April 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three
April 2023 PPM Data – Information for the April 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 April 2023 sweep covered March 30 – April 26.
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 2023 – April 2023 (6+).
PORTLAND
News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 5.7 – 5.3, -.4, anchored in fourth-place
iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 2.4 – 1.7, -.7, #16 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 7.4 – 7.5, +.1, remains at #3
KOPB’s internet stream steady at 2.0, #20 to #19
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KKCW, second straight month, 10.2 – 10.4, +.2
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: country KWJJ (+1.2)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: news/talk KEX and jazz KMHD’s internet stream (-.7)
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk: Urban One-owned WBT-AM/FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” flat at 5.2, fourth to fifth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Urban One’s WFNZ-FM “Sports Radio 92.7” (Hornets) 2.6 – 2.0, -.6, repeats at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 3.8 – 3.7, -.1, #11 to #10
South Carolina Educational Television Commission-owned WNSC .5 – .7, +.2 #21 to #20
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group urban AC WBAV, fourth straight month, 7.9 – 8.7, +.8
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF (+1.3)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: hot AC WLNK (-1.0)
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk: Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” unchanged at 3.6, #13 to #10
iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” (Spurs) steady at 3.4, #14 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 1.8 – 2.0, +.2, repeats at #18
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, fourth consecutive month, 7.8 – 8.3, +.5
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: adult contemporary KQXT (+1.3)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: rhythmic hot AC KVBH (-1.0)
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” steady at 9.4, #1
KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM cluster-mate KSTE-AM “Talk 650” 4.2 – 3.7, -.5, sixth to ninth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Bonneville-owned KHTK “Sacramento Sports 1140” (Kings) 1.3 – 1.7, +.4, #19 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 3.5 – 3.1, -.4, #10 to #12
Number One 6+: news/talk KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM, fourth month in succession, steady at 9.4
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: urban-rhythmic oldies KHYL (+1.0)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: classical KXPR (-.6)
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 3.5 – 3.8, +.3, #13 to #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” (Pirates) 6.8 – 7.1 +.3, anchored in fourth-place
Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA 3.9 – 4.0, +.1, #12 to #9
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, fifth month in a row, 10.8 – 10.1, -.7
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: CHR WKST and hot AC WLTJ (+.6)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: country WDSY (-.8)
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 5.1 – 6.5, +1.4, fourth to second
iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 4.8 – 5.0, +.2, repeats in sixth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 3.3 – 3.0, -.3, #11 to #14
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI, sixth straight month, 12.0 – 11.9, -.1
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: news/talk KSL (+1.4)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: country KSOP-FM (-1.5)
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk: Audacy-owned KMXB-HD3 “101.5 K-Dawn The Talk Of Las Vegas” 2.0 – 1.8, -.2, #19 to #20
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, seventh successive month, 10.0 – 11.2, +1.2
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: CHR KLUC (+1.6)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: Spanish contemporary KRGT (-.8)
ORLANDO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 5.0 – 5.1, +.1, locked in eighth-place
Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 3.7 – 3.5, -.2, repeats at #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WYGM “96.9 The Game” (Magic) .4 – .7, +.3, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections-owned WMFE 2.1 – 2.2, +.1, #16 to #14
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic rock WMMO, first month, 6.3 – 9.4, +3.1
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: classic rock WMMO (+3.1)*
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: urban contemporary WTKS-HD2 (-1.5)
*Represents the largest March 2023 – April 2023 increase (6+) of any station from all 36 PPM-markets analyzed thus far
CINCINNATI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” (Reds) 11.1 – 11.6, +.5, #1
cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 3.3 – 3.5, +.2, #11 to #9
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio’s WVXU 4.4 – 4.9, +.5, seventh to sixth
Number One 6+: news/talk WLW, 15th consecutive month, 11.1 – 11.6, +.5
