to be rescued from the flood in a boat. Berry talks about his efforts to get back to them in
the chaos of closed roads and flooded routes. Fortunately, the family was eventually safely reunited but the feelings and lessons learned will last a lifetime. The conversation, however, does not stop there. Berry – whose edgy satire often makes him the target of accusations of being a racist – is actually the opposite of a racist. He is married to an Indian woman and the couple has two black, adopted sons from Ethiopia. Berry candidly discusses his fascinating family life and personal views on matters of race and integration. Emerging as a talk media figure to be taken quite seriously, he does two shows per day on the iHeartMedia Houston powerhouse in addition to being independently syndicated on a network of 20-plus stations. He is a high-ranking member of the TALKERS Heavy Hundred. He is this past year’s recipient of iHeartMedia’s in-house Talk Show Host of the Year award. Though he portrays himself with somewhat of a redneck persona, Berry has impressive academic legal credentials and is a long-time, well-known figure in Houston where he once served as a member of the city council and as Mayor Pro Tem. His wife, Nandita Venkateswaran Berry, is a former Texas Secretary of State. Michael Harrison describes him as “one of the most interest people ever to appear on this podcast.” To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here or click on the “Up Close and Far Out” player box located in the right-hand column on every page of Talkers.com.
Music Radio News and Career Moves. Some not-so-surprising news out of Chicago comes as Hubbard Radio announces Kathy Hart – formerly one half of the “Eric & Kathy” show on hot AC WTMX – will not return to the program she’s been away from since April. The official memo from Hubbard Radio Chicago VP Jeff
England says, “We wish her all the best as she moves on to the next phase of her career. To our listeners and clients, rest assured that Eric [Ferguson], the morning show team, and all of us at ‘The Mix’ will continue to serve you as we enter a new era of morning radio on the station.” Chicago media writer Robert Feder reports on the matter, noting that Hart’s absence was widely believed to be over her compensation for her performance on the top-rated show. However, as she sat out and attempted via agents to restructure her deal, the show’s ratings didn’t suffer at all, hurting her case for a new contract. Although both Ferguson and Hart are well paid, it’s believed Ferguson makes much more than Hart and that was the real issue for her. Read Feder’s report here…..Cumulus Media is presenting a new contest to discover “the nation’s newest rock star.” Saying that “rock is on the rise again,” the company unveils the “neXt2rock 2017” competition. The neXt2rock 2017 contest is being announced on-air by iconic Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. The winner of this four-month-long competition receives a record deal with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records. Sixty-one Cumulus stations in 47 markets will conduct local, grassroots searches, with additional national participation made possible by Cumulus’ digital properties and syndicated rock shows. Cumulus CEO Mary Berner says, “With the renewed interest in the rock genre among Millennials and Gen Xers, Cumulus has even more opportunities for growth, providing expanded exclusive content and programming for fans, and an even larger audience for America’s newest rock star.” The finalists in this competition will compete at a live concert event, hosted at the Viper Room in Los Angeles on December 12, where the panel of celebrity mentor judges will select the neXt2rock 2017 winner…..iHeartMedia adds a new urban AC signal to the Houston market, flipping FM translator K283CH (fed by KTBZ-HD2) and branding it “104.5 KISS FM” with the slogan “Houston’s Best R&B.” Company urban brand coordinator Michael Saunders says, “We have a great opportunity to deliver some of the hottest names and music in the R&B industry to the diverse Houston audience combined with spoken-word entertainment from some of the biggest names in show business with Steve Harvey and Keith Sweat.”
Round Three of August PPMs Released. The third of four rounds of August 2017 PPM ratings information from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Orlando, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. Nielsen’s August 2017 survey period covered July 19 – August 16. You can view all the 6+ numbers from subscribing stations here. Meanwhile, managing editor Mike Kinosian provides his “Takeaways” from these 12 PPM markets below.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1) Portland – Six negative trends in succession deflated KXL-FM by more than two full-shares (4.9 – 4.5 – 4.1 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 3.5 – 2.8, 6+), but the Alpha Media news/talk facility bounces back with a gain of eight-tenths to 3.6 (#15 to #12, 6+). 
Wild fluctuations continue for Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB, which was +.9 in March; -.8 in May; +.6 in June; -.9 in July; and now +.6 in August (7.1 – 7.7, 6+). This marks the 21st straight 
time that news/talk KOPB occupies the runner-up position. Improving by six-tenths as well is Entercom hot AC KRSK “105.1 The Buzz – Today’s Best Mix” (4.8 – 5.4, 6+), which has its best showing since March (6.0, 6+) and jumps from eighth to fourth. Not only does an uptick of two-tenths to 4.1 (6+) by Alpha Media’s KBFF pull the plug on three consecutive (minor) downward trends that resulted in a loss of one-half share (4.4 – 4.3 – 4.2 – 3.9, 6+), “Live 95.5” (#11 to #9) pulls ahead of iHeartMedia CHR KKRZ “Z-100 Portland’s #1 Hit Music Station” (4.0 – 3.9, -.1, #10 to #11, 6+). Flat at 8.6 (6+), “Z-100” cluster-mate – adult contemporary KKCW “K-103” – is #1 for
the 39th time in the last 41 ratings periods. June’s 9.1 was the highest 6+-share for “K-103” – which was down by one-half share in July – since the 15.3 it posted in “Holiday” 2016. Co-owned KFBW “105.9 The Brew Portland’s Rock Station” though is down by a combined nine-tenths in back-to-back sweeps (5.0 – 4.7 – 4.1, 6+) but carries on in ninth-place. Flat at #16, rhythmic CHR sibling KXJM “Jam’n 107.5 – Portland’s #1 for Hip-Hop and Throwbacks” is a model of consistency, as it posts a 2.6 (6+) for the sixth time in the last seven survey periods. Having progressed by six-tenths in July, Entercom’s KNRK “94/7 Alternative Portland” surrenders all but one-tenth of that gain (3.9 – 3.4, -.5, 6+), slipping from #12 to #14; July’s 3.9 was its highest 6+-share since 4.6 in February 2014. The seven-tenths advantage Entercom-owned KWJJ “99.5 The Wolf – Great Country for the Great Northwest” had in July over Alpha Media’s KUPL “98.7 The Bull – #1 For New Country” is whittled down to three-tenths as “The Wolf” (+.7 in July) is off four-tenths (5.6 – 5.2, fourth to fifth, 6+), while “The Bull” (+.5 in July) is flat at 4.9 (6+), but drops from sixth to seventh. Prior to gaining three-tenths in June, “The Wolf” was a combined -1.8 in March, April, and May (6.4 – 5.5 – 4.8 – 4.6, 6+), while “The Bull” was down in consecutive sweeps (April – May – June) for a -1.1 (5.5 – 4.5 – 4.4, 6+). The two country rivals finished back-to-back at seventh and eighth, respectively, in both May and June.
