February 2024 PPM Ratings – Part Two
February 2024 PPM Data – Information for the February 2024 ratings period (February 1 – February 28) has been released for: Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included below is that they be a Nielsen Audiosubscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are January 2024 – February 2024 (6+).
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk
WMAL 4.5 – 4.5, #7 – #7
WFED .1 – .1, #29 – #30 (Capitals)
News
WTOP & WTLP 8.3 – 7.6, #2 – #2
WDCH .6 – .7, #23 – #22
WDCH Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WJFK-FM 2.8 – 2.3, #15 – #16 (Capitals)
WJFK-FM Stream 1.0 – .8, #20 – #21 (Capitals)
WTEM .4 – .4, #25 – #24 (Wizards)
WTEM Stream .3 – .3, #26 – #27 (Wizards)
WJFK-AM .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA (Capitals)
WSBN .1 – .1, #29 – #30
Public Radio News/Talk
WAMU 12.7 – 13.0, 28th month in succession at #1
Note: News WTOP & WTLP’s -.7 (8.3- 7.6) represents Washington, DC’s largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 decrease.
BOSTON
News/Talk
WRKO 2.8 – 3.2, #15 – #13
WXKS-AM .7 – .8, #23 – #23
News
News – Talk WBZ-AM 4.6 – 4.9, #6 – #6
Business news WRCA .1 – .2, #28 – #26
Sports Talk
WBZ-FM 11.2 – 9.1, second straight month at #1 (Celtics, Bruins)
WEEI-FM 3.9 – 3.3, #11 – #12
WEEI-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #30
WEEI-FM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WBUR 6.0 – 6.1, #3 – #3
WGBH 4.2 – 4.6, #9 – #8
Note: Sports talk WBZ-FM’s -2.1 (11.2- 9.1) represents Boston’s largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 decrease.
MIAMI
News/Talk
WIOD 1.4 – 1.2, #23 – #25
News
None
Sports Talk
WQAM 1.2 – 1.2, #25 – #25 (Heat, Florida Panthers)
WINZ .5 – .6, #27 – #28
WMEN .2 – .1, #33 – #36
WQAM Stream .1 – .1, #36 – #36 (Heat, Florida Panthers)
WSFS-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WAXY DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WLRN 4.1 – 5.1, #6 – #5
WLRN-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #36
Note: Public radio news/talk WLRN’s +1.0 (4.1- 5.1) represents Miami’s largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 increase.
SEATTLE
News/Talk
KIRO-FM 4.2 – 4.1, #7 – #10
KTTH 1.9 – 1.6, #21 – #22
KVI 1.3 – 1.0, #24 – #24
KPTR DNA – .1, DNA – #28
News
KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM 2.6 – 2.5, #19 – #17
KHHO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
KJR-FM 4.2 – 2.4, #7 – #18 (Kraken)
KIRO-AM 3.3 – 2.3, #14 – #19
KJR-AM .8 – .7, #25 – #26
Public Radio News/Talk
KUOW 6.9 – 7.2, #2 – #1
KSWS DNA – .1, DNA – #28
Note: Sports talk KJR-FM’s -1.8 (4.2- 2.4) represents Seattle’s largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 decrease.
DETROIT
News/Talk
WJR 2.1 – 2.5, #16 – #14
WFDF .5 – .6, #23 – #22
WJR Stream .1 – .1, #29 – #29
News
WWJ 5.6 – 5.3, #8 – #9 (Pistons)
WWJ Stream .4 – .4, #24 – #25 (Pistons)
WDFN .1 – .1, #29 – #29
Sports Talk
WXYT-FM 9.8 – 7.1, #1 – #3 (Pistons, Red Wings)
WXYT-FM Stream 1.8 – 1.1, #17 – #21 (Pistons, Red Wings)
WXYT-AM .3 – .2, #28 – #28
WXYT-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WDET 1.6 – 1.8, #19 – #18
WUOM 1.1 – 1.2, #21 – #20
Note: Sports talk WXYT-FM’s -2.7 (9.8- 7.1) is the largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 decreaseby any station in the 24 PPM-markets analyzed thus far.
