October PPMs: AC, Sports Lead The Pack During Days 1 and 2.

While it isn’t much of a surprise seeing adult contemporary out in front in four of the 20 non-embedded markets during Days 1 and 2 of Nielsen’s October PPM survey (covering Sept. 18-Oct. 15) — make that seven, adding soft ACs — the strength and endurance of sports stations at the top spot in four of these markets is another story altogether.

Of course, it helps to have a very good home team, or two. That’s the case for Audacy’s WIP-FM Philadelphia and “97.1 The Ticket” WXYT-FM Detroit, not to mention Bonneville “Seattle Sports 710” KIRO-AM, where it’s been three years since the station ruled the ratings. Meanwhile in the Twin Cities, iHeartMedia’s “K-FAN” KFXN has put together a winning streak of its own, its 10 straight victories putting it on top of the market for the entire year to date.

For Days 1 and 2, the leaderboard shows AC and sports with four crowns each; three each for classic hits, soft AC and news/talk; and one each for country, news, classic rock, urban AC and rock.

It remains a close race between Hubbard Radio all-news WTOP and American University news/talk WAMU, separated by just nine-tenths of a share point as the former sees its fourth straight victory. Rank-wise, the top five stations stay where they are for a third consecutive survey, with Howard University urban AC WHUR, iHeartMedia modern/alternative rock “DC101” WWDC-FM and AC WASH still third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

For the first time since August 2023, Beasley Media Group classic hits WROR ranks at the top, settling for a tie with Audacy AC “Magic 106.7” WMJX, which notches its eighth win so far this year. Just 0.1 behind both is Beasley’s “98.5 The Sports Hub” WBZ-FM, up 68% since July. While the Hub benefits from a winning New England Patriots team, Red Sox flagship Audacy sports WEEI-FM makes a rare top five showing during the team’s brief postseason run, up 36% since August.

Cox Media Group’s soft AC “Easy 93.1” WFEZ and urban AC “Hot 105” WHQT continue their fight for top honors in Miami, as the former takes the lead in October’s survey, ahead by just 0.6. During 2025’s 10 books to date, WHQT has spent five at No. 1, vs. WFEZ with three and third-ranked Audacy AC “101.5 Lite FM” WLYF with two.

While news/talk pubcaster KUOW-FM nabs a 10th straight victory, Bonneville “Seattle Sports 710” KIRO-AM, flagship of the almost-World-Series-bound Seattle Mariners, ties KUOW for first during the postseason craziness, with a 47% share boost from September even as it moved from just second to the tie for first. Meanwhile, tied for third, 3.5 share points behind, are Audacy “Rock 99.9” KISW and iHeart classic hits “95.7 The Jet” KJEB.

It’s now seven wins in a row for Hubbard classic rock KSLX, even as its lead over iHeart AC “99.9 K-EZ” KESZ slims down to just 0.8. iHeart takes three of the top four, with talk KFYI and adult hits “95.5 The Mountain” KYOT at third and fourth.

Lions and Tigers and shares – oh, my! Audacy sports “97.1 The Ticket” WXYT-FM, flagship for both teams, reaped the benefits of the former’s strong start and latter’s run to the ALDS by breaking the 10-share barrier, up 34% since July. As a result, “The Ticket’s” lead over iHeart AC WNIC went from just half a point in September’s survey to 2.9 this time around.

iHeart sports “K-FAN” KFXN makes it 10 wins in a row, with a best-since-last-October 12.0 share and 48% gain since August for the Vikings flagship. “K-FAN” is 4.1 points up on contemporary Christian pubcaster KTIS-FM, which itself is 1.3 ahead of Hubbard hot AC “KS95” KSTP-FM.

Here’s another station with its 10th straight win: Audacy classic hits “Sunny 98.1” KXSN, 1.9 ahead of news/talk pubcaster KPBS, which has gained 19% since July and August. While no other station in the top five has gained share from September, here’s one just below that has: Comunicacion XERSA modern/alternative rock “91X” XTRA, up from a tie for 12th to seventh (3.7-4.4), also up 19%.

CMG soft AC WDUV maintains its 0.2-share-point lead over Radio Training Network contemporary Christian “The Joy FM” WCIE, with the two stations having monopolized the top two positions in Tampa since February. Meanwhile, CMG classic rock sister “The Eagle 107.3” WXGL and iHeart country “US 103.5” WFUS are staying the course at third and fourth.

It’s eight straight for Bonneville AC KOSI, breaking September’s tie for first with country sister KYGO by taking a .9-share-point lead. Returning to the top five, up from sixth to third, is iHeart classic rock “103.5 The Fox” KRFX, just 0.2 ahead of Audacy hot AC “Alice 105.9” KALC.

Urban One’s urban AC “Magic 95.9” WWIN-FM and urban contemporary sister “92Q Jams” WERQ continue to dominate, ranked first and second for a third straight survey, with the former marking its ninth straight win. At the other end of the top five, Audacy hot AC “Mix 106.5” WWMX breaks into the territory for the first time since March 2024, up from ninth to fourth, and joining AC sister “Today's 101.9” WLIF which places fifth.

Hubbard rocker KSHE keeps the crown for a 10th consecutive survey, now in front of 10-time bridesmaid, iHeart classic hits KLOU, by just a share point. The rest of the Gateway City’s top five stay in the same order, with Gateway Creative contemporary Christian “99.1 Joy FM” KLJY, iHeart country “93.7 The Bull” KSD-FM and Hubbard adult hits “106.5 The Arch” WARH still lined up at 3-4-5.