October 2022 PPM Data – Information for the October 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 October 2022 sweep covered September 15 – October 12.
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 September 2022 – October 2022 (6+).
The NHL season began October 7; NHL and NFL flagships are noted where applicable.
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” 4.5 – 4.1, -.4, repeats in seventh-place
News: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WTOP & WTLP “Washington’s Top News” 8.1 – 9.0, +.9, locked in the runner-up slot
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJFK-FM “106.7 The Fan” (Capitals) 2.6 – 2.8, +.2, #15 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: American University-owned WAMU 11.1 – 11.8, +.7, #1
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk WAMU, tenth month in succession, 11.1 – 11.8, +.7
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: news WTOP & WTLP (+.9)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: urban AC WMMJ (-.8)
BOSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRKO “AM 680 The Voice Of Boston” flat at 3.8, repeats in ninth-place
News – Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM “News Radio 1030” steady at 5.3, continues in fifth-place
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group’s WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (Bruins, New England Patriots) 7.3 – 9.4, +2.1, second to first
Audacy-owned WEEI-FM “93.7 Boston’s Sports Station” 4.0 – 4.9, +.9, seventh to sixth
Public Radio News/Talk: Boston University’s WBUR 4.0 – 4.3, +.3, seventh to eighth
WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 2.3 – 3.0, +.7, #19 to #11
Number One 6+: sports talk WBZ-FM, first month, 7.3 – 9.4, +2.1
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: sports talk WBZ-FM (+2.1)*
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: country WBWL (-.7)
*Represents the largest September 2022 – October 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets – as well as the previous 12-PPM markets
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 3.4 – 3.5, +.1, repeats in ninth-place
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WFEZ, third consecutive month, 8.3 – 8.4, +.1
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: Spanish tropical WRTO (+1.0)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: Spanish tropical WXDJ (-1.7)
SEATTLE
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-FM “97.3 FM” (Seahawks) 6.6 – 7.1, +.5, third to second
News: Lotus Communications’ KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM “Northwest News Radio” 3.5 – 4.8, +1.3, #14 to #6
Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-AM “710 AM ESPN Seattle” (Seahawks) 7.0 – 7.6, +.6, first
iHeartMedia’s KJR-FM “93.3 FM Seattle’s Sports Leader” 1.3 – 2.3, +1.0, #23 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Northwest Public Radio’s KUOW 4.3 – 4.5, +.2, seventh to ninth
Number One 6+: sports talk KIRO-AM, second month in succession, 7.0 – 7.6, +.6
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: news KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM (+1.3)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: adult hits KJAQ (-1.0)
DETROIT
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WJR “News Talk 760 AM” 3.5 – 3.4, -.1, anchored at #13
News: Audacy-owned WWJ News Radio 950” 4.6 – 4.8, +.2, remains in eighth-place
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WXYT-FM “97.1 The Ticket” (Red Wings, Lions) 5.6 – 7.1, +1.5, fourth to second and WXYT-FM’s internet stream 1.9 – 1.8, -.1, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Michigan-owned WUOM 2.1 – 2.4, +.3, carries on at #17
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic rock WCSX, first month, 7.0 – 7.4, +.4
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: sports talk WXYT-FM (+1.5)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WOMC (-.7)
PHOENIX
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFYI “News Talk 550” 3.5 – 3.1, -.4, #10 to #12
Bonneville-owned KTAR-FM “News 92.3 FM” (Arizona Cardinals) 2.6 – 2.3, -.3, #17 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KMVP-FM “98.7 Arizona’s Sports Station” 2.3 – 3.9, +1.6, #20 to #8
Public Radio News/Talk: Maricopa County Community College-owned KJZZ 7.3 – 7.9, +.6, second to first
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KJZZ, first month, 7.3 – 7.9, +.6