2) Charlotte – After losing two full-shares since March via four straight decreases (7.7 – 7.6 – 7.2 – 6.2 – 5.7, 6+), iHeartMedia classic rock WRFX “99.7 The Fox” picks up two-tenths to 5.9 (6+) and jumps from fourth to second. “The Fox” had been #1 in five straight survey periods before getting dislodged 
in June. Immediately in advance of its just-concluded string of four straight declines, WRFX posted three consecutive positive trends that accounted for a +1.3 (6.4 – 7.2 – 7.3 – 7.7, 6+). Its +.8 in January curtailed a series of three consecutive downward moves that yielded a -1.5 (7.9 – 7.3 – 6.7 – 6.4, 6+). Rocketing from #17 to #12, Educational Media Foundation contemporary Christian WRCM shares (6+) honors for highest July 2017 – August 2017 gain by any station in the 12 PPM-markets whose data was released Thursday (2.4 – 3.8, +1.4, 6+). Moreover, this is the best 6+-performance for Charlotte’s “Positive &
Encouraging K-Love” since returning in print exactly one year ago (August 2016). A gain of one-half share takes Entercom’s WFNZ “Sports Radio The Fan” (steady at #19) to 1.2, its best 6+-stat since February (1.2, as well). Another month means another opportunity for a country station to be #1 in “The Hornet’s Nest.” Taking its turn in August – as it did in June – is iHeartMedia’s WKKT “96.9 The Kat – Charlotte’s #1 For New Country,” which advances from #4. Displaced at the top and falling to #5 is Beasley Media Group-owned WSOC “Country’s Hottest Hits”; WKKT gains four-tenths (5.7 – 6.1, 6+) whereas WSOC loses four-tenths (6.0 – 5.6, 6+). When 
WSOC succeeded WKKT at #1 in June, it likewise did so by jumping from fourth-place. Having logged a very consistent (6+) January 2017 through May 2017 line of 5.7 – 5.9 – 5.7 – 5.9 – 5.8, “The Kat” was up six-tenths in June to 6.4 (6+). Consequently, it bypassed “Country’s Hottest Hits,” which (in June) relinquished the six-tenths it gained in May (6.0 – 6.6 – 6.0, 6+), shifting from second to fourth. Prior to April (when it was +.8), WSOC was a cumulative -1.8 in three successive downward moves dating back to the “Holiday” 2016 report (7.0 – 6.3 – 5.8 – 5.2, 6+). Moreover, 5.2 in March was the lowest 6+-share in its PPM-history. In “Holiday” 2016, “The Kat” trailed “Country’s Hottest Hits” by three full-shares (7.0 to 4.0, 6+). In the 12 survey periods of calendar year 2015 (excluding “Holiday” 2015), WKKT was #1 six times: February, May, August, September, October, and December; WSOC was on top five times: January, March, April, June, and July. Making it a clean sweep, the two shared the penthouse in November of that year. Following July’s +1.2 to 3.4, its highest 6+-stat since reappearing in print in November 2016, Radio One urban contemporary WQNC “92.7 The Block” forfeits 75% of the increase (2.5, -.9, 6+), dipping from #14 to #17. Decreasing by six-tenths each are Beasley Media Group urban contemporary WPEG “Power 98” (5.9 – 5.3, 6+), which shifts from second to sixth, and iHeartMedia adult hits WLKO “102.9 The Lake” (4.5, seventh to ninth, 6+). “The Lake” had been an overall +1.3 via three straight increases (3.8 – 4.0 – 4.9 – 5.1, 6+). A collective -1.4 in five consecutive downward trends (4.9 – 4.7 – 4.3 – 4.2 – 3.6 – 3.5, 6+), CHR sibling WHQC “Channel 96.1” slips from #13 to #14. In March, “Channel 96.1” had its string of consecutive increases that produced a cumulative +1.4 snapped at three (3.5 – 3.6 – 3.8 – 4.9, 6+). Down or flat for the seventh straight time, but unchanged at #18, Davidson College’s WDAV “Classical Public Radio” is a combined -1.7 since January (3.6 – 3.2 – 3.1 – 3.0 – 3.0 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 1.9, 6+).
