July 30, 2026
There has been a lot of buzz around the industry lately about the future of radio ratings. The rise of DTS Auto Stage has provided stations with a different look into how their stations are performing. The Cumulus-Nielsen dust up has caused broadcasters to wonder if there is a better way to quantify (and monetize) their performance.
However, back here in the present day, Nielsen remains our industry’s currency, especially in PPM markets. Most stations still rely on that data to monitor their brand’s performance and generate the lion’s share of their revenue.
At Research Director, Inc. we have been analyzing Nielsen née Arbitron data for over 30 years. The one question we continually ask is: are you maximizing your Nielsen investment?
Here’s a quick rundown on how you can save time and dig more deeply into your numbers:
- Our Instant Answer report breaks down each survey into bite sized parts that spotlight you and your competition. Best of all—it lands in your inbox within minutes of your data release. A true time saver.
- Our Exact Age Report for PPM markets breaks down listening by age, gender, and ethnicity. You see where you (and your competitor’s) AQH is coming from. Unlike the CPR reports, our Exact Age Report shows the entire market AND uses weighted data.
- The Hot Zip Report is similar to the Exact Age Report, except it breaks everything down by your market’s zip codes.
- Format Tracker shows you which format groups are winning or losing. And it tells you how well Nielsen is doing in sampling every available cell. Do you depend on Hispanic Women 35-44? You’ll see if Nielsen is delivering the sample you are paying for.
These reports also come with the kind of seasoned analysis and insight only The Ratings Experts (that’s us) can provide. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We are part of your team and help you make more informed strategic and tactical decisions.
Ratings matter. What you do with that information is even more important.
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Ping me at: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
The first one’s free…
July 23, 2026
Image by Shubham Jana from Pexels.
One of my guilty viewing pleasures is the History Channel’s series, “The Food That Built America.” The production values are a bit cheesy, but the underlying stories can be compelling. They focus on those individuals who have had the inspiration and the passion to create foods and systems that have become an integral part of our culture.
A recent episode focused on bottled iced tea. There was a time in the not-too-distant past where iced tea, especially the pre-made variety, was not a thing. Lipton made the first foray into this space with limited success. Then a bottled juice company in New York decided to enter the game. While Snapple is a household name today, it was an unknown upstart back then.
What does this have to do with radio? The reason Snapple went from nowhere to the #1 brand in that category comes down to two words: Howard Stern.
Snapple chose Howard’s show as the fulcrum of its advertising efforts. They piggybacked on his deep relationship with his audience to create an affinity for their product. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today’s radio environment is not the same as it was in the early 90’s. The attention space is much more crowded. And, let’s face it, are there any current radio personalities that have the reach that Howard did back then? Are there any that are as entertaining AND polarizing as he was? Rush was. Maybe Stephen A is.
That said, personality endorsements continue to be a valuable—and successful—tool for radio advertising. You can’t get through a break at a Sports station without hearing at least one.
But what about the vast majority of stations that are not built upon a cult of personality? This is not to say the rank and file of radio personalities don’t have a following. They do. But do they have a product propelling fan base? Can they take a local or regional product to #1 in its category?
There are national figures like Bobby Bones or Charlamagne tha God that have both the following and the reach to move product. They are also likely too expensive for many brands.
The radio pros who have developed that level of relationship on a smaller scale tend to share a few metrics:
- Their ratings outperform the rest of the radio station. They draw in listeners for the content, not the format.
- They draw a crowd. If they do an event, people will show up.
- They influence behavior. They can stuff a truck, raise tons of money for a worthy cause, or get people involved with an issue.
These stars generate both ratings and revenue. They form lasting relationships with both listeners and advertisers. They are radio’s not so secret weapon.
As an industry, are we doing everything we can to nurture these people? Do we show them how much we appreciate their art? Do we invest in their continued success?
And, finally, are we developing the revenue generators of the future?
Personalities are radio’s great differentiator. That human connection cannot be replaced by an algorithm. Or a generic network feed.
Feel free to tell me I’m full of it: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
July 16, 2026
Welcome to our final foray into the JUNE survey. It’s truly a magical time of year when a single fractional point can mean the difference between executive genius and a frantic, sweaty, mid-summer programming format tweak.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—with a healthy assist from the wizards of XTRENDS—are here to break it all down. Besides the usual suspects, were there any stations that were granted a NIELSEN kiss or the back of a meter keepers’ hand.
