September 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Four
September 2023 PPM Data – Information for the September 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
Nielsen Audio’s September 2023 sweep covered August 17 – September 13.
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 August 2023 – September 2023 (6+).
Note: The NFL season began September 7 – applicable flagships are bolded.
AUSTIN
News/Talk: Waterloo Media Group’s KLBJ-AM “News Radio” 3.3 – 3.4, +.1, #12 to #10
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Texas’ KUT 6.1 – 5.3, -.8, repeats in third-place
Number One 6+: Waterloo Media Group adult hits KBPA, ninth month in succession, 9.7 – 9.6, -.1
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: triple A KUTX (+.8)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: public radio news/talk KUT (-.8)
RALEIGH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WTKK “106.1 FM Talk” 9.2 – 9.4, +.2, repeats in the runner-up slot
News: Capitol Broadcasting-owned WRAL-HD3 “WRAL News+” .1 – .3, +.2, #16 to #15
Sports Talk: Capitol Broadcasting’s WCMC-FM “99.9 FM The Fan” 2.3 – 3.1, +.8, ninth to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC 9.5 – 9.1, -.4, first to third
Number One 6+: Urban One urban AC WFXC, first month, 8.5 – 10.1, +1.6
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WRAL (+1.8)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: urban contemporary WQOK (-2.2)**
*Represents the largest August 2023 – September 2023 decrease (6+) of any station in all 48 PPM-markets
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk: Urban One’s WIBC “93.1 FM Indy’s Mobile News” 6.0 – 6.1, +.1, repeats in fourth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Urban One-owned WIBC-HD2 “The Fan” (Colts) 2.8 – 3.5, +.7, #15 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting’s WFYI 6.3 – 6.4, +.1, third straight month in third-place
Number One 6+: Urban One adult contemporary WYXB, first month, 6.9 – 8.2, +1.3
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WYXB (+1.3)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: hot AC WNTR (-1.0)
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk: Good Karma Brands-owned WTMJ “Wisconsin’s Radio Station” (Brewers) 8.7 – 9.8, +1.1, third to first
iHeartMedia’s WISN “News Talk 1130” 10.7 – 9.6, -1.1, first to second
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WRNW “97.3 The Game” (Green Bay Packers) 1.4 – 2.4, +1.0, #17 to #13
Good Karma Brands-owned WKTI “ESPN Milwaukee” steady at 1.0, #19 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Wisconsin-owned WUWM 2.5 – 2.4, -.1, #14 to #13
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board’s WHAD 1.7 – 2.1, +.4, fifth straight month at #16
Number One 6+: news/talk WTMJ, first month, 8.7 – 9.8, +1.1
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: news/talk WTMJ (+1.1)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: news/talk WISN (-1.1)
NASHVILLE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WWTN “Super Talk 99.7” 5.8 – 6.1, +.3, fifth to fourth
iHeartMedia-owned WLAC “Talk Radio 1510” .9 – 1.1, +.2, #21 to #19
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s WGFX “104.5 The Zone” (Tennessee Titans) 4.8 – 7.2, +2.4, eighth to third
Cromwell Radio Group-owned WPRT “102.5 The Game” 1.6 – 1.4, -.2, repeats at #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Nashville Public Radio’s WPLN-FM 4.2 – 5.5, +1.3, #11 to #6
Number One 6+: Midwest Communications adult contemporary WJXA, eighth month in succession, 10.3 – 9.3, -1.0
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: sports talk WGFX (+2.4)**
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: country WSM-FM (-2.0)
**Represents a tie for the largest August 2023 – September 2023 increase (6+) of any station in all 48 PPM-markets
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media’s WPRO-AM & WEAN “News Talk 630 AM & 99.7 FM” 6.8 – 6.1, -.7, fifth to sixth
iHeartMedia-owned WHJJ “News Radio 920” .4 – .3, -.1, third straight month at #18
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Beasley Media Group-owned WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” 2.6 – 3.3, +.7, anchored in eighth-place for the twelfth consecutive month
Audacy’s WVEI “Sports Radio 103.7” 2.6 – 2.3, -.3, eighth to tenth
Public Radio News/Talk: WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WGBH 2.0 – 1.9, -.1, #11 to #12
Rhode Island Public Radio’s WNPN 1.4 – 1.5, +.1, fifth straight month at #14
WGBH Educational Foundation-owned WCAI .1, #19 (did not appear in August 2023)
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI, third month in a row, 9.7 – 10.9, +1.2
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: country WCTK (+1.7)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: news/talk WPRO-AM (-.7)
NORFOLK
News/Talk: Sinclair’s WNIS “News Talk AM 790” 3.1 – 3.5, +.4, fifth consecutive month at #11
