By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Seems there was a research release rally last week. Did you show up?
Probably not. Based on my sample base, most sellers were heads down doing what they like to do best. How about your manager? Did the boss bring something new to the tool kit? Sorry, bosses out there. If not, no worries. Read on as we scan my yellow highlighter for the quick notes.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Always taken for granted, forever undersold by radio sellers. So goes this 112-year-old celebration. Could it be because it was created as a complement to its senior partner, Mother’s Day? Or could it be because it was started in Spokane, Washington? It really doesn’t matter. Father’s Day is now a $20 billion dollar business that rarely dominates a radio sales meeting. Did you have a full sales meeting devoted to selling into the Father’s Day gift giving cycle?
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — What is with the plethora of bar graphs showing us what we already know? Do we really need another thermometer “Why listeners consume radio/audio” graph?
I guess we do need another study for the tidbit that is the premise behind hundreds of thousands of daily newscasts. This all started with a caveman pounding out the news on a log, then discovering fire, realized smoke signals attracted a bigger audience and the concept of results from a newscast was established. Maybe some of us are still at the campfire, or still selling like it.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
BLOCK ISLAND, RI — Be there or be square. Legacy media are scrambling to follow eyes and ears beyond old towers and deliver the on-demand options users now favor. NBC’s got Peacock; CBS touts its Paramount+ and invites us to watch the rest of “60 Minutes” interviews online; and CNN sure stubbed its toe scrambling to catch-up.
Radio stations archive reruns of on-air shows, though typically little more.
By Mike Kinosian
TALKERS magazine
Managing Editor
NEW YORK — As we reported here on Saturday (5/28), longtime New York radio executive William O’Shaughnessy died this past weekend at his Litchfield, Connecticut home; the 84-year-old O’Shaughnessy had been battling urothelial cancer.
TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison issued the following statement: “Bill O’Shaughnessy was more than an accomplished broadcaster and author. He was a living symbol of the radio medium’s most glorious ideals – both in substance and style – and was one of modern-day America’s most influential and inspirational proponents of the First Amendment.”
During my tenure as Inside Radio’s Special Features & Personality Editor, it was my distinct pleasure to interview the genuinely colorful O’Shaughnessy; edited portions of that conversation appear below.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — What critical personality trait connects you, the seller, to your leading talk show host? I’ll bet you never gave that a minute of your time!
This important trait in every top seller and top talker is present on every sales call and in every show. It is not a skill or learned technique, but if this one trait doesn’t shine properly, performance will suffer. Pause here as we zoom back.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
BLOCK ISLAND, RI — National media does well selling products, most of which aren’t manufactured locally. Local media does best selling services, which are inherently local. National advertisers selling services are disadvantaged, because the Help Wanted sign is everywhere, the U.S. Postal Service is crippled by politics, and supply chain issues haunt every industry.
Example? One of network radio’s biggest advertisers, currently disappointing me and countless others. And I see opportunity.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — That’s what happens when most of your sales or management life is spent at one station or in one market.
On the one hand, you know your station and market inside out. You are the tour guide who can navigate the advertiser through every fork in the road. You are proud of your station’s heritage and conversant with the demographics, psychographics, and socioeconomic profile of the population that resides in your coverage area. Rates, packages, program lineups, and historical revenue figures are at the tip of your tongue. Any out of the ordinary question is answered with a fast access, “Let me get back to you.” All are important traits that are critical components for top sellers and managers.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Somewhere along the line someone changed the lyrics.
Our advertisers, our customers, became “partners.” Now that’s weird.
Do our advertisers (customers) really want a partnership in the true sense of the word? Or do our advertisers want what everyone else wants: maximum value at the best price?