This survey ran from MAY 28th through JUNE 24th. It featured the MEMORIAL DAY weekend, the longest day of the year, and a celebration of the dad mafia. Here goes…
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Fits Like A Dove
For the fifth book in a row COX MEDIA Soft AC WDUV (105.5 THE DOVE) was #1 6+. The station also matched its Santa enhanced number from the HOLIDAY survey (9.0-11.0). iHEARTMEDIA AC WMTX (MIX 100.7) rose from #6 to #2 with its best Frosty-free share in over a year (5.3-6.0). RADIO TRAINING NETWORK Contemporary Christian WCIE (THE JOY FM) dipped to #3 with its smallest share in over a year (7.3-5.8). COX MEDIA Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 THE EAGLE) stepped down to #4 (6.4-5.6) and was tied with BEASLEY Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105), which moved up a slot (5.4-5.6). COX MEDIA AC WWRM (MAGIC 94.9) slipped to #6 with its lowest score since OCTOBER (6.3-5.0). Despite a 2.7% decline WDUV still had the most listeners (643,600-626,200). The market was down 2.5%.
As with the previous demo, WDUV was #1 25-54 for the fifth straight survey. WMTX advanced from #5 to #2 and was about a half share off the lead. WRBQ was down to #3 with a down book, while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock WXTB (98 ROCK) moved up a couple of spaces to #4 with a solid increase. WWRM slid from #2 to #5 and was paired with WCIE. Both stations had down books.
WDUV was #1 18-34 again but for only the fourth book in a row. The station also saw its double-digit streak end at three. WXTB vaulted from #9 to #2, nearly doubling its previous number. WMTX inched up to #3 with its best outing since JANUARY, while WCIE dipped to #4 as it ended a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) was back at #5 as it regained some of last month’s share loss. WWRM fell from #2 to #6 with its lowest mark since JULY.
WMTX leapt from #4 to #1 18-49 and narrowly defeated WDUV, which was up to #2. WCIE stepped down to #3 with its smallest share since AUGUST, while WWRM went from first to fourth. It was paired with WXTB, which rose from #6. BEASLEY Country WQYK (99.5 QYK) moved from #10 to #6 with its best showing since AUGUST. WRBQ slid from #5 to #8.
DENVER-BOULDER: More Of The Same
The 6+ leaderboard was populated by the same five stations as last month. BONNEVILLE AC KOSI (KOSI 101.1) was back at #1 (6.7-6.9), while AUDACY Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 THE MOUNTAIN) remained resolute at #2 (5.9-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) repeated at #3 with its highest score in over a year (5.2-5.7). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO dipped to #4 (5.2-5.3) and was paired with KSE MEDIA Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL 105), which moved up a spot (5.0-5.3). KOSI padded its cume lead with a 1.3% increase (481,800-488,200). The market was off by 2.0%.
For the sixth straight survey KTCL was #1 25-54. KOSI stepped up to #2 but was still nearly two shares off the pace. AUDACY Modern AC KALC (ALICE 105.9) dipped to #3, while two stations moved up and into a tie at #4. KQMT was up a spot but with its fourth down book in a row, while KXKL rose from #6 as it bounced back from a down book. KKSE MEDIA Sports KKSE (ALTITUDE SPORTS RADIO 92.5FM) shed more than half its previous share as it plunged from #3 to #16. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA N/T KOA-A and AUDACY Rhythmic CHR KQKS (KS 107.5).
KTCL was both #1 and in double figures 18-34 for the third book in a row. KXKL stepped up to #2 but was more than six shares behind the leader. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KXPK (LA TRICOLOR 96.5) dipped to #3 as it surrendered most of last month’s increase. Four stations were in league with one another at #4. KOSI was up a spot while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDHT (HITS 95.7) and KSE MEDIA Hot AC KIMN (MIX 100) advanced from a tie at #7. KQMT vaulted from #10. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (103.5 THE FOX) slid from #5 to #8. It was tied with IHEARTMEDIA AAA KBCO and COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO N/T KCFR. KYGO dropped from #4 into a tie at #11 with COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO Classical KVOD.
KTCL landed its largest 18-49 share in over a year to capture the demo for the third straight survey. KOSI inched up to #2 with a slight decrease, while KXKL jumped from #6 to #3 as it bounced back from a down book. KXPK was up to #4, while KALC stepped down to #5 with its lowest total in a year. It was paired with KDHT. KKSE fell from #2 into a tie at #18 with KVOD.
SAN DIEGO: It’s Always Sunny In…
AUDACY Classic Hits KXSN (SUNNY 98.1) was #1 6+ for the third book in a row (7.7-7.5). SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY N/T KPBS was back at #2 but with its smallest share since the big guy was in town (7.6-6.5). LOCAL MEDIA Rhythmic AC XHRM (MAGIC 92.5) stepped up to #3 as it ended a steep two-book slide (4.9-5.3). AUDACY AC KYXY also made it up to #3 as it rebounded from a down book (4.7-5.3). GRUPO IMAGEN Spanish Hot AC XLTN (RADIO LATINA 104.5FM) was up to #5 with its best book in over a year (4.6-5.0). It was joined there by iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMYI (STAR 94.1), which rose from #6 as it also bounced back from a down book (4.4-5.0). AUDACY Sports KWFN (97.3FM THE FAN) slid from #3 to #7 (5.4-4.9). KXSN remained in cume control with a 1.8% decline (608,100-597,200). The market fell by 0.7%.
