DECEMBER RADIO IN 24 MARKETS

SANTA MUSIC DEFENSE?? RADIO’S LATEST:?PPM UPDATE DECEMBER 2022 (November 10-December 7).

As The Holiday Season Kicked In, All Christmas Music Kicked Radio Ratings up the chimney.?Playing Adult Contemporary favorites from the last century still captures the largest 6+ Radio Audiences in Major Markets.?Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis were top played artists, besides the perpetual Christmas hits.

Here’s a summary of two dozen December ’22, Radio Market Holiday Music Gains, Best Defenders and Who Got Stocking Coal.?Today is also the last day of the December 8-January 3, Holiday numbers in progress.?

1.?NEW YORK:?iHeart A/C WLTW +2.0, #1 share 7.6, #1 cume 3.68 million.?+0.7 @ Audacy News WINS-FM & WNYC Classical WQXR; +0.6 iHeart Classic Rock.?-0.9 Audacy Sports WFAN; -0.6 @ Metro Urban A/C WBLS & Audacy Classic Hits WCBS-FM.?

2. LOS ANGELES:?iHeart A/C KOST +7.0, #1 share 12.1, #1 cume 2.78 million.?Kringle Town had minimal gainers:?+0.3 SBS Spanish Regional Mexican KLAX; +0.2 Univision Spanish A/C KLVE. -0.8 iHeart Hot A/C KBIG; - 0.6 @ Audacy Adult Hits KCBS & Univision Spanish Regional Mexican KSCA.

3. CHICAGO:?iHeart Soft A/C WLIT +6.4, #1 share 12.4, #1 cume 1.91 million.?Minimal gains with +0.3 SBS Spanish Regional Mexican and +0.2 @ for iHeart UAC WVAZ, Hubbard Hot A/C WTMX, iHeart Classic Rock WCHI & iHeart UC WGCI.?-0.9 Univision Spanish A/C WPPN; -0.7 Univision Spanish Regional Mexican WOJO, -0.6 @ Hubbard Classic Rock WDRV & Hubbard A/C WSHE.

4. SAN FRANCISCO:?Bonneville A/C KOIT +4.2, #1 share 10.5, #1 cume 1.37 million.?Gains from +0.5 Audacy Sports WGMZ, +0.4 iHeart Hot A/C KIOI, +0.3 SBS Spanish Regional Mexican KRZZ.?-0.7 Bonneville CHR KMVQ, -0.5 Audacy Hot A/C KLLC & iHeart CHR KYLD.

5. DALLAS-FT. WORTH:?iHeart A/CZ KDGE +3.1, #1 share 7.1, #1 cume 1.34 million.?Gains:?+0.9 Cumulus Sports KTCK-AM (#3), +0.5 iHeart Hot A/C KDMX.?-1.2 Cumulus News/Talk KBAP-AM, -1.0 Univision Spanish Regional Mexican KLNO, -0.6 @ Service UAC KRNB & Cumulus Country -0.6.?

6. HOUSTON:?iHeart A/C KODA +3.8, #1 share 12.5, #1 cume 1.74 million.?Gains:?+0.4 Univision Spanish A/C KOVE, +0.3 @ Cumulus CHR KRBE & Religious Teaching KHCB.?- 0.9 Univision Spanish Regional Mexican KLTN, -0.8 @ Contemporary Christian KSBJ & iHeart News/Talk KTRH-AM, -0.7 Urban One Rhythmic CHR KBXX

7.?ATLANTA:?Salem Contemporary Christian WFSH +2.6, #1 share 9.2, #8 cume 457k. Gains: +1.5 Radio One Urban A/C WAMJ; +0.9 iHeart Spanish CHR WBZY, +0.7 Audacy Urban A/C WVEE. ?-2.6 Public WABE News/Talk, -1.6 Cox WSB-AM News/Talk, - 1.0 Sports WCNN-AM, -0.9 Rdio One Inspirational Gospel WPZE. ??

8. WASHINGTON DC:?iHeart A/C WASH +2.6, #2 share 8.9, #1 cume 907k.?Gains:?+0.5 iHeart Country WMZQ, +0.3 Bright Contemporary Christian WRBS, +0.2 @ iHeart Classic Rock WBIG, Audacy Sports Stream WJFK & Alpha Country WFLS. ?-0.8 Contemporary Christian WGTS, - 0.7 @ American University News/Talk WAMU (#1 share 11.5) & Howard University Adult Urban WHUR, -0.6 Classical WGTS

9. PHILADELPHIA:?Audacy Adult Contemporary WBEB +5.2, #1 share 107, #1 cume 1.28 million.?Gains:?+0.7 Urban One R&B Oldies WPPZ; +0.6 @ Public WHYY News/Talk & U Penn. Adult Alternative WXPN.?-3.2 Audacy Sports WIP-FM; -1.3 Beasley Rock WMMR, -1.2 Audacy Sports Stream WIP-FM.?