3) San Antonio – Regressing by one-half share in back-to-back sweeps (3.8 – 3.3 – 2.8, May – June – July, 6+), KSTX recoups that loss in its entirety with a +1.0 in August. As a result, the Texas Public Radio news/talk outlet is back at 3.8, 
moving from #16 to #13 (6+). It had been two years since KSTX last reached the three-share level (August 2015, 3.0, 6+) and owing to three straight increases, including May’s +1.3, it nearly doubled its 6+-share (2.0 – 2.1 – 2.5 – 3.8, 6+). Despite a one-tenth uptick to 3.2 (6+), thus halting six straight sweeps 
without an increase for a -1.6 (4.7 – 4.7 – 4.5 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 3.3 – 3.1, 6+), iHeartMedia news/talk WOAI backslides from #14 to #15. Prior to June, the last time WOAI fell below a four-share (6+) was September 2014 (3.7). An improvement of six-tenths by cluster-mate KRPT takes “The Bull – San Antonio’s Classic Country Station” to 1.0, the first time it has reached the one-share level (6+) since December 2013’s 1.1. While it is #1 for the seventh successive time, Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies outlet KONO-FM “101.1 San Antonio’s Greatest Hits” is off by one-half share (7.1 – 6.6, 6+). It departed the lead position in October after nine straight sweeps there. Recent (6+) fluctuations for “101.1 San Antonio’s Greatest Hits” include October 2016’s -1.0; November’s +.9; December’s -1.1; “Holiday” 2016’s -1.3; January’s +1.1; April’s +.8; May’s -.6; and now August’s -.5. Having posted three consecutive uptrends for a collective gain of eight-tenths (4.4 – 4.7 – 4.8 – 5.2, 6+), iHeartMedia-owned KAJA “KJ-97 San Antonio’s #1 Country Station” returns one-half share to 4.7, but remains at #5 (6+). Meanwhile, after being frozen at 5.4 in May, June, and July, Cox Media Group’s KCYY “Y-100 San Antonio’s New Country Leader” adds two-tenths to 5.6 (6+) to progress from third to second. In the runner-up slot the last two months, KQXT “Q-101.9 – San Antonio’s Best Variety” slips to fourth-place (6.1 – 4.8, 6+). On top in the “Holiday” 2016 report with an 11.8 (6+), the iHeartMedia adult contemporary outlet lost one full-share (-1.0) in February; was a collective +1.5 in March and April (5.2 – 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.6, 6+); regressed by -1.0 in May (5.6 – 4.6, 6+); regained May’s loss in its entirety in June (5.6, +1.0, 6+); was +.5 in July; and is now -1.3 in August. At the same time, with a one-half share gain to 1.8 (6+), its regional Mexican HD3 channel erases the collective loss of four-tenths via four straight down or flat trends (1.7 – 1.7 – 1.7 – 1.6 – 1.3, 6+) and enters the top twenty at #20.
4) Pittsburgh – In the market’s hot AC tussle, CBS Radio’s WBZZ “Star 100.7 Plays the Hits” posts its third straight improvement for an overall +.9 (4.2 – 4.5 – 4.7 – 5.0 5.1, 6+) and remains at #7, while Steel City Media’s WLTJ “Real Variety Q-92.9” is without as decrease for the fourth consecutive survey period for a cumulative gain of six-tenths (2.8 –
2.8 – 3.0 – 3.2 – 3.4, 6+), climbing from #13 to #12. A collective +1.8 as the result of four successive up or flat trends between February and June (3.3 – 3.3 – 4.1 – 5.1 – 5.1, 6+), iHeartMedia alternative WXDX returned it all in July (-1.8), but “The X at 105.9” regains half of that mammoth loss (3.3 – 4.2, +.9, 6+) to return to the top ten (#11 to #10). In July, WYEP was part of a three-way scrum at #14, but with a +.6 to 1.9 (6+), the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting triple A has the #14 slot all to itself. Moreover, 1.9 represents the best 6+-stat in the station’s PPM-history. Despite being locked on 9.6 (6+) in June, July, and August, iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW “94.5 – 3WS” remains on top for the fifth straight month. After posting three consecutive increases netting a +1.3 (9.1 – 9.9 – 10.3 – 10.4, 6+), WWSW forfeited eight-tenths in June. Immediately before picking up eight-tenths in March, “3WS” was -4.6 since “Holiday” 2016 (13.7 – 9.3 – 9.1, 6+). Co-owned CHR WKST “96.1 Kiss FM – Pittsburgh’s #1 Music Station” erodes by a collective -2.1 in three straight decreases (9.1 – 8.7 – 7.6 – 7.0, 6+), but carries on in fourth-place; 7.0 is its lowest 6+-share since 6.7 in the “Holiday” 2016 report. Trending 9.6 – 9.3 – 9.6 – 9.2 (6+) since April, rock sibling WDVE sputters by one-half share to 8.7 (6+), which is – likewise – its softest 6+-stat since “Holiday” 2016 (8.4); WDVE remains at #2. WWSW and WDVE were tied at #1 in June. Unchanged at #9, CBS Radio-owned WDSY “Y-108 Pittsburgh’s Country” drops one-tenth to 4.5 (6+) to snap at three its consecutive string of up or flat trends that netted seven-tenths (3.9 – 4.4 – 4.4 – 4.6, 6+). Off by one-tenth as well (to 3.7, 6+), iHeartMedia’s WPGB “Big 104.7 – Pittsburgh’s #1 For New Country” drops out of the top ten (#10 to #11); “Big 104.7” was a combined +.9 in June and July (2.9 – 3.5 – 3.8, 6+).
