Nielsen Audio released the first batch of its September 2025 Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings on Monday. This monthly survey period covers listening from August 21 to September 17, 2025, and focuses on the 12 largest U.S. radio markets (often referred to as "Day 1" markets).
These markets represent over 40% of the U.S. population aged 12+ and are measured electronically via PPM devices. The release provides average quarter-hour (AQH) share data for persons 6+ (P6+) and other demos like 25-54, highlighting station performance trends.
This batch continues to reflect the ongoing impact of Nielsen's January 2025 methodology update, which lowered the minimum creditable listening session from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. This change has boosted overall AM/FM radio audiences by capturing shorter tuning occasions (previously unmeasured at ~23% of sessions), leading to higher shares across formats without major shifts in relative performance.
Here's a breakdown of the leading stations (P6+ AQH share) in each market, with notable changes from August 2025:
Broader Trends:
✔Overall Audience Growth: Consistent with prior months, the three-minute qualifier continues to inflate shares (e.g., +19% in Spring 2025 PPM markets vs. Fall 2024). Total P6+ listening in these markets rose ~5-7% YoY, with weekends and nights showing double-digit gains in key demos like 25-54 Hispanics (+12%) and Blacks (+12.2% nights).
✔Challenges: CHR (KIIS-FM, WIOQ) mixed, with some slips; Country dipped in a few spots (KOST, KSBJ). Spanish/Regional Mexican holds strong in CA/TX markets.
✔Demo Notes: 25-54 shares aligned closely with P6+, but AC and news/talk overperform in adults. No major disruptions from events like back-to-school or early fall programming shifts.