WTOP Radio Tops Revenue Heap

All-news WTOP-FM was the top billing radio station in the nation last year, raking in $57.225 million in revenue, an increase of more than 12 percent from 2009, according to a story by Jeff Clabaugh at the Washington Business Journal.

KIIS-FM, the Los Angeles station that’s home to Ryan Seacrest, slipped to No. 2, with 2010 revenue of $54 million, a 2 percent decline over 2009 revenue, according to figures calculated by BIA/Kelsey Advisory Services.

WTOP is the only one of the top 10 billing stations not in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

New York al-news station WCBS remained the third highest billing station in 2010, with $49 million in sales, which, like WTOP, represented an increase of more than 12 percent.

WTOP, which is being acquired by Minneapolis-based Hubbard Broadcasting Inc. as part of a $505 million, multistation sale by current owner Bonneville International Corp., first cracked the top 10 for revenue in 2008.

Top 10 billing stations in 2010, according to BIA/Kelsey:

  1. WTOP, Washington $57.225 million
  2. KIIS, Los Angeles $54 million
  3. WCBS, New York $49 million
  4. KFI, Los Angeles $46 million
  5. WLTW, New York $44.3 million
  6. WHTZ, New York $43 million
  7. WBBM, Chicago $42.5 million
  8. WINS, New York $41 million
  9. WFAN, New York $40.5 million
10. KROQ, Los Angeles $39 million

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