5) Sacramento – Apparently tired of posting an 8.3 (6+) three times in the last four ratings periods (8.3 – 8.3 – 8.5 – 8.3, 6+), Entercom-owned KSEG explodes with a +1.4 to 9.7, its strongest 6+-showing in exactly one year (9.9, August 
2016) as “96.9 The Eagle – Sacramento’s Classic Rock” repeats at #1. A combined -.6 in back-to-back monthlies (9.2 – 9.0 – 8.6, 6+, February – March – April), CBS Radio adult contemporary KYMX “Mix 96” recaptured all of it in May only to be a collective -1.4 in June and July (9.2 – 8.7 – 7.8, 6+). “Mix 96” dusts itself in August though with a gain of one-half share to 8.3 (6+) and continues at #2. Ranked third for five straight sweeps before reaching #1 in “Holiday” 2016, “Mix” rebounded from January’s -4.8 with a full-share February increase (13.0 – 8.2 – 9.2, 6+). Registering a gain of six-tenths (3.9 – 4.5, 6+), Capital Public Radio news/talk KXJZ advances from eighth to fifth and has its highest 6+-showing since November’s 4.8. As a result of six consecutive survey periods without an increase, Entravision Spanish adult hits KXSE lost exactly half of its 6+-share (2.2 – 2.2 – 2.1 – 2.1 – 1.6 – 1.5 – 1.1, 6+), but “104.3 Radio Jose” makes up roughly half of that -1.1 with a one-half share gain to 1.6 and cracks the top twenty (#18, 6+). Up two-tenths in both June and July (5.6 – 5.8 – 6.0, 6+), CBS Radio’s KNCI “New Country 105.1” sputters by six-tenths in August to 5.4 (6+) but remains in fourth-place, while iHeartMedia’s similarly-formatted KBEB “The Bull” (+.2 in July after June’s -.2) flounders by eight-tenths (3.1 – 2.3, 6+), dropping from #12 to #15. Even though it is off for the fourth straight time for an overall -.9 (3.4 – 3.3 – 2.8 – 2.6 – 2.5, 6+), Entravision-owned country KNTY “101.9 – The Wolf” nonetheless overtakes “The Bull” and actually improves from #15 to #14. As a result of a -.1 in May, “The Wolf” had its streak of successive increases which generated a +1.5 (1.9 – 2.1 – 2.3 – 2.4 – 2.7 – 3.4, 6+) end at five. June’s -.2 by “The Bull” concluded three straight improvements that netted eight-tenths (2.3 – 2.7 – 2.9 – 3.1, 6+). By dropping one-tenth to 4.4 (6+), CBS Radio hot AC KZZO “Now 100.5 – Today’s Best Hits Without the Rap” halts at three its consecutive string of up or flat trends that netted six-tenths (3.9 – 4.0 – 4.0 – 4.5, 6+) and falls from sixth to seventh. Regressing by one-half share (1.9 – 1.4, 6+) Educational Media Foundation contemporary Christian KLVB “Positive & Encouraging K-Love” slides from #16 to #19 and has its lowest 6+-share since December (1.4, as well).
6) Salt Lake City – Returning to the runner-up slot after skidding to fifth in July, Bonneville news/talk KSL (5.8, 6+) is locked there with Capital Broadcasting hot AC KBZN “Now 97.9 Today’s Best Music” (5.3 – 5.8, +.5, 6+), which was off by six-tenths in July. Ten recent KSL fluctuations include +2.0 (October 2016), -.9 (November), +1.1 (December),
-1.5 (“Holiday” 2016); +2.1 (January 2017); -2.1 (February); +.6 (April); -1.1 (May); -.9 (July); and now +.6 (August). Off by a collective -1.2 via three straight dips (3.6 – 3.4 – 3.0 – 2.4, 6+), University of Utah news/talk KUER “90.1 NPR Utah” regains just over half of that loss with a +.7 to 3.1 (6+) and inches up from #16 to #15. Frozen on 1.1 (6+) in April, May, and June before falling to .8 (6+) in July, Alpha Media regional Mexican KDUT “104.3 La Gran D” spikes by seven-tenths as well, nearly doubling July’s .8 to 1.5 (#23, 6+). Notching a 3.7 in four of the last five survey periods (3.7 – 3.7 – 3.9 – 3.7 – 3.7, 6+), Broadway Media’s KXRK “X-96 Utah’s Original Alternative” hangs out a half-share increase to 4.2 (tenth to ninth), its best 6+-performance since June 2016 (4.2, as well). Rhythmic CHR sibling KUUU “U-92” is within 2.0 – 2.8 range for the 15th consecutive sweep (2.2 – 2.1, #18 to #17, 6+). Notwithstanding an August -.6 to 7.4, (after July’s 
+1.1 to 8.0, 6+), Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI “FM 100.3 – Better Music Better Work Day” occupies the #1 slot for the fourth straight month. Following three consecutive sweeps on top, “FM 100.3” shifted to #2, having dropped 12.3 shares in January (20.6 – 8.3, 6+). Until that massive spiral, “FM 100.3” didn’t have a decrease since April 2016 (5.3 – 5.7 – 6.2 – 6.3 – 6.7 – 7.0 – 7.3 – 7.3 – 11.4 – 20.6, 6+), nearly quadrupling its 6+-stat since then with a staggering +15.3. It would be quite the understatement to note Broadway Media CHR KUDD is been on an extremely wild ride lately. To recap, “Mix 105.1 – All the Hits” was a combined +1.5 in March and April; -.9 in May; +1.6 in June; -.5 in July; and now a staggering -1.7 in August (5.2 – 3.5, 6+). June’s 5.7 was the highest 6+-stat in its PPM-history, while the 3.5 in August is its lowest since February. Prior to March, “Mix” was trending 3.5 – 3.9 – 3.5 (6+); it fades from the top ten (#5 to #11). Eroding by -1.1 each are Bonneville’s KRSP “103.5 The Arrow – Utah’s Classic Rock” (5.1, second to fifth, 6+) and independent KSOP-FM “Z-104 Utah’s #1 Country” (6.0 – 4.9, third to eighth, 6+). “The Arrow” was a combined +1.6 as the result of four successive monthlies without a loss (4.6 – 4.9 – 4.9 – 5.5 – 6.2, 6+); July’s 6.2 was its strongest 6+-share since last November’s 6.8. A -.1 (to 6.0, 6+) in July by “Z-104” halted at four its streak of consecutive improvements that netted a +2.1 (4.0 – 4.3 – 4.5 – 5.3 – 6.1, 6+); June’s 6.1 represents KSOP-FM’s strongest ever 6+ PPM share. Following four straight upticks that nearly doubled its 6+-share (.9 – 1.1 – 1.4 – .6 – 1.7, 6+), Alpha Media Spanish contemporary KBMG “Latino 106.3” falters by one-half share to 1.2 (#24).