Supermarkets don’t call shoppers partners, yet we are regular spenders seeking value for the dollar, same with the gas station. No partners at the produce section or the gas pump, just us regular customers.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
BLOCK ISLAND, RI — In the past 12 months, Bitcoin has bounced between just-under $32K to just-over $65K. And saying “free gas” is the new “SQUIRREL!” So promoting a contest which awards the winner this prize choice WILL earn your station immeasurable word-of-mouth and could multiply Time Spent Listening.
If $65K has you coughing-up-blood, exhale:
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Here is a tip or two to help you increase your income.
Drop these two old school excuses from your sales banter and get closer to the winning side of your business interactions.
I am as serious as your commission check. What I am about to share, fresh from the field, is as old as your first pocket calculator with the same limitations of performance, yet I hear this day after day in my marketing work. It’s old, tired, and needs to go.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
BLOCK ISLAND, RI — The 1970s-sounding “Star Wars” type lasers and WHOOSH that still plague sound-alike station imaging now seem as dated as those 1960s TV “Batman” fight-scene graphics: “POW!” And doggedly dodging them all is the Central Casting baritone, shouting or growling-through whatever copy the station sends.
“To stand out, take whatever you think is normal, and do the exact opposite.”
50 years ago, I was an English teacher; and I’ve been assigning reading ever since. And here’s a page-turner that will not only inform your station’s on-air marketing, it may inspire your career.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
LAS VEGAS — You could have heard a pin drop when TelevisaUnvision president/regional radio GM Sabina Widmann said “This pandemic was the earthquake, and now we’re living in a tsunami, the mental health crisis in America.”
Because “what we do in radio is SO much about the people, about connecting,” this Great Resignation we’ve been reporting-on hits home. In her experience, “money is not the end-all for most employees.” How they FEEL is Issue One. “If you ask someone how they are, they might answer ‘Not so good.’”
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
LAS VEGAS — No matter how well-planned the agenda, I’ve always found that the most valuable part of a convention is…convening, catching-up with old friends and making new ones. And being the first NAB Show in three years, this year’s event was OH-so-quotable.
“I know what transformational moments feel like, and now we’re in one…on the cusp of the best era for radio and for audio.”
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
LAS VEGAS — If you’re here this week, bear with me. I’m that guy in the row behind you, typing feverishly-enough to resemble the movie character racing the countdown readout to disarm a nuclear warhead about to detonate. If you’re not here, here’s why I am:
Megatrends in the U.S. Audio Listening Landscape
From Laura Ivey, Edison Research, with bullet points from the “Share of Ear” data her firm has been tracking since 2014:
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Last week was one for the media history books. For stock market watchers, last Friday was a nauseating roller coaster ride. In case you were off the grid, here’s just a taste.
Netflix lost $50 billion in value, CNN+ shut down after a month, Meta (Facebook) has already lost almost half its value, and Elon Musk may still wind up with Twitter. A top 50-market radio station we use in my marketing work raised rates by 250% as ratings slid.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
LAS VEGAS — As we did for CES here in January, we were asked to submit vaccination details to an app to earn a QR entry code. Once inside, there are still some masks, and – after three years – lots of hugs. The National Association of Broadcasters wanted to mash-up what had been separate autumn Radio Shows and perennial April NAB Shows this past October…until the Omicron kibosh.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — News and talk radio sellers are boring.
Sorry if I offended you. But that’s what I see in the marketing work I do.
It’s all about numbers on paper. If ratings are not part of the pitch, it comes down to a laundry list of predictable guests, a boilerplate bio, and whatever else is fast and easy.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — How easy is it to do business with you?
I’m betting it’s more difficult than you think. Most professional sellers rarely “eat their own dog food,” as in be the advertiser at your talk radio station.
Try this exercise. Be the client trying to make an advertising inquiry. Is the experience of going through the switchboard at your station friendly or is it the typical “if you know your party’s extension….”? Is it a confidence builder or killer as you go undercover and try to navigate becoming an advertiser?