PHOENIX
News/Talk
KFYI 3.1 – 3.5, #10 – #9
KTAR-FM 2.6 – 2.7, #14 – #12 (Suns)
News
None
Sports Talk
KMVP-FM 1.9 – 2.2, #20 – #18 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KGME .1 – .1, #31 – #34
KTAR-AM .1 – .1, #31 – #34 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KDUS .1 – DNA, #31 – DNA
KTAR-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KTAR-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KJZZ 3.0 – 2.3, #11 – #15
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk
WCCO 4.7 – 4.7, #10 – #8 (Minnesota Timberwolves)
KTMY 2.9 – 3.0, #14 – #14
KTLK-AM 1.8 – 2.2, #19 – #15
WCCO Stream .1 – .3, #31 – #29 (Minnesota Timberwolves)
News
KQQL-HD2 .1 – .1, #31 – #31
Sports Talk
KFXN 7.5 – 7.1, #2 – #3 (Minnesota Wild)
KQQL-HD3 .2 – .1, #27 – #31
KSTP-AM .1 – .1, #31 – #31
Public Radio News/Talk
KNOW 6.6 – 7.4, #4 – #2
KNOW Stream .8 – .7, #23 – #23
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk
KOGO 4.9 – 4.6, #5 – #7
KLSD .4 – .5, #25 – #25
News
None
Sports Talk
KWFN 3.9 – 3.0, #10 – #16
KGB-AM .8 – .8, #21 – #21
KWFN Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KPBS 6.2 – 7.3, #2 – #1
Note: Sports talk KWFN’s -.9 (3.9- 3.0) represents San Diego’s largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 decrease.
TAMPA
News/Talk
WHPT 5.3 – 4.9, #3 – #6 (Lightning)
WFLA 4.1 – 4.2, #11 – #10
News
Business news WHNZ .1 – .2, #34 – #28
Sports Talk
WDAE 2.1– 1.7, #17 – #18
Public Radio News/Talk
WUSF 2.3 – 1.9, #16 – #16
WMNF-HD3 Stream .4 – .2, #26 – #28
WUSF Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
DENVER
News/Talk
KOA 3.0 – 2.6, #14 – #17
KDFD 1.4 – 1.4, #22 – #22
KHOW 1.4 – 1.2, #22 – #24
News
None
Sports Talk
KKFN 4.0 – 3.7, #10 – #10
KKSE-FM 3.0 – 2.2, #14 – #18 (Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche)
KAMP .1 – .1, #35 – #36
KEPN DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
KKSE-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KCFR 4.5 – 3.7, #7 – #10
KUNC 1.0 – 1.1, #25 – #27
BALTIMORE
News/Talk
WBAL 4.3 – 3.3, #9 – #10
WCBM 1.9 – 2.0, #15 – #14
News
WTOP & WTLP 1.4 – 1.3, #17 – #18
WDCH .9 – .6, #19 – #20
WQLL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WJZ-FM 4.8 – 3.1, #6 – #12
WJZ-FM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WJZ-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WYPR 3.4 – 3.2, #12 – #11
WYPR HD2 Stream DNA – .3, DNA – #26
Note: Sports talk WJZ-FM’s -1.7 (4.8- 3.1) represents Baltimore’s largest (6+) January 2024 – February 2024 decrease.
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk
KMOX 3.7 – 2.8, #13 – #14
KFTK 2.2 – 2.1, #15 – #17
KTLK-FM 1.3 – 1.1, #18 – #18
KMOX Stream .4 – .2, #23 – #24
KFTK Stream .2 – .2, #28 – #24
News
KATZ-FM HD2 .3 – .2, #25 – #24
Sports Talk
WXOS 5.7 – 5.0, #7 – #9 (Blues)
Public Radio News/Talk
KWMU 5.1 – 4.9, #9 – #10
Up next: February 2024 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.
Reach Mike Kinosian at: Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.
1. Financial solvency laws. Consolidation is not the problem; it actually saved the radio industry. The problem is the 1986 rule change that dropped financial solvency requirements for station ownership. Prior to 1986, stations could not be purchased with debt. A potential owner had to prove that they could meet the expenses of a station through the duration of its license. Once the financial efficacy rule was dropped and stations could be purchased with debt, the industry was financially decimated. Prediction: Financial solvency laws will be re-instated.
Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina “The Fan Upstate.” The program takes over for “Offsides with Marc Ryan,” as Ryan moves to the company’s WXYT-FM, Detroit “97.1 The Ticket.” Audacy Greenville-Spartanburg SVP and market manager Steve Sinicropi states, “‘WIRE 2 WIRE’ allows us to elevate Diesel, who has worked alongside Marc for years, and Cole, who has done a great job with every sports assignment we’ve given him. ‘WIRE 2 WIRE’ will be a live, local sports show with knowledgeable, well-known local talent, and I know sports fans will love it.”
subscriptions, and more. Veritonic CEO Scott Simonelli comments, “We take pride in our collaborations with visionary leaders, amplifying the impact of our solutions and elevating the value delivered to our clients. This seamless integration empowers us to furnish our clients with even more comprehensive, insightful, and actionable data. It equips them to finely tune their audio campaigns, ensuring optimal results while instilling confidence in the allocation of their advertising budget across channels.”
votes in Florida’s primary elections today (3/19). Gallagher was first in line this morning and posted this picture on “X” (formerly Twitter) as he left the polling place, and it received more than 15,000 views in the first 30 minutes. Gallagher adds, “In Chicago, most voters will view it twice. Or more.”
February 2024 PPM Data – Information for the February 2024 ratings period (February 1 – February 28) 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).
“97.5 The Fanatic” as Andrew Salciunas moves from middays to partner with incumbent morning host John Kincade for the “Kincade and Salciunas” 
program, effective today (3/18). Kincade has been serving as the morning host since January 2021. Salciunas, has spent the past 10 years working his way up the ladder at the station, most recently hosting the 10:00 am to 2:00 pm show since Anthony Gargano left that role after a now-settled contract dispute with the company. In a statement, station PD Scott Masteller says, “I am truly excited to pair John and Andrew for a new sports show that will reflect the energy and passion of the Philadelphia sports fan.”
writer Bob Cooney to middays. The question Tornoe asks is what about Mike Missanelli? “Rumors have been swirling in sports radio circles the past few days about the return of Missanelli, once the station’s biggest star, whose sudden exit from his afternoon show in 2022 after 15 years shocked listeners.” Tornoe says that Missanelli has been in contact with management but there’s nothing to report and Missanelli isn’t talking. PD Scott Masteller tells the paper, “Mike’s name has come up. He’s a great talent, and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. A lot of people are interested in the radio station right now. So, I’ll leave it at that.” The current PM drive show is “The Best Show Ever?” hosted by Tyrone Johnson, Ricky Bottalico and Jenn Scordo. 
March is half over, and the Madness is just beginning.
For spring break this year, Sarah and I revisited Sandals Grand Bahamian all-inclusive resort – NOT inexpensive, and very worth it. We’ve already booked same-week-next-year, and we think we know who we’ll see there then.
news/talk/sports WXLM-AM, New London. The first match aired last Saturday (3/16) versus New Mexico United. An additional nine matches will air on the two stations. Cumulus regional vice president Holly Paras says, “I am delighted that our stations will enter into this new broadcasting partnership with Rhode Island FC and help to bring the Southern New England community the passion and drama of this new team and exciting sport.”
weakness in the national and network marketplace, and first-time hurdles in our Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions segment. In total, Digital now represents 51% of Townsquare’s 2023 net revenue and 55% of our 2023 Adjusted Operating Income, and maintained a 30% Adjusted Operating Income margin, consistent with 2022’s margin. The strong cash generation characteristics of our assets allowed us to produce $68 million of cash flow from operations in 2023, an increase of $18 million, or +35%, as compared to the prior year. We could not be more pleased to share that given our strong cash position, we were able to repurchase and retire approximately $27 million of our Unsecured Senior Notes at a discount during the year. In addition, we repurchased $17 million of our common stock, and paid a high-yielding dividend while also investing in our business. We also ended the year with a strong cash balance of $61 million and net leverage of 4.43x, retaining financial flexibility moving forward. Despite the lack of tailwinds at our back in 2023, I am very pleased with how the Townsquare team navigated the progressively challenging economic landscape. We outperformed competitors and gained market share due to our local focus and our digital platform. I believe that our performance over the past several years has demonstrated the efficacy of our Digital First Local Media strategy and validated our focus on local markets outside of the Top 50 U.S. cities, reinvigorating my confidence in our business model and our path moving forward.”