7) Las Vegas – Advancing from #9 to a three-way logjam at #3, CBS Radio-owned KLUC “98.5 Las Vegas #1 Hit Music Station” hauls out a +1.3 to 5.3, its best 6+-stat since March (5.5). A gain of six-tenths (4.7 – 5.3, 6+) takes hot AC 
cluster-mate KMXB to its highest 6+-share since 5.4 in March as “Mix 94.1” (fifth in July) joins KLUC at #3. Trending a repetitive 1.7 – 2.1 – 1.7 – 2.1 (6+) since April, Univision Radio Spanish contemporary KRGT busts out a +.8 to 2.9 – its best 6+-performance in exactly one year (3.7, August 2016) and “Latino Mix 99.3” rockets from #20 to #13 (6+). Notching positive spikes of one-half share each are Lotus classic rock and Spanish adult hits siblings KXPT “97.1 The Point” (4.8 – 5.3, fourth to third, 6+) and KWID “La Buena 101.9” (3.1 – 3.6, #13 to #10, 6+). Ironically, “The Point” and “La Buena” were both off by six-tenths in July. Four-tenths of a share separated the top two finishers in July and that’s the case again in August as Beasley Media Group classic hits-oldies KKLZ “96.3 – 70s, 80s and More” drops four-tenths (7.1 – 6.7, 6+) as does iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE “Sunny 106.5” (6.7 – 6.3, 6+). With its strongest 6+-share since last November’s 7.2, KKLZ was +1.0 in July and it repeats at #1, while “Sunny” (-.8 in July) remains at #2. Prior to August, the five most recent fluctuations for “Sunny,” which had been on top in each of the last eight ratings periods, are +1.8 in March; -1.1 in April; -1.2 in May; +1.4 in June; and -.8 in July. Following three successive downward trends (8.1 – 7.4 – 6.0 – 5.7, 6+), KSNE was +.7 in September and +.6 in October, climbing to first – where it had been for 22 successive ratings periods. A collective +.9 in June and July (1.6 – 2.1 – 2.5, 6+), University of Nevada jazz/smooth AC KUNV “95.1 The Source” erodes by roughly 50%, surrendering a -1.3 to 1.2 and plummets from the top twenty (#15 to #23, 6+). Having reeled off three straight gains for a collective +1.8 (3.1 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.9, 6+), Beasley Media Group-owned KCYE “The Coyote – We Are Country” falters by a collective two full-shares in June, July, and August (4.9 – 4.7 – 3.7 – 2.9, 6+) and exits the top ten (#10 to #13). It is a similar story for co-owned KOAS “Old School 105.7,” which is -1.8 in three straight decreases (6.0 – 5.6 – 4.7 – 4.2, 6+) and falls from fifth to eighth. Off by one-half share as well are CBS Radio rhythmic hot AC KXQQ “Q-100.5” (3.8, seventh to ninth, 6+), which returns the +.5 it gained in three straight up or flat trends (3.8 – 4.0 – 4.0 – 4.3, 6+), and Lotus-owned KOMP “92.3 The Rock Station” (3.7 – 3.2, #10 to #11, 6+).
8) Cincinnati – Until now, the highest 6+-share that Educational Community Radio’s WOBO has reached since first appearing in print in April 2014 is November 2016’s 1.0. That changes in August though as “The Station with Something for Everyone” trots out an increase of seven-tenths, taking WOBO to 1.6 (#20 to #18, 6+). Consistent in its last four (6+)
trends (3.2 – 3.3 – 3.2 – 3.1), Cincinnati Public Radio news/talk WVXU adds one-half share to 3.6 ((#13 to #11, 6+), mirroring what it recorded in March. Improving by four-tenths to 2.8 (#15 to #14, 6+), Radio One urban-rhythmic oldies WOSL “100.3 R&B + Old School” brings to a close a successive string of five downward trends accounting for a -1.5 (3.9 – 3.6 – 3.4 – 2.9 – 2.8 –
2.4, 6+). Once the perennial market leader, WLW was last in sole possession of the top spot in August 2016 and was tied for the lead in May 2017. With a gain of three-tenths (9.3 – 9.6, 6+), the iHeartMedia news/talker returns to the top after back-to-back stays in the runner-up slot. Co-owned news/talk WKRC gains three-tenths to 3.6 (#12 to #11, 6+), thus pulling the plug on three straight declines that resulted in a loss of two full-shares (5.3 – 4.3 – 4.2 – 3.3, 6+). Dislodged from #1 is Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies outlet WGRR, which erodes by a full-share (9.7 – 8.7, 6+) and fills WLW’s vacated runner-up slot. On top between January and July, WGRR was a combined +.7 in June and July (9.0 – 9.3 – 9.7, 6+); 9.7 was the station’s best 6+-performance since last October’s 9.8. Following a -.7 in March, WGRR posted a +1.0 in April (9.2 – 8.5 – 9.5, 6+). Prior to the “Holiday” 2016 sweep, it occupied the top spot for four straight months. A +.8 in January ended four successive down or flat sweeps that produced a -1.6 (9.8 – 9.8 – 9.6 – 8.8 – 8.2, 6+) as WGRR progressed from second to first. After more than doubling its 6+-share in three up or flat trends (.9 – 1.4 – 1.9 – 1.9, 6+), Hubbard’s WYGY “97.3 The Wolf” falters by six-tenths to 1.3, skidding from #17 to #19 (6+). Returning one-half share of July’s +.8 (5.2 – 4.7, 6+), Radio One urban contemporary WIZF “101.1 The Wiz” segues from sixth to seventh.
