As the run-up to the Presidential election, two fierce storms in the South, and wars in the Middle East dominated the headlines during Nielsen’s October PPM survey period — covering Sept. 12-Oct. 9 – news/talk and all-news stations led or finished in the top five in five of the eight non-embedded markets reporting.
Taking sports into account, spoken word-formatted stations topped the ratings in five of these markets, with news/talk outlets No. 1 in San Francisco and Atlanta, all-news up top in Chicago, and sports stations in the lead in Dallas and Philadelphia.
While without a top-ranked station in any of these markets, there’s something to be said for CHR, which is showing growth and/or strength in all eight of them on Day 1. CHRs are top five-ranked in New York, Los Angeles (where iHeartMedia’s KIIS-FM moves from fifth to second), San Francisco, and Dallas, and are top 10 in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta — moving into the top 10 in the first two of those markets — and steadily gaining share in Philly.
For Day 1, the leaderboard shows news/talk, sports, and AC with two crowns each, and one each for news and classic hits.
To quote the title of Teddy Swims’ high-rotation hit on iHeartMedia adult contemporary “Lite FM” WLTW, there’s no sign the station will “Lose Control” of the top spot in the Apple, logging a 25th consecutive win, 2.1 share points up on classic rock sister “Q104.3” WAXQ. Since May, MediaCo urban AC WBLS has steadily gained share, up 49% from 3.9 to now 5.8, placing third in the market for the first time since the Holiday 2023 survey. Top-five mainstays iHeart CHR “Z100” WHTZ and Audacy classic hits WCBS-FM finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
While ahead of the pack for a ninth straight survey, Audacy classic hits “K-Earth 101” KRTH’s share continues to steadily slip since July’s 7.1, its highest since the beginning of 2022. Off 18% from July to October, it’s just half a point ahead of iHeart CHR KIIS-FM, which moves from fifth to the runner-up spot. Just below, iHeart hot AC sister “104.3 MyFM” KBIG and Univision Spanish contemporary “K-Love 107.5” KLVE tie for third, while iHeart AC KOST, last on top in February, now comes in fifth.
Audacy news WBBM-AM/WCFS repeats at the top, just 0.3 ahead of Hubbard Radio classic rock “The Drive” WDRV, which it tied for the lead in September’s survey. iHeart’s urban AC “V103” WVAZ and soft AC “93.9 Lite FM” WLIT place third and fourth, while Cumulus Media classic hits outlet WLS-FM makes a rare appearance in the top five.
The news is still literally the top story in San Francisco, where news/talk pubcaster KQED and Audacy news KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM remain ranked first and second. Bonneville AC KOIT, iHeart soft AC “98.1 The Breeze” KISQ, and Bonneville CHR sister “99.7 Now” KMVQ also stayed in their places from September’s survey, at third, fourth, and fifth.
It’s a second straight victory for Cumulus Media sports “The Ticket” KTCK-AM-FM, as it leads Univision Spanish regional Mexican “Que Buena 94.1” KLNO, Dallas’ February-to-April champ this year, by 0.9. August’s leader, news/talk pubcaster KERA, comes in third, as both iHeart CHR “106.1 Kiss FM” KHKS and Audacy adult hits “100.3 Jack-FM” KJKK return to the top five.
Space City’s top two stay as they were in September, with iHeart AC “Sunny 99.1” KODA widening its lead over Hope Media Group contemporary Christian KSBJ to 1.4 points. iHeart modern/alternative rock sister “94.5 The Buzz” KTBZ moves from fifth to third, as Urban One’s country “93Q” KKBQ and AC “Majic 102.1” KMJQ slide down a spot.
In its fourth survey at No. 1, Cox Media Group news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM breaks into 10-share territory for the first time since the start of 2022, keeping well ahead of its classic hits “97.1 The River” WSRV and its urban AC “Kiss 104.1” WALR, ranked second and third. Tied for fourth are AC sister “B98.5” WSB-FM and Audacy urban contemporary “V103” WVEE, the latter making its first top-five showing since last October.
With the Phillies in the postseason, and a strong start to the Eagles’ season, the radio flagship for both, Audacy sports WIP-FM grabbed its first win in the market since November 2022’s survey, during which the Phils were in the World Series and those Iggles were undefeated season-to-date. With steady growth since August, WIP is up 40% with a 9.8 share, passing its 9.3 from November of 2022. That puts the station 1.6 points ahead of iHeart urban AC WDAS-FM, the champ during the prior four books. Parked at third, fourth, and fifth, same as in September, are Beasley Media Group’s rocker WMMR, classic rock WMGK and Audacy news KYW.
