March 2022 PPM Data – Information for the March 2022 sweep has been released for Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.
Nielsen Audio’s March 2022 sweep covered March 3 – March 30
TALKERS magazine 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 February 2022 – March 2022 (6+).
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” 4.1 – 3.9, -.2, ninth to tenth
News: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WTOP & WTLP “Washington’s Top News” 7.3 – 8.7, +1.4, fourth to second
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJFK-FM “106.7 The Fan” 2.0 – 2.7, +.7, repeats at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: American University-owned WAMU 10.8 – 9.6, -1.2, #1
Pacifica’s public radio news/talk-jazz hybrid KPFW .7 – .8, +.1, stays at #20
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk WAMU, third month in succession, 10.8 – 9.6, -1.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: news WTOP & WTLP (+1.4)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: public radio news/talk WAMU (-1.2)
BOSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRKO “AM 680 The Voice Of Boston” 3.6 – 4.7, +1.1, tenth to eighth
News – Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM “News Radio 1030” 6.2 – 5.5, -.7, fifth to sixth
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group’s WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (Celtics and Bruins) 6.3 – 7.3, +1.0, fourth to second
Audacy-owned WEEI-FM “93.7 Boston’s Sports Station” 2.7 – 2.6, -.1, #14 to #12
Public Radio News/Talk: Boston University’s WBUR 4.3 – 5.0, +.7, repeats in seventh-place
WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 3.0 – 2.6, -.4, continues at #12
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic hits-oldies WROR, second month in succession, 8.4 – 9.2, +.8
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: news/talk WRKO (+1.1)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: CHR WXKS-FM (-1.0)
MIAMI
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board-owned WLRN 2.9 – 2.7, -.2, #13 to #14
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WFEZ, third consecutive month, 9.1 – 9.0, -.1
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase (Tie): Spanish news/talk WURN and the internet stream of urban AC WHQT (+.4)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: urban AC WHQT (-1.0)
SEATTLE
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-FM “97.3 FM” steady at 7.4, #1
News: Lotus Communications’ KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM “Northwest News Radio” 5.7 – 5.0, -.7, second to sixth
Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-AM “710 AM ESPN Seattle” 1.9 – 2.9, +1.0, #21 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Northwest Public Radio’s KUOW 5.3 – 5.9, +.6, fifth to third
Number One 6+: news/talk KIRO-FM, third straight month, unchanged at 7.4
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: sports talk KIRO-AM (+1.0)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: country KNUC (-.9)
DETROIT
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WJR “News Talk 760 AM” 3.2 – 3.4, +.2, #14 to #13
News: Audacy-owned WWJ News Radio 950” (Pistons) 6.1 – 5.0, -1.1, fourth to eighth
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WXYT-FM “97.1 The Ticket” (Pistons and Red Wings) 5.0 – 5.7, +.7, seventh to fifth
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Michigan-owned WUOM 2.5 – 2.3, -.2, #15 to #17
Wayne State University’s WDET 1.9 – 1.3, -.6, repeats at #20
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies WOMC, third consecutive month, 8.3 – 7.7, -.6
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase (Tie): sports talk WXYT-FM and country WDRQ (+.7)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: news WWJ (-1.1)
PHOENIX
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFYI “News Talk 550” 5.4 – 4.6, -.8, third to fourth
Bonneville-owned KTAR-FM “News 92.3 FM” (Sun) 3.2 – 2.7, -.5, #11 to #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Maricopa County Community College’s KJZZ 6.3 – 6.8, +.5, second to first
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KJZZ, first month, 6.3 – 6.8, +.5
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: classic rock KSLX (+.9)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: news/talk KFYI (-.8)
Note: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KESZ had been #1 the past seventeen months.