9) Orlando – Not only does WDBO-FM all but wipe out the -1.0 that resulted in three straight negative trends (4.2 – 3.8 – 3.6 – 3.2, 6+) with a +.9 (to 4.1, 6+), the Cox Media Group news/talker enters the top ten (#12 to #10). Unchanged at 
#5, CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WOCL “Sunny 105.9” dials up a +.8 to 6.8, its strongest 6+-stat since 7.0 in November 2015. Carrying on in sixth-place, iHeartMedia-owned WJRR “Orlando’s Rock Station” extends to five its consecutive string of increases accounting for a +2.2 (3.7 – 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.5 – 5.6 – 5.9, 6+). It previously showed a (6+) December 2016 – March 2017 line of 3.9 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.9 – 3.7. Picking up six-tenths each are Cox Media Group country outlet WWKA “K-92.3” (4.0, flat at #11, 6+) and Community Communications’ news/talk WMFE (3.0, #14 to #13, 6+). In four straight negative trends (5.0 – 4.7 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 3.4, 6+), “K-92.3 was a collective -1.6; WMFE had been within 2.0 – 2.9 range the past 34 ratings periods. Flat at 10.7 (6+) – after plummeting two full-shares in July – iHeartMedia’s WRUM “Rumba 100” is #1 for the eighth consecutive month. The 12.8 it registered in April was the best-ever 6+-share in its PPM-history. Prior to January, “Rumba” was on top in October, November, and December. Co-owned CHR WXXL “XL-106.7” (flat at #4) is -2.4 in four three straight dips (9.9 – 8.8 – 8.1 – 7.8 – 7.5, 6+),
following a +2.7 via four consecutive progressive trends (7.2 – 8.0 – 9.0 – 9.7 – 9.9, 6+). April’s 9.9 was its strongest 6+-share since September’s 10.4. Meanwhile, as the result of six consecutive decreases, FM news/talk sibling WTKS has lost more than two full-shares of its 6+-share (3.6 – 3.3 – 2.9 – 2.2 – 2.0 – 1.8 – 1.5, 6+) and drifts from #15 to #17. Trending 4.2 – 4.4 – 4.2 (May – June – July, 6+), Cox Media Group rhythmic CHR WPYO “Power 95.3” spirals by one full-share to 3.2 and departs the top ten (#9 to #12, 6+). Co-owned urban AC WCFB “Star 94.5” is off by a collective -1.1 in back-to-back sweeps (6.1 – 5.6 – 5.0, sixth to eighth, 6+). In June, “Star” bounced back from May’s -.9 with an increase of six-tenths.
10) Cleveland – A cumulative -1.4 in three successive declines (6.2 – 5.8 – 5.1 – 4.8, 6+), iHeartMedia-owned WMMS “100.7 – Cleveland’s Rock Station” reduces the deficit by roughly one-third with a gain of one-half share and enters the top ten (5.3, #11 to #10, 6+). Unchanged at #15, its alternative HD2 channel picks up one-tenth (to 1.0, 6+), thus
curtailing ten straight down or flat trends that began last October and accounted for a net loss of just four-tenths (1.3 – 1.3 – 1.3 – 1.3 – 1.2 – 1.1 – 1.0 – 1.0 – 1.0 – .9 – .9, 6+). It is tied at #15 with Moody Bible Institute’s WCRF “Moody Radio Cleveland” (up from #16 in July), which improves by three-tenths to 1.0 (6+), halting five straight sweeps without an increase for an overall -1.6 (2.3 – 1.9 – 1.2 – 1.2 – .9 – .7, 6+). In addition to “100.7 – Cleveland’s Rock Station,” Radio One urban AC WZAK notches a gain of one-half share (7.6 – 8.1, 6+) and jumps from fourth to second. A combined +1.3 via five straight up or flat trends (5.3 – 5.4 – 5.8 – 6.4 – 6.6 – 6.6, 6+), urban
contemporary cluster-mate WENZ “Z-107.9” climbs from seventh to sixth. Although down three-tenths to 8.9 (6+), WMJI “Majic 105.7 Cleveland’s Greatest Hits” repeats at #1. The iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies outlet was +1.1 in July to progress from second to first; July’s 9.1 was its strongest 6+-share since 9.8 in “Holiday” 2016. WMJI occupied the top spot from January through April and in the runner-up slot May and June. Off seven-tenths in three consecutive decreases (7.3 – 7.1 – 6.9 – 6.6, 6+), cluster-mate WGAR “99.5 Cleveland’s Country” pulls the plug with a +.2 to 6.8 and advances from seventh to fifth (6+). The last seven (6+) trends for co-owned adult hits WHLK “106.5 The Lake – We Play Anything” (unchanged at #3) are 7.3 – 7.6 – 7.5 – 7.5 – 7.6 – 7.7 – 7.6. Exploding by +1.1 in July to 7.0, its finest 6+-showing since December 2013’s 7.1, CBS Radio hot AC WQAL “Q-104” relinquishes roughly half of that increase (6.4, -.6, 6+) and falls from fifth to eighth. Prior to July, “Q-104” was trending 5.9 – 6.0 – 5.9 (6+). Owing to four negative trends in succession (3.4 – 3.1 – 2.9 – 2.5 – 2.1, 6+), Ideastream news/talk WCPN (flat at #13) is a collective -1.3.
