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After almost 4 decades, WBLS is the #1 Nielsen ranked station in New York.

V

victorres43

With a jump in share from 6.5 to 6.9, WBLS has managed to take the top spot from WLTW (106.7 Lite FM) in the latest PPM ratings (July 2021); at the same time, WLTW has remained at a 6.6.

radioinsight.com

New York

Nielsen Audio PPM Monthly Ratings New York City (Market #1) Population: 16,299,100 Black: 2,670,400 - Hispanic: 4,273,100 Average Quarter Hour Share for Persons
radioinsight.com radioinsight.com

Whatever WBLS is doing, they must be doing something right.

Congrats to 'BLS!
 
Though not specifically about WBLS, the linked article offers some thoughts why many urban a/c stations are doing well. Strong personalities, a skillful mix of old and new music, and community involvement are give as possible reasons. Those would seem to coincide with what terrestrial radio does best, compared to alternatives, such as streaming services.
Urban A/C Doing Some Things Right

BTW, I wonder how the 2 local hip-hop stations are doing. WWPR 105.1 came in below country station WNSH in the latest overall ratings, and is not among the top 5 stations in the young 18-34 demo (per AllAccess).
 
Barry said:
Though not specifically about WBLS, the linked article offers some thoughts why many urban a/c stations are doing well. Strong personalities, a skillful mix of old and new music, and community involvement are give as possible reasons. Those would seem to coincide with what terrestrial radio does best, compared to alternatives, such as streaming services.
Urban A/C Doing Some Things Right

BTW, I wonder how the 2 local hip-hop stations are doing. WWPR 105.1 came in below country station WNSH in the latest overall ratings, and is not among the top 5 stations in the young 18-34 demo (per AllAccess).
Click to expand...

The hip-hop stations each cume twice the country station. But, [younger] listeners do not listen for long periods of time, probably making the stations rely on the morning drive for ratings, especially with The Breakfast Club on WWPR/Power 105.1.
 
Honestly...They had to make many changes in order to perfect the programming chemistry and strategy. But major congrats and kudos to the station for being named "number 1 station in New York City".
 
victorres43 said:
With a jump in share from 6.5 to 6.9, WBLS has managed to take the top spot from WLTW (106.7 Lite FM) in the latest PPM ratings (July 2021); at the same time, WLTW has remained at a 6.6.

radioinsight.com

New York

Nielsen Audio PPM Monthly Ratings New York City (Market #1) Population: 16,299,100 Black: 2,670,400 - Hispanic: 4,273,100 Average Quarter Hour Share for Persons
radioinsight.com radioinsight.com

Whatever WBLS is doing, they must be doing something right.

Congrats to 'BLS!
Click to expand...
Great legendary station. It's fair to say though that they really have no competition. For years they ran against Emmis' 98.7 Kiss but all there is now is the abysmal Radio 103.9 with it's meek signal in terms of urban ac.
 
It is odd how Urban AC is doing so well in many markets, while Urban or Rhythmic Contemporary stations are struggling.

NYC: WBLS is #1, while Hot 97 is #12 and Power 105 is #16.

Chicago: WVAZ is #2 while WGCI is #18 and WPWX is #24.

Philadelphia: WDAS-FM is #1 while WUSL is #14.

Washington: Two Urban ACs are in the top 5, WHUR #2 and WMMJ #4, while Urban WKYS is #14 and WPGC is #15.

Miami: WHQT #2 while WEDR is #13.
 
Gregg. said:
It is odd how Urban AC is doing so well in many markets, while Urban or Rhythmic Contemporary stations are struggling.

NYC: WBLS is #1, while Hot 97 is #12 and Power 105 is #16.

Chicago: WVAZ is #2 while WGCI is #18 and WPWX is #24.

Philadelphia: WDAS-FM is #1 while WUSL is #14.

Washington: Two Urban ACs are in the top 5, WHUR #2 and WMMJ #4, while Urban WKYS is #14 and WPGC is #15.

