February 2023 PPM Data – Information for the February 2023 sweep has been released for Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.
Nielsen Audio’s February 2023 sweep covered February 2 – March 1.
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 January 2023 – February 2023 (6+).
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” 3.4 – 3.8, +.4, repeats in seventh-place
News: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WTOP & WTLP “Washington’s Top News” 7.8 – 8.6, +.8, third to the runner-up slot
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJFK-FM “106.7 The Fan” (Capitals) 2.7 – 3.1, +.4, #14 to #10
WJFK-FM’s internet stream 1.0 – .9, -.1, flat at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: American University-owned WAMU 12.9 – 12.1, -.8, #1
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk WAMU, 15th month in succession, 12.9 – 12.1, -.8
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: classical WETA (+.9)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: public radio news/talk WAMU (-.8)
BOSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRKO “AM 680 The Voice Of Boston” 3.7 – 4.1, +.4, #11 to #9
News – Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM “News Radio 1030” 5.3 – 4.6, -.7, fifth to sixth
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group’s WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (Celtics, Bruins) 8.8 – 7.5, -1.3, #1
Audacy-owned WEEI-FM “93.7 Boston’s Sports Station” 3.9 – 3.2, -.7, #10 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: Boston University’s WBUR flat at 4.5, sixth to seventh
WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 3.5 – 3.4, -.1, repeats at #12
Number One 6+: sports talk WBZ-FM, second consecutive month, 8.8 – 7.5, -1.3
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WMJX (+.9)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: sports talk WBZ-FM (-1.3)
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 4.1 – 5.3, +1.2, eighth to fourth
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WFEZ, second month in succession, steady at 8.9
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: public radio news/talk WLRN (+1.2)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: classic rock WBGG (-.9)
SEATTLE
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-FM “97.3 FM” 6.1 – 5.4, -.7, second to fifth
News: Lotus Communications’ KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM “Northwest News Radio” 5.5 – 4.3, -1.2 third to ninth
Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KIRO-AM “710 AM ESPN Seattle” 3.0 – 2.4, -.6, #15 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Northwest Public Radio’s KUOW 4.9 – 5.5, +.6, sixth to fourth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic rock KZOK, first month, 4.3 – 6.5, +2.2
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: classic rock KZOK (+2.2)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: triple A KPNW (-1.7)*
*Represents the largest January 2023 – February 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
Note: KNUC flipped from country to triple A KPNW on February 14.
DETROIT
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WJR “News Talk 760 AM” 2.5 – 2.6, +.1, repeats at #16
News: Audacy-owned WWJ News Radio 950” (Pistons) 4.6 – 5.0, +.4, eighth to ninth
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WXYT-FM “97.1 The Ticket” (Red Wings) 6.8 – 6.3, -.5, third to fourth
WXYT-FM’s internet stream 1.9 – 1.3, -.6, #18 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Michigan-owned WUOM 2.7 – 2.8, +.1, steady at #15
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic rock WCSX, first month, 7.3 – 7.4, +.1
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: CHR WKQI (+1.4)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WNIC (-1.1)
PHOENIX
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFYI “News Talk 550” 3.2 – 3.0, -.2, tenth to ninth
Bonneville-owned KTAR-FM “News 92.3 FM” (Sun) 2.4 – 2.9, +.5, #17 to #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KMVP-FM “98.7 Arizona’s Sports Station” (Sun) 2.4 – 2.8, +.4, #17 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Maricopa County Community College-owned KJZZ 8.0 – 7.4, -.6, #1
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KJZZ, second month in a row, 8.0 – 7.4, -.6
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: country KNIX (+.9)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KAZG (-.9)
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned KTMY “My Talk 107.1” 3.1 – 3.4, +.3, #14 to #13
Audacy’s WCCO “News Talk 830” (Minnesota Timberwolves) flat at 3.0, repeats at #15
iHeartMedia’s KTLK-AM “Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130” 1.7 – 2.4, +.7, #17 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFXN “FM 100.3 K-Fan” (Minnesota Wild) 7.1 – 5.6, -1.5, second to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: Minnesota Public Radio’s KNOW 6.5 – 6.6, +.1, fifth to third
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KQQL, first month, 6.7 – 7.3, +.6
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: jazz KBEM (+1.2)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: sports talk KFXN (-1.5)
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KOGO “News Radio 600” 6.1 – 5.6, -.5, repeats in fourth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KWFN “97.3 The Fan” 1.9 – 1.6, -.3, #18 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: San Diego State University’s KPBS 6.9 – 6.3, -.6, first to second
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KXSN, first month, 6.4 – 6.8, +.4
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: rock KIOZ (+1.1)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KYXY (-1.3)
TAMPA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WHPT “102.5 The Bone – Real, Raw, Radio” (Lightning) 4.5 – 4.4, -.1, continues in ninth-place
iHeartMedia-owned WFLA “News Radio 970” 2.4 – 2.1, -.3, #17 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WDAE “Tampa Bay’s Sports Radio” 1.8 – 1.2, -.6, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University of South Florida’s WUSF 2.8 – 3.3, +.5, #15 to #11
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV, 19th month in a row, flat at 7.8
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: country WFUS (+1.1)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: hot AC WMTX (-1.2)
DENVER
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KOA “News Radio 850” 3.0 – 2.3, -.7, #15 to #17
co-owned KHOW “Talk Radio 630” 1.9 – 2.0, +.1, repeats at #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville’s KKFN “104.3 The Fan” (Nuggets) 4.7 – 4.2, -.5, sixth to tenth
Public Radio News/Talk: Colorado Public Radio-owned KCFR 4.7 – 4.5, -.2, sixth to eighth
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOSI, fifth consecutive month, 6.2 – 6.1, -.1
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: classic rock KRFX; classic hits-oldies KXKL; and public radio news/talk KUNC (+.6)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: news/talk KOA (-.7)
BALTIMORE
News/Talk: Hearst Television’s WBAL “News Radio 1090 AM & 101.5 FM” 3.9 – 3.5, -.4, #8 to #11
WCBM Maryland-owned WCBM “Talk Radio AM 680” steady at 1.7, #18 to #17
Cumulus Media-owned WMAL “105.9 FM – Where Washington Comes To Talk” 1.2 – .7, -.5, #19 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WJZ-FM “Baltimore Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan” 5.4 – 5.1, -.3, sixth to fifth
Public Radio News/Talk: Your Public Radio Corporation-owned WYPR 3.4 – 4.3, +.9, tenth to eighth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult hits WQSR, first month, 6.8 – 9.6, +2.8
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: adult hits WQSR (+2.8)**
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: CHR WWMX (-1.6)
**Represents the largest January 2023 – February 2023 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk: Audacy’s KMOX “The Voice Of St. Louis” 5.2 – 5.0, -.2, ninth to tenth
cluster-mate KFTK “Talk 97.1 FM” 1.8 – 2.3, +.5, #17 to #16
iHeartMedia-owned KTLK-FM “104.9 The Patriot” .7 – .8, +.1, remains at #19
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting’s WXOS “101 ESPN” (Blues) 3.5 – 3.2, -.3, #12 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KWMU 4.4 – 3.8, -.6, flat at #11
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting adult hits WARH, second month in succession, 10.2 – 9.8, -.4
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Increase: classic hits-oldies KLOU (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2023 – February 2023 Decrease: triple A KDHX (-1.1)
Up next: February 2023 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