At the same time, this is both interesting and nearly meaningless. These 6+ results give a snapshot of a much larger picture. I shall begin.
1. WDRV-FM/97.1 The Drive has a license to print money. They spend very little of it but rake in both ratings and revenue. 2. WLIT-FM/93.9 is about where they should be. 3. WUSN-FM/99.5 is a surprise. Was a certain segment of society given PPMs and this is the result? 4. WXRT-FM/93.1 this heritage station has a loyal following. One of the few success stories in the Audacy portfolio. 5. WLS-FM/94.7 dropped from 4.6 to 3.8. At the same time, the automated jukebox called WRME-LD has attracted some WLS-FM listeners and or possibly the former WSHE-FM/100.3 listeners. Speculation on my part. 6. WKSC-FM/103.5 continues its lead over WBBM-FM/96.3. 7. WLS-AM 890 has nowhere to go but up. Recent changes haven't been reflected and I don't know if this once historic station will ever become a player in Chicago. 8. WCHI-FM/95.5 As expected, this classic rock station which suffers a musical identity crisis, is beginning to fade away. I get they are trying to attract women listeners; however, the programming is in dire need of attention. iHeartMedia should expect more since this station has been around for something like four years. 2.5 to 2.8 to 2.4 to 2.3. 9. WTMX-FM/101.9 has slid past a number of stations which it used to crush. 3.0 to 2.7. WRME-LD is registering a higher rating. Let's keep in mind, these are only 6+ numbers. The true test is in the billing. 10 WBMX-FM/104.3 continues to rise. 3.0 to 3.5. A radio veteran told me this station would be gone within a year when K-Hits flipped to classic hip hop. That individual was wrong. What I hear about this station is too much repetition. I'm not a listener so I have no direct knowledge. 11. WERV-FM/95.9 which is an Aurora station. It registers with a 0.2. My toaster has more power than this station. It barely gets into Chicago. Let's see what their new format does in the next PPM survey.
I highly, almost certainly doubt 87.7 got anything from 100.3. They didn't change format. They rebranded. It's the same exact thing that's been on there for two years except with cleaner branding.
What might have happened with 87.7 is 93.9. Lately they started playing more Hot AC stuff, not current but Alanis Morrissette, Bon Jovi, etc. People who tuned into 93.9 for the softer music might have tuned back to 87.7 because of these. I noticed 93.9 seemingly upped the older Soft AC again just a tad.
Ratings don't matter for Alpha. They're more worried about digital numbers. Either way, this book doesn't include any of the changes.
104.3 is mass appeal. Hispanics, Whites, Blacks, all can listen. They have the sweet spot musically where one or the other wouldn't have any problem with the music. It's not too Urban but it's also not too Pop. A lot of the songs were heard on both Pop and Urban radio back in the day. Not surprised that they do well given they have a reach like that.
Yes you are correct, Jams is mass appeal to the people you listed that like Urban & Hip Hop. You turn off the rest. Ultimately, this is upper demos that grew up on B96 past ~93 minus any dance music that is not hip hop.
The Audacy Jams format is swirling within the bottom of the toilet bowl in NYC and other markets.
WDRV and WLS-FM share too much audience. That is the risk for WLS-FM. They do not have their OWN identity, they are the #2 choice to WDRV. Stations no longer want to "own" a format, rather suck off the tit of another one.
Peoples tastes change. Hell look at WLJE's #s. Even if they just subscribed to the numbers, it is still a .7 for a Class A station out of Valpo Indiana! That is a 6.2 share for country in Market #3 and a period when current music formats are still funneling down the toilet.
The champagne is flowing @ B96 cracking a 2 share. 104.3 Jams is eating their demos. I really believe B96 is now an afterthought and the heritage station is being relegated to secondary status. They leave Jams, they end up on B96, vice versa, keep it in the family. 100.3 might wreck that plan going forward.
METV-FM has been airing a lot of commercials recently. That can help.
WERV is a non starter unless they pair it up with something else closer to Chicago, or more North to have coverage. Honestly, Alpha is playing shell games, throwing pebbles in the pond to make some waves. They want to fix this issue and be big dogs instead of runts in the game? Buy up Matt's 102.3 translator, 102.3 Crete, they might have a chance at FREE Country. Even better, move Matt's 102.3 to AON or Trump tower. Pair 98.3 with the River and buy up the translators on 95.9, Chicago cast it. Once again kids, you play with Monopoly money, it is all fantasy.
102.3 WYCA has a limited coverage toward Chicago, but good enough to put a solid signal over much of the south suburbs and into NW Indiana including Gary. I would be surprised if Alpha could pay Dontron enough to grab that, and then net a profit. If they could, it’s a good plan especially if they get Matt’s translator.
What about the ratings for WSCR 670-AM (Cubs) vs. WMVP 1000-AM (White Sox)? They fill an important function now that local baseball is not on Free Tzv ex ept for the occasional Sat. Night on Fox 32.
on June 10, 2024, 7:06 pm