There was some serious movement in the 25-54 realm. KXSN stepped up to #1 with a slight decrease and was paired with LOCAL MEDIA Alternative XTRA (91X), which advanced from #7 with its highest mark in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3) went from first to third as it returned most of last month’s huge increase. It was joined there by XHRM, which vaulted from #10 as it regained most of last survey’s huge share loss. KMYI worked it from #9 to #5 as it also bounced back from a down book. KWFN slipped from #3 to #6 and was tied with KYXY and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KHTS (CHANNEL 93.3). KPBS fell from #4 to #10 and was tied with LOCAL MEDIA Pop CHR XHTZ (Z90.3).
For the fourth book in a row, KXSN was #1 18-34. The station just missed hitting double figures. XTRA stood alone at #2 but with its best outing in over a year. KMYI was up to #3 with a huge share increase, while KYXY slipped to #4 despite an up book. KWFN and XLTN dropped into a tie at #5, while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KLNV (QUÉ BUENA 106.5) dipped to #6.
KXSN repeated as the 18-49 leader but was hearing footsteps from XTRA, which advanced from #9 to #2. XHRM rose from #10 to #3 and KMYI moved from #8 to #4. Both stations rebounded from down books. KLNV dipped into a tie at #5 with KYXY. KIOZ fell from #2 to #8, while KPBS dropped from #3 to #11.
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CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-ROCK HILL: On The Lake Front
iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits WLKO (102.9 THE LAKE) moved back up to #1 6+ (6.9-6.7). PACIFIC BROADCASTING GROUP Classic Hits WXRC (95.7FM THE RIDE) cruised from #4 to #2 with its highest score since JULY (5.7-6.6). UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION N/T WFAE went from first to third as it halted a three-book surge (7.6-5.9). It was met headlong by iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WEND (106.5 THE END), which rose from #5 with its third straight up book (5.6-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Country WKKT (96.9 THE KAT) slipped to #5 (5.8-5.8). I narrowly edged its competition as BEASLEY Country WSOC (COUNTRY 103.7) advanced from #11 to #6 (4.6-5.7). WLKO added 9.3% to its leading cume total (507,700-554,700). The market was up 1.6%.
WEND was #1 25-54 for the third book in a row and this time it landed in double figures. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WRFX (99.7 THE FOX) rose from #5 to #2 with its best showing in over a year. It was still more than two shares off the lead. WLKO was back at #3, while WFAE slipped to #4. Both stations returned a lot of last month’s share increases. BEASLEY Urban Contemporary WPEG (POWER 98) stepped down to #5, while WKKT was down to #6. Both stations had small decreases. URBAN ONE Urban Oldies WOSF (105.3 RnB) dropped to #9 with its smallest share in exactly a year.
WEND stepped up to #1 18-34 and hit double digits. Making the leap o’ the month was NORSAN MEDIA Mexican Regional WOLS (LA RAZA 106.1), which advanced from #15 to #2. The station increased its previous number by about nine-fold. Amazing. BEASLEY Pop CHR WNKS (KISS 95.1) ended its two-book run at #1 and double figures as it landed at #3 with its lowest score since OCTOBER. WRFX moved up to forge a tie at #3 as it rebounded from a down book. WLKO slipped from #3 to #5 and was paired with BEASLEY Urban AC WBAV (V101.9), which rose from #8 as it ended a steep three-book slide. BEASLEY Classic Hits WKQC (K104.7FM) dropped three places to #7, while WFAE fell from #5 to #10.
WEND was back at #1 18-49 with a slight increase. WRFX jumped from #6 to #2 as it regained a good portion of last month’s huge share loss. WNKS dipped to #3 with a huge share loss, while WFAE stepped down to #4 as it gave back most of last month’s rather large increase. WPEG was up to #5 with a modest increase. WLKO and WKQC slipped from #4 and #5, respectively, into a tie at #6.
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND): News You Can Use
For the sixth book in a row, AUDACY News WINS (1010 WINS) was #1 6+ (8.3-7.7). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHTZ (Z100) was back at #2 (7.3-6.8), while AUDACY Sports WFAN (SPORTS RADIO 101.9FM/66AM) repeated at #3 (5.5-5.7). COX MEDIA Pop CHR WBLI (106.1 BLI) stepped up to #4 with its highest score since JANUARY (4.8-5.3). RED APPLE MEDIA N/T WABC-A rose from #7 to #5 (4.4-5.2), while CONNOISSEUR Hot AC WALK (WALK FM) slipped from #4 to #6 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER (5.1-4.8). WHTZ was still the cume commander despite a 3.4% decline (417,900-403,600). The market was down 1.2%.
