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1/18: Atlanta Fall Arbitron ratings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The fall radio ratings reflect the calm before the storm of changes that have occurred in recent weeks.
Here are some of the notable trends:
A Christmas story: B98.5, without the Lite competition, had a holly jolly Christmas after its fall ranking jumped to 4th compared to 10th a year ago. Its cumulative weekly audience was 602,200 vs. 448,100 a year ago. Although the replacement for Lite, country station the Bull, also opted to go Christmas (albeit with a country twang), its ratings were virtually flat from the summer. Ratings for the Fish, which also went all Christmas, edged up slightly from the fall but was slightly worse than a year ago.
Gotta love Steve Harvey Talk/R&B station Grown Folks 102.5 is doing gangbusters, finishing 5th among 25 to 54 year old. This despite a relatively weak signal compared to most of its peers. And the station did well across all dayparts, including Steve Harvey in mornings and Michael Baisden in the afternoons.
Fanning the flames 680/The Fan kicked not only its rival sports station 790/The Zone in virtually every time period, but it also easily defeated once glorious 640/WGST-AM — even its strongest personality Rush Limbaugh. The Zone’s strongest show was the 2 Live Stews, who edged out Buck and Kincade at the Fan for the second book in a row. Both shows easily beat up on Dave Ramsey on GST. But the Fan’s Rude Awakening morning show ranked a solid 6th among men 25 to 54 compared to 17th a year ago. The Zone’s Mayhem in the AM struggled, tied for 20th. (The Zone recently moved its schedule around.)
The country wars rage on Eagle had one of its strongest books in ages despite the new Bull competition. The station, which recently lost “Southside” Steve Rickman, finished 15th among 25 to 54 year olds, up from 21st a year ago. Sister station Kicks was more or less flat and so was the year-old Bull, which hasn’t shown a lot of traction but recently added a new morning show with Cledus T. Judd.
News/talk slippage WSB-AM, the city’s top news/talk station, has been losing some steam the past year across the board. The station used to beat V-103 among 25 to 54 year olds on occasion but hasn’t done so in awhile and has even slipped to third behind Kiss. Even among men in that demo, V-103 won. The station, which recently dumped Chris Krok in favor of Herman Cain at night, is probably hoping the Presidential elections will give it a boost in the winter.
Farewell 99X 99X’s pending departure shouldn’t be surprising given its ratings, which were the lowest overall among the 100,000 watt stations in town (Those would be Dave FM, Star 94, Project, the River, B98.5, 99X, Kicks and V-103). The alternative rock station, whose last day is Jan. 25 on the FM dial, ranked 20th among 25 to 54 and 11th in its target demo of 18 to 34. That latter ranking is actually its best in a year but a far cry from its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s when it was regularly a top 5 18-34 performer.
If you follow particular companies, none of Clear Channel’s five stations landed in the top 12 among 25 to 54 year olds. Its top-rated station was Project, tied for 13th.
Top 10 morning shows, 25-54
1- Frank & Wanda, V-103
2- Scott Slade, WSB-AM
3- Tom Joyner, Kiss 104.1
4- Steve Harvey, Grown Folks 102.5
5- The Bert Show, Q100
6 (tie) Yolanda Adams, Praise 97.5
6 (tie) Kelly & Alpha, B98.5
8- Lexie Kaye, 97.1/The River
9 (tie) Cadilla Jack & Kristen, Kicks 101.5
9 (tie) Steve & Vikki//Nudge, Star 94 (They weren’t down much considering all the changes)
Top 10 morning shows 18-34
1- Frank & Wanda, V-103
2- The Bert Show, Q100
3- The “A” Team, Hot 107.9
4- Panda & Brenda, Viva 105.7
5- Cadillac & Kristen, Kicks 101.5 (Their numbers have bounced around quite a bit the year)
6- Scott Slade, WSB-AM
7- Giant Brian & Shaffee, Project 9-6-1
8- Steve Harvey, Grown Folks 102.5
9- Los Patrones in the Morning, El Patron 105.3
10- Tom Joyner, Kiss 104.1
SOURCE: Arbitron, Sept. 20-Dec. 12, 2007
If there’s a specific show you’d like rankings for, email me at rho@ajc.com. Because of rules from Arbitron, I can’t release actual ratings outside of 12-plus.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By BEEBEE
January 18, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
I guess Buck & Kincade can Stew about the ratings. The mornings with Rude ( the old washed up rock and roll DJ, who couldn’t hand) and Perry (the guy who doesn’t like anything) is a sorry show. I think that 790 needs to split everyone up on their morning show. The guys are good individually but bad as a group. They need to be broken up and each person should have their own show with a different sidekick. They’re terrible as a team because they go in four or five different directions instead of the two or maybe three.