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk: Audacy’s WCCO “News Talk 830” (Minnesota Timberwolves) 4.9 – 4.3, -.6, #7 to #12
iHeartMedia-owned KTLK-AM “Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130” 3.2 – 3.6, +.4, steady at #14
Hubbard Broadcasting’s KTMY “My Talk 107.1” 2.5 – 2.6, +.1, locked at #15
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFXN “FM 100.3 K-Fan” (Minnesota Wild) 4.9 – 5.0, +.1, seventh to ninth
Public Radio News/Talk: Minnesota Public Radio’s KNOW 6.6 – 7.3, +.7, anchored in second-place
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC KSTP-FM, third month in a row, 10.1 – 8.5, -1.6
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: adult hits KZJK (+1.2)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: hot AC KSTP-FM (-1.6)*
*Represents the largest February 2022 – March 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KOGO “News Radio 600” 3.3 – 3.8, +.5, #13 to #9
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KWFN “97.3 The Fan” 1.0 – 1.4, +.4, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: San Diego State University’s KPBS 6.3 – 5.8, -.5, second to fourth
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KXSN, third consecutive month, 8.1 – 7.0, -1.1
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: adult hits KFBG (+2.3)**
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KXSN (-1.1)
**Represents the largest February 2022 – March 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
TAMPA
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WFLA “News Radio 970” (Lightning) steady at 4.4, remains in seventh-place
Cox Media Group’s WHPT “102.5 The Bone – Real, Raw, Radio” 3.6 – 3.7, +.1, flat at #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WDAE “Tampa Bay’s Sports Radio” 1.2 – 1.0, -.2, continues at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of South Florida’s WUSF 3.3 – 3.0, -.3, #15 to #16
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV, seventh month in succession, 8.6 – 8.1, -.5
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: Spanish contemporary WYUU (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: rock WXTB (-.9)
DENVER
News/Talk: In the iHeartMedia cluster, KOA “News Radio 850” 2.6 – 2.0, -.6, repeats at #16; KDFD “Freedom 93.7” 2.3 – 1.6, -.7, #17 to #18; and KHOW “Talk Radio 630” 1.7 – 1.6, -.1, #19 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KKFN “104.3 The Fan” (Nuggets) 2.7 – 2.3, -.4, #15 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Colorado Public Radio-owned KCFR 4.2 – 4.6, +.4, locked at #7
Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KQMT, second straight month, 6.6 – 6.8, +.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: hot AC KIMN (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: Spanish adult hits KJMN (-.9)
BALTIMORE
News/Talk: WCBM Maryland-owned WCBM “Talk Radio AM 680” 3.2 – 3.6, +.4, #11 to #10
Hearst Television’s WBAL News Radio 1090” 2.8 – 2.4, -.4, repeats at #13
Cumulus Media-owned WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” 1.2 – 1.0, -.2, continues at #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJZ-FM “Baltimore Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan” steady at 3.8, eighth to seventh
Public Radio News/Talk: Your Public Radio Corporation-owned WYPR 3.8 – 3.7, -.1, eighth to ninth
Number One 6+: Radio One urban AC WWIN-FM, second month in a row, 8.6 – 8.4, -.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: classical WBJC (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease (Tie): CHR WWMX and contemporary Christian WRBS-FM (-1.1)
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk: Audacy’s KMOX “The Voice Of St. Louis” 3.8 – 3.6, -.2, repeats at #11 and cluster-mate KFTK “Talk 97.1 FM” 3.4 – 2.6, -.8, #13 to #15
iHeartMedia-owned KTLK-FM “104.9 The Patriot” .8 – 1.1, +.3, #20 to #19
The internet stream of Audacy’s KFTK flat at .9, #19 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting’s WXOS “101 ESPN” (Blues) 4.7 – 5.2, +.5, tenth to ninth
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KWMU 2.4 – 2.2, -.2, #17 to #16
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting rock KSHE, third month in a row, 8.6 – 9.8, +1.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: rock KSHE (+1.2)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: news/talk KFTK (-.8)
Up next: March 2022 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com