As is typical in this market, none of the major stations opted for a full Christmas format flip (the "Santa shuffle"), keeping their regular programming largely intact during the Holiday 2025 survey period (December 11, 2025 – January 7, 2026).
Cox Media Group's Soft AC WFEZ (Easy 93.1) held steady as the top station in Persons 6+, edging up slightly from 7.3 to 7.4. Its Urban AC sister station WHQT (Hot 105) remained locked in at #2 with a flat 6.6. Audacy's AC WLYF (101.5 Lite FM) snapped a three-book downward trend, climbing from #6 to #3 with a solid gain (5.1 to 5.6). It also took the #1 spot in cume, jumping 7.2% (from 751,000 to 805,200 listeners).
TelevisaUnivision's Spanish Hot AC WAMR (Amor 107.5) slipped to #4, delivering its smallest share since May (down 5.9 to 5.0).iHeartMedia's Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (Magic 93.9) held at #5 but softened (5.3 to 4.8). Audacy's Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 The Beach) dropped to #6, posting its weakest performance in over a year (5.7 to 4.6). This downward pattern continued for several stations lower in the rankings.
Overall market cume rose 2.1%, while PUMM (Persons Using Measured Media) declined 4.8% from December but grew 16.0% year-over-year.
In the key 25-54 demographic, WFEZ stretched its winning streak to 13 consecutive books, though both it and #2 WMIA saw minor dips. Audacy's Classic Hip Hop WPOW (Power 96) made the biggest leap, surging from #8 to #3 with its strongest showing in over a year. WHQT bounced back to #4 after a softer prior book. WLYF edged up to #5 with a modest increase. Cox Media's Rhythmic AC WFLC (Hits 97.3) fell to #6, hitting its lowest mark since June. iHeartMedia's Spanish Contemporary WZTU (Tú 94.9) slid to #7, while WMXJ tumbled from #4 to #10 in the demo.
Market PUMM in 25-54 was down 6.6% from the previous survey but up 16.8% from the prior year.
In Seattle-Tacoma, two stations embraced holiday programming with different flavors and timing, leading to notable shifts in the Holiday 2025 survey (December 11, 2025 – January 7, 2026). Hubbard AC KRWM (Warm 106.9) flipped to all-Christmas music at the start of the December book and carried that momentum into the holiday period, surging to #1 in Persons 6+ (up 9.5 to 11.1). This ended the 12-book reign of University of Washington public News/Talk KUOW, which slipped to #2 (9.8 to 9.4). KRWM's performance was nearly on par with its Holiday 2024 #1 finish (11.3). Crista Ministries Contemporary Christian KCMS (Spirit 105.3) joined the seasonal spirit later in the prior book with faith-based Christmas tunes, reaping big rewards by jumping from #5 to #3 (5.6 to 7.0)—its all-time high and a massive leap from last year's 3.4.
Audacy Active Rock KISW (99.9 The Rock) eased to #4 (5.7 to 5.2), while iHeartMedia Classic Hits KJEB (95.7 The Jet) fell to #5, posting its weakest share since March (5.7 to 4.1).KRWM boosted its cume by 20.1% to lead the market (802,700 to 963,800).
Overall market cume dipped 2.7%, while PUMM fell 5.0% from December but rose 14.1% year-over-year.
In the competitive 25-54 demo, KRWM—which ranked #12 in November—more than quadrupled its share to reclaim #1 and crack double digits. Audacy Rock KISW held #2 but delivered its smallest share since August. Friends of KEXP Alternative KEXP rebounded sharply from a #4 to #10 drop last book, rocketing back to #3 by recovering all lost ground. KUOW slipped to #4, while Audacy Alternative KNDD (107.7 The End) climbed to #5 after bouncing back from a softer prior survey. Hubbard Pop CHR KQMV (MOViN 92.5) drifted to #6, tying with rising KCMS (up from #9). KJEB tumbled from a #4 tie to #11.
Market PUMM in 25-54 declined 5.3% from the previous survey but soared 29.8% from the year prior.
iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary KESZ (99.9 KEZ) leaned hard into Christmas programming and cruised to #1 in Persons 6+ for the third consecutive book (up 14.0 to 16.8). The station matched its Holiday 2024 dominance almost exactly (16.4 last year), reinforcing its seasonal stronghold.The “Santa Effect” compressed shares across most of the rest of the board—with one notable exception. Maricopa Community College Classical KBAQ (KBACH 89.5) made the biggest splash, rocketing from #9 to #2 with its strongest performance in well over a year (3.2 to 5.6).
