“Holiday” 2021 PPM Data – Information for the “Holiday” 2021 survey period has been released for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
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+).
AUSTIN
News/Talk: Waterloo Media-operated KLBJ-AM “News Radio” 5.3 – 3.9, -1.4, sixth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Genuine Austin Radio’s KTXX “The Horn” 2.4 – 1.4, -1.0, #13 to #16
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Texas-owned KUT 6.8 – 7.3, +.5, locked in third-place
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary KKMJ, first month, 7.4 – 12.6, +5.2
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary KKMJ (+5.2)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: CHR KHFI (-1.7)
RALEIGH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKK “106.1 FM Talk” 7.0 – 6.3, -.7, third to fourth
Curtis Media Group-owned WPTF “News Radio 680” 2.9 – 2.4, -.5, #12 to #15
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Capitol Broadcasting’s WCMC-FM “99.9 FM The Fan” (Carolina Hurricanes) steady at 2.5, #14 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 8.5 – 6.9, -1.6, fourteen consecutive months at #1 to #3
Number One 6+: Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL, first month, 8.1 – 10.4, +2.3
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WRAL (+2.3)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: public radio news/talk WUNC (-1.6)
Note: adult contemporary WMAG (1.6, #17, 6+, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk: Emmis’ WIBC “93.1 FM Indy’s Mobile News” 8.1 – 8.8, +.7, repeats in third-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Emmis-owned WIBC-HD2 “The Fan” (Colts and Pacers) 4.2 – 4.0, -.2, flat at #7
iHeartMedia’s WNDE “Fox Sports 1260” steady at .9, unchanged at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting-owned WFYI 6.8 – 6.2, -.6, flat at #5
Number One 6+: Emmis adult contemporary WYXB, second successive month, 10.7 – 15.5 +4.8
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WYXB (+4.8)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): country WFMS and jazz-classical WICR (-.8)
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WISN “News Talk 1130” 10.3 – 8.8, -1.5, back-to-back months at #1 to #4
Good Karma Brands-owned WTMJ “Wisconsin’s Radio Station” (Green Bay Packers and Bucks) 7.1 – 6.7, -.4, fourth to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRNW “97.3 The Game” 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, #16 to #15
Good Karma Brands-owned WKTI “ESPN Milwaukee” .7 – 1.3, +.6, #19 to #17
Audacy’s WSSP “1250 AM The Fan” 1.0 – 1.1, +.1, #17 to #18
iHeartMedia’s WOKY “The Big 920” .6 – .7, +.1, anchored at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Wisconsin-owned WUWM 4.1 – 4.5, +.4, tenth to seventh
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT, first month, 8.0 – 9.8, +1.8
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase:; adult contemporary WLDB (+4.7)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC WMYX (-1.9)*
*Represents the largest December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
NASHVILLE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WWTN “Super Talk 99.7” 5.3 – 6.1, +.8, eighth to third
iHeartMedia-owned WLAC “Talk Radio 1510” 2.0 – 1.7, -.3, repeats at #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s WGFX “104.5 The Zone” (Tennessee Titans) 5.2 – 4.7, -.5, ninth to eighth
Cromwell Radio Group-owned WPRT “102.5 The Game” (Predators) 1.0 – 1.3, +.3, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Nashville Public Radio’s WPLN-FM 5.8 – 4.9, -.9, fifth to seventh
Number One 6+: Midwest Communications adult contemporary WJXA, second month in a row, 8.6 – 15.1, +6.5
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WJXA (+6.5)**
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: urban contemporary WUBT (-1.6)
**Represents the largest December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WPRO-AM & WEAN “News Talk 630 AM & 99.7 FM” 5.8 – 6.7, +.9, continues in fifth-place
iHeartMedia-owned WHJJ “News Radio 920” steady at 1.1, #15 to #14
Cumulus Media’s WPRV “AM 790” flat at .1, #24 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (New England Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins) 4.0 – 3.6, -.4, seventh to eighth
Audacy’s WVEI “Sports Radio 103.7” 3.6 – 3.2, -.4, repeats at #9
Public Radio News/Talk: WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 2.3 – 2.2, -.1, #11 to #10
Rhode Island Public Radio’s WNPN 2.4 – 2.2, -.2, stays at #10
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI, first month, 10.1 – 14.2, +4.1
