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.
financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Urban One says it intends to timely request a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel and that request will automatically stay any suspension or delisting action through October 20, 2023. The company will request that the stay be extended through the hearing and the expiration of any additional extension period granted by the Hearings Panel through March 26, 2023. There’s no assurance that the Hearings Panel will grant the additional extension or that Urban One will be able to regain compliance by the end of any additional extension period. The company is late with its quarterly financial reports for the first and second quarters of 2023. As previously reported, this comes as the result of the company dismissing its previous independent registered public accounting firm BDO USA, LLP and hiring Ernst & Young LLP.
first gig at age 22 in WCIN-AM. WLWT-TV reports that Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney will emcee the street-naming ceremony. She says, “Lincoln Ware is unbelievable. In my office in city hall, we keep the Lincoln Ware show on every day. Somebody’s assigned to listen, and they come back and say, ‘Here’s what they talked about today, listen to this.’ So, you know, we’re always well-informed.” The city says Ware is being honored due to his “lasting impact on the Cincinnati local media community and to health and wellness within the African American community with his Lincoln Ware Walking Club. His legacy, contributions, and dedication to the City of Cincinnati and its citizens will long be remembered.” 
comments, “Monument Circle has been Emmis’ home since 1998, and I’m proud of what we built, and the people who helped build it. As we divested assets, including our local radio stations, we weighed what to do with the building and ultimately decided that it made sense to look for a new owner.” Last year, Emmis sold its Indianapolis radio stations – including heritage news/talk WIBC-FM and sports talk “The Fan” – to Urban One. Those stations are still operating from the Monument Circle studios. FOX59 in Indianapolis reports that “the sale of the building would not immediately impact the current tenants, which include Star Bank and several Urban One radio stations such as WIBC. Emmis did not clarify, however, if these tenants would have to negotiate new leases with the eventual purchasers or if they could be required to relocate within a specific time following a sale.” 
August 2023 PPM Data – Information for the August 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
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.
remains ranked #1 with 281,120 Average Active Sessions. Following at #2 is NPR Member Stations (69,006 AAS) and Audacy at #3 (62,853 AAS). Cumulus Streaming Network is #4 (36,554 AAS), Beasley Broadcasting Corporate comes in at #7 (15,728 AAS), followed by Hubbard Broadcasting at #8 (13,478 AAS), and Urban One at #9 (9,131 AAS). 
Securities and Exchange Commission. Urban One has disclosed that it has been unable to file the reports in a timely manner due to the change of its independent registered public accounting firm. The company was granted 180 days to come into compliance by Nasdaq or face delisting and Urban One says it anticipates it will be able to file the reports in question before the deadline of September 27, 2023.
Rick Caffey says, “We are thrilled to welcome Eric Baker to the Audacy Atlanta team as our new director of sales. With his extensive background in sales management, we are confident that Eric’s expertise will drive our market growth to new heights. His strategic vision and proven leadership will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success in delivering top-tier content and engagement to our valued listeners and partners.” Baker says, “It’s with great enthusiasm that I embark on this new journey as the director of sales at Audacy Atlanta. I’m thrilled to collaborate with industry veterans like Rick Caffey, Doug Abernethy, and Reggie Rouse, whose expertise I greatly respect. My 16 years at Radio One have been invaluable, and I can’t wait to bring that experience to the dynamic team at Audacy Atlanta, working together to deliver results and achieve remarkable success for our clients while continuing to positively impact the Atlanta community!”
December and now hosts a show on the Outkick platform. With Query’s move to middays, the Kevin & Query Show that’s been airing in morning drive becomes “The Wake Up Call With KB and Andy,” as Kevin Bowen is joined by new co-host Andy Sweeney. Urban One Indianapolis operations manager David Wood tells the Indianapolis Business Journal, “While Jake loves working with Kevin, the show is a complete antithesis to his body clock. He’s a huge night owl. It dawned on me, ‘Why don’t I put a known quantity in this noon to 3 p.m. show?’ Everybody knows Jake. He’s well-respected and he’s an entertaining person.” 
July 2023 PPM Data – Information for the July 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
2023. Consequently, it dismissed the accounting firm BDO USA, LLP and hired Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 effective as of July 12, 2023. In the filing, Urban One says, “Given the change of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the work required for E&Y to re-familiarize itself with the Company, the Company’s continued assessment of its internal controls, the Company is not able to finalize the financial statements and related information for inclusion in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The company is working to complete quarter reports for the first two quarter of 2023.
follows at #2 (71,573 AAS) and Audacy ranks #3 (68,414 AAS). Cumulus Streaming Network ranks #4 (40,785 AAS). Beasley Corporate lands at #7 (18,469 AAS), Hubbard Broadcasting is right behind at #8 (15,129 AAS), followed by Urban One at #9 (9,971 AAS). 
June 2023 PPM Data – Information for the June 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
Q3 of 2022. For the fourth quarter of 2022, net revenue was approximately $132.6 million, an increase of 1.6% from the same period in 2021. The company reports operating income of approximately $14.3 million for the period, compared to approximately $20.3 million for Q4 of 2021. Broadcast and digital operating income was approximately $47.6 million, an increase of 7.9% from the same period in 2021. Net income was $856,000 compared to approximately $5.3 million in net income for the same period in 2021. The company has yet to file its operating results for Q1 of this year, but its preliminary results from the quarter show same station radio segment revenue up 2.0% on a same station basis.
Resort Casino Host Community Agreement with the City of Richmond, Virginia, to be the city’s preferred casino gaming operator subject to certification by the Virginia Lottery Department and a local referendum. The planned project is a $562 million world-class entertainment and gaming venue.
May 2023 PPM Data – Information for the May 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
Member Stations at #2 (75,116 AAS), and Audacy at #3 (66,485 AAS). Cumulus Streaming Network is ranked #4 (40,662 AAS). Beasley Broadcasting Corporate is #6 (19,040 AAS), followed by Hubbard Broadcasting at #8 (14,953 AAS), Urban One at #10 (9,743 AAS), and Salem Communications at #12 (8,297 AAS). 
received its first notice of non-compliance on April 3. In accordance with the second NASDAQ notice, Urban One has until June 2 to submit a plan to file both delinquent reports or to submit a plan to regain compliance. If NASDAQ accepts the company’s plan, Urban One may get up to 180 days (September 27) to file the reports. If it doesn’t, the company can appeal the decision. Urban One says it intends to submit its plan to regain compliance on or before June 2.
Townsquare Media where he was market president and general manager for its Rockford, Illinois station group. Urban One regional VP & general manager Jeffery Wilson Sr. says, “Brian has a track record of taking leadership, customer service, and community service to the highest levels, while working with his teams to reinvent themselves. That’s how we do things at Radio One-DC. We’re thrilled to welcome Brian as we craft historic success on the horizon.”
April 2023 PPM Data – Information for the April 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.