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: rock WEBN (+.7)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: rhythmic hot AC WREW (-.6)
CLEVELAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Cavaliers, Guardians) 5.2 – 6.6, +1.4, tenth to sixth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” 4.8 – 4.4, -4, #11 to #10
WKRK’s internet stream flat at 1.1, remains at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: Kent State University-owned WKSU 5.7 – 6.0, +.3 eighth to ninth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WMJI, sixth month in a row, unchanged at 10.0
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: rock WMMS (+1.9)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: urban contemporary WENZ (-3.1)**
**Represents the largest March 2023 – April 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from all 36 PPM-markets analyzed thus far
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk: Audacy-owned KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 4.4 – 4.6, +.2, repeats in ninth-place
KMBZ-FM cluster-mate KMBZ-AM “Talk 980 AM” 1.2 – 1.3, +.1, stays at #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” (Royals) 2.1 – 3.2, +1.1, #16 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KCUR 5.0 – 4.6, -.4, fifth to ninth
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic rock KCFX, first month, 7.8 – 8.5, +.7
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: sports talk KCSP (+1.1)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KCMO-FM’s internet stream (-.9)
COLUMBUS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 6.0 – 6.4, +.4, sixth to third
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” (Blue Jackets) 6.2 – 5.3, -.9, repeats in fourth-place
Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 6.2 – 4.9, -1.3, fourth to eighth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia country WCOL, sixth straight month, 9.5 – 9.2, -.3
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Increase: rock WRKZ (+1.0)
Largest 6+ March 2023 – April 2023 Decrease: classic rock WLVQ and public radio news/talk WOSU (-1.3)
Up next: April 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.
the late Rush Limbaugh (“no one wants to replace Mickey Mantle”) but agreed to do it anyway. “This thing happened along the way where I really fell in love with the job… I didn’t really want to leave, and I don’t want to go. I didn’t really expect this and it puts me in a really weird spot… somewhere along the way this little marriage between you [the listener] and me… started out rough and rocky and it’s just become nothing but bliss for me and I just really hate to leave it.” Bongino’s addressing the matter came as CHRO and SVP human resources Todd McCarty notified managers about the ending of the mandate via an internal memo. He wrote, “After continued consideration, we’ve made the decision to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Additionally, we are eliminating all prior COVID-19 protocols for employees and visitors/guests to our facilities, with the exception of protocols for those who test positive. These changes are effective immediately and we ask that you communicate these changes to your teams. HR will be adjusting current job descriptions and will eliminate the requirement moving forward.” 
Cooper 360” with 447,000. The new 9:00 pm ET show “Chris Plante The Right Squad” pulled an audience of 325,000 impressions, defeating CNN’s “Whole Story” with 293,000. And at 10:00 pm ET “Greg Kelly Reports” took first place with 278,000 viewers, compared to Chris Wallace giving CNN an audience of just 263,000. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “Newsmax has witnessed a consistent, positive trend for weeks and we are looking forward to enormous interest in the network as we draw closer to the GOP primaries and ’24 election.”
the 2021 recall election. The story indicates that Elder “failed to disclose earnings from 10 entities on his statement of economic interest, including Salem Media, Epoch Times and Turning Point USA, according to the state election commission.” The commission found “no evidence of intent to conceal” and the financial disclosure documents have been corrected. 
There are media and there are media. There are platforms and there are platforms. Not all cultural artifacts are equal in terms of their utilitarian versus cultural value. Damn the tone-deaf corporate bean counters who are ripping the heart out of the spirit that gives humanity its life force! Marketplace obsolescence should not solely be determined by profit and loss. With all due respect to the idea of public service, what about the concept of loyalty? Shame on the automobile industry! Not only is it turning its back on the needs of millions of people, it is in the process of betraying one of its historic partners in not only commerce – but romance and glory. In other words, the automobile industry owes the radio industry a huge debt. The relationship between cars and radios goes a century deep and has been nothing less than a two-way street. Yes, auto industry, don’t be so hasty to save a few bucks by rushing AM (and then FM) radio out the door. You might just find in the long run that “radio” outlasts the private “car” as a fixture of human activity.