Hubbard Classic Rock KSLX slipped to #3, posting its lowest share in over a year (6.0 to 5.1). Hubbard Classic Hits KOOL (Big 94.5) eased to #4 (4.7 to 4.0), followed by iHeartMedia Adult Hits KYOT (95.5 The Mountain) at #5 (4.4 to 3.6).Two stations previously tied at #5 last book—iHeartMedia News/Talk KFYI-AM and iHeartMedia Country KNIX—both drifted lower: KFYI to #6 (4.0 to 3.5) and KNIX to #7 (4.0 to 3.3).KESZ widened its cume lead dramatically, surging 17.1% to an imposing 1,504,000 (from 1,284,200).
Market cume ticked up a modest 0.2%, while PUMM dipped 0.9% from December but climbed a robust 28.2% year-over-year.
In the 25-54 demo, KESZ extended its #1 streak to four straight books—all in double digits—cementing its seasonal command. TelevisaUnivision Mexican Regional KHOT (Qué Buena 105.9) held steady at #2, though it ended a powerful six-book upward run. KBAQ delivered another eye-popping jump, vaulting from #16 to #3 and more than doubling its prior share. KOOL stayed at #4 with a slight gain. Hubbard Active Rock KUPD climbed from #8 to #5 despite a minor dip, tying there with iHeartMedia Pop CHR KZZP (104.7 Kiss FM), which advanced from #12 on a small increase. Last book’s #3 and #4 finishers—KYOT and KSLX—both tumbled into a tie at #7.
Market PUMM in 25-54 fell 5.4% from the previous survey but soared 30.1% from the year prior.
Detroit was dominated by one station: iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary WNIC, which powered through its third consecutive #1 finish in Persons 6+ on the strength of its full Christmas format (up 12.2 to 14.7). While that share trailed last year’s Holiday peak of 18.6, it still left the rest of the market in the rearview.
Audacy Sports WXYT (97.1 The Ticket) held steady at #2 (7.8 to 7.6), bolstered by a 2.0 share contribution from digital streaming. iHeartMedia Urban AC WMXD (Mix 92.3) returned to #3 with a flat 7.0, while Audacy Classic Hits WOMC stayed locked in at #4 (6.3 to 6.0). Audacy Country WYCD rounded out the top five once again (4.7 to 4.7).WNIC maintained its commanding cume lead, growing 3.3% to 1,316,700 (from 1,274,700).
Overall market cume declined 3.0%, while PUMM fell 9.5% from December but rose 4.6% year-over-year.
In the 25-54 demographic, WNIC claimed #1 for the second straight book and stayed comfortably in double digits. WXYT came close to double digits again but remained stuck at #2, with its streaming component ranking #13 in the demo. WMXD reclaimed #3 on a healthy share gain. Beasley Active Rock WRIF held #4 despite a slight dip. WOMC climbed to #5 with its strongest performance since August, while iHeartMedia Urban Contemporary WJLB slipped to #6.
Market PUMM in 25-54 dropped 12.3% from the prior survey but edged up 2.2% from the year before.
iHeartMedia Sports KFXN (KFAN 100.3) settled back at #2, seeing its four-book double-digit streak snapped (10.3 to 8.5). University of Northwestern-St. Paul Contemporary Christian KTIS followed the “star light” effectively, climbing to #3 (6.7 to 7.7) improving on last year’s #4 finish with a 6.1 share. MPR News/Talk KNOW eased to #4 (7.1 to 6.9), though it picked up a 1.2 share from digital streaming. Hubbard Hot AC KSTP (KS95) stayed comfortably at #5 with a flat 5.6. KQQL widened its cume lead by 11.3%, reaching 924,500 (from 830,700).
Overall market cume dipped 1.7%, while PUMM fell 5.2% from December but rose 3.5% year-over-year.
In the 25-54 demographic, KQQL stepped up to #1, nudging KFXN down to #2. KFAN still extended its double-digit streak to six consecutive books despite the slip. MPR AAA KCMP (89.3 The Current) held #3, though it surrendered most of last month’s big gain. Audacy Adult Hits KZJK (104.1 Jack FM) repeated at #4 with a slight uptick. KNOW returned to #5 (also with a modest increase), tying there with iHeartMedia Pop CHR KDWB, which climbed one slot on a small share gain. KTIS made a solid move from #9 to #7 in the demo.
Market PUMM in 25-54 declined 7.2% from the previous survey and ticked down 0.3% from the year prior.
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