WHTZ was #1 25-54 for the fourth straight survey, the last two of which have been in double digits. WALK repeated at #2 as it returned all of last month’s increase, plus a bit extra. WBLI was back at #3 with a small increase, while iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) remained at #4 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. A flat WFAN stepped up to #5, while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS dropped two places to #6.
WBLI was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row and was close to hitting double digits. WHTZ remained at #2 and was joined there by a flat WALK, which moved up from #4. CONNOISSEUR AC WKJY (K-JOY 98.3) dipped to #4 with a down book. Last time there were five stations sitting at #5. WLTW and WCBS remained in place with modest increases. COX MEDIA Classic Rock WBAB slipped to #7 as it returned all of last month’s increase. AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7) slid to #8 and was partnered with WABC-A and CONNOISSEUR Country WWWF (103.1 THE WOLF). WINS dropped to #11 and was sharing that moment with iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WKTU (103.5 KTU), MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS and iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WWPR (POWER 105.1).
As with the 25-54 situation, WHTZ was #1 18-49 for the fourth book in a row, the last two of which were in double digits. WBLI stepped up to #2 with a slight increase and narrowly defeated WALK, which dipped to #3 with its lowest score since DECEMBER. WLTW rose from #8 to #4, again with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WFAN stepped up to #5 with a small increase. WKJY slipped two slots to #7 and was joined there by WBAB and WCBS. WNEW fell from #4 to #10. It was #2 just two books ago.
We appreciate your time. See you in four weeks for the JULY book. Feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, critiques and complaints to our customer care department, which is definitely not AI driven. A real human will answer this e-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com.
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July 15, 2026
As always, JUNE numbers provide a fascinating, highly scientific window into exactly what the “real world” was doing between MAY 29th and JUNE 25th. Because nothing says “accurate cultural barometer” like a four-week block of data that ignores half of JULY.
Parents nationwide finally turned off the news or their favorite morning show because their children took them hostage from the backseat. The drop-off in standard commuting patterns isn’t because people stopped driving; it’s because thousands of parents were trapped in a permanent, screaming loop between the grocery store, the neighborhood pool, and their own breaking points.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in proximity with the data diviners from XTRENDS—are here to break it down. The real-world touch points for this survey include the MEMORIAL DAY holiday weekend, the meteorological beginning of summer and, of course, a salute to dear old dad.
MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: So Near, Yet So Far
In the land of the perpetual summer, the top seven stations on the 6+ leaderboard were all within a share of each other. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (MAGIC 93.9) was back at #1 (6.2-6.1), while COX MEDIA AC WFEZ (EASY 93.1) moved up to #2 as it ended a four-book slide (5.5-5.9). AUDACY AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) dipped to #3 (6.1-5.8), while COX MEDIA Urban AC WHQT (HOT 105FM) stepped up to #4 (5.3-5.7). SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3) stood alone at #5 (5.3-5.5), while TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Hot AC WAMR (AMOR 107.5) slipped from #3 to #6 (5.5-5.3). AUDACY Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 THE BEACH) remained at #7 (5.2-5.2). WLYF was still the cume leader despite a 3.5% decline (740,300-714,200). The market was off by 2.3%.
The 25-54 race was tight, as well, with six stations within a share of the lead. WLYF was #1 for the third book in a row, while WFEZ rose from #4 to #2 with its first up book since JANUARY. WMIA stepped down to #3 as it returned all of last month’s share increase. A flat WMXJ dipped to #4, while WHQT moved from #7 to #5 as it rebounded from a down book. COX MEDIA Rhythmic AC WFLC (HITS 97.3) was down to #6 despite a slight increase.
COX MEDIA Urban Contemporary WEDR (99 JAMZ) landed its lowest 18-34 share since DECEMBER but remained the runaway leader in this sector. WMIA and WLYF were back at a distant #2, while three stations moved up and into a tie at #4. WMXJ rose from #7, while WFLC and WHQT advanced in unison from #11. The two stations previously tied at that spot did not fare as well. WCMQ fell to #11. It was tied with SBS Spanish Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL 106.7 FM) and iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WHYI (Y100), which did move up from #17. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WMIB (103.5 THE BEAT) ended up at #14 with its lowest score in exactly a year.
There were seven stations within a share of the 18-49 lead. WLYF was #1 for the third book in a row with a slight increase. WMIA was back at #2 but was paired with WHQT, which arrived from #5. WMXJ dipped to #4, while three stations were huddled together at #5. WEDR slipped from #3 with a small share loss, while WFLC remained in place with a small share gain. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBGG (BIG 105.9) advanced from #9 with its best outing in over a year.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: We’re Talkin’ Baseball
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was #1 6+ for the sixth straight survey. However, the station posted its lowest score in over a year (10.1-7.4). While the MARINERS might not be lighting the world on fire, they are in the conversation, which was a book for their flagship BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A (SEATTLE SPORTS 710). The station was a close #2 with its best outing since OCTOBER (6.8-7.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 THE JET) was still circling the #3 slot (6.3-6.2), while AUDACY Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK) stepped up to #4 (5.5-4.9). CRISTA Contemporary Christian KCMS (SPIRIT 105.3) was up to #5 as it regained some of last month’s large share loss (4.4-4.7). AUDACY Alternative KNDD (107.7 THE END) rose from #9 to #6 with its best book in over a year (3.8-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZOK slid from #4 to #7 as it returned most of last month’s large increase (5.6-4.5). It was tied with AUDACY Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF), which remained in place (4.3-4.5). Despite a 1.8% decline KJEB was still #1 in cume (682,000-669,500). The market was down 0.6%.