10. BOSTON:?Audacy Adult Contemporary WMJX +4.2, #1 share, #1 cume 948k.?Just two gains above +0.1: +0.4 Public WGBH News/Talk and +0.2 Emerson College Adult Alternative WERS.?-2.0 Beasley Sports WBZ-FM (#2 Share 8.5), -0.5 @ iHeart News/Talk WBZ-AM (tied for 5th with WEEI-FM at 4.7) & iHeart Talk WRKO-AM; -0.4 iHeart Spanish Tropical WZRM, -0.3 @ Beasley Country WKLB, Beasley Classic Rock WBOS & iHeart Rhythmic CHR WJMN.

11. MIAMI:?Apollo Cox Soft A/C WFEZ flat, #1 share 9.1, #1 cume 881k.?Gains:?+0.7 iHeart Adult Hits WMIA, +0.4 iHeart CHR WHYI, +0.3 @ Audacy Country WKIS & SBS Urban Contemporary WRMA.?-0.8 @ Apollo Cox Rhythmic CHR WFLC & News/Talk WLRN; -0.5 SBS Spanish Classic Hits WCMO; -0.4 @ iHeart News/Talk WIOD-AM & Audacy Sports WQAM-AM; -0.3 Univision Spanish A/C WAMR & Audacy A/C WLYF (tied at #3, 5.5).

13. PHOENIX:?iHeart Adult Contemporary KESZ + 4.4, #1 share 11.3, #1 cume 1.25 million.?+0.8 iHeart Hot A/C KMXP, +0.7 Hubbard Classic Rock KSLX, +0.5 Public KJZZ News/Talk.?-1.4 Sierra Classic HipHop KZCE, -0.7 @ iHeart CHR WZZP, Bonneville News/Talk WZAR & Sierra Urban Adult Hits KAJM.

14. DETROIT:?iHeart A/C WNIC +6.9, #1 share 11.7, #1 cume 1.05 million.?+0.6 Audacy Sports (#2 share 7.4), +0.5 Cumulus Hot A/C WDVD.?-0.8 @ Audacy Classic Hits WOMC & iHeart Urban A/C WMXD.?-0.7 Cumulus News/Talk WJR-AM & Cumulus Country WDRQ, -0.5 @ Beasley Classic Rock WCSX, iHeart CHR WKOL & Audacy Country WYCD.

15. MINNEAPOLIS:?iHeart Classic Hits KQQL +5.5, #1 share 11.4, 1 cume 855k.?More fluctuations than most markets: +0.7 Minnesota Public News/Talk KNOW, +0.6 @ Hubbard Hot A/C KSTP & Cumulus Classic Rock KQRS, +0.5 Audacy Adult Hits KZIK, +0.3 Cumulus Rock KXXR. ?-1.8 iHeart CHR KDWB, -0.9 iHeart Adult Alternative KYCZ, -0.8 iHeart Talk KTLK-AM, -0.7 Minnesota Public Adult Alternative KCMP, -0.5 iHeart Country KEEY.

17.?TAMPA.?Apollo Cox Soft A/C WDUV Tampa -0.8, #1 share 8.1, #1 cume 536K.?Unique gains: +1.3 Beasley Classic Hits WRBG (#3, 5.9) and +0.7 Apollo Cox Classic Rock WXGL (#2 share 7.3 & #2 cume). +0.6 iHeart A/C WMTX, +0.5 @ iHeart Rock WXTB & Apollo Cox A/C WWRM.?-1.7 Beasley Spanish CHR WYUU, -0.8 @ WDUV, Beasley Country WQYK & Beasley Rhythmic CHR, -0.6 Contemporary Christian WCIE (#4 share).

18. DENVER.?Bonneville Adult Contemporary KOSI +2.9, #1 share 9.8, #1 cume 586k.?+0.3 @ Audacy Classic Rock KOMT, iHeart Classic Rock KRFX, Classical KVOD & iHeart Country KWBL.?-1.0 Audacy Hot A/C KALC (#2 share), -0.8 KSE Classic Hits KXKL, -0.6 Bonneville Sports KKFN, -0.5 @ iHeart Adul Alternative KCBQ, iHeart Modern Alternative Rock KTCL, iHeart Talk KHOW-Am & KSE Sports KKSE.?

21. CHARLOTTE.?Beasley Adult Contemporary WKOC, +1.8, #1 share, #1 cume 421k.?+1.9 iHeart Modern Alternative Rock, +1.5 iHeart Classic Rock, +1.3 Urban One Hot A/C WLNK.?-1.4 Urban One Urban A/C WOSF, -0.7 @ Beasley Country WSOC & iHeart CHR WHOC, -0.6 Urban One News/Talk WBT-AM,

23. BALTIMORE.?Audacy Adult Contemporary WLIF +4.0, #1 share 11.8, #1 cume 591k.?+0.6 Classical WBJC, +0.3 Cumulus WMAL, +0.2 Jazz WEAA.?-1.4 Urban One Urban A/C, -1.2 Audacy Sports WJZ-FM, -0.8 Urban One Urban Contemporary WERQ, -0.7 Shamrock Classic Rock WZBA.

