March 2022 PPM Data – Information for the March 2022 survey period has been released for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
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+).
AUSTIN
News/Talk: Waterloo Media-operated KLBJ-AM “News Radio” 4.7 – 4.8, +.1, ninth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Genuine Austin Radio’s KTXX “The Horn” 2.2 – 1.7, -.5, #15 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Texas-owned KUT 6.3 – 6.8, +.5, third to second
Number One 6+: Waterloo Media-operated adult hits KBPA, third month in a row, 8.7 – 10.0, +1.3
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: adult hits KBPA (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: classical KMFA (-1.8)
RALEIGH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKK “106.1 FM Talk” 7.6 – 6.7, -.9, third to fourth
Curtis Media Group-owned WPTF “News Radio 680” 2.0 – 1.9, -.1, repeats at #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Capitol Broadcasting’s WCMC-FM “99.9 FM The Fan” (Carolina Hurricanes) 1.8 – 2.5, +.7, #15 to #12
Public Radio News/Talk: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 8.5 – 7.8, -.7, first to third
Number One 6+: Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL, first month, 7.7 – 8.4, +.7
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: classic rock WRDU (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: news/talk WTKK (-.9)
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk: Emmis’ WIBC “93.1 FM Indy’s Mobile News” 9.7 – 9.5, -.2, locked in the runner-up slot
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Emmis-owned WIBC-HD2 “The Fan” (Pacers) 3.9 – 3.3, -.6, repeats in tenth-place
iHeartMedia’s WNDE “Fox Sports 1260” flat at .9, continues at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting-owned WFYI 5.9 – 4.7, -1.2, sixth to seventh
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WJJK, third successive month, 12.1 – 12.4 +.3
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase (Tie): country WLHK and alternative WOLT (+.7)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: public radio news/talk WFYI (-1.2)
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WISN “News Talk 1130” 9.5 – 8.3, -1.2, continues at #2
Good Karma Brands-owned WTMJ “Wisconsin’s Radio Station” (Bucks) 7.6 – 8.2, +.6, fourth to third
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRNW “97.3 The Game” 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, flat at #15
Good Karma Brands-owned WKTI “ESPN Milwaukee” 1.5 – 1.2, -.3, repeats at #16
Audacy’s WSSP “1250 AM The Fan” .8 – 1.0, +.2, steady at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Wisconsin-owned WUWM 5.6 – 5.9, +.3, sixth to fifth
Number One 6+: Saga Communications classic rock WKLH, first month, 8.8 – 8.9, +.1
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: news/talk WTMJ (+.6)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: classic hits/oldies WRIT (-2.0)
NASHVILLE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WWTN “Super Talk 99.7” 7.2 – 6.8, -.4, repeats in the runner-up slot
iHeartMedia-owned WLAC “Talk Radio 1510” 3.3 – 3.1, -.2, #11 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s WGFX “104.5 The Zone” 2.4 – 2.8, +.4, steady at #14
Cromwell Radio Group-owned WPRT “102.5 The Game” (Predators) .7 – 1.0, +.3, remains at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Nashville Public Radio’s WPLN-FM 6.0 – 5.5, -.5, sixth to seventh
Number One 6+: Midwest Communications adult hits WCJK, third month in a row, 8.2 – 7.5, -.7
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase (Tie): alternative WBUZ and contemporary Christian WFFH (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: CHR WRVW (-.9)
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WPRO-AM & WEAN “News Talk 630 AM & 99.7 FM” 6.9 – 6.7, -.2, stays in fourth-place
iHeartMedia-owned WHJJ “News Radio 920” flat at .8, repeats at #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (Celtics, and Bruins) 3.7 – 3.9, +.2, steady in eighth-place
Audacy’s WVEI “Sports Radio 103.7” 3.6 – 3.7, +.1, unchanged at #9
Public Radio News/Talk: WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 2.9 – 3.1, +.2, anchored in tenth-place
Rhode Island Public Radio’s WNPN flat at 2.3, steady at #11
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia rock WHJY, second straight month, 11.1 – 11.3, +.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: CHR WPRO-FM (+.4)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease (Tie): country WKLB and classic hits-oldies WSKP (-.4)
NORFOLK
News/Talk: Sinclair’s WNIS “News Talk AM 790” 2.3 – 2.5, +.2, #14 to #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Max Broadcast Group’s WVSP “94.1 ESPN” 1.1 – 1.0, -.1, #18 to #19
Sinclair’s WTAR “Sports Radio 850” .3 – .4, +.1, continues at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy urban AC WVKL, third month in succession, 10.6 – 10.4, -.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: rock WNOR (+1.2)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WVBW (-1.5)
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM “104.5 Jacksonville’s News & Talk” 10.2 – 10.5 +.3, #1
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WOKV-AM “ESPN Jacksonville 690 AM” 1.2 – .7, -.5, #16 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: WJCT, Inc.’s WJCT flat at 3.7, #10 to #11
Number One 6+: news/talk WOKV-FM, third consecutive month, 10.2 – 10.5 +.3
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: country WQIK (+1.6)*
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: urban contemporary WJBT (-.9)
*Represents the largest February 2022 – March 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WJNO “News Radio 1290” flat at 2.3, repeats in ninth-place
Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WFTL “News Talk 850” 1.7 – 1.3, -.4, #11 to #13
iHeartMedia’s WZZR “92.1 Real Radio” 1.3 – 1.1, -.2, flat at #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WMEN “Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida” .6 – .4, -.2, #17 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board’s WLRN 3.2 – 3.8, +.6, seventh to sixth
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC WRMF, third month in succession, flat at 9.6
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: country WIRK (+.9)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WEAT (-2.5)**
**Represents the largest February 2022 – March 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
GREENSBORO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WPTI “News Talk 94.5” 5.7 – 5.1, -.6, carries on in fifth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Wake Forest University’s WFDD 3.6 – 3.4, -.2, ninth to tenth
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, remains at #14
Number One 6+: Audacy urban AC WQMG, third month in a row, steady at 13.4
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: CHR WMKS (+.6)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: country WPAW (-.8)
MEMPHIS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WREC “News Talk 600 AM” 3.0 – 2.5, -.5, #13 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WMFS “Sports Radio 92.9” (Grizzlies) 3.5 – 3.4, -.1, repeats in tenth-place and WMFS’ internet stream .7 – 1.0, +.3, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Mid-South Public Communications’ WKNO 1.3 – 1.8, +.5, #17 to #16
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO, third successive month, 12.4 – 13.6, +1.2
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO (+1.2)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WRVR (-1.6)
HARTFORD
News/Talk: Audacy’s WTIC-AM “News Talk 1080” 5.3 – 5.1, -.2, seventh to ninth
Red Wolf Broadcasting-owned WDRC-AM “The Talk of Connecticut” 1.1 – 1.0, -.1, #14 to #15
The internet stream of Audacy’s WTIC-AM, 1.5 – .6, -.9, #13 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WUCS “97.9 ESPN” 1.1 – 1.0, -.1, #14 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: Connecticut Educational Communications-owned WNPR 9.6 – 10.1, +.5, anchored in the runner-up slot
New England Public Media’s flat at .4, #19 to #20
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WRCH, 25th successive month, unchanged at 10.9
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Increase: rhythmic CHR WZMX (+1.0)
Largest 6+ February 2022 – March 2022 Decrease: hot AC WTIC-FM (-1.5)
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.