Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive February PPM Analysis For Boston, Detroit And Miami

ALL ACCESS presents FEBRUARY PPM market highlights, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool. All numbers reflect subscriber only data.

Boston: The Art Of War

As you are undoubtedly aware, there is a contemporary music war raging in the Hub.  Certainly, one of the goals in this epic confrontation is to eat away at the massive shares CCM+E Top 40/M WXKS (KISS 108) takes out of the market every month.  Alas, at least for the moment, KISS is unaffected as the station returned to #1 (7.3-7.7) after a two-book hiatus.  This is not to say it hasn’t been affected by all this turmoil as this year’s number is noticeably lower than last year’s 9.5.  The music conflicts are outside the purview of CBS RADIO News WBZ-A as the station had its best book in over a year (5.7-7.2) to charge up the charts from #6 to a tie at #2 with GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC), which fell from the top spot (7.9-7.2).  Cluster brother GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB was up for the second straight book (5.9-6.3) to remain at #4.  For the third straight book, CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX was on the plus side (5.8-6.1), which allowed it to hold on to #5.  And, what about that contemporary battle?  CCM+E Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) scored its lowest number of the year (4.6-4.0) to slip from #8 to a tie at #9.  CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP) was off slightly (3.4-3.2) to remain at #12.  And, inits first full month of ratings existence, GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WTKK (HOT) went 1.8-2.4 and rose from #18 to #16.

In 25-54, WXKS ended a five-book slide to remain #1 with a share that is significantly lower than what it had last year.  WKLB was up for the second book in a row to move from #3 to #2 while WMJX fell a spot to #3.  By posting its best number since SEPTEMBER, WZLX was able to move from #6 to #4.  Making a return appearance in the top five, after a three-month respite, was BOSTON UNIVERSITY N/T WBUR, which rose from #8.

For the fourth straight book, the top two stations 18-34 were down.  True, both WXKS and WJMN continue to lead the market by a hefty margin, but the gap is not nearly as wide as it was a year ago.  GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (MY RADIO 92.9) had its best number since MAY to remain at #3 while WKLB rose from #5 to #4 with its highest total since OCTOBER.  The WMJX post-Ho-Ho-Ho slide continued as it slipped a slot to #5.  In case you are filling out your brackets, WODS (down from #5) and WTKK (up from a tie at #12) were seeded #8.

WXKS reversed a two-book slide to remain #1 18-49 and maintained its commanding lead over #2 WMJX.  WKLB was up for the second straight book to climb a slot to #3 while WJMN suffered its lowest book in over a year to fall a spot to #4.  WBOS edged its way back into the top 5 from #6.

Detroit: And In Other News

At this time of year, the only thing that is hot in the MOTOR CITY is what is emanating from the transmitter at CBS RADIO News WWJ-A.  The station was up for the third straight book (8.3-9.0) to solidify its hold on #1.  To think, a year ago the station was a mere #4 with a 5.8 share.  Cluster compatriot CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC also had its best book in over a year (6.7-7.0) but had to settle for a solid #2.  A third cluster brother, CBS RADIO Country WYCD was off slightly (6.3-6.1) and remained at #3, though it is now tied with CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX), which jumped up from #5 with its best book in over a year (5.4-6.1).  CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD slipped a spot to #5 (6.1-5.7).

Though it may have dipped a bit in the overall rankings, WDVD continued to own the market 25-54.  It might be hearing footsteps as WMXD had a killer book and moved from a tie at #4 to #2.  CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) was as flat as the ice at The Joe to remain at #3 while its cluster brother, WYCD, slid a couple of slots to #4.  In DECEMBER WWJ-A was ranked at #16 but after three straight up books, it is set at #5.  This came as bad news to GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF, which had its best book since OCTOBER but fell from a tie at #4 to #6.

The 18-34 world was turned asunder as CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) came roaring in from the pack (#4 to be precise) by posting a huge number to take over #1.  This displaced to #2 its cluster roomie CCM+E Urban WJLB, which had been one of two stations to share the top spot.  WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR had another great book but was forced to settle for being the #3 station.  The other half of the #1 duo from last book, WDVD, popped its lowest number since SEPTEMBER to fall to #4.  Despite its second straight strong book, WYCD was content to settle for remaining at #5.

While WDVD did follow its best-book-in-over-a-year with something a little less robust, it managed to hold on to the top spot 18-49.  WKQI’s surge was also apparent here as it moved from #6 to #2 with its version of the best book in over a year.  WJLB’s ever-so-slight slip caused the station to drop a spot to #3 as did WYCD, which fell to #4.  The ripple effect affected WXYT-F, too, as the station went from #4 to #5.

Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood: The Cox Trifecta

One of the clusters in town is pretty happy, as they are the proud owners of ribbons for the win, place and show positions in the market.  OK, so Arbitron doesn’t actually give out ribbons -- but wouldn’t it be cool if they did?  COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) was #1 for like the millionth (give or take) book in a row, reversing a three-book down trend in the process (9.2-9.6).  Cluster-mate COX RADIO Urban WEDR assumed its customary #2 position (6.8-6.3) despite posting its lowest number since AUGUST.  Completing the sweep was COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY), which moved up a spot from #4 (5.4-5.7).  By posting its second straight down book (5.6-5.3), UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) slipped a slot to #4.  Bouncing back into the top 5 (from #6) was CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) with its best book since APRIL (4.9-5.2).  Dropping clear of the top 5 (all the way to a tie at #8) was CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) (5.0-4.1).

As expected, WHQT dominated 25-54 -- again -- by scoring its highest number since MAY.  WEDR was still the solid #2 station.  BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) was flat but managed to move from a tie at #4 into sole possession of the #3 position.  WHYI now has #4 all to itself.  As recently as DECEMBER CCM+E Hot AC WMIA was ranked #16.  After its third straight positive ratings experience in a row, the station is now #5 (up from a tie at #10).

While WEDR ended a two-book surge 18-34, it still holds its customary and commanding lead over the #2 station -- WPOW.  WHYI kept pace at #3.  Then, there is a large gap between the top three and the rest of the market.  WHQT scored its best number since NOVEMBER to move up a spot to #4 while UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) had its best book since MARCH to climb one spot to #5.

Things were pretty much status quo 18-49. WEDR is once again your leader in the clubhouse though its three-share lead over #2 WHYI has shrunk a bit.  WPOW is nipping at their heels while WHQT made some noise by moving up a spot to #4.  In the last four books, WMIA has moved from a tie at #14 to #12 to #9 to its current residence at #5.