September 2023 PPM Data – Information for the September 2023 ratings period has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.
Nielsen Audio’s September 2023 sweep covered August 17 – September 13.
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 August 2023 – September 2023 (6+).
Note: The NFL season began September 7 – flagships are bolded, where applicable.
PORTLAND
News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” flat at 6.7, repeats in third-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 6.1 – 6.3, +.2, repeats in fourth-place
KOPB’s internet stream 1.7 – 20, +.3, #20 to #18
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KLTH, first month, 8.7 – 8.5, -.2
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: triple A KINK and hot AC KRSK (+.8)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KKCW (-2.0)*
*Represents the largest August 2023 – September 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk: Urban One-owned WBT-AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 6.4 – 5.2, -1.2, third to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Urban One’s WFNZ-FM “Sports Radio 92.7” 1.8 – 2.4, +.6, #16 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 4.6 – 5.2, +.6, sixth to fifth
South Carolina Educational Television Commission-owned WNSC .5 – 1.0, +.5, #20 to #18
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group country WSOC, first month, 7.2 – 7.4, +.2
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: sports talk WFNZ and public radio news/talk WFAE (+.6)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: news/talk WBT-AM & WBT-FM (-1.2)
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” 2.4 – 2.6, +.2, #17 to #15
Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 2.6 – 2.2, -.4, #15 to #19
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, ninth consecutive month, 8.6 – 7.1, -1.5
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: classic rock KTKX (+.6)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KONO-FM (-1.5)
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 9.7 – 10.1, +.4, #1
KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM cluster-mate KSTE-AM “Talk 650” 3.7 – 3.3, -.4, #10 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KHTK “Sacramento Sports 1140” .8 – 1.1, +.3, #24 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 2.3 – 1.9, -.4, #14 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia news/talk KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM, third month in a row, 9.7 – 10.1, +.4
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies KHYL (+1.3)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KBEB (-1.0)
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 3.8 – 4.0, +.2, #10 (third straight month)
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” (Pirates) 6.8 – 7.9, +1.1, fourth to third
Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 4.6 – 4.1, -.5, repeats in eighth-place
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, tenth month in a row, 11.4 – 11.2, -.2
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: sports talk KDKA-FM (+1.1)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: public radio news/talk WESA and classical WQED (-.5)
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 4.9 – 5.2, +.3, repeats in fifth-place
iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 3.4 – 4.0, +.6, #11 to #9
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 2.6 – 2.5, -.1, repeats at #17
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI, eleventh straight month, 10.8 – 10.3, -.5
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: rock KBER (+1.2)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: hot AC KJMY (-1.0)
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk: Audacy-owned KMXB-HD3 “101.5 K-Dawn The Talk Of Las Vegas” 1.1 – 1.9, +.8, #26 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE, third month in succession, 9.3 – 9.5, +.2
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: Spanish adult hits KWID and classic rock KXPT (+1.8)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: CHR KLUC (-1.2)
ORLANDO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 4.4 – 4.6, +.2, seventh to eighth
Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” steady at 3.4, #13 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WYGM “96.9 The Game” 1.4 – 1.1, -.3, #18 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections-owned WMFE 2.9 – 2.4, -.5, #14 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMGF, fourth consecutive month, 9.1 – 10.1, +1.0
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: Spanish tropical WRUM (+1.4)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: alternative WQMP (-1.0)
CINCINNATI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” (Reds, Bengals) 14.0 – 13.9, -.1, #1
WLW’s cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 4.4 – 4.6, +.2, repeats in sixth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” (Bengals) 1.2 – 1.6, +.4, #20 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio’s WVXU 4.0 – 3.6, -.4, eighth to ninth
Number One 6+: news/talk WLW, 20th consecutive month, 14.0 – 13.9, -.1
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: rock WEBN (+1.2)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: rhythmic hot AC WREW (-.9)
CLEVELAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Guardians) 5.5 – 6.1, +.6, eighth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” (Browns) 4.0 – 5.1, +1.1, #11 to #10
WKRK’s internet stream .5 – .8, +.3, #18 to #17
iHeartMedia-owned WARF “Fox Sports 1350 AM The Gambler” .2 – .3, +.1, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Kent State University’s WKSU 5.2 – 4.9, -.3, #9 to #11
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WMJI, eleventh month in a row, 10.5 – 11.8, +1.3
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: classic hits-oldies WMJI +1.3)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: rock WMMS (-1.1)
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk: Audacy-owned KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” flat at 5.1, third to fourth
KMBZ-FM cluster-mate KMBZ-AM “Talk 980 AM” 1.3 – 1.2, -.1, repeats at #19
Cumulus Media’s KCMO-AM “Talk Radio 710 AM” unchanged at 1.0, #22 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” (Royals) 2.7 – 3.1, +.4, #13 (third successive month)
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KCUR 3.5 – 3.2, -.3, #10 to #12
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies KCMO-FM, second straight month, 10.6 – 9.8, -.8
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: contemporary Christian KJNW (+.7)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: country KBEQ (-1.1)
COLUMBUS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 7.4 – 7.3, -.1, second to fourth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” 5.6 – 7.9, +2.3, fifth to second
Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 4.4 – 4.5, +.1, ninth to eighth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia country WCOL, eleventh straight month, 10.4 – 9.8, -.6
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: sports talk WBNS-FM (+2.3)**
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WSNY (-.9)
**Represents the largest August 2023 – September 2023 increase (6+) of any station from the 36 PPM-markets analyzed thus far
Up next: September 2023 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.