By rocker
January 18, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
Well, like many of us predicted that “Reject 9-6-1” thing is working out really well for Clear Channel (hee, hee, hee). Bring back 96Rock you morons!
By David
January 18, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
Have any of you moronic program directors ever heard of real classic rock? It seems to be a hit every else in the country!!!
By David
January 18, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
Have any of you moronic program directors ever heard of real classic rock? It seems to be a hit every else in the country!!!
By David
January 18, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
Have any of you moronic program directors ever heard of real classic rock? It seems to be a hit every else in the country!!!
By baloney
January 18, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
No wonder WSB is losing steam……..it’s all in that blowhard Scott Slade, anlong with the ill prepared Tony Crapvone. How many times in a minute can Scott Slade tell us the time?ANd how many times can s*vone give us the incorrect scores of games that he didn’t attend?
By rocker
January 18, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
David, apparently the program directors prefer to cater to the young punk, tattooed zit farms rather than us more “seasoned” listeners that actually have some money to purchase their advertiser’s products.
Oh well, screw terrestrial radio……I have my “Deep Tracks” station on XM now (great classic rock station).
By Randall Bloomquist
January 18, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
And yet….Deskins still keeps me around.
By Chuck Deskins
January 18, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
And yet….Hogan keeps me around.
By John Hogan - Clear Channel CEO
January 18, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
And yet….I still keep those two morons, Deskins & Bloomquist around.
By baloney
January 18, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
And have you heard that “new station” called “The River”? I heard it is really good.They play good songs alot. (the same ones)And what is it with the staions coming up with The River,The Bull, The Legend, Dave, Eagle? WHy not just use something sensible like 96 rock?
By Oreo
January 18, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
Urban stations of Atlanta. Enjoy your time at the top. It will end when the PPM’s get here.
By jack
January 18, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
The success of 680 against 790 should come as no surprise. Steak understand this is a rejection of you personally and professionally.
By my way
January 18, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Rush’s numbers are down because his audience is either a) dying, or b) waking up and realizing that the radio is still on.
And Clear Channel: I will NEVER listen to holiday music on The Bull after the way you screwed your listeners over in 2006. Enjoy those flat ratings and shrinking ad revenues.
By baloney
January 18, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Seems like several of these stations in any format is pandering to the homosexual crowd.
By jabster
January 18, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Oreo:
Good comment. What’s the latest on PPMs’ effects on ratings vs. diaries? Last I heard diaries overstated results for urban and Latino and understated results for rock (especially alternative and other young-skewing formats).
By john hogan
January 18, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Not one Clear Channel station in the TOP FOURTEEN. No wonder I was named the Cox Broadcasting “Employee of the Year”!
By TruthHurts
January 18, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Has the coonfest known as WAOK increased their listeners beyond 4 yet?
By xfan
January 18, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Oreo and jabster:
Agreed. PPMs don’t lie, but the ghetto trash ‘supporting their kind’ by arrowing all the way to the bottom of the diary, now, that’s a lie.
Cumulus should’ve held out a bit longer. Younger audiences that listen to more rock and pop don’t have home phone numbers as much, and so they can’t keep diaries.