Ever lost your phone? It’s an instant sick, sinking feeling. It’s quaint to even call it a “phone,” because it’s…everything. Including us. Like the transistor radio Boomers toted in our youth, it’s audio in your pocket.
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was also an important endeavor. I knew personally how cancer affects the lives of the patient and their families. It has been a passion and I’ve been blessed with many years of good health. I didn’t expect in 2023 that we would be having this conversation. After feeling lethargic, exhausted and experiencing some strange weight gain I had blamed it on a recent change of medication. Instead my blood work showed tremendous blood loss and levels of iron and hemoglobin that were dangerously low. We still believed that it would reveal an ulcer or a stomach tear that was being irritated by the new medication causing the bleed. We scheduled a short hospital stay to have all my tests in one day. It’s 76ers playoffs and I needed to get back to work quickly! The colonoscopy revealed the cancer and a subsequent CT Scan has given us some optimism that this cancer journey will end successfully. I have a great support system within the walls of Beasley Broadcasting from the Executive Suite to the interns. I feel blessed that everyone has already rallied behind me at ‘The Fanatic’ to make sure I succeed in this battle. My sponsors have always shown me such loyalty and support. I’m going to do my best to continue to deliver for them. I work with an excellent team on ‘The John Kincade Show’ and I’ve asked them to do everything possible to keep things as normal as possible. With our crew, normal is of course up to interpretation.” 
publicly killed. Someday I’ll find that stupid bitch and fix that problem. Scott is the only voice of reason on that show.” The message references Wright’s co-host Scott Parks. Wright posted the text so her listeners could see it and wrote, “This particular threat is not the first— BY FAR — we have received, and I know that it will not be the last. I am sharing this — because I am done being quiet about it.” Wright tells the Star, “What concerns me about cases like this is the level of violence we are seeing against people in all different forms of media. And a lot of those people who lash out blame their rage on things like alcohol and other problems they might be having in their lives or some warped sense that the political landscape is responsible for every problem they’ve ever had.” 
– News & Talk category, for its coverage of Old Glory Honor Flight #59. “WOSH Morning News” host Phil Cianciola traveled with nearly 100 U.S. military veterans (including one WWII vet) to the D.C. memorials and submitted 19 featurettes aired throughout the one-day broadcast event on WOSH. WOSH also claimed second place honors in the Best On-Scene Reporting category for Phil Cianciola’s first-hand coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Ian from Sanibel Island, Florida. The honors were bestowed at the 2023 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards Gala on May 6.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, “quantifies annual podcast advertising revenues generated over the past year, analyzes revenue share by ad category and content genre, and forecasts future revenues through 2025.” The study says the top revenue-generating content genres are Sports (15%), Society & Culture (14%), and Comedy (14%) and have taken the lead from News and Political Opinion content (down from 19% to 12%). IAB VP, media center Eric John says, “In-person sports, lifestyle events, and in-store shopping have come back in a big way, taking the lead from news which held the top revenue genre spot since 2018. Podcasting revenue naturally reflects that shift in consumer behavior and it will be interesting to watch how the balance changes going forward.” He adds, “Both mass and niche advertisers like the audiences, targeting, and ROI along with the brand-safe and suitable environments that podcasting offers.” 
represents an expanded commitment to one of iHeartMedia’s most premium products allowing advertisers to engage audiences with creative, longform native content.” iHeartMedia goes on to say, “Ruby’s branded podcasts allow advertisers and their brand partners to spend upwards of 30-45 minutes with their target audience in a unique environment, with opportunities for storytelling that are not possible anywhere else in their media mix including social video. With distribution across the iHeartRadio app and all other major platforms, native podcasts from Ruby connect brands to audiences by translating brand messaging, products and services into original and engaging stories that audiences love.” 
this drives people to look for alternative forms of entertainment, and an Audacy study reveals that a “majority of late-night viewers (84%) whose shows are on pause due to the Writers Guild strike are excited to try new shows, especially on Audio. And a whopping 70% are excited to catch up on their podcast shows.” She adds that for media planners this represents an opportunity to “pivot.” “Given the scale and variety of audiences Audio programs attract, it is possible to meet these people during moments when they are actually super engaged and receptive to advertising.” 