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Max Broadcast Group-owned WVSP “Sports Radio 94.1 ESPN” 2.6 – 2.7, +.1, #14 to #13
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy urban AC WVKL, eighth straight month, 11.3 – 10.2, -1.1
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: rhythmic CHR WNVZ (+.7)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: country WUSH (-1.2)
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk: Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM “104.5 Jacksonville’s News & Talk” 6.5 – 8.2, +1.7, fifth to third
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: WJCT, Inc.’s WJCT 3.2 – 2.6, -.6, repeats at #12
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WJGL, first month, 9.1 – 10.6, +1.5
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: news/talk WOKV-FM (+1.7)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: rock WWJK (-1.1)
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WZZR “92.1 Real Radio” 1.8 – 1.9, +.1, repeats in tenth-place
Hubbard Broadcasting-owned WFTL “News Talk 850” 1.6 -1.8, +.2, repeats at #12
WZZR cluster-mate WJNO “News Radio 1290” 1.3 – 1.1, -.2, third straight month at #14
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WBZT “Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler” steady at .2, #20 to #19
Hubbard Broadcasting’s WMEN “Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida” .4 – .2, -.2, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: Dade County School Board’s WLRN 2.3 – 2.6, +.3, ninth to eighth
Number One 6+: Hubbard Broadcasting classic hits-oldies WEAT, third month in a row, 9.2 – 7.9, -1.3
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: hot AC WRMF (+1.3)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WEAT (-1.3)
GREENSBORO
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WPTI “News Talk 94.5” 4.7 – 4.5, -.2, locked in eighth-place for the eleventh straight month
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Wake Forest University’s WFDD 2.8 – 3.5, +.7, repeats in ninth-place
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC flat at 1.4, sixth straight month at #13
Number One 6+: Audacy urban AC WQMG, first month, 11.2 – 13.6, +2.4
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: urban AC WQMG (+2.4)**
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: country WPAW (-1.2)
**Represents a tie for the largest August 2023 – September 2023 increase (6+) of any station in all 48 PPM-markets
MEMPHIS
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s WREC “News Talk 600 AM” 2.0 – 2.1, +.1, repeats in ninth-place
Starnes Media Group-owned KWAM “News Talk Memphis The Mighty 990” .2 – .4, +.2, #15 to #13
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WMFS “Sports Radio 92.9” 2.8 – 2.4, -.4, seventh to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: Mid-South Public Communications-owned WKNO 1.8 – 1.7, -.1, #10 to #11
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia urban AC KJMS, seventh straight month, 12.9 – 11.8, -1.1
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: urban contemporary WHRK and CHR WEGR (+1.5)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WRVR (-1.7)
HARTFORD
News/Talk: Audacy’s WTIC-AM “News Talk 1080” 4.8 – 5.2, +.4, seventh to sixth
Red Wolf Broadcasting-owned WDRC-AM “The Talk of Connecticut” 1.5 – 2.3, +.8, #14 to #12
WTIC-AM’s internet stream flat at .8, third straight month at #17
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: iHeartMedia’s WUCS “97.9 ESPN” 1.3 – 1.7, +.4, repeats at #15
Public Radio News/Talk: Connecticut Educational Communications-owned WNPR 4.0 – 3.7, -.3, repeats in ninth-place
New England Public Media’s WFCR flat at .6, fourth straight month at #18
Number One 6+: Audacy adult contemporary WRCH, 44th month in a row, 10.1 – 10.5, +.4
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Increase: news/talk WDRC-AM (+.8)
Largest 6+ August 2023 – September 2023 Decrease: country WWYZ (-1.1)
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.
of local, national, and global business news as he chats with Chicago’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. Alongside news anchors Kim Gordon, Nick Gale, and Annie Krall, Gogoel shares the latest tech, consumer, and local business news, and why it matters to Chicagoans and their wallets. On the drive 
home each weekday from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, host Bret Gogoel and the WLS Newsroom team share Chicago’s local news that matters on ‘PM Chicago.’ From politics and education to crime and health, ‘PM Chicago’ shines the spotlight on local stories that are important to Chicagoans, with reports from Kim Gordon, Nick Gale, and Annie Krall. WLS-AM program director Stephanie Tichenor states, “I am delighted to be adding local news and business programs for our listeners in the afternoons. Bret has risen through the ranks at WLS from a part-time board operator to news anchor and host and he is the perfect fit to helm these new offerings.”
