PPM Trends: News/Talk’s Current Monthly Growth Echoes That Of 2024.

Even without a looming Presidential election or Hurricane Helene, news/talk stations still saw a ratings bounce-back during the months leading up to and including Nielsen’s October survey period (covering Sept. 18-Oct. 15), based on Inside Radio’s analysis of cross-market average quarter-hour share data in PPM markets (covering Monday-Sunday 6am-midnight).

While news/talk, the top-ranked format based on persons 6+ share, has not hit 11-share territory since March 2022, it did see steady growth from August to October (9.8-10.0-10.3) during the Gaza ceasefire, the government shutdown and the run-up to this year’s elections, mirroring an uptrend the format showed during the same period in 2024. That’s also true for the 18-34 demographic, with August-October shares up 12% (3.3-3.6-3.7).

Sports stations, meanwhile, displayed their annual summer-fall growth spurt, with shares up steadily since July across the board — up 36% 6+, 37% 18-34 and 36% 25-54 — with football season and baseball’s postseason in full swing.

Contemporary Christian, ranked 10th 6+, continues to punch above its weight, with January-to-October share up steadily since 2022 with a 34% lift (2.0-3.2-3.4-3.9) and up 23% from last to this October (3.0-3.7). It’s the same deal for 18-34 (Jan.-Oct. +52%, Oct.-Oct. +26%) and 25-54 (Jan.-Oct. +33%, Oct.-Oct. +13%).

Two other music formats show across-the-board growth. Modern/alternative rock is up 6% year-over-year 6+ since January-October 2023, up 17% Oct.-Oct. for 18-34, and up 21% year-over-year and 15% Oct.-Oct. 25-54. Since July, urban contemporary sees 15%, 9% and 10% lifts for those three demos, respectively.

While adult contemporary still rules among 18-34s and 25-54s while second-ranked 6+, shares continue to decline, with one notable exception. Year-over-year shares are down 11% 6+ (since 2023), 6% 18-34 (since 2024) and 13% 25-54 (since 2023). For the latter demo, however, there’s also a sign of turnaround, with shares since August up 6%.

For 18-34 and 25-54, classic hits, classic rock and Spanish contemporary all show share decreases of 0.4 or more during 2025, with the latter format down year-over-year for 18-34. Also of note for that demo: all of its top six formats have trended downward, again by 0.4 or higher, during 2025, including country, CHR and hot AC. Bucking that trend is eighth-ranked urban AC, with January-October delivery steadily up 18% since 2022 (3.9-4.1-4.4-4.6).