September Nielsens

As recently as July, KOST (103.5) was being beaten by KRTH (101.1 FM) in the local Nielsen Ratings. But with just a few weeks to go before its annual switch to holiday music (and the annual ratings bonanza), KOST pushed ahead to become the number one station in town a bit early, edging out KRTH by a whisker: 5.5 vs 5.3 in the September ratings.

But the two dominant stations were almost a full point ahead of third-place KTWV’s (94.7 FM) 4.6, and the 4th place tie of My FM (KBIG, 104.3 FM) and KLVE (107.5 FM) at 4.5.

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. For the most part, with just a few exceptions, things are generally the same as they were when I last reported the ratings back in July.

As per usual, KFI was was the number one AM station in town, tying KIIS-FM (102.7) for 7th place at 3.8. This made KIIS-FM the top “top-40” station, though there is so much overlap between it and My FM that the lines of top-40 vs. My FM’s “hot adult contemporary” format are certainly blurring. Stations that might be considered true direct competition to KIIS are Power 106 (KPWR, 105.9 FM) at 1.9, and Now (KNOU, 97.1 FM) at 1.5.

Both Power and Now beg the question … what are they doing? Both stations have signals that are among the best in the city; to be rated so relatively low makes one wonder why the owners are staying with the formats they currently run. Both stations changed formats in the past with ratings that at the time were higher than they both earn now. Heck, most AM stations abandoned music with rating higher than that back in the last 1970s and early ‘80s.

It was not a good month for alternative rock, with both Alt 98.7 (KYSR) and KROQ (106.7 FM) down compared with the last quarter. For September, Alt was at 2.3; KROQ at 2.0. Back in June the stations had shares of 3.2 and 2.3, respectively. In San Francisco, the former alternative leader once known as Live 105 just changed to a Jack (KCBS-FM, 93.1) clone called Dave. That won’t happen here as we already have Jack, but it does make you wonder how much longer KROQ’s ratings in particular will be tolerated.

As mentioned, KFI was the top AM station in town, and therefore has the top talk ratings in town as well. KFI’s competition? KRLA (870 AM) earned a 2.0 share, KABC (790 AM) had 1.1, and KEIB (1150 AM) had a 1.0. That means KFI had just slightly less than the total of its competition … not bad, not bad at all.

On the strength of the Dodgers, KLAC (570 AM) took top sports honors, with a solid 2.1 share. KSPN (710 AM) — which simulcasts its programming on KRDC (1110 AM) — was at 0.5. Repeat: 0.5. On two signals. Wow. Perhaps oldies on 1110 AM would work better? And perhaps some middle of the road music combined with sports on 710? Just thinking out loud.

People are listening to online streams … KLOS (95.5 FM), which earned a 2.6 share on FM, earned another 0.2 on its stream. KPWR earned a 0.1 share with its stream. And a couple HD Radio signals showed up as well, with LA Oldies on 105.1 HD2 and ‘80s alternative on 106.7 HD2 both earning 0.1 shares. Interestingly, while you’d think that Mose people would listen to classical music on HD or online, it was KMZT’s AM signal (at 1260) that earned the rating … also at 0.1.

Here’s one I can’t figure out: what happened to KKLQ (100.3 FM)? They seemed to be doing fairly well just a short time ago. Did something happen? Or is this a case of one or two ratings meters making a huge difference in the ratings calculations? Or are people not liking a cheap, canned syndicated format?

The full story:

1. KOST (5.5) 2. KRTH (5.3) 3. KTWV (4.6) 4. KBIG “My FM”, KLVE (4.5) 6. KCBS-FM “Jack” (4.2) 7. KFI, KIIS-FM (3.8) 9. KLAX (3.5) 10. KNX, KPCC (3.0)

12. KLYY (2.7) 13. KLOS, KRCD (2.6) 15. KRRL (2.5) 16. KSCA, KYSR (2.3) 18. KKGO, KLAC (2.1) 20. KRLA, KROQ (2.0)

22. KLLI, KPWR, KXOL (1.9) 25. KCRW, KUSC (1.7) 27. KBUE, KJLH (1.6) 29. KNOU (1.5) 30. KDAY, KKJZ (1.2)

32. KABC (1.1) 33. KEIB (1.0) 34. KDLD (0.9) 35. KFWB (0.8) 36. KFSH (0.6) 37. KCSN, KSPN, KWIZ (0.5) 40. KKLA (0.3)

42. KLOS Online Stream, KTNQ (0.2) 44. KHJ, KIRN, KKGO-HD2, KMZT, KPWR Online Stream, KROQ-HD2, KWKW (0.1)

Mo’ Awards

KFI’s Mo’ Kelly says he is “honored … and humbled” by his being named radio’s Journalist of the Year, 2020 and having radio’s Best Personality/Profile Interview according to the Los Angeles Press Club at the organization’s 63rd Annual Journalism Awards Dinner held on October 16th. Will this recognition lead to more time on the air? One can hope …

New Name

Ted Stryker left Stryker and Klein — KROQ’s morning show — a while ago, but the name stuck around both on air for a time, as well as in the minds of listeners. KROQ is finally doing something about it: now you can tune in every morning for Klein. Ally. Show. The “local show” also airs in Kansas City and Dallas, and was heard on Klein’s former station in San Francisco until that station changed formats from alternative to “Dave.” Yes, Kevin Klein was once a part of Live 105, later Alt 105, and now Dave.

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