April 2022 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three
April 2022 PPM Data – Information for the April 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 April 2022 sweep covered March 31 – April 27.
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 March 2022 – April 2022 (6+).
Sports-Related Notes: The MLB season began on April 7; NBA playoffs got underway on May 1; and NHL playoffs started on May 2.
PORTLAND
News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 8.1 – 8.2, +.1, third to fourth
iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 3.3 – 2.6, -.7, #13 to #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 8.9 – 8.5, -.4, second to third and KOPB’s internet stream 1.7 – 1.2, -.5, flat at #20
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KLTH, second successive month, 9.1 – 9.3, +.2
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: adult hits KYCH (+.9)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: country KUPL (-1.4)
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk: Radio One-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 4.2 – 4.0, -.2, #10 to #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Radio One’s WFNZ-FM “Sports Radio 92.7” 1.8 – 1.7, -.1, #16 to #17
Beasley Media Group-owned WSOC-HD3 “Fox Sports Charlotte” .5 – .4, -.1, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 4.2 – 4.8, +.6, tenth to seventh
South Carolina Educational Television Commission-owned WNSC .8 – .5, -.3, #18 to #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult hits WLKO, first month, 5.6 – 6.7, +1.1
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: alternative WEND (+1.4)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: classical WDAV (-2.1)
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” (Spurs) 6.2 – 5.3, -.9, third to fifth
Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 2.2 – 2.3, +.1, #14 to #15
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 2.5 – 2.6, +.1, repeats at #13
Number One 6+ (Tie): Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, third straight month, 8.4 – 7.6, -.8 and iHeartMedia adult contemporary KQXT, first month, 6.3 – 7.6, +1.3
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: adult contemporary KQXT (+1.3)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: regional Mexican KROM (-1.4)
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 6.5 – 6.6, +.1, locked in third-place and cluster-mate KSTE “Talk 650” 2.8 – 2.7, -.1, repeats at #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KIFM-AM “ESPN 1320” flat at 1.1, continues at #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 4.2 – 4.4, +.2, stays at #8
Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KSEG, fourth month in a row, 11.3 – 10.0, -1.3
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: country KNCI (+1.7)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: classic rock KSEG (-1.3)
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 3.9 – 3.5, -.4, ninth to tenth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” (Pirates) 7.6 – 7.1, -.5, locked in fourth-place
Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 2.4 – 2.5, +.1, repeats at #12
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, sixth month in succession, 11.4 – 10.4, -1.0
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase (Tie): adult contemporary WSHH and CHR WKST (+.7)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WWSW (-1.0)
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 9.9 – 10.8, +.9, #1
Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 6.3 – 7.6, +1.3, third to second
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 4.6 – 3.6, -1.0, sixth to ninth
Number One 6+: news/talk KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM, third month in succession, 9.9 – 10.8, +.9
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase (Tie): news/talk KSL; adult contemporary KSFI; and adult hits KYMV (+1.3)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: classical KBYU (-1.2)
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned KDWN “The Talk Of Las Vegas” 2.0 – 2.3, +.3, #18 to #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Nevada Public Radio’s KNPR 2.3 – 1.9, -.4, #15 to #17
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic hits-oldies KKLZ, second straight month, 7.1 – 7.2, +.1
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: regional Mexican KISF (+1.8)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease (Tie): adult contemporary KSNE and classic rock KXPT (-1.3)
ORLANDO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 5.9 – 5.4, -.5, sixth to eighth
Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 2.1 – 2.0, -.1, #16 to #14
iHeartMedia-owned WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.4 – 1.0, -.4, #17 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WYGM “96.9 The Game” (Magic) 1.1 – 1.2, +.1, #20 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections-owned WMFE 2.4 – 1.7, -.7, #13 to #15
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia CHR WXXL, fourth straight month, flat at 8.3
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: urban contemporary WTKS-HD2 (+3.3)*
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: rhythmic CHR WPYO (-2.3)**
*Represents the largest March 2022 – April 2022 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
**Represents the largest March 2022 – April 2022 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
CINCINNATI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” (Reds) 12.2 – 13.4, +1.2, #1 and cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 5.1 – 5.4, +.3, fifth to fourth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” flat at .8, anchored at #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio’s WVXU 5.4 – 5.1, -.3, fourth to fifth
Number One 6+: news/talk WLW, second month in a row, 12.2 – 13.4, +1.2
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: news/talk WLW (+1.2)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: rock WEBN (-1.2)
CLEVELAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Guardians and Cavaliers) 4.9 – 5.3, +.4, repeats in eighth-place
