Posted by Bud on December 31, 2009 at 18:54:55:
Holiday music format wins for radio channels
But look for WLIT to slip back in the pack now that it's over
As it has many times before, the nonstop holiday music format worked its magic for Clear Channel Radio Chicago's adult contemporary WLIT-FM (93.9) in the December Arbitron ratings book released Wednesday. WLIT catapulted from a tie for 12th place in November to No. 1 in the adult 25 to 54 demo.
The impressive showing is a testament to the popularity of seasonal music here. But don't look for WLIT to remain in first place for long, now that the holiday music is gone.
Meanwhile, Clear Channel's urban adult contemporary WVAZ-FM (102.7) inched down to second place in the ratings among adults 25 to 54 after jumping to first in November. And December was another remarkable month for Bonneville International's three Chicago radio stations. Its high-flying hot adult contemporary WTMX-FM (101.9) claimed the No. 3 ranking, and the team of Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart remain the duo to beat in morning drive. Bonneville's classic hits WDRV-FM (97.1) was part of a three-way tie for fourth place, and its adult contemporary WILV-FM (100.3) finished No. 7.
CBS Radio Chicago's all-news WBBM-AM (780), at No. 8, remains a contender, but it doesn't appear to have the steam needed to return to the No. 1 spot it had early in 2009.
All-country CBS Radio WUSN-FM (99.5) doesn't look like it's ready to drop out of the city's top 10 radio stations any time soon. Perhaps country crooner Taylor Swift is to thank, in part, for WUSN's continued success.
If anyone thinks celebrity-free, music-driven radio can't succeed in Chicago, may we direct them to CBS Radio's WJMK-FM (104.3), which wound up in a tie for ninth. WJMK, which ditched the high-priced Steve Dahl in morning drive a year ago, has been among the city's top 10 stations in the last three ratings books without high-profile on-air talent.
It's too early to say exactly how Jonathon Brandmeier's exit from Emmis Communications' classic rock WLUP-FM (97.9) will affect the station. But in his final month as a factor in the ratings, WLUP did inch downward in morning drive from a tie for 19th in November to a tie for 22nd place in December.
Roe Conn, with a new two-year contract, may be having more fun now on his WLS-AM (890) afternoon drive show, but he's mired in 26th place, right where he was in the November book. Overall, Citadel Broadcasting's news/talk WLS could do no better than a tie for 22nd in December among adults 25 to 54, but that was at least better than its arch-competitor, Tribune Co.-owned news/talk WGN-AM (720), which was 24th overall.
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TOP 10 RADIO STATIONS IN DECEMBER ARBITRON RATINGS, based on Arbitron ratings' results in the 25 to 54 adult demographic.
1. WLIT-FM (93.9) adult contemporary
2. WVAZ-FM (102.7) urban adult contemporary
3. WTMX-FM (101.9) hot adult contemporary
4. WDRV-FM (97.1) classic hits
4. WOJO-FM (105.1) Hispanic
4. WUSN-FM (99.5) country
7. WILV-FM (100.3) adult contemporary
8. WBBM-AM (780) all news
9. WJMK-FM (104.3) adult hits
9. WSCR-AM (670) sports talk