11) Kansas City – By registering its fifth consecutive up or flat trend, Entercom’s KCSP has nearly quadrupled its 6+-share (1.2 – 2.7 – 2.7 – 3.1 – 3.7 – 4.4, 6+) and moreover, “610 Sports Radio” cracks the top ten (#13 to #9) with its 
highest 6+-share since June 2016’s 4.7. Improving by seven-tenths as well is country sibling WDAF “106.5 The Wolf” (4.1 – 4.8, 6+), which catapults from #12 to #5. This is the highest 6+-share for “The Wolf” since 4.9 in April 2015. With a +.6 to 4.0 (#15 to #11, 6+), co-owned news/talk KMBZ-FM recaptures two-thirds of the collective nine-tenths it lost in the last two sweeps (4.3 – 3.8 – 3.4, 6+). In a similar vein, University of Northwestern St. Paul contemporary Christian KJNW “Life 88.5” gains one-half share to 2.8 (steady at #17, 6+), erasing all but one-tenth of May-June-July’s -.6 (2.9 – 2.7 – 2.3, 6+). Unchanged at #16, Cumulus Media-owned KCJK “X-105.1 Kansas City’s Alternative” is up or flat for the seventh straight time for an overall gain of +1.0 (1.9 – 2.3 – 2.5 – 2.5 – 2.5 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 2.9, 6+). Having eroded by two full-shares as the result of six straight down or flat trends (3.9 – 3.9 – 3.7 – 3.1 – 3.0 – 2.2 – 1.9, 6+), University of Missouri-owned news/talk KCUR adds two-tenths (to 2.1, 6+) and stays at #18. Owing to four straight (modest) increases (5.6 – 5.7 – 5.9 – 6.0 – 6.1, 6+), Steel City Media’s KFKF “Country 94.1” nets one-half share and carries on in third-place, while co-owned, similarly-programmed KBEQ “Q-104 #1 for New Country” (#14 to
#15) is without an increase for the fourth successive sweep for a -1.3 (4.7 – 4.4 – 3.5 – 3.5 – 3.4, 6+). Notwithstanding it has the largest (6+) July 2016 – August 2017 erosion by any station in the 12 PPM-markets listed here (10.3 – 8.7, -1.6, 6+), Cumulus Media classic rocker KCFX “The Fox” is #1 for the eighth consecutive time. The decrease draws to a close five straight increases that accounted for a cumulative +2.8 (7.5 – 8.5 – 8.7 – 9.4 – 10.3, 6+). By reaching 10.3 in July, it marked only the fifth time a Kansas City station has registered double-digits (6+) in the PPM era. “The Fox” bounced back from a -.8 in March with a full-share gain in April. Before that, it recorded three consecutive declines accounting for a -1.5 (9.0 – 8.5 – 8.3 – 7.5, 6+). Another positive streak ends in dramatic fashion as well with co-owned urban AC KMJK spiraling by -1.1 to 3.7, curtailing four consecutive sweeps without a loss for a +1.0 (3.8 – 3.9 – 4.7 – 4.7 – 4.8, 6+); “Magic 107.3 Kansas City’s Best Mix of R&B” freefalls from #6 to #14, (6+). Despite being off six-tenths to 4.8 – its lowest 6+-share since January’s 4.7 – Carter Broadcasting urban contemporary KPRS “Hot 103 Jamz” continues in fifth-place. Likewise, Steel City Media CHR KMXV “Mix 93.3 Kansas City’s #1 Hit Music Station” sputters by one-half share (5.7 – 5.2, 6+) but remains at #4.
12) Columbus – Progressing from eighth to sixth, Ohio State University news/talk WOSU-FM is up an astonishing combined +1.9 in four straight up or flat trends (2.8 – 3.0 – 3.0 – 3.5 – 4.7, 6+). Rebounding from July’s loss of seven-tenths, Radiohio-owned WBNS-FM trots out a gain of nine-tenths (1.9 – 2.8, 6+) as “Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan” climbs
from #14 to #12. “The Fan” ended its (6+) February through May sequence of 3.9 – 4.2 – 3.9 – 4.1 by slumping -1.5 in
June to 2.6 (6+). Gaining three-tenths to 3.5 (6+), iHeartMedia urban contemporary WZCB “106.7 The Beat – Columbus Real Hip-Hop and R&B” (steady at #9) manages to apply the brakes to four consecutive down or flat monthlies that accounted for a -1.3 (4.5 – 4.2 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 3.2, 6+). Even though it falters by nine-tenths to 11.8 (6+), country cluster-mate WCOL repeats at #1. In just two back-to-back ratings periods (June and July), WCOL produced a whopping +3.5 (9.2 – 10.6 – 12.7, 6+). July’s 12.7 was the highest 6+-share by any Columbus station since WCOL reached 12.9 in July 2015. It was +2.2 in January; -1.2 in February; +.8 in March; -1.3 in May; +1.4 in June; +2.1 in July; and now -.9 in August (10.5 – 9.3 – 10.1 – 10.5 – 9.2 – 10.6 – 12.7 – 10.8, 6+). After back-to-back increases in June and July yielded a +1.4 (6.1 – 7.2 – 7.5, 6+), Saga Communications WLVQ “Q-96.3 – Iconic Rock” craters by that same margin (6.1, -1.4, 6+) but carries on in third-place. Regressing by six-tenths each are iHeartMedia news/talk and adult hits siblings WTVN, without an increase for the fifth sweep in succession for an overall -.7 (6.4 – 6.3 – 6.3 – 6.3 – 6.3 – 5.7, flat at #4, 6+) and WODC “93.3 The Bus” (5.1 – 4.5, sixth to seventh, 6+). Stuck on 2.8 (6+) in May, June, and July, Radio One urban AC WXMG “Magic 95.5 Columbus Best R&B” drops three-tenths to 2.5 (6+) and exits the top ten (#10 to #13).
Friday, October 30, 2020
NOW POSTED: This Weekend’s Installment of “The Michael Harrison Wrap: An Overview of the National Conversation.” The latest installment of the vibrant, 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 “October Surge!” looks back at this past week of October 26 – October 30, 2020. The program features guests (in order of appearance): Kevin Casey, executive editor, TALKERS; Joe “Pags” Pagliarullo, talk show host, Compass Media Networks; Chris Stigall, talk show host WNTP, Philadelphia/KCMO, Kansas City; Ethan Bearman, attorney/correspondent, FOX News Channel; Michael Riedel, talk show host, WOR, New York; and Victoria Jones, executive editor, DC Radio Company. This acclaimed news/talk radio show airs each week on its flagship, WONK-FM, Washington, DC, Friday evenings at 6:00 pm ET. It also airs throughout the weekend on WTIC, Hartford; KSCO, Santa Cruz, CA; KDFD (“Freedom 93.7”), Denver; KFNX, Phoenix; WVLY, Wheeling, WV; WTRW-FM, Scranton/Wilkes Barre, PA; WVOX, Westchester, NY; KBDT, Dallas; KQSP, Minneapolis; KBKW, Aberdeen, WA; WGDJ, Albany, NY; WJFN-FM, Richmond, VA; WZFG, Fargo; KTGO, Tioga, ND; KWAM, Memphis; K-NEWS, San Luis Obispo; WCHM, Clarkesville, GA; WPHM, Port Huron, MI; KSYL, Alexandria, LA; KTOE, Mankato, MN; WCED (“Connect FM”), DuBois, PA; K-NEWS 101.3, Owensboro, KY; WWTK, Sebring, FL; the Virginia Talk Radio Network; CRN Digital Talk Radio Network; Pioneer Valley Radio, Springfield, MA; Podcast 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 Four of October PPMs Released. The fourth and final round of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s October 2020 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including: Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. Nielsen’s October
2020 survey period covered September 10 – October 7. You can see all of the 6+, weekly AQH share information from subscribing stations here. Also today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. One of the country’s most intense news/talk battles continues in the swing 
state of Wisconsin as iHeartMedia’s WISN adds another full share – capping a three-survey 4.4 share spike – to finish the October survey with an 11.2 share and repeats at #1. Right behind is Good Karma Brands’ WTMJ which rises eight-tenths for an 8.0 share and the #2 rank in the market. In Indianapolis, Emmis Communications’ news/talk WIBC-FM tacks another one-tenth share on for a 9.2 share finish and repeats at the #2 spot. Cumulus Media’s WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM, Providence puts the brakes on the five-survey downward trend by posting a +1.1 to finish with a 5.1 share and climbs from #7 to #5. You can see Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways report for this group of markets – and the first three rounds – here.
