August 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three
August 2023 PPM Data – Information for the August 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 August 2023 sweep covered July 20 – August 16.
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 July 2023 – August 2023 (6+).
PORTLAND
News/Talk: Alpha Media’s KXL “FM 101 News” 5.8 – 6.7, +.9, fourth to third
iHeartMedia-owned KEX “News Radio 1190” 1.4 – 1.9, +.5, #20 to #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Oregon Public Broadcasting’s KOPB 6.2 – 6.1, -.1, third to fourth
KOPB’s internet stream 1.4 – 1.7, +.3, anchored at #20
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KKCW, first month, 8.8 – 10.3, +1.5
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: adult contemporary KKCW (+1.5)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: triple A KINK (-1.6)
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk: Urban One-owned WBT AM & WBT-FM “Charlotte’s News Talk” 6.1 – 6.4, +.3, fourth to third
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Urban One’s WFNZ-FM “Sports Radio 92.7” 1.9 – 1.8, -.1, locked at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: University Radio Foundation’s WFAE 3.6 – 4.6, +1.0, #11 to #6
Number One 6+: Urban One urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF, fourth straight month, 8.0 – 8.2, +.2
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: public radio news/talk WFAE (+1.0)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: adult hits WLKO (-1.5)
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk: Alpha Media-owned KTSA “Stay Connected” 2.5 – 2.6, +.1, #16 to #15
iHeartMedia’s WOAI “News Radio 1200” 2.6 – 2.4, -.2, #15 to #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 1.7 – 1.9, +.2, #19 to #20
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM, eighth consecutive month, 9.1 – 8.6, -.5
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: country KCYY (+1.5)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KQXT (-1.3)
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM “News 1530 AM & 93.1 FM” 12.6 – 9.7, -2.9, #1
KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM cluster-mate KSTE-AM “Talk 650” flat at 3.7, seventh to tenth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ 2.1 – 2.3, +.2, #15 to #14
Number One 6+: Audacy classic rock KSEG, first month, 10.7 – 9.7, -1.0 and iHeartMedia news/talk KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM, second month in a row, 12.6 – 9.7, -2.9
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: adult contemporary KBEB (+2.0)*
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: news/talk KFBK-AM & KFBK-FM (-2.9)**
*Represents the largest July 2023 – August 2023 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
**Represents the largest July 2023 – August 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from the 36 PPM-markets analyzed thus far
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk: Audacy’s KDKA-AM “News Radio 1020 AM” 3.6 – 3.8, +.2, repeats in tenth-place
KDKA’s internet stream .7 – .8, +.1, #21 to #20
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan All Sports All The Time” (Pirates) 6.7 – 6.8, +.1, continues at #4
Public Radio News/Talk: Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s WESA flat at 4.6, sixth to eighth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW, ninth month in a row, 12.8 – 11.4, -1.4
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: alternative WXDX (+.8)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WWSW (-1.4)
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk: Bonneville-owned KSL “News Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM” 4.3 – 4.9, +.6, sixth to fifth
iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM & KNRS-FM “Talk Radio” 4.6 – 3.4, -1.2, #4 to #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Utah’s KUER 2.1 – 2.6, +.5, #20 to #17
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI, tenth straight month, 11.6 – 10.8, -.8
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: hot AC KBZN (+1.3)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: news/talk KNRS and adult contemporary KBEE (-1.2)
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
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, second month in succession, 8.1 – 9.3, +1.2
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: rhythmic hot AC KXQQ (+1.4)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: Spanish adult hits KWID (-2.1)
ORLANDO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” 4.0 – 4.4, +.4, tenth to seventh
Cox Media Group-owned WDBO “Orlando’s News Talk” 3.9 – 3.4, -.5, #11 to #13
WTKS’ cluster-mate WFLF “Orlando News Radio” 1.6 – 1.7, +.1, #17 to #16
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WYGM “96.9 The Game” 1.3 – 1.4, +.1, #19 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Community Connections-owned WMFE 2.4 – 2.9, +.5, repeats at #14
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMGF, third consecutive month, 8.5 – 9.1, +.6
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: classic hits-oldies WOCL (+1.9)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: Spanish tropical WPYO (-1.2)
CINCINNATI
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WLW “700 Cincinnati’s News Radio” (Reds) 16.0 – 14.0, -2.0, #1
WLW’s cluster-mate WKRC “55 KRC The Talk Station” 4.2 – 4.4, +.2, seventh to sixth
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WCKY “ESPN 1530” .8 – 1.2, +.4, #22 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Cincinnati Public Radio’s WVXU 4.1 – 4.0, -.1, repeats in eighth-place
Number One 6+: news/talk WLW, 19th consecutive month, 16.0 – 14.0, -2.0
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: classic hits-oldies WGRR (+1.8)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: news/talk WLW (-2.0)
CLEVELAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTAM “News Radio 1100” (Guardians) 5.1 – 5.5, +.4, continues in eighth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WKRK “Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan” 3.1 – 4.0, +.9, #12 to #11
WKRK’s internet stream .4 – .5, +.1, repeats at #18
iHeartMedia-owned WARF “Fox Sports 1350 AM The Gambler” flat at .2, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: Kent State University’s WKSU 4.9 – 5.2, +.3, steady at #9
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WMJI, tenth month in a row, 10.3 – 10.5, +.2
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: sports talk WKRK +.9)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: urban AC WZAK (-1.6)
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk: Audacy-owned KMBZ-FM “98.1 FM News, Traffic, Weather” 4.9 – 5.1, +.2, fifth to third
KMBZ-FM cluster-mate KMBZ-AM “Talk 980 AM” 1.2 – 1.3, +.1, #20 to #19
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KCSP “Sports Radio 610 Our Teams, Our Town” (Royals) 2.6 – 2.7, +.1, repeats at #13
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Missouri-owned KCUR 3.4 – 3.5, +.1, #12 to #10
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies KCMO-FM, first month, 9.8 – 10.6, +.8
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: country KBEQ (+.9)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KCKC (-1.1)
COLUMBUS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WTVN “News Radio 610” 6.9 – 7.4, +.5, third to second
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Tegna-owned WBNS-FM “97.1 FM The Fan” 4.9 – 5.6, +.7, sixth to fifth
Public Radio News/Talk: Ohio State University’s WOSU 4.5 – 4.4, -.1, eighth to ninth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia country WCOL, tenth straight month, 10.9 – 10.4, -.5
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Increase: classic rock WLVQ and rock WRKZ (+.6)
Largest 6+ July 2023 – August 2023 Decrease: classical WOSA (-.7)
Up next: August 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.