Posted by Bobby on July 17, 2009 at 11:51:26:
Right mix for WTMX
RATINGS | Tops Arbitron again, with Eric and Kathy still No. 1
July 17, 2009
LEWIS LAZARE | Chicago Sun-Times Media & Marketing columnist
As in life, there are no certainties in the world of radio ratings. But the ongoing success of Bonneville International's hot adult contemporary WTMX-FM (101.9) looks to be about as much of a sure thing as there is in the Chicago radio market now.
As it also was in April and May, the station was the top-ranked outlet in the June Arbitron ratings book released Wednesday, scoring a 5.8 Monday through Sunday among adults 25 to 54, the key demo for advertisers. And the city's top radio personalities, WTMX's morning drive duo of Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart, were again No. 1 in their time slot as well, scoring a 7.5. Their closest morning drive competitor was all-news WBBM-AM (780), with a 5.7.
A surging No. 2 in the June book was CBS Radio's country classic WUSN-FM (99.5), scoring a 5.4. WUSN has been up and down in the ratings, but General Manager Dave Robbins said its recent strength is due to several factors, including the mix of hits played and concert appearances in the city. Kenny Chesney, one of country's hottest acts, recently played Chicago.
Also, NASCAR is a huge boost to WUSN's numbers during the summer, Robbins said. The station broadcasts a number of races live from the Chicagoland Speedway. "There are 1.3 million auto racing fans in the Chicago market," Robbins noted.
In third place overall in the June book in the 25- to 54-demo was Clear Channel Radio Chicago's urban adult contemporary WVAZ-FM (102.7), which scored a 4.6, nearly a full rating point below WUSN.
WVAZ riled many longtime listeners in March, when it dumped Tom Joyner from morning drive and replaced him with Steve Harvey. So far, the switch hasn't worked wonders for WVAZ's numbers. In the April book, it was tied for 10th place from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, but it dropped to 16th place in that time period in the June book.
Another station in the Clear Channel Radio Chicago portfolio that bears watching is adult contemporary WLIT-FM (93.9), famously known as the station that switches sometime in early to mid-November each year to a holiday music format. When WLIT has made that seasonal format switch in years past, its ratings have soared. But without the holiday uplift, WLIT looks to be suffering.
In the June book, WLIT could do no better than a 2.5 rating overall, putting it 17th in the market, down from ninth place in May. The station is performing especially poorly in morning drive, where it is now tied for 26th place with a 1.5 rating.
WSCR welcomes Stone
White Sox TV color commentator Steve Stone has signed an agreement to provide baseball commentary twice a week on CBS Radio's all-sports WSCR-AM (670).
"Steve's the best in the business, and his baseball knowledge is awesome," said WSCR Program Director Mitch Rosen. Stone previously worked at WSCR doing radio color commentary for the White Sox before switching to the TV gig.
The plan calls for Stone to appear live at 7:40 a.m Mondays during the "Mully & Hanley Show" for a 15- to 20-minute segment and at 2 p.m. on Fridays on the "Boers & Bernstein Show." Rosen said the deal with Stone is in effect only through the end of the current baseball season.
North seeks new sponsor
Mike North is back from vacation and hard at work lining up a new lead sponsor for his "Monsters in the Morning" show on Comcast SportsNet, since his previous sponsor's owner is facing federal charges. Nothing to report yet, North said, but he told us he intends to do a good job of vetting whatever sponsor comes forward before any contract is signed. "If I don't do the vetting, you can be sure the media will," North said.