The latest Nielsen Audio PPM radio ratings for the New York market during the holiday period (covering the December 2025 survey, influenced by Christmas programming) are in, and it was indeed a holly jolly December for iHeartMedia's AC station 106.7 Lite FM (WLTW).
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Audacy's all-news WINS (1010 WINS) stayed steady at #2, slipping slightly from 6.8 to 6.5, while picking up a modest streaming boost (around 0.5-0.6 share from online listening). MediaCo's Urban AC WBLS (107.5) made a notable rebound, climbing to tie for #3 (around 5.1 share), gaining significantly in the period. iHeartMedia's CHR WHTZ (Z100) held in the top mix but dipped to around 5.1 (tying or near WBLS in some reports), while SBS Spanish Tropical WSKQ (Mega 97.9) maintained a solid presence in the upper ranks (around 5.0). Audacy Classic Hits WCBS-FM was steady at 4.6.
WLTW also boosted its cumulative audience (cume) impressively, adding roughly 11.7% to reach over 4.2 million listeners in prior trends, underscoring its broad holiday appeal.
In the key 25-54 demographic, WLTW remained #1 for the period, hitting double digits again and outperforming the prior year. Competitors like Z100 held strong but saw some erosion, while Power 105.1 (WWPR) and others shifted positions with mixed results. Market-wide 25-54 PUMM (Persons Using Measured Media) was down slightly from the previous survey but up year-over-year.
Overall, the market experienced typical holiday dynamics, with Christmas music giving AC outlets like WLTW a clear edge, streaming contributions growing across stations (e.g., notable gains for WSKQ and others), and total listening slightly softer in some metrics but resilient compared to last year. WLTW's holiday magic once again proved unbeatable in the Big Apple.
iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary KOST (103.5) rode the holiday wave to another dominant 6+ victory, surging from 11.2 to 13.3. The station also claimed #1 during last year's holiday period with a 12.4 share.
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Audacy Classic Hits KRTH (K-Earth 101) held steady at #2 despite a slight dip (5.8 to 5.6). iHeartMedia Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYfm) rebounded to #3 (4.9 to 5.1). Audacy Urban AC KTWV (94.7 The Wave) stood firm alone at #4 (4.2 to 4.3), while Audacy News KNX slipped to #5 (4.2 to 4.1)—though KNX gained an additional 0.5 share from streaming. KOST widened its cume lead by 14.0% (from 3,033,700 to 3,459,000).
Overall market listening (PUMM) fell 3.1%, with monthly PUMM down 4.5% from November but up 12.2% year-over-year.
In the key 25-54 demographic, the leaderboard mirrored the prior book exactly. KOST repeated at #1 with a double-digit share. KBIG and Audacy Alternative KROQ held #2 and #3, respectively, each posting modest gains. KRTH stayed at #4, while Audacy Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 Jack FM) returned to #5. All stations in the top 5 saw slight declines except the gainers noted. Market 25-54 PUMM dropped 6.6% from the previous survey but rose 8.4% from the same period last year. KOST's holiday format once again proved unbeatable in the nation's #2 radio market, delivering massive seasonal lift while competitors adjusted to the Christmas music dominance.
The Christmas format delivered once again in the Windy City. iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary WLIT (93.9 Lite FM) secured #1 in 6+ for the fourth consecutive book, climbing from 11.5 to 12.4. It also topped last year's holiday survey with a 12.5 share.
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Audacy News WBBM-AM advanced to #2 (4.8 to 5.1), boosted by an extra 0.5 share from digital/streaming. Nexstar News/Talk WGN-AM (720) jumped from #6 to #3 with its strongest performance in over a year (4.2 to 4.6). Audacy AAA WXRT (93XRT) eased to #4 (4.8 to 4.5), while Hubbard Hot AC WTMX (101.9 The Mix)—often hit hard by holiday competition—fell from #2 to #5 (5.0 to 4.2). It ranked #6 in the prior year's holiday book.
WLIT expanded its cume lead by 9.6% (1,918,900 to 2,102,400). Overall market listening dipped 3.3%, with monthly PUMM down 8.2% from November but up 17.9% year-over-year.