27. SALT LAKE CITY.?Bonneville Soft A/C +5.5, #1 share 12.1, #1 cume 616k. +3.7 iHeart Hot A/C KJMY (#2 share), +1.0 Cumulus Country KUBL, +0.9 KSOP County. -4.5 iHeart KNRS Talk (#3 share), -1.8 Broadway CHR KUDU, -1.3 Bonneville News/Talk KSL-AM, -0.8 80s Hits KLO-FM.

30. ORLANDO.?iHeart Adult Contemporary WMGF +4.8.?#1 share 11.4, #1 cume 464k.?+0.5 Audacy Modern Alternative Rock WOMP, +0.3 iHeart Talk WTKS (#4).?-1.0 @ iHeart Spanish Tropical WRUM, SBS Spanish Tropical WPYO & iHeart Rhythmic CHR WTKS-HD2.?-0.9 iHeart CCHR WXXL, -0.8 @ Audacy Hot A/C WOMX & iHeart Rock WJRR.

32.?LAS VEGAS.?iHeart Adult Contemporary KSNE +4.1, #1 share 10.6, #1 cume 426k.?+1.1 Univision Spanish Mexican Tropical.?-0.8 Public Adult Contemporary KCEP, - 0.7 @ KEMP Rhythmic CHR KVEG & iHeart Classic Rock KYMT.?-0.6 University of Las Vegas Jazz WUNV.

35.?CLEVELAND.?iHeart Classic Hits WMJI +0.7, #1 share 9.6, #1 cume 452k.?+1.3 Audacy A/C WDOK (33 chare, #2 cume), +0.8 Audacy Sports WKRK, +0.7 @ WMJI and Audacy Hot A/C WQAL.?-1.7 iHeart News/Talk WTAM-AM, -0.7 iHeart Country WGAR, 0.5 iHeart Rock WMMS.?

44.?PROVIDENCE. ?Cumulus Adult Contemporary WWLI +2.0, #1 share 10.5, #1 cume 418k.?+1.1 Cumulus CHR WPRO-FM, +0.4 News/Talk WGBH, +0.3 Red Wolf Oldies WSKP-AM, +0.2 @ Audacy Sports WVEI, Hall Classic Hits WNBH-AM, Public Classical WJMF & iHeart Talk WHJJ-AM.?-1.5 Cumulus Talk WPRO-AM, -0.9 iHeart Classic Rock WHJY, -0.8 Hall Country WCTK, -0.5 RI Public News/Talk WNPN, -0.4 Beasley Sports WBZ-FM, -0.3 iHeart Classic Hits WWBB.?

54.?HARTFORD. Audacy Soft A/C WRCH +3.6, #1 share 15.0, #1 cume 286k.?+1.6 Trignition Spanish Tropical WRYM-AM, +0.6 Audacy Stream Soft A/C WRCH, +0.5 @ Connecticut Public News/Talk WNPR (#3) & iHeart Sports WUCS. +0.4 Audacy Hot A/C WTIC-FM, (#2).?

Please recognize station brands that withstood the start of Santa slaughter. Besides Holiday A/C, who got sugar plums??Seems information and familiarity are winners as in Classic Hits and News/Talk.?Noncoms stay essential. Christian withstands Christmas. Spanish goes either way. Urban depends. Alternative has issues. Country and CHR got some coal.

Is there a defense against Santa Music and another way to stand out at strategic times of the year??Are there new spotlight opportunities?? There are many outstanding recordings in all genres that don’t get played on air.?Just don’t get too old, don’t get too new and don’t borrow from other formats that don’t sound too blue.?

Radio could have problems attempting to add creative while playing defense for investors or spending too much time & money on non-broadcast sidelines. ?Digital is an outstanding form of delivery.?Digital is not content.?It's technical brilliance. Excellent Podcasts can be tough to find, too long to listen to and could be making money.?There’s a lot of news that isn’t being reported. ?There’s local information that folks need, and sponsors will pay for.

Radio Broadcasting is nuts and bolts and common sense.?Show business is different than Accounting 110.?Broadcast content is advanced Chemistry, Psychology and Sociology.? We’re connecting with real people.?We entertain.?We inform.?Our stations are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. ?Valuation & Protection your FCC Broadcast License is more essential than ever. ?AM & FM Radio benefits from the many new high quality digital sound connections.

Resolution:?Embrace creativity and enhanced connection to your signal area. Serve the Public Interest, Convenience and Necessity. Broadcasting is basic human communication.?Content connects and turns folks on to your frequency.?

Make your station stand out.?A Safe, Happy, Healthy and a Successful Radio New Year to all.

Clark Smidt, Broadcast Advisor??? 978 502 6633??? www.broadcastideas.com??1220watx.com