March 2024 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Four
March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 survey period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – 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 February 2024 – March 2024 (6+).
AUSTIN
News/Talk
KLBJ-AM 5.1 – 3.8, #5 – #9
KJCE .3 – .1, #28 – #30
News
None
Sports Talk
KBPA-HD2 .5 – .9, #24 – #21
KVET-AM .9 – .7, #21 – #23
KTAE DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KUT 7.4 – 8.4, #2 – #2
KUT-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Note: News/talk KLBJ-AM’s -1.3 (5.1 – 3.8) is Austin’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
RALEIGH
News/Talk
WTKK 8.0 – 7.3, #3 – #4
WPTF .8 – .6, #19 – #23
News
WRAL-HD3 .3 – .5, #24 – #24
Sports Talk
WCMC-FM 2.2 – 3.0, #15 – #13 (Carolina Hurricanes)
WCMC-FM HD2 .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA (Carolina Hurricanes)
Public Radio News/Talk
WUNC 8.5 – 8.7, #2 – #2
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk
WIBC 4.9 – 5.1, #10 – #8
News
WOLT-HD2 .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA
Sports Talk
WIBC-HD2 3.0 – 2.6, #16 – #16
WNDE .5 – .5, #21 – #22
WXNT .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WFYI 4.6 – 5.6, #11 – #6
Sports talk WFNI (DNA – DNA) is the flagship of the Pacers.
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk
WISN 9.0 – 9.0, seventh consecutive month at #1
WAUK DNA – .2, DNA – #22
WLIP .1 – .1, #27 – #26
WTMJ DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WGKB DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
WRNW 2.1 – 2.4, #15 – #15
WSSP .2 – .2, #20 – #22
WOKY .1 – .1, #20 – #26
WKTI DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WUWM 2.6 – 2.9, #13 – #13
WHAD 1.2 – 1.3, #17 – #17
WHAD Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
NASHVILLE
News/Talk
WWTN 5.7 – 6.5, #5 – #5
WLAC 2.1 – 1.8, #17 – #18
News
WNRQ-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WGFX 4.9 – 6.6, #9 – #4
WPRT 1.5 – 2.3, #19 – #17 (Predators)
Public Radio News/Talk
WPLN 4.9 – 4.8, #9 – #9
WPLN-HD3 Stream .2 – .2, #24 – #23
Note: Sports talk WGFX’s +1.7 (4.9 – 6.6) represents the largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk
WPRO-AM 6.8 – 6.2, #4 – #5
WHJJ 1.1 – 1.3, #13 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WVEI 1.7 – 1.5, #11 – #11
WPRV DNA – .1, DNA – #18
WBZ-FM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WGBH 2.4 – 2.1, #8 – #8
WNPN 1.4 – 1.4, #12 – #12
WCAI .1 – .1, #18 – #18
NORFOLK
News/Talk
WNIS 2.0 – 2.0, #14 – #14
WGH-FM HD2 .2 – .1, #23 – #23
News
WNOH .3 – .3, #22 – #21
Sports Talk
WVSP 1.4 – 1.3, #16 – #17
WGH-AM .2 – .1, #23 – #23
Public Radio News/Talk
None
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk
WOKV-FM 8.9 – 8.3, #3 – #3
News
WJBT-HD2 .DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WOKV-AM .2 – .2, #21 – #21
Public Radio News/Talk
WJCT 2.2 – 2.1, #13 – #13
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk
WFTL 2.3 – 2.6, #9 – #8
WZZR 1.4 – 1.1 #13 – #13
WJNO 1.1 – 1.1, #14 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WMEN .5 – .4, #16 – #17
WBZT .4 – .4, #18 – #17
Public Radio News/Talk
WLRN 2.1 – 2.6, #10 – #8
WLRN-HD2 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
GREENSBORO
News/Talk
WPTI 3.2 – 3.5 #10 – #11
News
None
Sports Talk
None
Public Radio News/Talk
WFDD 4.7 – 4.6, #6 – #6
WUNC 2.6 – 2.5, #12 – #12
MEMPHIS
News/Talk
WREC 1.5 – 1.8, #10 – #8
KWAM .4 – .4, #13 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WMFS 2.5 – 2.3, #7 – #7 (Grizzlies)
WMFS Stream .2 – .2, #14 – #15 (Grizzlies)
Public Radio News/Talk
WKNO 1.7 – 1.6, #9 – #10
WKNO-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
HARTFORD
News/Talk
WTIC-AM 5.7 – 6.2, #6 – #5
WDRC-AM 1.6 – 1.6, #14 – #16
WTIC-AM Stream .4 – .2, #18 – #20
WPOP DNA – .2, DNA – #20
News
None
Sports Talk
WUCS 1.4 – 2.1, #16 – #13
Public Radio News/Talk
WNPR 5.1 – 5.0, #7 – #7
WFCR .4 – .4, #18 – #18
This decision has been most difficult for us to make in lieu of poor economic and industry conditions. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause you and appreciate your affiliation with GCN.” GCN was launched in 1998 by Anderson and has featured a diverse line up of daily and weekend programming covering politics, finance, health, self-help, how-to and topics of general interest. At last count the network was carrying 37 hosts and programs including 
March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 ratings period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.
