Posted by Blue on June 22, 2009 at 18:47:59:
Inside Radio takes a look at the most recent Chicago radio ratings. Keep in mind that the following comments are based on the 6+ numbers and not the 25-54 or even 18-34 demos that most stations care about more. The piece mentions WXRT's exit from the Top 20, but in the 25-54 numbers, it is well into the Top 20, coming in at #13 overall. From Inside Radio today....
Inside Chicago's May PPM Numbers.
Eight-tenths is one of Chicago's key May stats.
It's the extent of Emmis classic rocker WLUP's April-May jump. "The Loop" is on the verge of a three-share (2.9) and perhaps even entering the top ten, vaulting from #21 to #12.
Univision Spanish Oldies WPPN (+.2, month-month) matches March's 2.2 and enters the top 20 (at #20).
On the flipside, WPWX's eight-tenths decrease (2.3-1.5) sends the Crawford Urban Contemporary from 18th to 28th. It's noteworthy that "Power" was up six-tenths March-April.
Also leaving the top 20 is CBS Radio Adult Alternative WXRT (2.2 - 2.0, #19 - #21).
There is positive (6+) April-May movement for half the stations in Chicago's top 20. In addition to The Loop's impressive month, there are four-tenths gains by Urban AC WVAZ and Country WUSN.
Typical 6+ May boosts for Chicago's top 20 stations was +.31.
Four in ten (40%) of the top 20 was down month-month with Talk WLS-AM notching a one-half share decrease.
Customary losses were -.22.
The remaining 10% of Chicago's top 20 - specifically WGCI-FM and WVIV - were flat.
Talk produces the Windy City's most 6+ shares (9.3) but (#2) WGN and (#5) WLS-AM are off three-tenths and one-half share, respectively. Chicago's next strongest formats are: Regional Mexican (WOJO and WLEY-FM's 6.4, +.1 from April); Adult Contemporary (6.0, -.3 from WLIT and WILV); News (5.5, +.2 from WBBM-AM); and Hot AC (4.8, +.3 from WTMX).
Rounding out the top ten formats in the #3 market are Urban AC (4.7, +.4 from WVAZ); Oldies (4.2, -.1 from WLS-FM); Country (4.2, -.4 from WUSN); CHR (3.8, +.2 from WKSC); and Classic Hits (3.6, -.1 from WDRV).
Clear Channel-owned Urban AC "V-103" (WVAZ), CHR "Kiss-FM" (WKSC), Adult Contemporary "Lite-FM" (WLIT), Urban Contemporary WGCI-FM and former Smooth Jazz - now "Mega" - WNUA combine for 17.2 (6+) shares - exactly the same as it had in April.
All four CBS Radio outlets in the top 20 - News WBBM-AM, Country "US-99.5" (WUSN), Rhythmic CHR "B-96" (WBBM-FM) and Adult Hits "Jack-FM" (WJMK) - post month-month gains. The group's total though is actually down (16.1 - 14.9) owing to WXRT's top 20 disappearance.
Bonneville Hot AC "Mix" (WTMX), Classic Hits "Drive" and Adult Contemporary WILV yield 11.0 (6+) shares up one-tenth from April.
Other group owners with stations in Chicago's May top 20 are Citadel (Talk WLS-AM and Oldies WLS-FM, 8.5, -.6 from April); Univision (Regional Mexican WOJO, Spanish Adult Hits WVIV and Spanish Oldies WPPN 8.2, +2.1); Tribune (WGN-AM's 5.0, -.3); Emmis (Classic Rock WLUP's 2.9, +.8); and Spanish Broadcasting System (Regional Mexican WLEY's 2.8, +.2).
The top five cumers are: CHR WKSC (1,971,700, +23,800 from April); Adult Contemporary WLIT (1,801,400, +83,200); Rhythmic CHR WBBM-FM (1,795,900, +71,100); Classic Hits WDRV (1,505,700, +186,800); and Hot AC WTMX (1,744,800, -85,100).