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
BLOCK ISLAND, RI — And the hits just keep-on comin.’ “Hits,” literally! For a couple days, that Chris Rock-Will Smith moment upstaged even the horrors in Ukraine. And now the wife of a sitting Supreme Court justice is in hot water. Infamy is nothing new. Remember the congressman who said that “in cases of ‘legitimate rape,’ the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down?” Or when John Lennon said, “We’re more popular than Jesus?”
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Imagine the next wave.
The Great Town Hall Debate is a video game designed by experts, where players pick political parties, moderators, topics, questions, debaters, venue and media coverage. Can our video game be so advanced you can program facial expressions, gesture reactions, even voice volume and inflection? Maybe some gaming wizard is working on the concept as you read this, or maybe not. But let’s go with it for a minute and sell it.
By Jon Quick
JonQConsulting
President/Founder
CARMEL, Ind. — I usually write about programming in this space. Today I am writing about a promotional idea that can result in extraordinary returns. It saves lives. I also have an ulterior motive.
Consider teaming up with a local hospital or medical group and do a health fair. Offer free admission to your listeners. Give them information on healthy eating, ways to quit smoking, the best exercise, cholesterol and other on-site testing and demonstrations. Not an original idea, of course, but one worth doing on a regular basis. There are also many programming and sponsorship opportunities here.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Have you noticed the marketing driving the madness this March? The marketing machine seems to be present everywhere — especially the sports book marketing. It’s reinventing how marketers use some old school media.
Last time we noticed, our friends in the bus shelter business simply painted bus bench backs or posted large signage in the bus shelters. This static advertising supported branding, location-based ads, and in the case of the old school bus bench, catchy phrase, logo or headshot and phone number.
February 2022 PPM Data – Information for the February 2022 survey period has been released for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
Nielsen Audio’s February 2022 sweep covered February 3 – March 2
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 2022 – February 2022 (6+).
AUSTIN
News/Talk: Waterloo Media-operated KLBJ-AM “News Radio” 4.4 – 4.7, +.3, eighth to ninth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Genuine Austin Radio’s KTXX “The Horn” 2.0 – 2.2, +.2, repeats at #15
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Texas-owned KUT 6.8 – 6.3, -.5, second to third
Number One 6+: Waterloo Media-operated adult hits KBPA, second month in a row, flat at 8.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country KASE (+1.3)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease (Tie): regional Mexican KLZT and classic rock KLBJ-FM (-1.1)
RALEIGH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKK “106.1 FM Talk” 7.4 – 7.6, +.2, remains in third-place
Curtis Media Group-owned WPTF “News Radio 680” 3.3 – 2.0, -1.3, #11 to #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Capitol Broadcasting’s WCMC-FM “99.9 FM The Fan” (Carolina Hurricanes) 2.7 – 1.8, -.9, #13 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 9.6 – 8.5, -1.1, #1
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk WUNC, second consecutive month, 9.6 – 8.5, -1.1
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult hits WBBB (+1.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: news/talk WPTF (-1.3)
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk: Emmis’ WIBC “93.1 FM Indy’s Mobile News” 10.6 – 9.7, -.9, repeats at #2
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Emmis-owned WIBC-HD2 “The Fan” (Pacers) 4.6 – 3.9, -.7, eighth to tenth
iHeartMedia’s WNDE “Fox Sports 1260” steady at .9, anchored at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting-owned WFYI 5.7 – 5.9, +.2, fifth to sixth
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WJJK, second successive month, 11.2 – 12.1 +.9