Growing a brand is a memory game. Which message will a target consumer value, remember it and take it to the cash register? The answer is not complicated but it is complex.
about all the science any of us have been tutored in on the subject of effective frequency.
content: Participants were presented with paired samples of AI-generated voices created using Futuri’s AudioAI and human voices. 60% of the time, they identified the AI as human. The study also found respondents open to the use of AI with many believing that AI will improve content across news, video, and audio. For example, 
and “Wake N’ Jake” are joining The Dan Patrick Podcast Network, effective immediately. “Jimmy’s Three Things” is hosted by Jimmy “Jomboy” O’Brien (left) and “Wake N’ Jake” is hosted by Jake Storiale (right). Dan Patrick says, “Moments with Jimmy ‘Jomboy’ O’Brien and Jake Storiale are rarely predictable. I love entertainment that surprises and informs, which makes ‘Jimmy’s Three Things’ and ‘Wake N’ Jake’ great additions to my podcast network.”
Thank me later for these Blackjack tips, based on many convention years’ experience, sometimes painful:
follows last week’s repurchase of 1.5 million shares from MSG at $9.76 per share, the June 2023 repurchase of 1.5 million shares from MSG at $9.70 per share, and the March 2021 repurchase of 12.6 million shares and warrants from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. at $6.40 per share. Like last week’s 1.5 million share repurchase from MSG, the purchase price of $10.8 million will be funded entirely with cash on hand. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson comments, “We are very pleased to share that we were able to buy the IPO options at a net purchase price of $3.62 per option, eliminating the overhang and the shareholder dilution that would have occurred had these in-the-money options been exercised in the open market before they expired this July. The members of management and the board that were involved in this transaction have been with Townsquare for over a decade, demonstrating that our longterm incentive plan was, and continues to be, effective in retaining top talent. In total, our management team owns approximately 11% of shares outstanding today and are well aligned with the company’s investors to build shareholder value.”
in community involvement, along with multiple merit awards. The annual MAB Broadcast Excellence Awards gala was held on Saturday, April 6 at the Sound Board inside MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. WJR program director Ann Thomas states, “Thank you to everyone associated with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for this tremendous honor. As you can imagine… because WJR is more than a hundred years old, the archives in the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building are amazing. While doing some spring cleaning the other day, I came across boxes of awards and plaques from non-profit organizations applauding our work and ‘thank you’ notes from community leaders and listeners. It reminded me that all of us here in this room stand on the shoulders of the broadcasting greats who came before us. They set the bar for excellence, and I am grateful that in 2024, the talent, producers, engineers, production, digital, and sales teams at WJR are still working to be the best in the business.”
for participating podcasts) and, while not a lot changes from last month, NPR’s “NPR News Now” took over the #1 spot from The New York Times’ “The Daily,” which falls to #2. Cumulus Podcasts Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rises one spot to #10, and FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” climbs two places to #12. 
Spacciapolli states, “I first want to congratulate Dave on an incredible career. It has been a privilege to work with him over the past two years. We’re delighted to promote PJ, a mainstay at KDKA for the last 35 years. The trust he has built within our organization and with listeners and partners makes him a great fit to steward this iconic brand into the future as we grow on many levels.” Kumanchik, who has worked in multiple capacities at both KDKA News Radio and “93.7 The Fan” (KDKA-FM) as news producer and editor, morning show producer, sports producer and program director, comments, “I look forward to working with our leadership team, including Michael, to boost the momentum we have created at KDKA News Radio in the past couple of years. As the Voice of Pittsburgh, we will continue to provide news-driven talk that encourages interactions from our listeners.”
originate content using FM boosters and is intended to do so without raising the potential for harmful co-channel interference to the reception of the primary station’s signal outside the coverage area of the booster station or to previously authorized secondary stations.” GBS filed a petition on March 13, 2020, proposing to give FM broadcasters the option to use boosters to originate programming to specific zones within their stations’ service area, proposing to allow program origination for a limited period totaling three minutes per hour… During that limited period, GBS proposes that the FCC allow the booster to originate geo-targeted advertisements, promotions for upcoming programs, and other hyper-localized content, suggesting it would benefit small and minority-owned broadcasters, because potential advertisers that currently find it prohibitively expensive to buy spots reaching a radio station’s whole service area might purchase lower-cost airtime reaching a more targeted area, thereby becoming a new source of station revenue.”
