March 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part One
March 2023 PPM Data – Information for the March 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).
Nielsen Audio’s March 2023 sweep covered March 2 – March 29.
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 February 2023 – March 2023 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk: Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” 3.9 – 3.7, -.2, tenth to ninth
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 1.7 – 1.9, +.2, steady at #18
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 4.6 – 5.0, +.4, seventh to sixth
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 2.1 – 2.4, +.3, #16 to #15
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets and Yankees) 2.6 – 2.9, +.3, locked at #12
WFAN’s internet stream 1.4 – 1.5, +.1, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM 4.0 – 3.5, -.5, ninth to tenth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW, fifth month in a row, 7.0 – 7.6, +.6
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WLTW (+.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM and public radio news/talk WNYC-FM (-.5)
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KFI “AM 640” unchanged at 4.1, repeats in fifth-place
News: Audacy-owned KNX-FM “News 97.1” 2.9 – 3.3, +.4, #12 to #10
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: Pasadena Area Community College’s KPCC 2.7 – 2.2, -.5, #14 to #17
Number One 6+: Audacy classic hits-oldies KRTH, first month, 5.4 – 5.8, +.4
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: CHR KIIS (+1.1)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary KOST (-1.4)
Note: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST had been #1 the past eight months
CHICAGO
News/Talk: Nexstar Media Group’s WGN “Radio 720” (Blackhawks) 3.2 – 3.4, +.2, tenth to ninth
News: Audacy-owned WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” steady at 4.8, locked in fourth-place
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WSCR “670 The Score” (Bulls and Cubs) 1.7 – 2.5, +.8, #23 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: Chicago Public Media-owned WBEZ 3.7 – 3.4, -.3, seventh to ninth
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT, sixth straight month, 8.0 – 6.7, -1.3
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: sports talk WSCR (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WLIT (-1.3)
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 6.0 – 8.0, +2.0, third to first
Sports Talk: Audacy’s KGMZ “95.7 The Game” (Golden State Warriors) 2.3 – 2.2, -.1, repeats at #14
Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (Giants) 2.3 – 2.1, -.2, #14 to #15
Public Radio News/Talk: KQED, Inc.-owned KQED 4.6 – 5.3, +.7, continues in fourth-place
Number One 6+: news KCBS-AM & KFRC, first month, 6.0 – 8.0, +2.0
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: news KCBS-AM & KFRC (+2.0)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: urban contemporary KMEL (-.8)
DALLAS
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned WBAP “News Talk 820 AM & 99.5 HD2 FM” 2.6 – 3.4, +.8, #16 to #12
News – Talk: Audacy’s KRLD-AM “News Radio 1080” steady at 2.3, #20 to #18
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KTCK “Sports Radio The Ticket” (Stars) unchanged at 5.6, #1
Audacy’s KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Cowboys and Texas Rangers) 2.9 – 2.3, -.6, #14 to #18
Public Radio News/Talk: North Texas Public Broadcasting-owned KERA 3.0 – 2.7, -.3, #13 to #16
Number One 6+: Cumulus Media sports talk KTCK, third straight month, unchanged at 5.6
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: news/talk WBAP (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: urban AC KRNB and sports talk KRLD-FM (-.6)
HOUSTON
News/Talk: iHeartMedia’s KTRH “AM 740 News Radio” (Astros) 3.8 – 3.7, -.1, #11 to #12
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: None in the top twenty
Public Radio News/Talk: University of Houston’s KUHF 3.1 – 2.6, -.5, #13 to #17
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA, 25th consecutive month, 8.0 – 9.0, +1.0
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: adult contemporary KODA (+1.0)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic rock KGLK and alternative KTBZ (-.7)
ATLANTA
News/Talk: Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB “Atlanta’s News & Talk” 7.2 – 6.6, -.6, repeats in third-place
News: None in the top twenty
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Hawks) 2.3 – 2.4, +.1, #18 to #17
Public Radio News/Talk: Atlanta Public Schools-owned WABE steady at 3.6, tenth to ninth
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WSRV, third successive month, 8.1 – 8.3, +.2
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: urban contemporary WHTA (+1.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: country WUBL (.7)
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk: None in the top twenty
News: Audacy-owned KYW & WPHI “News Radio 1060 AM & 103.9 FM” 5.9 – 6.2, +.3, fourth to third
Sports Talk: Audacy’s WIP “Sports Radio 94” (Phillies) 5.9 – 4.7, -1.2, fourth to eighth
WIP’s internet stream 1.8 – 1.5, -.3, locked at #19
Beasley Media Group-owned WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers and Flyers) 1.7 – 1.4, -.3, repeats at #20
Public Radio News/Talk: WHYY-owned WHYY 4.8 – 5.4, +.6, eighth to seventh
Number One 6+: iHeartMedia urban AC WDAS-FM, second month in a row, 6.7 – 7.2, +.5