In the competitive 25-54 demo, WLIT repeated as #1 for back-to-back books with another double-digit share. WTMX held #2 despite a minor loss. iHeartMedia Pop CHR WKSC (103.5 Kiss FM) climbed two spots to #3. Hubbard Adult Hits WTBC (Throwback 100.3) slipped to #4 with a slight decrease. Chicago Public Media News/Talk WBEZ rose from #8 to #5 on a small gain, tying with Audacy Rhythmic Oldies WBMX (104.3 Jams), which surged from #12 after ending a three-book decline—this marked WBMX's final full book before its format change. Market 25-54 PUMM fell 12.0% from the previous survey but rose 16.9% from the same period last year.
WLIT's all-holiday programming continued to dominate Chicago's #3 radio market, providing the seasonal escape that propelled it far ahead of the field while news/talk outlets like WBBM and WGN capitalized on non-music listening trends.
No paid influencer needed, this holiday surge was the real deal. iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary KDGE (Star 102.1) reclaimed #1 in 6+ with a strong jump from 8.6 to 10.1, matching its exact share from last year's Christmas book.
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iHeartMedia Hot AC KDMX (Mix 102.9) held steady at #2 (4.5 to 4.4), while iHeartMedia Pop CHR KHKS (106.1 Kiss FM) climbed to #3 (3.9 to 4.2). Educational Media Foundation Contemporary Christian KLTY (K-LOVE) soared four spots to #4 with its strongest performance in over a year (3.2 to 4.0). TelevisaUnivision Mexican Regional KLNO (Qué Buena 94.1) eased to #5, hitting its lowest share since August (4.1 to 3.6). It tied with Audacy Alternative KVIL (Alt 103.7), which rebounded from #8 after a soft prior book (3.2 to 3.6).
KDGE boosted its cume lead by 13.1% (1,581,100 to 1,789,000). The overall market ticked up slightly by 0.1%, while monthly PUMM dipped 2.8% from November but surged 20.2% year-over-year.
In the key 25-54 demographic, KDGE repeated at #1 and reached double digits—more than doubling its share since November's non-holiday levels. KLNO stayed at #2 despite a minor dip, followed by KDMX back at #3 on a small gain. KHKS held #4 with its highest share since September. Audacy Mexican Regional KMVK (La Grande 107.5) advanced to #5 after recovering from a down book. Market 25-54 PUMM fell 3.3% from the previous survey but climbed 18.2% from the same period last year.
KDGE's seasonal all-Christmas programming once again proved a powerhouse in the nation's #5 radio market, delivering consistent holiday dominance while a mix of format competitors and non-music outlets jockeyed for position behind the Star.
iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary KODA (Sunny 99.1) held onto its #1 spot in the 6+ ratings despite a noticeable holiday dip, sliding from 16.4 to 13.3. The station still outperformed last year's December share of 14.7.
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Urban One Urban AC KMJQ (Majic 102.1) stayed steady at #2 with a minor retreat from 7.8 to 7.5.Hope Media Contemporary Christian KSBJ embraced the season's spirit late in the prior book and carried momentum forward, climbing to #3 (up from 4.7 to 5.6). This marked a step back from last December's #2 finish with a 6.3 share. Urban One Country KKBQ (93Q Country) eased to #4 (5.7 to 5.3), while Audacy Hot AC KHMX (Mix 96.5) slipped to #5 (4.9 to 5.2) though it gained 0.7 from the matrix adjustment.
KODA's cume grew modestly by 1.8% (from 2,344,300 to 2,387,500), in a market that ticked down 0.1% overall. Market PUMM fell 1.0% from the prior December but rose 20.3% year-over-year.
In the 25-54 demo, KODA prolonged its impressive streak of consecutive #1 finishes, though its double-digit share came in softer than December's figure. KMJQ held flat at #2, while iHeartMedia Alternative KTBZ (94.5 The Buzz) rebounded to #3 after recouping much of its previous book's substantial loss. KHMX advanced two positions to #4, posting its third straight up book. SB Mexican Regional KROI (La Ley 92.1) dipped to #5 with a slight share decline, and KKBQ fell to #6 after concluding a robust three-book run.
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Market PUMM edged up 0.1% from the last survey and climbed 21.2% compared to a year ago.