February 2022 PPM Data – Information for the February 2022 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 February 2022 sweep covered February 3 – March 2
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 January 2022 – February 2022 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 3.0 – 2.9, -.1, #12 to #13
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 2.8 – 2.9, +.1, repeats at #13
News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 4.3 – 4.0, -.3, flat at #7 and co-owned WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 2.8 – 2.6, -.2, #13 to #16
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets) 3.8 – 2.6, -1.2, #8 to #16
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 3.5 – 3.6, +.1, tenth to eighth
Number One 6+: Emmis urban AC WBLS, second consecutive month, 6.6 – 5.9, -.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: urban contemporary WWPR (+.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM (-1.2)
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” 3.7 – 4.0, +.3, steady in seventh-place
News: Audacy-owned KNX-FM “News 97.1” 3.1 – 3.3, +.2, #10 to #11
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC 2.4 – 2.5, +.1, #15 to #14
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST, eighth successive month, 6.3 – 5.8, -.5
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: smooth AC KTWV (+.5)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KOST (-.5)
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” (Blackhawks) 5.2 – 4.6, -.6, fourth to fifth
News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” 5.7 – 5.1, -.6, first to third
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 5.4 – 5.7, +.3, third to first
Number One 6+ (Tie): iHeartMedia urban AC WVAZ, second consecutive month, flat at 5.7 and public radio news/talk WBEZ, first month, 5.4 – 5.7, +.3
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WRME (+.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease (Tie): news WBBM-AM & WCFS and news/talk WGN (-.6)
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 1.8 – 1.9, +.1, #17 to #18
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 7.1 – 7.3, +.2, unchanged in second-place
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” 4.6 – 2.2, -2.4, #4 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.’s KQED 8.5 – 7.9, -.6, first
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KQED, second straight month, 8.5 – 7.9, -.6,
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary KOIT-FM (+.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk KNBR (-2.4)*
*Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 3.1 – 2.9, -.2, anchored at #14
News – Talk: Audacy’s KRLD-AM “News Radio 1080” 2.1 – 2.5, +.4, #19 to #18
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” (Stars) 3.7 – 3.4, -.3, #7 to #11
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA 3.5 – 3.6, +.1, #12 to #9
Number One 6+: Univision regional Mexican KLNO, first month, 5.2 – 7.2, +2.0
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: regional Mexican KLNO (+2.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk KRLD-FM (-1.0)
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” 4.7 – 4.8, +.1, sixth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston-owned KUHF 2.2 – 2.8, +.6, #19 to #18
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, eleventh consecutive month, 7.4 – 8.1, +.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary KODA (+.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: CHR KRBE (-.9)
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 6.9 – 7.4, +.5, third to second
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Hawks) 2.4 – 1.6, -.8, #15 to #18
Dickey Broadcasting-owned WCNN “The Fan” 1.9 – 1.5, -.4, #17 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools-owned WABE 2.8 – 3.1, +.3, #12 to #13
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WSRV, second successive month, 7.1 – 8.8, +1.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic hits-oldies WSRV (+1.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: gospel WPZE (-1.0)
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: Townsquare Media’s WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 1.3 – 1.4, +.1, #20 to #19
News: Audacy-owned KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 5.2 – 4.9, -.3, locked on #6
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WIP “Sports Radio 94” 3.9 – 3.7, -.2, flat at #9
Beasley Media Group-owned WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers and Flyers) 3.1 – 3.6, +.5, #11 to #10
WIP’s internet stream, 1.9 – 2.0, +.1, repeats at #15
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY-owned WHYY 7.4 – 6.1, -1.3, second to fourth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia urban AC WDAS-FM, first month, 7.3 – 8.0, +.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic rock WMGK (+.9)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: public radio news/talk WHYY (-1.3)
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 4.3 – 4.1, -.2, sixth
Red Apple Media-owned WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 1.8 – 1.9, +.1, #15 to #18
News: Audacy’s WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 3.5 – 2.8, -.7, #5 to #12 and cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 3.0 – 2.5, -.5, #8 to #14
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets) 3.5 – 2.4, -1.1, #5 to #16
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM, second straight month, 7.4 – 6.5, -.9
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic rock WBAB (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: CHR WHTZ (-1.4)
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: San Bernardino Community College District’s KVCR, .3 – .4, +.1, #15 to #20
Number One 6+: Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA, second consecutive month, 8.4 – 9.5, +1.1
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic hits-oldies KOLA (+1.1)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: regional Mexican KSCA (-.8)
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KGO “810 AM” 2.0 – 1.8, -.2, #11 to #14
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 5.4 – 5.0, -.4, fourth to fifth
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” 3.5 – 1.7, -1.8, #8 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Empire country KRTY first month 5.4 – 7.5, +2.1
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country KRTY (+2.1)**
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease sports talk KNBR (-1.8)
**Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 5.9 – 6.3, +.4, second to first
News: Audacy’s WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” 1.9 – 2.1, +.2, #12 to #14 and cluster-mate WINS “1010 – All News/All The Time” 1.1 – 1.3, +.2, #16 to #20
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets) 2.9 – 2.5, -.4, #10 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+ (Tie): Spanish Broadcasting System Spanish tropical WSKQ, second straight month, 6.0 – 6.3, +.3 and news/talk WKXW, first month, 5.9 – 6.3, +.4
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: the internet stream of Spanish tropical WSKQ (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: CHR WHTZ (-1.9)
Up next: February 2022 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.