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: public radio news/talk WHYY (+.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: sports talk WIP (-1.2)
LONG ISLAND
News/Talk: iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” 1.9 – 2.1, +.2, anchored at #16
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 3.3 – 3.7, +.4, tenth to eighth
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 4.2 – 3.5, -.7, sixth to ninth
Sports Talk: Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets and Yankees) 4.2 – 4.4, +.2, repeats in sixth-place
Good Karma’s WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” (Knicks, Rangers, Islanders) 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, #18 to #19
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Cox Media Group classic rock WBAB, first month, 5.5 – 6.0, +.5
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: CHR WBLI’s internet stream (+.8)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic rock WAXQ and rhythmic CHR WKTU (-.9)
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, .5 -.3, -.2, locked at #19
Number One 6+: Audacy country KFRG, first month, 4.9 – 6.5, +1.6
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: country KFRG (+1.6)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: classic hits-oldies KOLA (-1.0)
Note: Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA had been #1 the past 15 months
SAN JOSE
News/Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KSFO “Talk Radio 560” 1.6 – 1.5, -.1, #19 to #18
News: Audacy’s KCBS-AM & KFRC “All News 740 AM & 106.9 FM” 6.8 – 6.3, -.5, second to first
Sports Talk: Cumulus Media-owned KNBR “The Sports Leader” (Giants) 2.7 – 2.6, -.1, #13 to #14
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Bonneville adult contemporary KOIT-FM, tenth consecutive month 7.6 – 6.3, -1.3 and news KCBS-AM & KFRC, first month, 6.8 – 6.3, -.5
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: 1980s hits KOSF (+2.2)*
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: country KBAY (-1.5)**
*Represents the largest February 2023 – March 2023 increase (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
**Represents the largest February 2023 – March 2023 decrease (6+) of any station from these 12 PPM-markets
MIDDLESEX
News/Talk: Townsquare Media-owned WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” 6.3 – 6.5, +.2, locked in second-place
iHeartMedia-owned WOR “710 – The Voice of New York” .7 – 1.0, +.3, #21 to #20
News: Audacy’s WINS-FM “1010 WINS All News 92.3 FM” 2.2 – 2.3, +.1, #12 to #9
WINS-FM cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” (Mets) 1.5 – 1.6, +.1, #18 to #14
Sports Talk: Good Karma’s WEPN-FM “98.7 ESPN New York” (Knicks, Rangers, and Islanders) 1.3 – 1.1, -.2, #19 to #17
The internet stream of Audacy-owned WFAN-FM & WFAN-AM “Sports Radio 101.9 FM & 66 AM” (Brooklyn Nets and Yankees) .7 – 1.0, +.3, #21 to #20
Public Radio News/Talk: None in the top twenty
Number One 6+: Beasley Media Group adult contemporary WMGQ, third consecutive month, 6.6 – 7.9, +1.3
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Increase: adult contemporary WMGQ (+1.3)
Largest 6+ February 2023 – March 2023 Decrease: adult contemporary WLTW; contemporary Christian WAWZ; and the internet stream of Spanish tropical WSKQ (-.8)
Up next: March 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.
The first of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s February 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including 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). Nielsen’s February 2023 sweep covered February 2 – March 1. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeways from this group of markets. In New York City, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC-AM is flat with a 3.9 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and falls to the #10 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk WOR-AM is steady with a 1.9 share but rises one spot to the #18 rank. iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI, Los Angeles is flat with a 4.1 share but rises one spot to the #5 rank in the market. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM sheds two-tenths to finish with a 3.2 share good for the #10 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM rises three-tenths to finish with a 4.8 share and remains ranked #4.
February 2023 PPM Data – Information for the February 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.
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including 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). Nielsen’s January 2023 sweep covered January 5 – February 1. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways for this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media news/talk WABC-AM/WLIR-FM rises eight-tenths for a 3.9 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that lifts it to the #9 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk WOR is up six-tenths for a 1.7 share finish good for the #19 rank. iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI, Los Angeles is off three-tenths, finishing with a 4.1 share and the #6 rank, while Audacy’s crosstown all-news KNX-FM tacks on three-tenths to wrap the survey with a 2.8 share good for the #9 rank. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM adds six-tenths for a 3.4 share and the #9 rank, while Audacy’s crosstown all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM dips three-tenths for a 4.5 share finish and the #4 rank.
January 2023 PPM Data – Information for the January 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.