Westwood One syndicated series “Off The Record With Mary Turner” in which she presented interviews with and personality profiles of some of the biggest musical stars of the day. Turner and Pattiz were married in the early 80s and the two shared what friends described as a happy relationship until his death this past December at 79 due to throat cancer. Turner had her own health issue battling substance abuse in the early 90s, which she bravely overcame. She became a UCLA-certified drug and alcohol counselor and received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She went on to be appointed chairwoman of the Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison, who worked with Turner at both KMET and Westwood One says, “Mary Turner was one of the main pillars upon which the great KMET was built. Nicknamed ‘The Burner,’ she was a pioneer in album rock radio and an iconic role model for women in the industry. She was solid on the air – providing music fans a panoramic window into the culture. She related to artists with an authenticity that engendered trust and they really opened up to her.” As of press time, further details on this story are not available.
HSRP brings real-world radio skills to high school media students in each state, allowing students to curate and schedule music, record radio breaks, produce news and sports stories, interviews, and PSAs, all aired on a streaming radio station heard around the world, 24-hours a day on HighSchoolRadioProject.org, Live365, and Amazon Alexa.” They have recruited industry vendors to assist the students in their radio projects, allowing them to 
increased 17.4% to $67.7 million leading to an operating loss of $4.2 million as compared to operating income of $5 million posted in Q1 of 2022. Salem reports a net loss of $5.2 million, compared to Q1 2022’s net income of $1.7 million. Salem reports in three segments – Broadcast, Digital Media, and Publishing. Broadcast revenue for the quarter was $48.3 million (down 0.2%), Digital Media was $10.5 million (up 2%), and Publishing revenue was $4.6 million (up 19.7%). Looking ahead, the company is projecting total revenue to decline between 5% and 7% from the second quarter 2022 total revenue of $68.7 million and expects operating expenses to increase between 3% and 6% compared to Q2 of 2022. 
entertainment voices under one umbrella, DraftKings Network is the destination for ‘In on the Action’ sports fans and content they love. We look forward to reaching fans with our deep roster of independent, credible and relatable voices that resonate 
he’d undergone a medical procedure earlier in the day and was not feeling well. Carr’s family tweeted, “Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Howie. During his show today, he fainted. He is getting care now and doing better.” Carr’s flagship station is iHeartMedia’s WRKO, Boston and he’s heard throughout the Northeast via The Howie Carr Radio Network. 
reports that Huggins’ employer – West Virginia University – says it is taking the situation “under review and will be addressed by the University and its athletics department.” Cunningham and Huggins were talking about Huggins’ former crosstown rival, Xavier University, from his time as head coach of University of Cincinnati, when Huggins referenced incidents of Xavier students throwing rubber penises on the basketball court “and then say they didn’t do it.” He added, “…what it was, was all those fa**ots, those Catholic fa**ots, I think.” 
competing news outlets through 2025. Carlson and FOX parted ways several weeks ago but Carlson’s contract with the media firm could keep him from working from another media outlet while FOX continues to pay him $20 million per year. Reimann’s piece indicates that Carlson is fielding offers from numerous conservative news/talk outlets including Newsmax, Rumble, One America News, and The Daily Wire. Freedman told Axios, “The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.” 
Tik-Tok is hot (largely among users too young to be heavy AM/FM listeners) and it’s in-the-news (about its possible ban). And, yes, Facebook remains T-Rex in the social media jungle. But people on Twitter seem to live there.
You have still have six weeks to make Father’s Day your sales success. Stop taking for granted, this always undersold 100-plus-years-old celebration.