There are new stations at the top in four of the 12 markets reporting on Day 2 of Nielsen's PPMs for June (measurement period from May 26-June 22), and when the dust settled, classic hits gained enough winning outlets to challenge adult contemporary for the most winners so far this time around. That happened due to flips at the top in Boston, where Beasley Media Group's WROR grabbed the crown from sports sister WBZ-FM, and Denver, where KSE Radio Ventures' “Kool 105” KXKL was one of two stations to tie for the lead.
Two days in, for these 20 PPM-measured markets, the leaderboard shows AC leading with five crowns and classic hits close behind with four, followed by two each for news/talk, soft AC, adult hits and rock.
So far this year in DC, American University news/talk WAMU owns the throne, as it marks a sixth consecutive month on top. For five of those six months, including June, Howard University urban AC WHUR has placed second, although the gap between the two has widened to 2.3 share points. Making a 1.1-share move upward to tie with Hubbard Radio news WTOP/WTLP for third is contemporary Christian pubcaster WGTS/WGBZ, while iHeartMedia AC WASH is up 0.9 at fifth. Station to watch: Urban One urban AC “Majic 102.3/92.7” WMMJ which, while only stepping up from seventh to sixth, also gains 0.9 in the process, from a 4.1 to 5.0.
Beasley's back-and-forth act in Beantown continues, as Beasley Media Group classic hits WROR re-takes the top spot, where it ruled from February through April. It's a full share point ahead of sister “98.5 The Sports Hub,” which was the champ in January and May of this year and September-December of last. Audacy AC WMJX doesn't budge, still in third and still with a 6.7 share, while iHeart's CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM and classic rocker WZLX tie for fourth.
Cox Media Group's back-and-forth act in Miami also continues, as soft AC “Easy 93.1” WFEZ re-claims the number one position it held from January through April. It too is a full share point ahead of urban AC sister “Hot 105” WHQT, which held a slim lead in May. May's station to watch, SBS Spanish tropical “El Zol” WXDJ, didn't disappoint, jumping from sixth to third with a 1.6-point gain. Rounding out the top five are Audacy AC “101.5 Lite FM” WLYF and Univision Spanish AC “Amor 107.5” WAMR. Station to watch: CMG urban contemporary “99 JAMZ” WEDR, breaking into the top 10 with a 0.8 share gain, from 3.0 to 3.8.
For the fifth measurement period this year and second in a row, Bonneville news/talk KIRO-FM is Seattle's top station, having added a full share point over the last two books. KIRO also has a share point lead over iHeart classic hits “95.7 The Jet” KJEB, itself 0.8 up on classic rock sister KZOK. News/talk pubcaster KUOW-AM-FM/KQOW stays at fourth, a tenth of a point above Hubbard AC “Warm 106.9” KRWM. Station to watch: University of Washington modern/alternative rocker KEXP, leaping from 15th to sixth and up 1.6 (3.1-4.7).
While iHeart AC “99.9 K-EZ” KESZ again leads, Desert Valley Media classic hits “The Wow Factor” KOAI is living up to its name, now just 0.4 behind KESZ. News/talk pubcaster KJZZ places third while iHeart talk KFYI gains 0.9 in its move from seventh to fourth, and Hubbard classic rock KSLX finishes fifth. Station to watch: iHeart hot AC “Mix 96.9” KMXP, up 1.2 while moving from ninth to sixth (3.6-4.8).
While Audacy classic hits WOMC wears the crown for a sixth straight month, making it the Motor City's only champ for 2002 to date, there's some movement below as Beasley classic rock WCSX finishes second for the first time this year, and iHeart AC WNIC moves from fifth to third. Sticking at fourth is Audacy sports “97.1 The Ticket” WXYT-FM, while iHeart urban AC “Mix 92.3” WMXD slips from the runner-up spot, where it stood for three consecutive months, down to fifth.
As it happens, two stations now share the crown in the Twin Cities: all-year leader Hubbard hot AC “KS95” KSTP-FM makes room for Jack – adult hits “104.1 Jack FM” KZJK, that is – as the Audacy station moves up from a tie for second in May. Former champ iHeart classic hits “Kool 108” KQQL is 0.5 behind in third, while Cumulus Media rocker “93X” KXXR moves from sixth to fourth, and iHeart country “K102” KEEY gains a full share point in its move from seventh to fifth. Station to watch: Cumulus classic rock KQRS, up 0.7 as it goes from 10th-ranked to sixth.
Adult hits rules again, as Local Media of San Diego's “100.7 Big FM” KFBG leads for a third consecutive month, but both Audacy AC KYXY and news/talk pubcaster KPBS are too close for comfort. Former champs Audacy classic hits sister “Sunny 98.1” KXSN and Comunicacion XERSA hot AC “Magic 92.5” XHRM place fourth and fifth.
While there's no change at the top, with CMG soft AC WDUV continuing its run at number one begun last October, there's a lot less breathing room with just three-tenths of a share point separating it from classic rock sister “The Eagle 107.3” WXGL, which finishes in second for the first time this year. Contemporary Christian pubcaster “The Joy FM” WCIE, which had ranked second since January, settles for third this time out. Beasley classic hits “Q105” WRBQ gains 0.8 to move from sixth to fourth, while CMG AC “Magic 94.9” WWRM comes in fifth. Station to watch: iHeart AC “Mix 100.7” WMTX, up a full share point (4.2-5.2) as it moves from ninth to sixth.
Well, isn't this something: two stations, neither of which have led the market so far this year, tie for first in a logjam of a top four separated by just half a share point. KSE Radio Ventures classic hits “Kool 105” KXKL – which has no recent history leading the market, although it placed second earlier this year – vaults from fifth to first, tying with Bonneville country KYGO, which last took the throne in November 2021. Three-month champion this year, Audacy classic rock “99.5 The Mountain” KQMT, grabs third, while hot AC sis “Alice 105.9” KALC, May's topper, falls to fourth, losing a share point in the process. Bonneville AC sister KOSI, off 0.7 from May, slips from third to fifth. Station to watch: iHeart classic rock “103.5 The Fox” KRFX, gaining 0.7 in its move from ninth to seventh (4.1-4.8).
Urban One urban AC “Magic 95.9” WWIN-FM makes it a fifth consecutive month at the summit, while two number-ones prior to its run – Audacy AC “Today's 101.9” WLIF and iHeart adult hits “Jack FM” WQSR – swap places just below. iHeart country WPOC hangs in at fourth, just a tenth of a point ahead of its May delivery, while Urban One urban contemporary “92Q Jams” WERQ steps up from sixth to fifth.
SHE's only rock 'n roll, and St. Lou still loves it. Hubbard rocker KSHE remains the only station to rank first in the market in 2022 so far, now two full share points up on adult hits sister “106.5 The Arch” WARH, which gains a point to grab hold of second place. Two stations – Audacy AC KEZK and iHeart country “93.7 The Bull” KSD-FM – move from just outside the top five to tie at third, each at 7.6, while iHeart classic hits sister KLOU and Hubbard modern/alternative rock sister “105.7 The Point” KPNT tie for fifth, both at 7.4.
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