Darnell Tapped As iHM Sacto Metro President
Most recently serving as president of iHeartMedia’s “Pacific Area,” Steve Darnell transfers to Sacramento as metro president, succeeding Sara McClure (see separate story below). Darnell will report to iHeartMedia division president DJ Hodge, who notes, “After many years of successful leadership in our ‘Pacific Area,’ it was clear early-on that Steve was the perfect candidate to lead our Sacramento market as metro president. Steve is the ideal choice to continue the great work done by Sara McClure.” Darnell comments, “I’m excited for the opportunity to lead our Sacramento team and market-leading iconic station brands. Sacramento is a dynamic, thriving city and I’m thankful that DJ Hodge -among others – entrusted me with continuing our growth in this very important market.” The Fresno State University graduate previously was iHM market president for Fresno, as well as that cluster’s senior vice president of sales. Among the seven stations in iHM’s Sacramento cluster are simulcast news/talk KFBK-AM/FM “News 93.1” and similarly-formatted KSTE “Talk 650.” In Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 sweep, the KFBK simulcast ranks third (7.2, 6+), while KSTE finishes 15th (2.3, 6+).
Following up on a story reported yesterday (7/22) in TALKERS, an Audacy Insights Team blogpost (“Local News Radio Listenership Soars”) cites Nielsen Audio listenership increases following the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Leading up to quoting specific stats, the research piece states, “Local news audiences are incredibly engaged” and are “twice as likely to stick around through radio ads compared to the average listener. These listeners trust local news radio for its reliable voices and factual reporting.” On July 13, Audacy news stations “saw a 32% jump in streams compared to the same day the week before. Mobile streams led the way with a 45% increase, while smart speaker usage rose by 30%.” The assassination attempt took place in Butler, PA, roughly 40 miles from Pittsburgh where Audacy news/talk KDKA-AM “experienced a 55% increase in streams.” Meanwhile, its Los Angeles all-news operation, KNX, “saw a 41% rise.” Per the Audacy blog, “Spikes in listenership across digital audio platforms confirm that local news radio stations are truly with you during critical times, offering reliable and detailed coverage when needed most.” Engagement continued leading up to last Monday (7/15), the first day of the Republican National Convention, as Audacy news stations “experienced a 5% rise in listenership compared to the previous Monday.” The Audacy blog contends approximately two of three (65%) all-news listeners “trust radio hosts for news updates, compared to 30% who look to social media influencers for such information.” The July 13 assassination attempt “highlights the essential role of local news radio. With a significant boost in listenership and a clear preference for trustworthy, community-focused reporting, local news radio remains a key player in delivering reliable news.”
The fourth of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. The survey period covered May 23 through June 19. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. Urban One’s Indianapolis news/talk WIBC-FM adds six-tenths to finish the survey with a 7.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but remains ranked #4 in the market. iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN, Milwaukee rises four-tenths for a 12.5 share finish and racks up its 10thconsecutive month at #1. (Good Karma Brands’ crosstown competitor WTMJ ceased subscribing to the ratings several months ago.) Cox Media Group’s Jacksonville news/talk WOKV-FM added seven-tenths to finish with a 9.4 share that lifts it to the #2 rank. 
June 2024 PPM Data – Information for Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 survey period (May 23 – June 19) has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
The fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s May 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. The survey covered April 25 through May 22. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeways from this group of markets. In Austin, Waterloo Media’s news/talk KLBJ-AM is steady with a 4.4 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #7, while in Raleigh, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WTKK-FM adds a full share for an 8.3 share and climbs to the #2 rank, and in Indianapolis, Urban One’s news/talk WIBC-FM rises 1.2 shares for a 6.9 share finish that lifts it to the #4 rank. In Milwaukee, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN posts its ninth straight #1 rank after adding 1.8 shares to finish with a 12.1 share. 
Historically, the beginning of the Major League Baseball season has been good to radio stations that serve as flagships for play-by-play, often bringing new cume to their ratings. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian looks at how flagship stations performed during Nielsen Audio’s April PPM survey. He notes, “Generally speaking, Major League Baseball radio flagships enjoyed a solid first at bat in Nielsen Audio’s 2024 rating season (March 28 – April 24). There was a (6+) March 2024 – April 2024 uptick in approximately four of every five applicable flagship cases (81%); 15%dipped; and 4% were flat.” iHeartMedia’s news/talk WLW, Cincinnati (Reds) saw the biggest leap in AQH share rising from an 11.3 share in March to a 13.3 share in April (retaining its #1 rank as well). 
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s April 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey covered March 28 through April 24. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM dips two-tenths to finish with a 4.6 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and slides back to the #6 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM loses one-tenth to finish with a 7.8 share good for the #2 rank. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO declines one-tenth for a 3.3 share finish and holds steady at the #12 rank, while sister all-news WBZ-AM rises three-tenths to a 4.9 share, yet it falls one spot to the #7 rank. In Seattle, Bonneville’s news/talk KIRO-FM dips one-tenth to a 3.8 share and slides down to the #10 rank, while Lotus Communications’ all-news KNWN-AM/FM loses one-tenth to finish with a 2.4 share and remains ranked #18.