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WWLI (+4.1)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC WSNE (-.8)
Note: news – talk WBZ (1.3, #14, 6+, December 2021, 6+); CHR WXKS-FM (1.0, #16); classic rock WZLX (.8, #18); and rhythmic CHR WJMN (.7, #20) are all unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
NORFOLK
News/Talk: Sinclair’s WNIS “News Talk AM 790” 2.1 – 1.5, -.6, #14 to #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Max Broadcast Group-owned WVSP “94.1 ESPN” 1.2 – 1.0, -.2, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WWDE, first month, 8.5 – 12.6, +4.1, succeeds urban AC cluster-mate WVKL, which had been #1 the past 38 months
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WWDE (+4.1)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: hot AC WPTE (-1.2)
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM “104.5 Jacksonville’s News & Talk” 8.7 – 7.0, -1.7, unchanged at #3
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WOKV-AM “ESPN Jacksonville 690 AM” steady at .4, stays at #18
Public Radio News/Talk: WJCT, Inc.’s WJCT 3.3 – 2.8, -.5, #10 to #12
Number One 6+: Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ, second consecutive month, 10.8 – 15.9, +5.1
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WEJZ (+5.1)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): news/talk WOKV-FM and urban AC WSOL (-1.7)
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WJNO “News Radio 1290” 1.8 – 2.3, +.5, #15 to #11
Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WFTL “News Talk 850” 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, #15 to #14
iHeartMedia’s WZZR “92.1 Real Radio” flat at 1.1, #22 to #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WMEN “Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida” .4 – .8, +.4, #24 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board’s WLRN steady at 3.0, seventh to sixth
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting classic hits-oldies WEAT, second straight month, 9.4 – 12.0, +2.6
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: classic hits-oldies WEAT (+2.6)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: urban AC WMBX (-1.2)
Note: Spanish contemporary WZTU (2.1, #12, 6+, December 2021, 6+); CHR WHYI (1.4, #17); classic rock WBGG (1.2, #20); and adult contemporary WMIA (1.2, #20) are all unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
GREENSBORO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WPTI “News Talk 94.5” 4.1 – 4.0, -.1, seventh to sixth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Curtis Media Group-owned WSJS & WPCM 600 AM & 920 AM” flat at .4, #15 to #16
Public Radio News/Talk: Wake Forest University’s WFDD 4.1 – 3.3, -.8, seventh to ninth
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 1.9 – 1.7, -.2, #13 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMAG, first month, 12.0 – 14.1, +2.1
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WMAG (+2.1)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease (Tie): urban AC WQMG and country WTQR (-1.5)
MEMPHIS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WREC “News Talk 600 AM” 3.2 – 2.2, -1.0, #10 to #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy cluster-mates WMFS “Sports Radio 92.9” (Grizzlies) steady at 4.4, continues in seventh-place; WMFS’ internet stream .5 – .3, -.2, repeats at #18; and WMC-AM “ESPN 790 AM” flat at .2, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Mid-South Public Communications-owned WKNO 2.3 – 2.4, +.1, #13 to #12
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WRVR, first month, 9.7 – 14.0, +4.3
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WRVR (+4.3)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: urban AC KJMS (-1.5)
HARTFORD
News/Talk: Audacy’s WTIC-AM “News Talk 1080” steady at 5.2, unchanged at #7
Red Wolf Broadcasting-owned WDRC-AM “The Talk of Connecticut” flat at .9, #15 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WUCS “97.9 ESPN” unchanged at .9, #15 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Connecticut Educational Communications-owned WNPR 7.1 – 6.9, -.2, third to fourth
New England Public Media’s WFCR steady at .4, #17 to #16
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WRCH, 22nd successive month, 14.9 – 18.6, +3.7
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Increase: adult contemporary WRCH (+3.7)
Largest 6+ December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 Decrease: CHR WKSS (-1.5)
Note: Spanish tropical WRYM (1.5, #13, 6+, December 2021, 6+) is unlisted in “Holiday” 2021.
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.