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WYXB (+1.4)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: news/talk WIBC (-.9)
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WISN “News Talk 1130” 9.7 – 9.5, -.2, first to second
Good Karma Brands-owned WTMJ “Wisconsin’s Radio Station” (Bucks) 7.2 – 7.6, +.4, repeats in fourth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRNW “97.3 The Game” 1.8 – 1.6, -.2, flat at #15
Good Karma Brands-owned WKTI “ESPN Milwaukee” 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, #15 to #16
Audacy’s WSSP “1250 AM The Fan” 1.2 – .8, -.4, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Wisconsin-owned WUWM 4.8 – 5.6, +.8, ninth to sixth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT, first month, 9.3 – 10.2, +.9
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic rock WKLH (+1.3)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: country WMIL (-1.8)
NASHVILLE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WWTN “Super Talk 99.7” 6.9 – 7.2, +.3, second to third
iHeartMedia-owned WLAC “Talk Radio 1510” 2.6 – 3.3, +.7, #13 to #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s WGFX “104.5 The Zone” 4.7 – 2.4, -2.3, #9 to #14
Cromwell Radio Group-owned WPRT “102.5 The Game” (Predators) 1.1 – .7, -.4, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Nashville Public Radio’s WPLN-FM 6.6 – 6.0, -.6, fourth to sixth
Number One 6+: Midwest Communications adult hits WCJK, second month in a row, 7.2 – 8.2, +1.0
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase (Tie): adult hits WCJK and country WSM-FM (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk WGFX (-2.3)
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WPRO-AM & WEAN “News Talk 630 AM & 99.7 FM” 7.0 – 6.9, -.1, third to fourth
iHeartMedia-owned WHJJ “News Radio 920” .7 – .8, +.1, #16 to #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” (Celtics, and Bruins) 4.4 – 3.7, -.7, sixth to eighth
Audacy’s WVEI “Sports Radio 103.7” 4.2 – 3.6, -.6, seventh to ninth
Public Radio News/Talk: WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 2.8 – 2.9, +.1, locked at #10
Rhode Island Public Radio’s WNPN 2.8 – 2.3, -.5, #10 to #11
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia rock WHJY, first month, 10.4 – 11.1, +.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WWLI (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease (Tie): country WCTK and sports talk WBZ-FM (-.7)
NORFOLK
News/Talk: Sinclair’s WNIS “News Talk AM 790” flat at 2.3, #13 to #14
News: iHeartMedia-owned WNOH “BIN 105.3 Because Truth Matters” .5 – .3, -.2, #21 to #20
Sports Talk: Max Broadcast Group’s WVSP “94.1 ESPN” 1.5 – 1.1, -.4, #17 to #18
Sinclair’s WTAR “Sports Radio 850” .6 – .3, -.3, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy urban AC WVKL, second straight month, 11.1 – 10.6, -.5
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: rhythmic CHR WNVZ (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary WVBW (-1.2)
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM “104.5 Jacksonville’s News & Talk” 9.6 – 10.2 +.6, #1
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WOKV-AM “ESPN Jacksonville 690 AM” .9 – 1.2, +.3, #18 to #16
Public Radio News/Talk: WJCT, Inc.’s WJCT 3.4 – 3.7, +.3, #12 to #10
Number One 6+: news/talk WOKV-FM, second consecutive month, 9.6 – 10.2 +.6
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WEZI (+1.6)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: country WQIK (-1.3)
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WJNO “News Radio 1290” 2.9 – 2.3, -.6, eighth to ninth
Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WFTL “News Talk 850” flat at 1.7, unchanged at #11
iHeartMedia’s WZZR “92.1 Real Radio” 1.7 – 1.3, -.4, #11 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WMEN “Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida” steady at .6, repeats at #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board’s WLRN flat at 3.2, stays in seventh-place
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC WRMF, second month in succession, 9.1 – 9.6, +.5
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic hits-oldies WEAT (+1.5)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: classic rock WKGR (-2.4)*
*Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
GREENSBORO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WPTI “News Talk 94.5” 6.5 – 5.7, -.8, remains in fifth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Curtis Media Group-owned WSJS & WPCM 600 AM & 920 AM” .6 – .5, -.1, stays at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: Wake Forest University’s WFDD 4.0 – 3.6, -.4, eighth to ninth
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 1.8 – 1.6, -.2, repeats at #14
Number One 6+: Audacy urban AC WQMG, second straight month, 14.2 – 13.4, -.8
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country WPAW (+1.1)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease (Tie): urban AC WQMG; news/talk WPTI; and country WTQR (-.8)
MEMPHIS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WREC “News Talk 600 AM” 2.6 – 3.0, +.4, #12 to #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WMFS “Sports Radio 92.9” (Grizzlies) 4.7 – 3.5, -1.2, eighth to tenth and WMFS’ internet stream flat at .7, anchored at #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Mid-South Public Communications’ WKNO 2.6 – 1.3, -1.3, #12 to #17
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO, second successive month, 14.1 – 12.4, -1.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: urban AC KJMS (+1.8)**
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO (-1.7)
**Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
HARTFORD
News/Talk: Audacy’s WTIC-AM “News Talk 1080” steady at 5.3, unchanged at #7 and WTIC-AM’s internet stream .5 – 1.5, +1.0, #16 to #13
Red Wolf Broadcasting-owned WDRC-AM “The Talk of Connecticut”.9 – 1.1, +.2, #15 to #14
iHeartMedia’s WPOP “News Radio 1410 AM & 100.9 FM” .2, #20 (WPOP was unlisted in January 2022)
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WUCS “97.9 ESPN” 1.2 – 1.1, -.1, remains at #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Connecticut Educational Communications-owned WNPR 8.6 – 9.6, +1.0, continues in second-place
New England Public Media’s WFCR .5 – .4, -.1, #16 to #19
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WRCH, 24th successive month, 11.6 – 10.9, -.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase (Tie): public radio news/talk WNPR and news/talk WTIC-AM’s internet stream (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WHCN (-2.0)
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com
February 2022 PPM Data – Information for the February 2022 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 February 2022 sweep covered February 3 – March 2
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 2022 – February 2022 (6+).
PORTLAND
News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 7.6 – 7.7, +.1, repeats in fourth-place
iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 2.8 – 3.1, +.3, #15 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 10.1 – 8.9, -1.2, #1 and KOPB’s internet stream 2.1 – 1.9, -.2, flat at #19
Number One 6+: public radio news/talk KOPB, second month in succession, 10.1 – 8.9, -1.2
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country KUPL (+.7)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: adult contemporary KKCW (-1.5)
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk: Radio One-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 3.9 – 3.3, -.6, #13 to #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Radio One’s WFNZ-FM “Sports Radio 92.7” 2.2 – 2.1, -.1, flat at #16
Beasley Media Group-owned WSOC-HD3 “Fox Sports Charlotte” .3 – .4, +.1, stays at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 4.2 – 4.6, +.4, #12 to #8
South Carolina Educational Television Commission-owned WNSC .4 – .5, +.1, remains at #19
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group adult contemporary WKQC, first month, 4.4 – 6.3, +1.9
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WKQC (+1.9)*
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF (-.7)
*Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
Note: Roughly two weeks into the February 2022 sweep (2/16), Radio One flipped urban contemporary WQNC to sports talk WFNZ-FM.