Entercom Fires WJFK-FM, Washingon Afternoon Host Chad Dukes for “Racist and Inappropriate Comments.”The Washington Post reports that Entercom has fired WJFK-FM, Washington, DC “106.7 The Fan” sports talk personality Chad Dukes for
“racist and inappropriate comments” that appeared on his personal podcast. The story indicates that the company did not reveal exactly what was said nor how it learned about the comments, but issued a statement from Entercom Washington SVP and market manager Ivy Savoy-Smith that reads: “We have zero tolerance for this type of speech from any of our employees, on our platforms or otherwise. Our air talent are ambassadors of our brand, and we do not want to be affiliated with these comments.” The decision to let Dukes go was revealed on this morning’s edition of “The Sports Junkies” morning drive program on WJFK-FM. Duke had been with the station since 2006 and had been the afternoon drive host since 2014.
Programming Changes Taking Place at KFNS-AM, St. Louis. According to Dan Caesar’s report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, KFNS-AM’s return to a full-time sports talk format is taking place as Frank O. Pinion’s “The Large Morning Show in the
Afternoon” is cancelled and new, local sports talk talent are expected to be joining the station soon. The story indicates former crosstown WXOS-FM personality Bernie Miklasz and former KMOV-TV news anchor Steve Savard may be joining the station. Miklasz was let go by WXOS owner Hubbard Radio back in May in what was a COVID-influenced budget move, and Savard was released by KMOV-TV in what is also being called a budget-related move. KFNS owner Randy Markel brought the station out of bankruptcy in 2015 and is in the process of selling it to a local group led by station manager and air personality John Hadley. His group will lease the station at first with the intent to buy it.
Salem Radio Network Announces Election Coverage. For Election Day on Tuesday, Salem Radio Network announces that it is providing coverage from 6:00 pm ET on Tuesday (11/3) to 6:00 am on Wednesday (11/4). Coverage will include all major “acceptance” and “concession” speeches in the presidential and congressional elections as well as key local/regional races around the nation. SRN nationally
syndicated talk host Hugh Hewitt will anchor the first six hours of coverage with guests that will include: SRN hosts Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Charlie Kirk, Larry Elder and Eric Metaxas. At 12:00 midnight, the network switches to the Los Angeles studios of Salem’s KRLA “870AM The ANSWER” for continuing coverage anchored by KRLA morning personality Jennifer Horn, along with KRLA news anchor Larry Marino and Don Dix at the California Election Night Desk. SRN adds that if, as expected, the ballot-counting is far from concluded in the presidential race but a determination has been made on which political party will control the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, portions of earlier election night coverage will be repeated between 3:00 am and 6:00 am ET when Hugh Hewitt will return with his normal weekday Hugh Hewitt show to pick up live continuing coverage.
Cody Welling Named Director of Sales for Cox Media Group Tulsa. Media sales pro Cody Welling is named director of sales for Cox Media Group’s Tulsa operations that
includes news/talk KRMG-FM. Welling was most recently general sales manager for Tegna’s Ohio News Network and sports talk WBNS-FM, Columbus “97.1 The Fan.” CMG Tulsa market president Cathy Gunther says, “Cody is passionate about delivering results for advertising partners through creative marketing solutions. This makes him a perfect fit for CMG Tulsa where he can provide customized solutions with our robust products that reach three out of four Tulsans weekly.”
KSCO Launches Weekly Show Critical of the Chinese Communist Party. The Zwerling Broadcasting System-owned news/talk outlet KSCO, Santa Cruz is launching a unique and compelling weekly two-hour radio show designed to keep Americans apprised of the dangers being presented to U.S. interests domestically and worldwide by China and the Chinese Communist Party. Provocatively titled, “China
Über Alles” (China Above All) – a name sarcastically referencing the infamous slogan “Deutschland Über Alles” utilized by the Nazis to convey their dark message of German worldwide superiority in the 1930s and 1940s – the show discusses the ongoing war of subversion being waged against the U.S. by the communist regime in Beijing and its shocking human rights abuses of Chinese citizens, including political dissidents, investigative journalists, ethnic minorities and seekers of religious freedom. The show airs live Thursdays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm PT and is hosted by Amy Hao, Nan Su, and KSCO director of production/chief engineer Bill Graff. Its 11th episode is set to stream tomorrow (10/29). According to Nan Su, “The concern about China is no longer limited to human rights and freedom in China. It is about defending the freedom, security, and democracy of the future generations in the United States and the western world.” Unfair China trade practices, invasive surveillance, human rights abuses, intellectual property theft, military aggression in the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the origins and cover up of COVID-19 and questioning if “the NBA should move to China” are among a myriad of topics covered on the series. Read more here.