Boston Radio: WRKO Numbers Slide Without Howie Carr

Howie Carr

Entercom's Talk WRKO 680 AM saw its December PPM numbers decline with the departure of longtime-Boston Talker Howie Carr.

According to The Boston Herald, the station went from a 3.5 and 3.2 rating with all listeners (6+ Share) in October and November to a 2.2 in December, the first full month without Carr. In afternoon drive, with adults 25-54, WRKO went from a 2.4 and 2.3 in October/November to a 1.2 in Dec-ember.

Carr, a Boston Herald columnist, bolted WRKO back in November to start his own syndicated afternoon-drive radio show. He picked up four new affiliates since his launch, bringing the number of stations in his network to 19.  His show now airs in the Boston metro on WMEZ 1510 AM and some 19 other New England radio affiliates.

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“It’s pretty amazing what he’s been able to pull off,” said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine. “Regional networks in talk radio are difficult to put together, so Howie Carr has achieved something pretty extraordinary. A lot of people in the 
radio industry are looking at what Howie is doing in New England and saying, ‘Hmmm ... .’”