Three Formats Battle For 'Sound of Summer' Honors

Nielsen reports HotAC is currently hotter than a bottle rocket on the fourth of July. In June, the format again set or tied records for highest share of audience under PPM measurement in all three of the major demographics we assess.

Among audiences aged 6 and older, Hot AC trended 6.7%-6.8% from May to June, setting a new all-time record for 6+ PPM share along the way.

• The 18-34 listener share was 7.7% this month (equaling the record mark set in February of this year)
• Hot AC’s 25-54 numbers have held steady at their all-time high of 7.3% in each of the past three months. 

Hot AC is significantly ahead of last summer’s pace, and is one of the leading contenders this year for format of the summer.

Country continued to climb in June and is rounding into seasonal form of summertime audience spikes, according to Nielsen. And while this year’s numbers aren’t as high as 2014’s record-setting summer, June marks the third straight month of growth for Country. It also has the format back at share levels last seen in the fall of 2014.

The most recent three-month trend has seen Country grow:

• 6+:          7.8%-8.0%-8.2%
• 18 to 34: 9.0%-9.3%-9.4%
• 25 to 54: 7.6%-7.8%-8.1%

Based on the fact that Country began 2015 at a lower point than last year, its steady growth over the past few months has it squarely in contention for the summer format crown.

Lastly, Classic Hits continued its quiet, but steady, seasonal rise in June, tracking nearly identical to the results of each of the past two summers.  The format built on its strong May performance by increasing share this month with listeners 6+ (5.4% in June) and 25-54 (4.7%), while remaining flat with the 18-34 audience (3.4%).

When Classic Hits was the surprise winner last summer, it was a late charge in August that propelled the format over the top and into the winner’s circle, something that we will keep an eye on over the next two months.

By Demo: June's Top Formats in PPM Markets