PPM Trends: News/Talk Continues Its Ratings Comeback.

News/talk may not be at the levels of three years ago, however Inside Radio’s monthly analysis of average quarter-hour share data in PPM markets (covering Monday-Sunday 6am-midnight) shows significant recent uptrends among persons 6+ and 18-34, suggesting the format may be on the comeback trail.

During Nielsen’s November survey period (covering Oct. 16-Nov. 12), news/talk, which is top-ranked 6+, saw a steady 6% share gain from August to November (9.8-10.4) and a 24% lift 18-34 (3.3-4.1). These increases were likely driven by a wide array of issues, such as economic concerns, the immigration crackdown in major cities, the push to release the Epstein files, military actions in the Caribbean, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the government shutdown, widespread anti-Trump protests, and the gubernatorial and mayoral election results in the Eastern U.S.

This surpassed 2024’s Aug.-Nov. trends, arguably more expected in a Presidential election year, with 6+ up 5% (10.4-10.9) and 18-34 up 3% (3.9-4.0). While shares over the same period were up 13% (6.2-7.0) for persons 25-54s in 2024, they were up just 5% this year (6.0-6.3).

News/talk still has a way to go to match its share level of Jan.-Nov. 2022, as the big picture shows it off 6% 6+ (10.9-10.3), -21% 18-34 (4.8-3.8) and -11% 25-54 (7.2-6.4) for year-to-date 2025.

When it comes to steady growth since 2022, contemporary Christian continues to be the top performer, with 6+ share up 34% (2.9-3.2-3.4-3.9), 18-34 up 52% (2.3-2.8-2.9-3.5) and 25-54 up 33% (2.7-3.1-3.3-3.6). Year-over-year November shares are also up across the board, up 18% 6+, 13% 18-34, and 16% 25-54.

Adult contemporary, which ranks second 6+ and first 18-34 and 25-54, has also seen share gains over the past three Nielsen surveys, even as it’s trended downward since 2023. While growth is not as significant looking at 6+ (up just 1% Aug.-Nov., 7.3-7.4), 18-34 share is up 11% (7.6-8.4) and 25-54 up 7% (7.1-7.6). The Jan.-Nov. 2023-2025 numbers, meanwhile, show AC down 12% for 6+ (8.3-7.3), just 1% 18-34 (8.2-8.1), and 12% 25-54 (8.3-7.3).

The only other format with notable declines in all three demographics is classic rock, where share highs posted during 2025 have steadily fallen. Classic rock’s 6+ share is off 13% from July to November (5.6-4.9), while down 15% since March for 18-34 (5.3-4.5) and 14% since July in 25-54 (5.1-4.4).

Depending on the demo, Spanish contemporary is trending either up or down. Since March, the format is up 19% among 25-54s (3.1-3.7) while down 18% since April for 18-34s (3.4-2.8).

As was seen in the last PPM trends report, four other music formats have lost share during 2025 in the 18-34 demo. Second-ranked CHR saw a 7% decrease since February — including an 11% March-to-August slide — while hot AC is down 14% from July, classic hits 13% since February, and modern/alternative rock 20% since June.