July 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part One
July 2023 PPM Data – Information for the July 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.
Nielsen Audio’s July 2023 sweep covered June 22 – July 19.
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 June 2023 – July 2023 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 3.4 – 3.2, -.2, #10 to #11
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 4.3 – 4.9, +.6, eighth to sixth
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 2.7 – 2.6, -.1, anchored at #13
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Yankees) 3.1 – 2.8, -.3, locked at #12
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 3.4 – 3.7, +.3, repeats in tenth-place
WNYC-FM cluster-mate WNYC-AM .8 – 1.5, +.7, #26 to #20
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, ninth month in a row, 7.6 – 7.7, +.1
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: public radio news/talk WNYC-AM (+.7)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: Spanish contemporary WXNY (-.7)
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” 4.3 – 4.2, -.1, remains in fifth-place
News: Audacy-owned KNX-FM “News 97.1” steady at 2.8, #12 to #11
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KRTH, fifth month in succession, 5.9 – 6.8, +.9
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: classic hits-oldies KRTH (+.9)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: regional Mexican KBUE (-.8)
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” 3.0 – 3.2, +.2, #11 to #10
News: Audacy’s WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” 4.6 – 5.0, +.4, third to fourth
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WSCR “670 The Score” (Cubs) 2.6 – 2.5, -.1, repeats at #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media’s WBEZ 2.5 – 2.7, +.2, #15 to #12
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT, tenth straight month, 7.2 – 7.0, -.2
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: triple A WXRT (+1.1)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: classic rock WDRV (-.7)
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 2.0 – 1.9, -.1, #18 to #17
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 5.9 – 6.7, +.8, anchored in the runner-up slot
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (Giants) 2.7 – 2.9, +.2, #11 to #10
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.-owned KQED 5.3 – 4.6, -.7, repeats in fourth-place
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOIT-FM, fourth month in succession, 7.8 – 8.1, +.3
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: 1980s hits KOSF (+.9)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: CHR KMVQ (-1.0)
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 3.7 – 3.9, +.2, repeats in ninth-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media’s KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” 5.1 – 4.7, -.4, continues in the runner-up slot
Audacy-owned KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Texas Rangers) 2.4 – 2.5, +.1, steady at #16
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA 2.3 – 2.7, +.4, #17 to #15
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KSPF, second month in a row, 5.4 – 5.3, -.1
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: adult hits KJKK (+.8)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: country KPLX (-.6)
Note: Audacy classic hits-oldies KLUV “Nobody Plays More 80s” remains in the format and stays at #1; however, it changes calls to KSPF as “98.7 The Spot.”
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” (Astros) 3.6 – 4.0, +.4, #11 to #9
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+: Cox Media Group classic rock KGLK first month, 6.8 – 7.0, +.2
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: contemporary Christian KSBJ; urban contemporary KQBT; Spanish contemporary Christian KHVU; and gospel KROI (+.5)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KODA (-2.0)*
*Represents the largest June 2023 – July 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
Note: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA had been #1 the last 28 months.
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” flat at 6.5, locked in third-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Dickey Broadcasting’s WCNN “The Fan” (Braves) 2.8 – 3.3, +.5, repeats at #14
Audacy-owned WZGC “92.9 The Game” 2.2 – 2.3, +.1, #17 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools’ WABE 2.7 – 3.5, +.8, #15 to #9
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WSRV, seventh successive month, 10.4 – 9.6, -.8
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: public radio news/talk WABE (+.8)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WSRV (-.8)
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: Audacy-owned KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 5.3 – 5.6, +.3, seventh to fourth
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WIP “Sports Radio 94” (Phillies) 3.8 – 4.6, +.8, tenth to ninth
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY-owned WHYY flat at 4.2, ninth to tenth
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group classic rock WMGK, third straight month, 10.6 – 9.8, -.8
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: sports talk WIP (+.8)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: country WXTU (-1.1)
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: Red Apple Media-owned WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 2.5 – 1.9, -.6, #16 to #18
News: Audacy-owned WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” flat at 3.7, ninth to seventh
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 3.3 – 3.2, -.1, tenth to ninth
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Yankees) 4.4 – 3.4, -1.0, fifth to eighth
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic rock WBAB, fifth month in a row, 6.7 – 8.5, +1.8
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: classic rock WBAB (+1.8)**
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: sports talk WFAN (-1.0)
**Represents the largest June 2023 – July 2023 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
RIVERSIDE
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: San Bernardino Community College District’s KVCR, .3 – .4, +.1, locked at #19
Number One 6+: Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA, fourth straight month, 7.2 – 8.9, +1.7
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: classic hits-oldies KOLA (+1.7)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: Spanish contemporary KLLI (-.6)
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 1.4 – 1.7, +.3, #18 to #20
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” steady at 6.3, third to first
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (Giants) 4.5 – 5.2, +.7, seventh to fifth
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: news KCBS-AM & KFRC, first month, unchanged at 6.3
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: urban AC KBLX (+1.4)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: CHR KMVQ (-1.6)
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 5.5 – 6.5, +1.0, repeats in third-place
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” flat at 1.0, stays at #19
WKXW’s internet stream .3 – .9, +.6, #20
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 1.5 – 2.3, +.8, #16 to #13
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 1.0 – .9, -.1, #19 to #20
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Yankees) 4.6 – 4.2, -.4, sixth to eighth
Good Karma Brands‘ WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” 1.0 – .9, -.1, #19 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia classic rock WAXQ, first month, 8.4 – 7.8, -.6
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WLTW (+1.1)
Largest 6+ June 2023 – July 2023 Decrease: Spanish tropical WSKQ (-1.1)
Up next: July 2023 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.
Email Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com.