Zone – a scoreboard of regional high school sports contests. The promotion is being led by the station’s “SportsTalk” program hosted by Scott “Quake” McMahen and Joe “Cowboy” Varner. McMahen states, “We want to hear great stories from local schools celebrating how athletics is a positive part of education and invite all area high schools to submit their most inspiring stories.” The award presentation will be made on-air on “Talk 102.3 FM” during the remote broadcast of the BlueCross Bowl Tennessee High School Football Championships on December 1-3.
November 13. This year’s honorees include: Rebekah Dopp, EVP of distribution, acquisitions and affiliate relations, The CW; Rosalyn Durant, EVP, programming and acquisitions, ESPN; Suzanne Grimes, president Westwood One and EVP corporate marketing, Cumulus Media; Rashida Jones, president, MSNBC; Susan Larkin, COO, Audacy; and Lori Locke, EVP and chief accounting officer,Warner Bros. Discovery. Additionally, AWM will recognize Kay Olin, owner and president of Olin and Associates, and former president of Local Focus, with the Legacy Leadership Award.
along with Captain Max with Right Now Traffic, Greg Schaeffer with weather, and Louis Lee as news contributor. From 9:00 am to 10:00 am is “The Brad Giese Show” with Max O’Brien as producer and contributor. From 10:00 am to 12:00 noon is the new “Brian Joyce Unfiltered” program with Jim Stevens as producer. Cumulus Chattanooga operations manager Scott Chase comments, “Jed and JR are among the most recognizable and trusted talents in the market. The combination of their energy, enthusiasm and positivity is perfectly suited for morning drive. Brian Joyce has a lot to say, and this new time slot gives him the opportunity to dig into the issues that the community is talking about.” 
September 2023 PPM Data – Information for the September 2023 ratings period has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
Friday (9/29). Cumulus objected to the two hosts publishing their “The Dumb Zone” podcast arguing that it violates the terms of their contracts, specifically the non-compete clause. McDowell and Kemp left “The Ticket” in July after being unable to come to terms on a renewal due to the two sides’ disagreement over digital initiatives. McDowell and Kemp had argued that Cumulus’ business is “the operation of terrestrial radio stations – old media – and it was only in that business that Plaintiff employed the Defendants.” Ultimately the two sides were ordered into mediation on the matter. The terms of the settlement have not been made public. 
monthly, and 77% have ever listened to podcasts. “All of this podcast and AM/FM radio audience duplication means there are great cross-promotion opportunities.” Among the podcast audience, over half the ad-supported time spent goes to podcasts themselves at a 53% share. AM/FM radio follows with a 37% share. Distantly following are ad-supported SiriusXM (4%), ad-supported Spotify (3%), and ad-supported Pandora (3%). Additionally, MARU/Matchbox was commissioned to study Cumulus Media radio listeners who listened for at least an hour to stations in Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco and Atlanta and were exposed to promos for eight Cumulus Podcast Network podcast titles. Overall, 54% of the Cumulus radio audience were aware of the eight Cumulus Podcast Network podcasts. A much larger promotion of heavy AM/FM radio listeners (67%) were aware of the podcast titles, and a whopping 75% of the heavy AM/FM radio streaming audience were aware of the podcast titles. 
Kevin West died yesterday morning (9/18) at the age of 62 after suffering a medical emergency. West retired from the Cumulus Media station in June and had begun working as the public affairs director for the Chattanooga Police Department. West was a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, retiring two years ago with the rank of captain. He is survived by his wife Carlene and five children. 
me that they intend to be the most conservative radio station in America. I just didn’t fit the bill anymore.” Although Howell doesn’t profess to be conservative or liberal, he’s been a talk host for years (in addition to his work at country outlet WUSN-FM), not only with WLS-AM but with Salem Media Group’s crosstown conservative news/talk WIND-AM. However, he’s made no bones about his contempt for former President Donald Trump. He laments to Axios, “Nobody broadcasts anymore. Everybody narrowcasts.” WLS-AM has not revealed its permanent plans for the afternoon drive daypart other than to slide the syndicated Mark Levin program into the 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm slot. 
The fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s August 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. Nielsen’s August 2023 sweep covered July 20 – August 16. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Milwaukee iHeartMedia news/talk WISN adds a full share for a 10.7 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) finish and the #1 rank, while Good Karma Brands crosstown news/talk WTMJ rises eight-tenths to finish with an 8.7 share lifting it to the #3 rank. In Providence, Cumulus Media news/talk WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM adds six-tenths to wrap the survey with a 6.8 share good for the #5 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk WHJJ rises two-tenths for a 0.4 share and the #18 rank. In West Palm Beach, iHeartMedia talk WZZR-FM dips one-tenth for a 1.8 share but rises to the #10 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s crosstown news/talk WFTL, rises three-tenths for a 1.6 share finish that lifts it to the #12 rank. 
after more than 10 years with the station. WLS posted the following to Facebook: “Yesterday was John Howell’s last show on The Big 89. He has been a staple of 890 WLS for over a decade. His wit, political prowess, and focus on Chicago conversations has given our audience a destination for smart, local radio in the afternoons. Thank you, John, for being a part of the fabric of The Big 89.” Howell has not commented publicly on his departure from the station.
radio stations for free to air around holidays including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day, as well as year-round programs. The Fisher House 
Foundation is a non-profit that provides housing for families of patients receiving care at major military and VA medical centers so they can be near their loved ones. O’Connor, who hosts the morning drive program at Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM, Washington, has hosted the show in the past. Fisher House says, “This informational talk show will inspire listeners through stories of amazing service members, veterans, and their families. Producer and host Larry O’Connor’s love and respect for our military will only amplify these radio specials.”
recently director of sales at the company’s Beaumont, Texas/Lake Charles, Louisiana operations. The cluster includes news/talk WJCW-AM, sports talk WXSM-AM and two music brands. Walker says, “I’m extremely excited to be joining our Tri-Cities team. Cumulus Media is a great company to be a part of, supporting its employees with many great resources for our success. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve our Tri-Cities team, advertisers, and community. I have family in the market and can’t wait to call Tri-Cities home.”
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s August 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. Nielsen’s August 2023 sweep covered July 20 – August 16. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, DC, Hubbard Broadcasting all-news WTOP-FM adds two-tenths for a 9.3 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #2 in the market, while Cumulus Media news/talk WMAL-FM is steady with a 3.5 share but rises to the #7 rank. In Seattle, Bonneville news/talk KIRO-FM dips two-tenths to finish with a 4.7 share and falls to the #7 rank, while Lotus Communications all-news KNWN-AM/FM declines three-tenths to wrap the survey with a 2.0 share good for the #19 rank. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia news/talk KFYI adds a full share for a 3.9 share finish that lifts it to the #10 rank, while Bonneville’s crosstown news/talk KTAR-FM adds three tenths to finish with a 3.0 share but remains ranked #15 in the market. 
“Overreaction Monday” on September 4 that expands on the most popular segment of his flagship podcast, “The Rich Eisen Show,” into its own weekly podcast with Eisen and co-host Chris Brockman reflecting on the biggest fan- and hysterical media-driven overreactions from the previous weekend’s professional and college football games. To support his growing podcast network, Eisen has built an expanded studio and team in El Segundo, California with state-of-the-art recording equipment and set design. Eisen says, “Since joining the Cumulus family, they have shown unwavering support for my vision in growing my brand. As I have expanded my suite of services, they were the only ones I wanted to do business with, and I couldn’t think of a better place for my voice and productions to be heard over the coming years.” In addition to his podcast network, Eisen hosts the pregame and halftime shows for Westwood One’s syndicated “Monday Night Football” coverage and anchors “The Rich Eisen Show,” also syndicated by Westwood One for national radio.
August 2023 PPM Data – Information for the August 2023 ratings period has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
Dan McDowell and Jake Kemp has its next court date on September 15 for Cumulus’ Renewed Emergency Application for Temporary Restraining Order and Request for Preliminary Injunction. Cumulus is suing the duo for alleging they have violated their non-compete and other clauses in their contracts with the company. The two sides have been ordered to mediation over the matter.
country WWFN-FM, Florence – now branded “100.5 The Game” – and sports talk WSEA-FM, Myrtle Beach, which re-brands as “100.3 The Game.” WNKT program director Terry Ford says, “‘107.5 The Game’ Columbia, has been keeping the Midlands sports fans informed, engaged, enlightened, entertained, and sometimes enraged for 16 years! Our live and local team of sports specialists interviews coaches, players, and fans, and invites listeners to participate via call, social media, and on-location events. At our core are the teams, coaches, players, and fans of the South Carolina Gamecocks. We are very excited about growing the ‘107.5 The Game’ brand into two markets in South Carolina and making our great content available to almost half of the state.”
with station PD Terry Ford on the air. He told his audience, “It’s not a money thing. I just hit 50 this year. There are some things in my career I still want to do. They really wanted to keep me in Columbia and focused on that, and we just couldn’t get to where we needed to… This isn’t anybody’s fault. It’s just how radio and how business works sometimes.” Meanwhile, Cline says he’ll serve as executive producer and sub host for Chuck Oliver’s regional, college football-focused show and will continue the weekend hosting and fill-in work he’s been doing for Dickey Broadcasting’s WCNN, Atlanta “680 The Fan.”