KISW was #1 25-54 for the third book in a row but was feeling the heat from KIRO-A, which moved up to #2. The stations were separated by the smallest of possible margins. KUOW dipped to #3 with a rather large share loss and was tied with a flat KJEB, which moved up from #4. KNDD repeated at #5 with a slight increase.
KIRO-A used the long ball to advance from #3 to #1 18-34. KISW stepped down to #2 and exited double-digit territory. It was paired with KJEB, which had a solid increase. KKWF dipped to #4 and was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KBKS (HITS 106.1), which was up from #5 with a small share gain.
KIRO-A hit it out of the park 18-49 as it stepped up to #1. It had better than a share lead over last month’s leader—KISW—which was forced down to #2. KNDD inched up to #3 as it rebounded from a down book. KBKS and KKWF were tied at #5. Both stations had small increases as they moved up to the #4 position. KJEB descended from #3 to #6 as it surrendered half of last month’s huge increase.
PHOENIX: Submitted For Your Approval
In a stunning turn of events, iHEARTMEDIA N/T KFYI-A rose to #1 6+ after landing its largest share in over a year (5.6-6.7). It narrowly defeated iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ), which remained at #2 (6.5-6.6). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX went from first to third with its smallest share since everyone knew about a turkey and some mistletoe (6.7-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 THE MOUNTAIN) scaled from #6 to #4 with its highest share since JANUARY (4.4-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX dipped to #5 (5.2-4.8) where it met MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE N/T KJZZ (4.5-4.8). KESZ maintained its cume advantage despite a 5.2% decline (964,200-913,800). The market fell by 4.7%.
For the tenth book in a row, KESZ was #1 25-54. It had about a share lead over the two stations at #2. KYOT remained in place with its fourth up book in a row. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD advanced from #7 with its best outing in over a year. ENTRAVISION Mexican Regional KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR 103.5) dipped to #4 with a modest share loss, while KSLX was back at #5 with a slight decrease. ZELUS Hot AC KMVA (HOT 97.5/103.9) advanced from #10 to #6, while TELEVISAUNIVISION Mexican Regional KHOT (QUÉ BUENA 105.9) fell from a tie at #3 into one at #11 with its smallest share since JULY. Also sitting at #11 were SIERRA H Rhythmic AC KZCE (101.1 THE BOUNCE) and BONNEVILLE N/T KTAR.
KYOT repeated as the 18-34 leader with its highest mark in over a year. KESZ was back at #2 with its third up book in a row but was still about a share off the pace. KUPD rose from #6 to #3 while AUDACY Pop CHR KALV (LIVE 101.5) advanced from #8 to #4. Both stations bounced back from down books. KNIX slipped two places to #5, while HUBBARD Alternative KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3) dropped to #6. It was tied with cluster bud KSLX, which moved up from #10. AUDACY Classic Hits KOOL (BIG 94.5) dropped from #5 to #8 with its fifth straight down book. It was paired with AUDACY Country KMLE.
As recently as MARCH, KUPD was #14 18-49. The station landed in first place this time, which ended KESZ’s two-book winning string. The gap between the two stations could not be narrower. KYOT dipped to #3 despite landing its largest share in over a year. KALV and KMVA were last spotted at #12. Both stations had solid increases as they rose to #4 and #5, respectively. KLNZ slid from #2 to #6 with its smallest share since JANUARY. KDKB dropped from #5 to #8, while KHOT fell from #4 into a tie at #14 with iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KZZP (104.7 KISS FM).
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DETROIT: Ticket Master
No, not those guys. AUDACY Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET) was #1 6+ for the sixth straight survey (9.8-9.3). AUDACY Classic Hits WOMC repeated at #2 (6.9-8.1), while AUDACY Country WYCD stepped up to #3 (6.6-7.2). Both of those stations posted their best numbers in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AX WMXD (MIX 92.3) was up to #4 with its third up book in a row (6.1-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC slipped two places to #5 with its smallest share in over a year (6.8-5.8). The station still led the cume wars with a 0.7% increase (997,300-1,004,600). The market shrank by 0.4%.