News: iHeartMedia-owned WMMS-HD2 “BIN 99.1 Because Truth Matters” unchanged at .1, #21 to #18
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” 4.3 – 4.7, +.4, continues at #9 and WKRK’s internet stream 1.9 – 1.3, -.6, remains at #15
Public Radio News/Talk: Kent State University-owned WKSU 2.2 – 4.7, +2.5, #14 to #9
Number One 6+: Radio One urban AC WZAK, fourth month in a row, 10.4 – 10.2, -.2
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: public radio news/talk WKSU (+2.5)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease (Tie): classic hits-oldies WMJI and sports talk WKRK’s internet stream (-.6)
Note: Public radio news/talk WCPN (3.2, #12, 6+, March 2022) is unlisted in 2022
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk: Audacy’s KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 7.3 – 6.3, -1.0, second to third
Cumulus Media-owned KCMO-AM “Talk Radio 710 AM” 1.6 – 1.1, -.5, anchored at #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” (Royals) 2.3 – 4.6, +2.3, #17 to #6
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KCUR 5.7 – 4.6, -1.1, fourth to sixth
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies KCMO-FM, first month, 7.3 – 9.0, +1.7
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: sports talk KCSP (+2.3)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: public radio news/talk KCUR (-1.1)
COLUMBUS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 8.7 – 9.2, +.5, #1
News: iHeartMedia’s WYTS “Columbus’ BIN 1230” .2 – .3, +.1, #19 to #18
Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” (Blue Jackets) 8.6 – 7.0, -1.6, second to fourth and co-owned WBNS-AM “ESPN 1460 AM”.5 – .2, -.3, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 8.5 – 7.1, -1.4, stays in third-place
Number One 6+: news/talk WTVN, third straight month, 8.7 – 9.2, +.5
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Increase: CHR WNCI (+.9)
Largest 6+ March 2022 – April 2022 Decrease: sports talk WBNS-FM (-1.6)
Up next: April 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.
Carton is finalizing a deal to return to the station in afternoon drive. This comes several months after Carton exited FS1 where he hosted a couple of different versions of a morning show that, from a ratings standpoint, never took off the way FS1 execs had hoped. Carton’s return will reportedly bump current afternoon team Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber to middays which would force the station to cut ties with current midday hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata. As for Carton’s co-host, Marchand is reporting that overnight host Chris McMonigle is the leading candidate for that role.
Running a successful radio station, hosting a show, or producing a podcast is a lot like hosting Thanksgiving dinner. You need a plan. You need to deliver something satisfying to a crowd with varying tastes. And most of all – if you get it right – you’ll have leftovers you can turn into even more value long after the main event.

Finally. Not by Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, nope; I was banned from a WBIR anchor’s video live stream.
In an industry built on speed – breaking news, live liners, commercial deadlines – “pause” can feel like a luxury radio can’t afford. But Kevin Cashman’s The Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward (Wiley) argues the opposite: pausing isn’t weakness, it’s a competitive advantage. For local radio leaders, the message couldn’t be timelier.
One of my first jobs out of college was working in the marketing department of WNBC-AM, New York. Yes, “Imus In The Morning” (Don Imus – not nice), Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow – nicest star who ever lived). One of my tasks was to pull ratings numbers from the computer for the sales department. I was fascinated by TIME SPENT LISTENING (TSL) and CUME numbers. I’d rank them, compare, trend them every way imaginable.
Civic Media’s news/talk network, managing schedules, talent, quality control, and compliance with broadcast regulations. Key responsibilities include selecting programs, coaching on-air personalities and shows, developing promotional strategies, and ensuring the station’s sound and content align with its brand and audience needs. They blend creativity and business acumen, using audience research and ratings data to shape programming and achieve business goals.”
Award-winning journalist Indira Lakshmanan is the new co-host of “Here & Now,” debuting in Late November alongside Scott Tong and Robin Young. Additionally, Peter O’Dowd, the senior editor who has stepped in regularly as a host for several years on “Here & Now,” takes on a new role as correspondent and regular fill-in host. And international news industry pro Allan Price joins to lead the team as the new executive producer. NPR says that according to Nielsen ratings data, “Here & Now” is the third most-listened-to NPR news program after “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
revocation of accreditation for Nielsen Audio Diary markets as reported in the RMR and TAPSCAN Web including Bryan College Station, Texas; Hudson Valley; Killeen-Temple, Texas; Odessa- Midland, Texas; Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester, New Hampshire; Reno; and Trenton. At the same time, the MRC has approved accreditations for all of Nielsen’s 28 PPM markets.
it appears that allowing the former programmer to resign, firing half the news department, and pulling back on advertising and marketing didn’t work the ratings magic they originally had hoped for. In my opinion, KFI has seemed rudderless since Robin Bertolucci left the programming spot last November. The current programmer Brian Long, meanwhile, is also in charge of KLAC (570 AM) and KEIB (1150 AM), but with no time, a limited budget, and a decimated news department, the result is what it is. I don’t blame him at all. For his part, O’Kelly is keeping it positive, posting on Facebook, ‘All jobs end. It is not our lives or our health. Perspective is paramount. There is nothing to be sad about here. I’m genuinely excited for the future.’” Kelly is ranked #83 in the TALKERS 2025 Heavy Hundred.