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: sports talk KMVP-FM (+1.6)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KESZ (-1.0)
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk: Audacy’s WCCO “News Talk 830” 5.6 – 4.8, -.8, seventh to tenth
iHeartMedia’s KTLK-AM “Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130” 3.1 – 3.5, +.4, #15 to #13
Hubbard Broadcasting-owned KTMY “My Talk 107.1” 3.1 – 2.9, -.2, #15 to #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFXN “FM 100.3 K-Fan” (Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Vikings) 6.7 – 8.2, +1.5, third to first
Public Radio News/Talk: Minnesota Public Radio’s KNOW 6.2 – 5.7, -.5, fifth to sixth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia sports talk KFXN, first month, 6.7 – 8.2, +1.5
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: sports talk KFXN (+1.5)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KQQL (-1.8)**
**Represents the largest September 2022 – October 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KOGO “News Radio 600” 5.0 – 4.6, -.4, fourth to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KWFN “97.3 The Fan” 1.9 – 2.9, +1.0, #17 to #15 and KWFN’s internet stream .8 – 1.6, +.8, #23 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: San Diego State University’s KPBS 5.6 – 6.1, +.5, repeats in third-place
Number One 6+: Local Media San Diego adult hits KFBG, seventh consecutive month, 8.1 – 6.8, -1.3
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: sports talk KWFN (+1.0)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: rhythmic hot AC XHRM (-1.5)
TAMPA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WHPT “102.5 The Bone – Real, Raw, Radio” (Lightning) 4.2 – 4.7, +.5, eighth to seventh
iHeartMedia-owned WFLA “News Radio 970” 2.7 – 3.1, +.4, #16 to #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WDAE “Tampa Bay’s Sports Radio” 2.1 – 1.9, -.2, repeats at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: University of South Florida’s WUSF 2.2 – 2.4, +.2, continues at #18
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV, fourteenth month in a row, 9.1 – 9.4, +.3
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: rhythmic CHR WLLD (+.9)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: contemporary Christian WCIE (-1.7)
DENVER
News/Talk: In the iHeartMedia cluster, KHOW “Talk Radio 630” 2.1 – 2.5, +.4, #18 to #17; KOA “News Radio 850” (Broncos) 2.4 – 2.3, -.1, #17 to #18; and KDFD “Freedom 93.7” flat at 1.7, #21 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KKFN “104.3 The Fan” 3.3 – 4.1, +.8, tenth to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: Colorado Public Radio-owned KCFR 3.9 – 4.1, +.2, ninth to eighth
Number One 6+: Audacy hot AC KALC, first month, 6.2 – 6.9, +.7
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase (Tie): classic hits-oldies KXKL and sports talk KKFN (+.8)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: triple A KBCO (-1.4)
BALTIMORE
News/Talk: Hearst Television’s WBAL “News Radio 1090 AM & 101.5 FM” (Ravens) 3.8– 3.9, +.1, repeats in ninth-place
WCBM Maryland-owned WCBM “Talk Radio AM 680” 1.7 – 1.3, -.4, #17 to #18
Cumulus Media-owned WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” .7 – .8, +.1, #22 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJZ-FM “Baltimore Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan” 4.2 – 5.9, +1.7, seventh to fifth
Public Radio News/Talk: Your Public Radio Corporation-owned WYPR 3.3 – 3.4, +.1, stays at #11
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WLIF, second consecutive month, 9.5 – 9.0, -.5
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: sports talk WJZ-FM (+1.7)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: urban AC WWIN-FM (-.9)
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk: Audacy’s KMOX “The Voice Of St. Louis” 6.5 – 6.9, +.4, fifth to fourth and cluster-mate KFTK “Talk 97.1 FM” 1.7 – 1.9, +.2, repeats at #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting’s WXOS “101 ESPN” (Blues) 3.6 – 3.7, +.1, #11 to #12
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KWMU 3.0 – 3.9, +.9, #14 to #11
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting adult hits WARH, first month, 8.1 – 9.3, +1.2
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Increase: adult hits WARH (+1.2)
Largest 6+ September 2022 – October 2022 Decrease: alternative KPNT (-1.0)
Up next: October 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