WXYT was both #1 and in double figures 25-54 for the sixth consecutive month. BEASLEY Active Rock WRIF remained at #2 with its best showing since JANUARY. Alas, it still trailed the leader by more than two shares. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WJLB moved up to #3 with its highest score in over a year. WOMC was up to #4 as it ended a three-book skid, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WKQI (CHANNEL 955) slipped to fifth place with a slight decrease.
For the fourth book in a row, WJLB was in double-digits 18-34. The last three of those found the station in first place. WKQI moved up a slot to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. It was joined there by WRIF, which advanced from #4 with its best showing since NOVEMBER. WXYT went from second to fourth with its lowest total since the air was alive with piping pipers. Three stations were massed together at #5. AUDACY Alternative WDZH (ALT 98.7) held steady with a small share loss, while WOMC moved up from #7 with a small share gain. Completing the trilogy was WYCD, which rose from #12 with its highest score since OCTOBER.
Thanks to a slight increase, WJLB stepped up to #1 18-49. Not far behind was WRIF, which moved up from #3 with its third straight up book. This snapped the five-book heater for WXYT, which slipped to #3 with its lowest score since JULY. WKQI repeated at #4 with a slight increase and was joined there by WOMC, which moved up from #5 with a slightly larger increase.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: And Then There Was One
Last month three—count ‘em— three stations were all claiming to be #1 6+. This time only iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) could sustain that claim. The station posted its highest Frosty-free share in over a year (7.8-8.0). iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) stepped down to #2 as it ended its five-book surge (7.8-7.3). iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (100.3 K-FAN) slipped to #3 with its least productive outing in over a year (7.8-7.2). MPR N/T KNOW was back at #4 (6.4-6.8). It gained a 0.9 share from the interwebs. AUDACY Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 JACK FM) remained at #5 (6.0-6.0). KQQL still attracted the most meters (754,500-750,400) – a 0.4% decline. The market was down 2.3%.
KFXN continued to romp through the 25-54 space. The station was #1 for the sixth straight survey and hit double figures for the twelfth book in a row. KQQL was back at #2, again with its best Frosty-free share in over a year but still trailed the leader by a bit more than a share. MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT) moved up to #3 as it bounced back from a down book, while iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KDWB was up to #4 with a small share loss. KEEY slipped from third to fifth as it returned most of last month’s large increase.
KQQL was both #1 and in double digits 18-34 for the second book in a row. KDWB vaulted from #5 to #2 with its best showing in over a year and was still about three shares off the pace. KZJK stood alone at #3 with a slight decrease. KCMP stepped down to #4 with its lowest number in over a year. KEEY inched up to #5 with a small decrease, while KFXN slid from #2 to #6, losing nearly half its previous share.
As with the 25-54 situation, KFXN was #1 18-49 for the sixth straight survey and in double figures for the twelfth book in a row. The rest of the top five was unchanged from last month. KCMP was back at #2, KDWB at #3 and KQQL at #4. All three stations had slight increases but were well behind the leader. KZJK remained at #5 though it returned most of last month’s increase.
We’re headed back to the kitchen for another batch. Stay tuned for TAMPA, DENVER, SAN DIEGO, CHARLOTTE, and NASSAU-SUFFOLK.
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July 14, 2026
So here we are halfway through our broadcast year. A time when listening patterns begin to change. School is out, vacations begin, social media renews the debate of whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich (it is). While JUNE is not National BBQ month, it is when Weber grills across the land are contributing to the smells of summer. Ain’t that AMERICA.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—along with the math mavens from XTRENDS—are back for another look at the JUNE survey. This one ran from MAY 28th through JUNE 24th. We spent a weekend honoring those who paid the ultimate price for us, experienced the longest day of the year, and bought dad a tie. As long as no one put ketchup on those hot dogs, all was good.
Numbers time!
SAN FRANCISCO: Double Your Pleasure…
…double your fun. KQED, INC. N/T KQED was #1 6+ for the sixth straight survey and hit double figures for the first time in exactly one year (9.3-10.0). AUDACY News KCBS was back at #2 as is normally the case (8.8-8.5). CONNOUSSEUR AC KOIT became the leading music station again as it stepped up to #3 with its best Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER (4.8-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA Soft AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) wafted down to #4 (5.3-4.7), while the #5 tie remained intact. That featured CONNOISSEUR Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) and iHEARTMEDIA AC KIOI (STAR 101.3). Both stations went 4.7-4.1. KOIT remained the most listened to radio station with a 2.2% increase (1,054,700-1,077,500). The market fell by 2.4%.
KQED moved back to #1 25-54 with a small increase, while KOIT leapt from #5 to #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in exactly one year. KIOI went from first to third as it ended a robust six-book surge. A flat iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) was back at #4, while KMVQ slid from #2 to #5 with its smallest share since there was the incessant sound of way too many drummers. KISQ remained close behind at #6 with its best outing in over a year.
