Big Win in the Nielsens
It still seems odd for me to say, but KBIG (104.3 FM) — aka My FM — earned the top spot once again in the Nielsen Ratings released earlier this month. My FM has led the ratings race for five of the last six months and was a full half-point (is that an oxymoron?) above second-place KRTH (101.1 FM): 5.5 vs. 5.0.
The regulars rounded out the top-five: KOST (103.5 FM) at 4.7; KTWV The Wave (94.7 FM) at 4.6, and KIIS-FM (102.7 FM) at 4.4.
Complicating matters just a little bit is a new rule from Entercom that their stations are now to be sold separately from the on-line streams, such that advertising differs. Since the programming is not 100 percent duplicative, the streams register separately from the stations.
While this makes little difference in the scheme of things, had streams been combined with the station’s main signal, The Wave would have had 0.1 more, and would have been tied with KOST. According to one programmer, the change could meant the difference between a financial bonus … or more likely not getting one … which is probably why it was done.
After going head to head for most of the past year, Power 106 (105.9 FM) pulled away from direct competitor KRRL – Real 92.3 FM, with a 3.2 share compared with Real’s 2.9. Likewise, KROQ (106.7 FM) pulled ahead of Alt 98.7, 2.8 to 2.3. Considering the lead Alt had for a long time, it is interesting to see the reversal. Add in the KROQ stream rating of 0.1 and the difference is more than a half point.
Speaking of KROQ, the rejuvenation of KROQ HD2 — the digital stream playing Roq of the Eighties on HD Radio — seems to be paying off. The HD2 earned a 0.1 share, the first time I’ve seen this in Los Angeles.
Go Country KKGO (105.1 FM) held stead with a 2.4 share — not bad for a format that can’t survive in los Angeles.
Poor KABC (790 AM). The originator of full-time talk programming in Los Angeles just cannot break out of the doldrums, and is being beaten by just about every talk station in town outside of the Communists at KPFK (90.7 FM). KFI (640 AM) was 6th at 3.7, KPCC (89.3 FM) was 16th at 2.5, KRLA (870 AM) was tied with sports-talk KLAC (570 AM) for 227th at 1.2, and KEIB (1150 AM) tied with sports talker KSPN (710 AM) for 32nd at 0.9. Where was KABC? Tied with regional Mexican music station KDLD (103.1 FM) for 41st at 0.4.
For its part, KPFK was tied with a group of others (including streams) at 47th with a 0.1 share of the listening audience.
The full story: Each rating is an estimate of the percentage of listeners aged 6 and over tuned to a station between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 midnight.
1. KBIG (5.5) 2. KRTH (5.0) 3. KOST (4.7) 4. KTWV (4.6) 5. KIIS-FM (4.4) 6. KFI (3.7) 7. KCBS-FM, KLVE (3.6) 9. KPWR (3.2) 10. KXOL (3.1)
11. KNX (3.0) 12. KLOS, KRRL (2.9) 14. KROQ (2.8) 15. KRCD (2.6) 16. KPCC (2.5) 17. KBUE, KKGO, KLAX (2.4) 20. KAMP, KYSR (2.3)
22. KSCA (2.0) 23. KUSC (1.8) 24. KCRW, KDAY (1.5) 26. KXOS (1.3) 27. KLAC, KRLA, KSSE (1.2) 30. KJLH (1.1)
31. KLYY (1.1) 32. KEIB, KSPN (0.9) 34. KFSH, KFWB, KKJZ, KKLQ (0.8) 38. KKLA (0.7) 39. KWIZ, KYLA (0.6)
41. KABC, KDLD (0.4) 43. KIRN, KSUR, KTNQ, KWKW (0.3) 47. KAMP stream, KHJ, KPFK, KROQ HD2, KROQ Stream, KTWV Stream (0.1)
Contest Problems
When is a contest not a contest? When it is Stay or Go on KLOS.
My son’s band, Divine Intervention, entered the contest, held weekly Fridays on the morning Frosty, Heidi, and Frank show. In spite announcements given on the air that the band with the highest rating of votes (stay vs. go) would play the show’s annual Birthday Bash later this month, the bands chosen were both ranked below my son’s and in one case below about seven others as well.
I am told that programmer Keith Cunningham will make good … That would be nice. Every one of the bands involved is amazingly talented, and I’d hate to see a controversy like this overshadow the segment that airs every Friday morning at 9 a.m. It is one of the best things on local radio.
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