Bonneville Adult Contemporary KOIT jumped almost 3-share on the the way to #1 in Persons 6+ during the holiday survey, surging from 7.0 to a dominant 9.9 share. (For comparison, it led last year with an even stronger 11.6.) This impressive holiday boost snapped the 12-book winning streak of public News/Talk powerhouse KQED, which slipped to #2 with a steady 9.1-9.2.
Audacy News KCBS eased to #3 (down slightly from 8.1 to 7.9) but gained +0.3 from streaming/digital platforms. Classical California KDFC (USC) held firm at #4 (5.0-5.0), while Bonneville Hot AC KMVQ (99.7 NOW) stayed at #5 (dipping to 3.8 from 4.1). KOIT further extended its cume dominance with a +16.4% jump (from 1,162,300 to 1,353,000 listeners). Overall market listening was up a modest +0.2%.
Market PUMM (Persons Using Measured Media) declined -5.2% from November but rose +12.9% year-over-year.
In the key 25-54 demographic, KOIT reclaimed the #1 spot but fell just short of double digits (unlike last year's holiday performance). KQED remained solid at #2, though its share marked its lowest in over a year. KMVQ held #3 but posted its weakest 25-54 result since June. Audacy Alternative KITS (Live 105) climbed to #4 with a modest gain, while iHeartMedia Pop CHR KYLD (WiLD 94.9) slipped to #5.
Market PUMM in 25-54 fell -7.9% from the prior survey but climbed +12.1% compared to the same period last year.
...but couldn't quite topple the throne in the 6+ holiday survey. For the fifth consecutive book, Cox Media News/Talk WSB-AM (with WSBB-FM) held firm at #1, easing from 7.4 to 6.7.
Cox Media Urban AC WALR (Kiss 104.1) climbed two spots to #2 (6.0-6.4). The real holiday breakout star was Audacy Rhythmic AC WSTR (Star 94), which flipped to all-Christmas and soared from #8 to #3 with a big leap (4.2-6.3)—its strongest book in over a year.
Audacy Urban AC WVEE (V-103) halted a two-book decline, rising to #4 (5.1-6.1). Urban One Urban AC WAMJ (Majic 107.5/97.5) repeated at #5 (5.9-6.0). Cox Media Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 The River) slipped from #2 to #6 (6.2-5.7), while Cox Media AC WSB-FM (B98.5) tumbled from #3 to #8, posting its lowest share in over a year (6.1-4.8). B98.5 still led the market in cume despite a -14.2% drop (from 816,100 to 699,900 listeners). WSTR advanced to #3 in cume rankings. Overall market cume declined -3.5%.
Market PUMM fell -6.4% from November but rose +2.1% year-over-year.
In the competitive 25-54 demo, WVEE secured #1 for the fourth straight survey, delivering its largest share since June. WALR rebounded nicely, jumping two places to #2 after a soft prior book. WSTR charged from #8 to #3 in the demo. It tied with Audacy Sports WZGC (92.9 The Game), which held steady with a slight uptick. WSB-FM slid from #2 to #6, and WSB-AM dropped from #4 to #9. Market PUMM in 25-54 was down -4.6% from the previous survey but up +6.4% compared to last year.
iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary WASH caught the holiday spirit on the Polar Express, surging from #3 last year (8.7) to #2 this time with a strong jump (8.7-10.1). American University News/Talk WAMU fell out of double digits for the first time in well over a year, sliding to #3 (10.9-9.8). Howard University Urban AC WHUR stayed steady at #4 (6.0-5.9), while iHeartMedia Alternative WWDC (DC101) returned to #5 (5.2-4.8).
WASH broke the one-million cume barrier with an impressive +19.8% leap (from 904,500 to 1,083,800 listeners)—a milestone it didn’t reach a year ago. Overall market cume dipped -0.8%. Market PUMM declined -5.8% from November but soared +20.4% year-over-year.
In the key 25-54 demographic, WASH locked in #1 for the second straight book and posted double-digit shares again. WAMU held #2 but delivered its smallest share since March. WWDC climbed to #3 despite a slight downturn. WTOP slipped to #4, marking its lowest 25-54 performance in over a year. WHUR rounded out the top five with a modest share dip.
Market PUMM in 25-54 fell -6.5% from the prior survey but climbed +22.2% compared to the same period last year.
Santa delivered big for Adult Contemporary in the City of Brotherly Love. Audacy AC WBEB (B101.1) extended its holiday dominance, rocketing to a commanding #1 in Persons 6+ with a massive jump from 10.1 to 17.0—its highest holiday share since last year's 15.7.
Beasley Classic Rock WMGK rebounded strongly from a soft prior book, leaping from #5 to #2 (5.5-5.9), tying with Beasley Active Rock WMMR, which held steady at 5.9 (down from 6.4). Audacy Sports WIP repeated at #4 (5.8-5.5) and picked up an impressive +1.9 share from streaming/digital platforms. iHeartMedia Urban AC WDAS gave back all of last month's holiday gains—and then some—sliding to #5 (6.3-5.3).WBEB widened its cume lead even further with a +21.8% surge (from 1,396,200 to 1,699,900 listeners).
Overall market cume declined -2.8%. Market PUMM fell -4.4% from November but rose +10.6% year-over-year.
In the crucial 25-54 demographic, WBEB secured #1 for the second straight survey and posted deep double-digit shares once again. WMMR stayed at #2 but turned in its smallest share in over a year. EMF Contemporary Christian WKVP (K-LOVE 106.9) climbed to #3 with a modest gain. WDAS dropped to #4, ending its three-book upward run, while WIP held #5 with a slight dip (its stream ranked #18 in the demo).
Market PUMM in 25-54 was down -8.4% from the prior survey but up +13.1% compared to last year.
Audacy Adult Contemporary WMJX (Magic 106.7) crossed the Charles River and through the woods to claim another decisive #1 in Persons 6+, jumping from 10.3 to a strong 13.5 share. (It led last holiday season with 15.4.)
Beasley Sports WBZ-FM (98.5 The Sports Hub) repeated at #2 with a tiny uptick (6.2-6.3), while iHeartMedia News/Talk WBZ-AM climbed from a tie at #5 to #3 (4.6-4.8). Audacy Sports WEEI edged up to #4 (4.6-4.7), tying with Audacy Hot AC WWBX (Mix 104.1), which advanced from #7 (4.4-4.7).Two stations dropped out of the top five: Beasley Classic Hits WROR fell from #3 to #6, posting its smallest share since January (5.3-4.6), and iHeartMedia Pop CHR WXKS (Kiss 108) slid from #4 to #7 with its lowest mark since March (4.9-4.5).
WMJX widened its cume lead dramatically with a +22.4% increase (from 1,004,000 to 1,228,400 listeners). Overall market cume declined -2.1%. Market PUMM was down -4.2% from November and -3.3% year-over-year.
In the key 25-54 demographic, WMJX stayed in double digits and ran away with #1 for the second straight survey. WBZ-FM held #2 but delivered its lowest share since August. WWBX climbed to #3 with its strongest performance since July, while a flat WXKS slipped to #4. iHeartMedia Classic Rock WZLX remained at #5 with a modest share dip. Market PUMM in 25-54 fell -5.2% from the prior survey but rose +7.2% compared to last year.