KOIT was #1 18-34 for the third book in a row and held a two and a half share lead over KMVQ, which moved from #4 to #2 as it rebounded from a down book. KISQ dipped to #3 and was met by the stationary KIOI. Both stations had down books. AUDACY Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) and SBS Regional Mexican KRZZ (LA RAZA 93.3) were last spotted at #7. Both stations bounced back from down books. KITS landed at #5, while KRZZ fell into a tie at #6 with iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KOSF (CLASSIC HITS 103.7). iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR KMEL landed its lowest number in over a year as it fell from #4 to #10. It was tied with five other radio stations.
Last month three stations were tied at #3 18-49. Two of them moved up to forge a tie at #1. They were KYLD and KOIT. KIOI ended a three-book run at #1 and slipped into a tie at #3 with KMVQ. KQED slipped from that #3 tie to #5 and narrowly defeated the flat KISQ at #6.
ATLANTA: Talking The Talk
After a two-book hiatus, COX MEDIA N/T WSB-A was back at #1 6+ (7.1-7.5). URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC 107.5/97.5) repeated at #2 with its lowest score since JANUARY (7.4-6.8). COX MEDIA Urban AC WALR (KISS 104.1) was up two slots to #3 (5.9-6.1), while COX MEDIA AC WSB-F (B98.5) rebounded from a down book to rise from #6 to #4 (5.4-6.0). It was paired with COX MEDIA Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 THE RIVER), which slid from #1 with its smallest share since Grandma was roadkill (7.6-6.0). AUDACY Urban AC WVEE (V-103) went from #4 to #6 with its lowest mark since DECEMBER (6.1-5.5). WSB-F was still the cume commander with a 1.0% increase (757,600-765,200). The market was off by 1.9%.
The top five 25-54 was relatively unchanged from the previous survey. The top three stations also had down books. WAMJ was #1 for the third month in a row, WVEE remained at #2 while WSB-F was back at #3. WSRV repeated at #4 with a small increase, while a flat WALR held steady at #5. It had company as AUDACY Sports WZGC (92.9 THE GAME) advanced from #8 as it regained most of last month’s lost share.
Last month WSB-F dipped from #1 to #2 18-34 thanks to a massive share loss. The station got most of that back this time as it moved back to #1. WSRV stepped down to #2 with a modest share loss. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WRDG (96.1 THE BEAT) and WALR were last seen at #5. WRDG rose to #3 as it halted a three-book slide, while WALR made it to #4 with a small decrease. WZGC advanced from #8 to #5 with a solid increase. AUDACY Rhythmic AC WSTR (STAR 94) and WVEE were tied at #3. WSTR landed at #6 with its lowest mark since NOVEMBER, while WVEE ended up at #8 with its smallest share in over a year.
As with the previous demo, WSB-F bounced back from a down book to move up from #3 to #1 18-49. WVEE held steady at #2 despite landing its third down book in a row. WAMJ went from first to third with a rather large share loss. WSRV repeated at #4, while WZGC worked it from #9 to #5 with its best showing since JANUARY. WSTR dropped from #5 to #9. It was partnered with WRDG and DICKEY BROADCASTING Sports WCNN-A (SPORTS RADIO 680/93.7FM THE FAN)—which happens to be the BRAVES flagship.
WASHINGTON, DC: We Play Both News And Talk
As is usually the case in the city that is the focus of a lot of newsy information, the top two 6+ slots were occupied by information stations. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU was #1 (11.6-12.5), while HUBBARD News WTOP was #2 (10.2-9.8). This was the first time in over a year that WTOP was not in double figures. HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR became the leading music source as it stepped up to #3, ending a three-book slide (5.2-5.6). ATLANTIC GATEWAY Contemporary Christian WGTS rose to #4 (5.1-5.5), while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) slipped from #3 to #5 (5.4-5.4). Despite a 9.5% drop WTOP was still the cume leader (842,500-762,300). The market was off by 1.8%.
WAMU was #1 25-54 for the sixth straight survey and at double-figures for the past five. WWDC was back at #2 but with its highest share in over a year. WTOP repeated at #3 but with its fourth down book in a row. A flat WGTS held steady at #4, while iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH remained at #5 with a small share loss. WHUR came in at #6 again with its best outing since FEBRUARY. Watch out for URBAN ONE Spanish Hot AC WLNO (LATINO 104.1/87.7). The station vaulted from #16 to #7.
Big news in the 18-34 race as iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100) leapt from #4 to #1. This ended WASH’s two-book winning streak as it dipped to #2. WWDC stepped down to #3 with its first down book since JANUARY. iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIHT (HOT 99.5) went from #3 to #4 and was tied with WGTS, which arose from #7 with its highest mark in over a year. AUDACY Sports WJFK (106.7 THE FAN) returned most of last survey’s large increase as it fell from #5 to #9. Joining it there were WAMU, WHUR and GWET Classical WETA.