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” (Spurs) 4.4 – 5.1, +.7, eighth to seventh
Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 2.6 – 2.4, -.2, unchanged at #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 3.4 – 3.3, -.1, flat at #12
Number One 6+ (Tie): Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, first month, 6.8 – 7.1, +.3 and iHeartMedia adult contemporary KQXT, first month, 7.0 – 7.1, +.1
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country KAJA (+1.4)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: classic rock KTKX (-1.4)
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 7.1 – 6.5, -.6, locked in third-place and cluster-mate KSTE “Talk 650” 3.7 – 3.3, -.4, #11 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KIFM-AM “ESPN 1320” 1.3 – .9, -.4, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 5.0 – 4.6, -.4, seventh to sixth
Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KSEG, second month in a row, 9.3 – 10.2, +.9
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: country KNCI (+1.1)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: rock KRXQ (-.8)
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 5.0 – 4.8, -.2, sixth to seventh
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” 9.1 – 7.5, -1.6, second to fourth
Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 3.1 – 2.8, -.3, repeats at #11
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, fourth month in succession, 10.1 – 10.8, +.7
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult hits WRRK (+.8)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk KDKA-FM (-1.6)
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 7.6 – 8.4, +.8, #2 to #1
Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 6.5 – 6.0, -.5, repeats in fourth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 4.3 – 4.1, -.2, eighth to tenth
Number One 6+: news/talk KNRS, first month, 7.6 – 8.4, +.8
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classical KBYU (+1.6)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KRSP (-1.2)
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned KDWN “The Talk Of Las Vegas” 1.4 – 2.2, +.8, #23 to #15
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Nevada Public Radio’s KNPR 2.5 – 2.2, -.3, #14 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE, first month, 6.9 – 7.4, +.5
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies KOAS (+1.5)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: rhythmic hot AC KXQQ (-.7)
ORLANDO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 6.2 – 6.3, +.1, sixth to fourth and cluster-mate WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.3 – 1.8, +.5, #19 to #16
Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 1.9 – 1.6, -.3, anchored at #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WYGM “96.9 The Game” (Magic) 2.0 – 1.5, -.5, #16 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections’ WMFE 2.5 – 2.4, -.1, #13 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia CHR WXXL, second straight month, 8.3 – 7.9, -.4
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: classic rock WMMO (+1.0)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: Spanish contemporary WOEX (-.7)
CINCINNATI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” 11.5 – 12.3, +.8, locked in second-place and cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 7.0 – 5.3, -1.7, repeats in fourth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” 1.4 – 1.1, -.3, #17 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio-owned WVXU 4.8 – 5.1, +.3, sixth to fifth
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WGRR, second successive month, 13.4 – 12.6, -.8
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: news/talk WLW (+.8)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: news/talk WKRC (-1.7)**
**Represents the largest January 2022 – February 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
CLEVELAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Cavaliers) 4.7 – 5.5, +.8, seventh to sixth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” 5.4 – 4.2, -1.2, #6 to #11 and WKRK’s internet stream 1.1 – 1.0, -.1, #16 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Ideastream’s WCPN 4.1 – 4.4, +.3, #11 to #9
Kent State University-owned WKSU flat at 1.5, steady at #15
Number One 6+: Radio One urban AC WZAK, second month in a row, 11.3 – 11.1, -.2
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase (Tie): news/talk WTAM and country WGAR (+.8)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk WKRK (-1.2)
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk: Audacy’s KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 7.2 – 7.8, +.6, #3 to #1 and cluster-mate KMBZ-AM “Talk 980 AM” .5 – .9, +.4, #22 to #20
Cumulus Media-owned KCMO-AM “Talk Radio 710 AM” .5 – .9, +.4, #22 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” 2.9 – 1.5, -1.4, #12 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri’s KCUR 6.0 – 6.5, +.5, fifth to fourth
Number One 6+: news/talk KMBZ-FM, first month, 7.2 – 7.8, +.6
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase (Tie): hot AC KZPT and country KBEQ (+.9)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: sports talk KCSP (-1.4)
COLUMBUS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 8.5 – 9.3, +.8, #3 to #1
News: iHeartMedia’s WYTS “Columbus’ BIN 1230” flat at .3, #19 to #20
Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” (Blue Jackets) 9.5 – 8.8, -.7, #1 to #2 and co-owned WBNS-AM “ESPN 1460 AM” flat at .6, #18 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 7.7 – 8.3, +.6, fifth to third
Number One 6+: news/talk WTVN, first month, 8.5 – 9.3, +.8
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Increase: adult contemporary WSNY (+1.2)
Largest 6+ January 2022 – February 2022 Decrease: CHR WNCI (-1.2)
Up next: February 2022 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