Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 25, 2008 at 13:49:09:
In Reply to: Preliminary Chicago PPM ratings posted by chicagomedia.org on July 25, 2008 at 07:23:20:
Bonneville In Driver's Seat; WGCI, WVAZ, WNUA, And Dahl Fall In All Access' Exclusive Chicago PPM Preview
ALL ACCESS has seen preview results from CHICAGO that was released to clients earlier this week. ALL ACCESS asked RADIOCRUNCH President ANTHONY ACAMPORA to analyze the data, and here are his findings. Keep in mind that this is one month of PPM data and we will continue to keep a close watch as data continues to be released. However, we found some notable differences between diary and meter -- and they are noted here.
BONNEVILLE Classic Rock WDRV (T DRIVE) in the leadership position among adults 25-54. BONNEVILLE also was the winner with adults 18-34 with Hot AC WTMX, while Gold-Based AC WILV (100.3 LOVE-FM) posted nice gains. CLEAR CHANNEL saw major drops in the CHICAGO PPM data with Urban WGCI, Urban AC WVAZ and Smooth AC WNUA. Meanwhile, results for CBS Adult Hits WJMK (JACK-FM) and morning man STEVE DAHL were dramatically different in the meter.
We compared the JUNE 2008 PPM data to the SPRING 2008 diary. Here's a look at each of the key group owners and how they performed.
BONNEVILLE was the big winner with WDRV and WTMX the top two stations among adults 25-54 respectively. 'TMX was #4 and 'DRV #5 in the SPRING book. AC WILV ranked 10th in the meter , up from 17th in the diary. 'DRV goes from 10th in mornings to 1st from the diary to the meter.
Urban Facing Challanges
CLEAR CHANNEL saw major drops for their Urban properties. Heritage Urban WGCI, who was #1 in the diary, slips all the way into a tie for 10th in the meter adults 25-54. WVAZ slipped a bit less, moving from 2nd in the diary to 6th in the meter. AC WLIT was relatively the same (16th in meter versus 14th in the diary). Meanwhile, the outlook for Smooth AC continues to be bleak. WNUA, which has been one of the formats heritage stations (and usually a top 10 performer in the 25-54 cell), fell all the way to #22 in the meter. CLEAR CHANNEL's other FM, Top 40 WKSC, was fairly stable in its 18-34 target, ranking 4th in the meter versus 3rd in the diary -- and WKSC beat WGCI 18-34.
CRAWFORD also shared in the challenges that Urban radio is facing in the WINDY CITY. Urban WPWX was 6th 18-34 in the spring book but landed in 16th place in the meter. Urban AC WSRB moves from 28th 25-54 in the diary to 38th in the meter.
CBS saw improvement from most of their stations. Country WUSN (US99) was 6th in the diary and a clinbed to a solid 3rd in the meter - although US99 had been outside the top 10 for a while in the diary. AAA WXRT posted solid results in the meter -- positive news for a format that has seen its new launches perform poorly in the meter in NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES. 'XRT was 6th in the diary and was 5th in the meter. News WBBM-A moves from 11th in the diary to 8th in the meter 25-54. Rhythmic WBBM (B96) also dipped in the meter -- ranking 10th in adults 18-34 compared to top 5 in the diary.
A Suprise
However, a surprising development for CBS may have come from Adult Hits WJMK (JACK-FM). "JACK" moves from 20th 25-54 in the diary to 18th in the meter. Not a big difference you say? The new methodology shows opposite results. In the diary, morning man STEVE DAHL ranked 7th and then the station had essentially half the 25-54 shares the rest of the day. But the meter tells a completely different story. DAHL ranks outside the top 25 in the meter in mornings, with the station scoring much higher shares the rest of the day (increasing 43% from mornings to middays).
A reversal of fortune in the AC battle. WLIT was 14th 25-54 while CBS's WCFS (FRESH) was 23rd in the SPRING book. However, in it was WCFS 13th and WLIT 16th.
Despite what may have been reported elsewhere, Spanish language shares were fairly strong. Over at UNIVISION, Regional Mexican WOJO held its own in the meter, finishing 4th 25-54 (it ranked 3rd in the diary). Spanish Oldies WPPN (RECUERDO) did not fare as well coming in 17th in the meter versus 6th in the diary. However, rival SBS saw its Regional Mexican WLEY rank 7th 25-54 in the meter, versus 10th in the diary. WLEY was also 2nd 18-34 in the meter (5th in the diary).
EMMIS was rather steady. Classic Rock WLUP ranked 11th in the diary and 10th in the meter 25-54. Alternative WKQX (Q101.1) moves from 10th in the diary to 7th in the meter 18-34.
One other item that we're seeing in some markets -- is better results for suburban stations. NEXTMEDIA saw nice growth for their group of suburban outlets. NEXTMEDIA Active Rock WIIL ranked 19th 18-34 (up from 29th in the diary). Sister AC WXLC, which occasionally makes the diary book, ranked 26th 25-54 in the meter.
(AA)