Podcasting deserves a larger role in media plans as opposed to “test and learn” experimental buys. 135 million Americans, 47% of persons 12+, are reached monthly. Among demographics such as persons 18-34, 18-49, and 25-54, monthly reach is in the low 60% range; 2) It is feasible to consider shifting TV budgets to podcasting given that podcast 18-34 reach performance is as big as TV; 3) The ratio of monthly audiences who also listen weekly is an excellent measure of podcast habituation. At present, 71% of the monthly female podcast audience also listen weekly. This is the strongest female podcast habituation in the last decade; and 4) Currently, podcasts only represent 1% of total national ad spend, per Guideline’s Standard Media Index reporting. At the dawn of cable TV, legendary BBDO media chief Arnie Semsky created the “5% solution,” which stipulated that brands devote 5% of media budgets to cable. 5% is enough of allocation to generate meaningful impact. Semsky was prescient. His brands hugely benefited from taking an early, bold, and strong position in a growing new medium, a lesson for the marketers of today when it comes to podcasts. 
![](https://talkers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Scammers-Banner-copy.gif")
The thing about outstanding performance is there is one key trait in the performer we can all agree on. It was on full display in front of millions during the past two weeks. It shows up every time an athlete takes the game to new levels, or an artist moves us out of our seats and collective comfort zone.
sports. He’ll continue to serve as vice president of affiliate sales for news/talk and sports. Brewer, a 14-year veteran of the company, is named executive producer – sports programming. Kleiber, a 10-year veteran of the company, is been named senior producer – sports programming. Compass Media Networks CEO/founder Peter Kosann comments, “For over 16 years, Compass Media Networks has set a standard of excellence for national play-by-play sports with Chris, Rob, and Tyler playing a vital part in our success. It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”
content, providing an accurate assessment of the audience’s attentiveness and engagement.” Some of the key findings include: 1) Despite lacking “sight, sound, and motion,” AM/FM radio programming was +13% more engaging than Mediaprobe’s norm for television in the U.S. For advertisers, this means the AM/FM radio context for their ads has greater engagement than the TV context; 2) Overall, AM/FM radio advertising’s Emotional Impact Score (EIS) outperformed TV advertising by +12%. These new findings validate the recently released Dentsu/Lumen study, which revealed audio ads outperform video for attention and brand recall; 3) AM/FM radio news was the most impactful genre, consistently measuring as a high-quality contextual environment for advertising (+14% greater than Mediaprobe TV News norms and +8% than total AM/FM radio); 4) Mediaprobe audio benchmarks reveal the sound contrast between AM/FM radio programming and the ads drives higher attention and brand recall. For example, ads with music and jingles perform very well in spoken word programming due to the contrast; and 5) Creative best practices: Use female voiceovers, jingles, and include five brand mentions. 
Before the bound copy arrived – at which point all work stopped – Arbitron would send “Advances.” Even those topline numbers ground things to a halt, and had some PDs doing cartwheels, others out on the ledge. ‘Seems quaint now.
Audacy Podcasts. The story notes that there are no staff reductions as a result of this. The goal of the change is to “streamline the brands for advertisers and to put a further emphasis on the Audacy brand.” The story also says that “Pineapple Street Studios, which primarily works with third-party partners such as HBO, Netflix and Spotify, will retain its branding as it moves under the Audacy Podcasts umbrella.” 
February 2024 PPM Data – Information for the February 2024 survey period (February 1 – February 28) has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will serve as a spokesperson for the association and will help develop and execute messaging strategies to advance broadcasters’ policy agenda before Congress and the Federal Communications Commission. NAB EVP, public affairs and chief of staff Michelle Lehman says, “Gaby is a seasoned policy communicator whose years of government service have equipped her with a profound understanding of effective and strategic communications. Broadcasters will benefit from Gaby’s deep expertise in shaping messaging on the most important issues facing our industry, and we are thrilled to have her on the team.”