WAMU remained #1 18-49 and was dangerously close to hitting double digits. WWDC was still the #2 station but was three shares off the lead. WTOP remained at #3 but was forced to share as WGTS moved up a slot, again with its best book in over a year. WHUR inched up to #5, while WASH slipped to #6 with its lowest mark since JULY.
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PHILADELPHIA: Does The Tie Really Go To The Runner?
The top five stations on the 6+ leaderboard were all within a share of one another. AUDACY Sports WIP (94WIP SPORTSRADIO) was #1 for the third book in a row (8.0-7.1) but was joined there by BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR, which stepped up from #2 (6.7-7.1). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS dipped to #3 (6.7-6.6) and was paired with AUDACY AC WBEB (B101), which moved up a spot (6.2-6.6). BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK repeated at #5 with its first up book since FEBRUARY (6.0-6.3). WBEB again captured the most meters despite a 3.1% drop (1,154,800-1,119,100). The market was down 2.8%.
WMMR was #1 25-54 for the third book in a row and posted its largest number since NOVEMBER. WBEB went from #4 to #2 with its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WDAS dipped to #3 as it gave back about half of last month’s share increase. WIP stepped down to #4 as it halted a three-book surge. iHEARTMEDIA Urban Contemporary WUSL (POWER 99) inched up to #5 with its best book in over a year. WHYY INC. N/T WHYY fell from #5 to #9 with its smallest share in over a year. It was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (ALT 104.5), iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WIOQ (Q102) and BEASLEY Adult Hits WBEN (95.7 BEN FM).
WBEB landed its largest Frosty-free 18-34 share since SEPTEMBER as it moved up to #1. WRFF stood alone at #2 but with its fourth up book in a row. This stopped the three-book winning string for BEASLEY Country WXTU (92.5 XTU), which slipped to #3 with its third straight down book. WBEN repeated at #4 with a small increase and was paired with WMGK, which moved up from #5. WIP dropped from a tie at #5 to #10.
WMMR captured the 18-49 flag for the third book in a row. It held a slim lead over WBEB, which remained at #2. WIP came in at a distant #3 with its lowest score since FEBRUARY. WXTU was back at #4 with a slight decrease and was met there by WUSL, which moved up from #6 with a slight increase. WDAS stepped down to #6.
BOSTON: A Magic Show
AUDACY AC WMJX (MAGIC 106.7) landed its largest Frosty-free share since SEPTEMBER as it rose from #3 to #1 6+ (6.1-6.6). This broke the first-place tie between BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR and BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR. WROR dipped to #2 (6.2-6.0), while WBUR landed at #3 (6.2-5.9). AUDACY Hot AC WBMX (MIX 104.1) was up two places to #4 with its third straight up book (5.3-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Pop CHR WXKS (KISS 108) and iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX were previously seen at #4. WXKS dipped to #5 (5.6-5.2), while WZLX ended up at #6 as it ended a four-book surge (5.6-5.1). Keep an eye on NORTHEAST BROADCASTING AAA WXRV (92.5 THE RIVER). The station moved up to #7 with its best showing in over a year (4.3-4.8). WMJX padded its cume lead with a 1.6% increase (858,700-872,200). The market was down 1.6%.
WBMX landed its largest 25-54 share in over a year as it stepped up to #1. WXKS moved down to #2 and was more than a share off the pace. WBUR went from #5 to #3 with a slight increase, while BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (98.5 THE SPORTS HUB) dipped to #4 with its lowest score since JULY. It was met there by WMJX, which was up from #6, again with its best Frosty-free share in over a year. WZLX slipped to #6 with a small share loss.
WMJX was #1 18-34 for the eighth straight survey and was threatening to hit double figures. iHEARTMEDIA Rhythmic CHR WJMN (JAM’N 94.5) vaulted from #8 to #2 with its best outing in over a year. The stations were separated by less than a half share. WROR was a distant #3, while WBMX slipped to #4 with a noticeable share loss. WXKS dipped to #5 and was paired with iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WZRM (RUMBA 97.7), which moved up from #6. Both stations had down books. WZLX dropped from #4 to #9 thus ending a four-book surge.
Thanks to its third up book in a row WBMX moved up to #1 18-49. This ended a two-book winning string for WXKS, which dipped to #2. It held a slim lead over the two stations at #3. WMJX moved up a spot with a huge increase, while WJMN advanced from #7, again with its best showing in over a year. WBUR repeated at #5 with a slight decrease, while WZLX fell from #3 to #7.
Two down, two to go. Thank you for your attention to these matters. On tap are MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, DETROIT, and MINNEAPOLIS. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog at www.ResearchDirectorInc.com/Hot-Topics. And remember, sharing is caring—spread the word far and wide.
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As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are ready to help you grow your ratings and revenue. Click the link below to get the gruesome details.
About Research Director, Inc.: Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We help radio stations’ programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information, visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 410-295-6619, or email info@ResearchDirectorInc.com or sallan@ResearchDirectorInc.com.