firm to complete its audits of the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting included in the Form 10-K. Urban One expects its auditor will issue an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements. The reason for the delay is that Urban One has identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting and as a result, expects some of its internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls will be ineffective as of December 31, 2023. The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, will describe these material weaknesses, and the Company is implementing plans to remediate them. The company says it does not anticipate any changes to its previously audited financial statements, nor does it expect to report financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023 that are materially different from the financial guidance range previously provided by the company during its third quarter earnings call.
from 8:00 am to 10:00 am ET on 90 Audacy stations nationwide. Led by Nick Kostos and Ken Barkley, co-hosts of “You Better You Bet,” “BetQL Countdown to Tip-Off” will serve as breakdowns of the men’s college basketball tournament, featuring a mix of sports betting insight. The show will also welcome talent from across Audacy’s portfolio of sports stations.
and WEPN-AM), but Karmazin said the move had nothing to do with his company not renewing its lease on WEPN-FM (which ends later this summer) but that it’s a company decision. TALKERS noticed that news/talk WTMJ, Milwaukee did not appear in Nielsen’s January PPM survey and reached out to GKB for an explanation, but the company did not reply to our request. Karmazin told Best, “It’s outdated to use one form of media to measure a show, especially one that doesn’t reflect the entire listening audience and viewing audience across all the different ways we distribute our media now.” 
NBCUniversal News Group’s “Dateline NBC” jumps two spots to #2, bumping audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” to #4. NPR’s “Up First” remains in the #3 position. Other radio-related podcasts of note include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rising one spot to #6, Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” slipping two places to #17, and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Mark Levin Show” falling three spots to #27. 
started 29 years ago. Whether it’s helping the first-time gun buyer sort out what she needs to buy, or exposing politicians who claim to be supporters of the Second Amendment while putting restrictions on this right, there’s plenty to talk about. Responsible gun ownership is strong, and I’m glad to be part of movement.” The program – currently heard on more than 260 stations – airs live on Sundays from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET. 
Sports,” on Monday (3/18). The program will cover the athletes, coaches, teams, and sports that have contributed to the explosive worldwide growth of women’s athletics in recent years. The rotating cast of female sports broadcasters includes Laura Okmin, Maggie Gray, Olivia Harlan Dekker, Amber Theoharis, and Amy Lawrence.
February 20.” Audacy awaits FCC approval to complete its restructuring and plans to file its 2023 10-K later this month. The company says it experienced revenue growth of 1% in January, led by a 1% increase in radio revenue and a 7% increase in digital revenue. Audacy chairman, president and CEO David Field comments, “Audacy is off to a strong start in 2024, driving accelerated financial and operating performance, including solid early growth in revenues, key digital metrics, and audience and revenue shares. We look forward to a bright future, capitalizing on our best-in-class balance sheet and our scaled leadership position in the dynamic audio market, distinguished by our exclusive premium content and top positions across the country’s largest markets.”
local political and other key local vertical ad spend, and significant ad growth for connected TV/over-the-top (CTV/OTT), TV OTA, and TV Digital. BIA VP of forecasting & analysis Nicole Ovadia states, “As expected, local political advertising will be substantial this year, and it’s fueling spend across the media landscape. Our slight adjustment down for this year is mainly due to mixed economic signals, a slowdown in certain consumer purchases, and lower than expected spending in Digital and Direct Mail advertising at the end of 2023 that may flow into this year. However, we still anticipate 2024 to be better for local advertising than 2023 and certain media like TV OTA, TV Digital, and CTV/OTT are growing substantially.”
community at-large. The 2024 Leadership Awards honorees are: Don Bouloukos, CBS and ABC Radio executive; Frank Comerford, chief revenue office, president, commercial operations, NBCU Local; Traug Keller, president, ABC Radio Network/SVP, ESPN Radio; Kathleen Kirby, partner, Wiley; Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting; and John Rouse, EVP, ABC Affiliate Relations, Disney Platform Distribution. The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award is bestowed annually on an individual in broadcasting whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. The 2024 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award recipient is Erica Farber, president & CEO, RAB. The Broadcasters Foundation Breakfast is complimentary to all in broadcasting.