“Holiday” 2021 PPM Data – Information for the “Holiday” 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 “Holiday” 2021 sweep covered December 9 (2021) – January 5 (2022)
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 December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 2.4 – 2.3, -.1, #15 to #16
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.3 – 2.1, -.2, #16 to #18
News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 3.8 – 4.4, +.6, eighth to fifth and co-owned WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 2.2 – 2.6, +.4, #17 to #13
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Giants and Nets) steady at 3.0, #13 to #10
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation‘s WNYC-FM 3.1 – 2.7, -.4, flat at #12
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, sixth straight month, 9.7 – 11.2, +1.5
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WLTW (+1.5)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: urban contemporary WWPR (-.9)
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” 3.1 – 3.0, -.1, seventh to eighth
News: Audacy-owned KNX-AM “1070 News Radio” 2.6 – 2.8, +.2, unchanged at #11
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC flat at 1.9, remains at #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST, sixth successive month, 11.6 – 13.4, +1.8
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOST (+1.8)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KRTH (-.5)
Note: All-news KNX-FM “News 97.1” (formerly CHR KNOU) finished the December 2021 survey period at #21 (1.4 – 1.8, +.4), but is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” (Blackhawks) 3.7 – 3.5, -.2, eighth to seventh
News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” (Bears) 5.7 – 5.6, -.1, second to third
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 5.1 – 4.8, -.3, third to fourth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT, third month in succession, 11.8 – 14.4, +2.6
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WLIT (+2.6)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC WTMX (-1.5)
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” flat at 6.7, repeats in third-place
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (49ers) 3.4 – 3.3, -.1, eighth to seventh
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 8.6 – 7.9, -.7, #1 (12 straight weeks) to #2
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOIT-FM, first month, 7.9 – 11.1, +3.2
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOIT-FM (+3.2)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC KLLC (-1.1)
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 2.8 – 3.0, +.2, remains at #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” (Stars) 3.5 – 2.6, -.9, #11 to #16
Audacy-owned KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Cowboys) 2.2 – 2.4, +.2, #18 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA 2.8 – 3.1, +.3, #14 to #13
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KDGE, second month in a row, 8.8 – 10.6, +1.8
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KDGE (+1.8)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: sports talk KTCK (-.9)
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” 4.4 – 4.2, -.2, repeats in seventh-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston-owned KUHF 2.3 – 2.1, -.2, #19 to #20
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, ninth consecutive month, 10.8 – 12.8, +2.0
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KODA (+2.0)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: regional Mexican KLTN (-.9)
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 6.6 – 5.8, -.8, fourth to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Falcons and Hawks) 2.2 – 2.3, +.1, #17 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools-owned WABE 2.4 – 2.2, -.2, stays at #14
Number One 6+: Salem Media Group contemporary Christian WFSH, first month, 7.2 – 8.8, +1.6
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: contemporary Christian WFSH (+1.6)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: news/talk WSB-AM & WSBB (-.8)
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 1.0 – 1.2, +.2, #22 to #19
News: Audacy’s KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 4.6 – 4.7, +.1, repeats in sixth-place
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WIP “Sports Radio 94” (Eagles) 4.6 – 3.7, -.9, sixth to eighth
Beasley Media Group’s WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers and Flyers) 1.9 – 1.6, -.3, #15 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY’s WHYY 5.7 – 5.9, +.2, fifth to fourth
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WBEB, second month in succession, 10.1 – 14.4, +4.3
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WBEB (+4.3)*
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: classic rock WMGK (-1.8)**
*Represents the largest December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
**Represents the largest December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.9 – 3.0, +.1, #12 to #10
News: Audacy’s WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 3.3 – 3.1, -.2, tenth to eighth and cluster-mate WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 2.8 – 2.7, -.1, unchanged at #13
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Giants and Nets) 4.0 – 3.1, -.9, seventh to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Connoisseur Media hot AC WALK-FM, first month, 7.2 – 9.8, +2.6
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: hot AC WALK-FM (+2.6)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: sports talk WFAN (-.9)
Note: Urban contemporary WWPR (1.9, #18, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
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: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST, first month, 6.8 – 9.2, +2.4
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KOST (+2.4)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KOLA (-1.4)
Note: News/talk KFI “AM 640” (2.5, #14, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KGO “810 AM” 1.7 – 1.4, -.3, carries on at #16
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 5.6 – 5.4, -.2, repeats in fourth-place
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (49ers) 2.0 – 2.4,+.4, #15 to #11
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 9.3 – 9.1, -.2, flat at #2
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOIT-FM second month in succession, 9.7 – 12.1, +2.4
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies KBAY (+2.8)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): adult contemporary KISQ; regional Mexican KSOL; and regional Mexican KRZZ (-.9)
Note: Hot AC KIOI (2.4, #11, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 4.6 – 4.9, +.3, eighth to seventh
News: Audacy’s WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 1.5 – 1.6, +.1, #21 to #19
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Giants and Nets) 2.8 – 2.0, -.8, #13 to #16
Emmis’ WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” steady at 1.5, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation-owned WNYC-FM flat at 4.1, remains in tenth-place
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, second month in a row, 8.3 – 9.2, +.9
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: Spanish tropical WSKQ (+1.4)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): classic rock WAXQ and sports talk WFAN (-.8)
Note: Rhythmic CHR WKTU (2.2, #14, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
Up next: “Holiday” 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.