By Dead Air
January 18, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Did you guys see where Randall has hired a new APD? Bloomie’s got a one jock station and he needs an assistant. Hilarious.
By wallace
January 18, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
what’s up with randy’s butt boy,Dummy shafer? Is he still in his mom’s cellar?
By Bud
January 19, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
I wonder what they’ll do with the 12,000 Watt 100.5 frequency…Classic Rock would be the logical choice to me…watch ‘em decide that what Atlanta really needs is another country or urban or hispanic station.
By the old rocker
January 19, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Obviously the 9 6 1 Project continues to be a huge disappointment. Whatever happened to Rock/Classic Rock radio in Atlanta? Is there anyone listening? I doubt it. The Project ratings continue to decline and be an embarassment. Are you listening 96? Bring back the Rock, 96 Rock. Until those proogrammers in TX get the message, Atlanta may never have a Rock station. Hey Programmers - attend a Braves or Thrashers game. They play more rock than “programmed stations.” Listen to your fans, since you fans are not listening to you. Bring back the Rock - 96 Rock to the ATL.
By Chris
January 21, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
There IS a classic rock station (97.1 The River), but they HAVE to get some more material for their playlist. It’s like they put in the greatest hits records for Steve Miller Band, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, and The Eagles, and hit random. It’s very, very repetitive. Play some deeper tracks, guys! And don’t be afraid of louder or stranger stuff from the 70s. I’d love to hear more Zeppelin or AC/DC or Pink Floyd.
By Chris
January 21, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
There IS a classic rock station (97.1 The River), but they HAVE to get some more material for their playlist. It’s like they put in the greatest hits records for Steve Miller Band, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, and The Eagles, and hit random. It’s very, very repetitive. Play some deeper tracks, guys! And don’t be afraid of louder or stranger stuff from the 70s. I’d love to hear more Zeppelin or AC/DC or Pink Floyd.
By Bud
January 21, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Chris…The River won’t expand their playlist until they are forced to expand their playlist. We’ve had at least 2 rock stations at the same time for most of the past 30 years or so…and this should continue. One rock station isn’t enough…you need a 2nd or 3rd rock station to switch to when the first one plays an in-genre rock song you can’t stand (Anything by Neil Young would qualify to my ears, as well as the 8 billionth playing of “Hotel California”)
Plus, The River should be punished for putting a station bumper BETWEEN EACH AND EVERY SONG!!!
How common is this? It’s truly disgusting. You can’t create any flow to the music if you cut up each track with freakin’ station bumper between each song.
I know it’s a business and they have to play commercials and to promote themselves, etc. etc. etc. We’ve all got bills to pay. But this overly narrow, chopped up format sucks. A new rock station with a wider selection and better flow will force The River to change course or dry up.
Step up to the plate, Cumulus!
By Nick Wright
January 25, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
My pessimistic bet is that you fans of Butt Rock will be validated by Rock 100.5.
By J-Man
January 28, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
If Steak would shut up for 5 minutes and let the actual talent speak, then his Steak and the Sports Gang Show might not lose to that dreadful 680 Rude show in the morning.
By Rock and roll
January 29, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Although the playlist on The River can get redundant -lately I have been hearing a few songs that have not been in rotation since the inception of the station. Advertising must still be minimal on the station as we’re still getting 52 minutes of music an hour. I’m glad they’re out there as I’ll take what I can get.
Competition would be nice and perhaps Rock 100.5 will fill that void. I have all the music I want to listen to on my iPod, but it’s still nice to have good rock n roll on the radio.
I do miss the late 90’s / early 00’s when we still had 96 Rock, Z-93, Fox 97 as well as 105.3 the Max for those of us who really enjoy our 80’s music. It’s been depressing to watch davefm and Project 9-6-1 replace two of my favorite radio stations. But I can find happiness in 97.1 The River and Rock 100.5 going at it vying for my listenership.