March 2023 PPM Data – Information for the March 2023 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 (New Jersey).
Nielsen Audio’s March 2023 sweep covered March 2 – March 29.
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 2023 – March 2023 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 3.9 – 3.7, -.2, tenth to ninth
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 1.7 – 1.9, +.2, steady at #18
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 4.6 – 5.0, +.4, seventh to sixth
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 2.1 – 2.4, +.3, #16 to #15
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets and Yankees) 2.6 – 2.9, +.3, locked at #12
WFAN’s internet stream 1.4 – 1.5, +.1, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 4.0 – 3.5, -.5, ninth to tenth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, fifth month in a row, 7.0 – 7.6, +.6
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WLTW (+.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM and public radio news/talk WNYC-FM (-.5)
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” unchanged at 4.1, repeats in fifth-place
News: Audacy-owned KNX-FM “News 97.1” 2.9 – 3.3, +.4, #12 to #10
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC 2.7 – 2.2, -.5, #14 to #17
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KRTH, first month, 5.4 – 5.8, +.4
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: CHR KIIS (+1.1)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KOST (-1.4)
Note: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST had been #1 the past eight months
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” (Blackhawks) 3.2 – 3.4, +.2, tenth to ninth
News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” steady at 4.8, locked in fourth-place
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WSCR “670 The Score” (Bulls and Cubs) 1.7 – 2.5, +.8, #23 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 3.7 – 3.4, -.3, seventh to ninth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT, sixth straight month, 8.0 – 6.7, -1.3
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: sports talk WSCR (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WLIT (-1.3)
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 6.0 – 8.0, +2.0, third to first
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KGMZ “95.7 The Game” (Golden State Warriors) 2.3 – 2.2, -.1, repeats at #14
Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (Giants) 2.3 – 2.1, -.2, #14 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.-owned KQED 4.6 – 5.3, +.7, continues in fourth-place
Number One 6+: news KCBS-AM & KFRC, first month, 6.0 – 8.0, +2.0
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: news KCBS-AM & KFRC (+2.0)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: urban contemporary KMEL (-.8)
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 2.6 – 3.4, +.8, #16 to #12
News – Talk: Audacy’s KRLD-AM “News Radio 1080” steady at 2.3, #20 to #18
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” (Stars) unchanged at 5.6, #1
Audacy’s KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Cowboys and Texas Rangers) 2.9 – 2.3, -.6, #14 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting-owned KERA 3.0 – 2.7, -.3, #13 to #16
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media sports talk KTCK, third straight month, unchanged at 5.6
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: news/talk WBAP (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: urban AC KRNB and sports talk KRLD-FM (-.6)
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” (Astros) 3.8 – 3.7, -.1, #11 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston’s KUHF 3.1 – 2.6, -.5, #13 to #17
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, 25th consecutive month, 8.0 – 9.0, +1.0
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: adult contemporary KODA (+1.0)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic rock KGLK and alternative KTBZ (-.7)
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 7.2 – 6.6, -.6, repeats in third-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Hawks) 2.3 – 2.4, +.1, #18 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools-owned WABE steady at 3.6, tenth to ninth
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WSRV, third successive month, 8.1 – 8.3, +.2
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: urban contemporary WHTA (+1.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: country WUBL (.7)
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: Audacy-owned KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 5.9 – 6.2, +.3, fourth to third
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WIP “Sports Radio 94” (Phillies) 5.9 – 4.7, -1.2, fourth to eighth
WIP’s internet stream 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, locked at #19
Beasley Media Group-owned WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers and Flyers) 1.7 – 1.4, -.3, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY-owned WHYY 4.8 – 5.4, +.6, eighth to seventh
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia urban AC WDAS-FM, second month in a row, 6.7 – 7.2, +.5
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: public radio news/talk WHYY (+.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: sports talk WIP (-1.2)
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 1.9 – 2.1, +.2, anchored at #16
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 3.3 – 3.7, +.4, tenth to eighth
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 4.2 – 3.5, -.7, sixth to ninth
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets and Yankees) 4.2 – 4.4, +.2, repeats in sixth-place
Good Karma’s WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” (Knicks, Rangers, Islanders) 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic rock WBAB, first month, 5.5 – 6.0, +.5
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: CHR WBLI’s internet stream (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic rock WAXQ and rhythmic CHR WKTU (-.9)
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, .5 -.3, -.2, locked at #19
Number One 6+: Audacy country KFRG, first month, 4.9 – 6.5, +1.6
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: country KFRG (+1.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KOLA (-1.0)
Note: Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA had been #1 the past 15 months
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, #19 to #18
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 6.8 – 6.3, -.5, second to first
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (Giants) 2.7 – 2.6, -.1, #13 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOIT-FM, tenth consecutive month 7.6 – 6.3, -1.3 and news KCBS-AM & KFRC, first month, 6.8 – 6.3, -.5
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: 1980s hits KOSF (+2.2)*
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: country KBAY (-1.5)**
*Represents the largest February 2023 – March 2023 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
**Represents the largest February 2023 – March 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 6.3 – 6.5, +.2, locked in second-place
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” .7 – 1.0, +.3, #21 to #20
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 2.2 – 2.3, +.1, #12 to #9
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 1.5 – 1.6, +.1, #18 to #14
Sports Talk: Good Karma’s WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” (Knicks, Rangers, and Islanders) 1.3 – 1.1, -.2, #19 to #17
The internet stream of Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets and Yankees) .7 – 1.0, +.3, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group adult contemporary WMGQ, third consecutive month, 6.6 – 7.9, +1.3
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WMGQ (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WLTW; contemporary Christian WAWZ; and the internet stream of Spanish tropical WSKQ (-.8)
Up next: March 2023 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.