Miami: WHQT #2 while WEDR is #13.
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Some has to do with the lyrics of hip hop which are not suitable for airplay, while many of the listeners go to streams that are not restricted.

Also, Hispanics in considerable numbers have deserted hip hop for reggaetón which, in times of changing ethnic identities, "belongs" to Hispanics while hip hop does not.

There is little research on this. I'm interested in other opinions, too, as we examine the differences between urban and urban AC.
 
That makes sense in markets like NYC and Miami, where Reggaetón on Latin Contemporary stations is pulling Hispanic listeners away from the English language Hip Hop stations. But it's also happening in Philadelphia and Washington where Hispanic listeners are not as big a factor. (When I looked at the falling ratings for Miami Urban/Rhythmic stations, I should have noted that WPOW is only at #17. That's a station broadcasting in English but always had a large Hispanic audience.)

Steve Harvey's popularity on TV may be part of it as well. Many of the top Urban AC stations run his syndicated morning show. Although the ones that don't seem to be enjoying success as well. Maybe 30+ or 35+ black listeners who once divided their listening between Urban AC and Urban are now leaning more to Urban AC, due to the lyrics and attitudes?
 
Is hip-hop today really more explicit compared to the 90s? I ask since Urban ACs have included more hip-hop in their playlists.

But hip-hop today, which is more of the trap variant, is still different from 90s/00s hip hop.
 
Gregg. said:
That makes sense in markets like NYC and Miami, where Reggaetón on Latin Contemporary stations is pulling Hispanic listeners away from the English language Hip Hop stations. But it's also happening in Philadelphia and Washington where Hispanic listeners are not as big a factor. (When I looked at the falling ratings for Miami Urban/Rhythmic stations, I should have noted that WPOW is only at #17. That's a station broadcasting in English but always had a large Hispanic audience.)
Click to expand...
WPOW has for many years not been the Churban station it was under Bill Tanner's supervision. It's just another CHR that seems to be programmed from afar where the rather unique atmosphere in Miami... culturally and musically... is ignored to their detriment.
Gregg. said:
Steve Harvey's popularity on TV may be part of it as well. Many of the top Urban AC stations run his syndicated morning show. Although the ones that don't seem to be enjoying success as well. Maybe 30+ or 35+ black listeners who once divided their listening between Urban AC and Urban are now leaning more to Urban AC, due to the lyrics and attitudes?
Click to expand...
That is a possibility. OTOH, many if not most of the edgy-lyric songs from Urban are just not played on radio or the versions are severely edited.
 
A lot of people seem to be under the impression WPOW is still a Rhythmic CHR which it hasn't been for a while. As someone who streams WPOW and other large market CHR's frequently, they are a straight up mainstream CHR and have reported as such for a while, well before Entercom/Audacy came in to the picture.
 
101tm said:
A lot of people seem to be under the impression WPOW is still a Rhythmic CHR which it hasn't been for a while. As someone who streams WPOW and other large market CHR's frequently, they are a straight up mainstream CHR and have reported as such for a while, well before Entercom/Audacy came in to the picture.
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And now they are languishing in the ratings, apparent by the fact that Power 96 lost its uniqueness. Now Y100 and El Zol 106.7 are zooming past them. Even Tú 94.9 is doing better. 10 years ago, Power 96 doing this badly in the ratings was unthinkable. Yet, Audacy believes that having two national DJs/presenters will help Power 96 in the ratings.

And I have a feeling that Audacy has neutered the sound of Power 96's sister station 101.5 Lite FM (after continuing its sort of unique sound for a while as Entercom), playing an increasing amount of "country pop" songs that were never widely beloved by the Hispanic-dominant Miami audience. It's billing better than Easy 93.1, for now, but it won't be surprising if Easy begins to surpass Lite in billing, given that Easy really sounds like a Miami station.
 
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Congratulations to BLS again for the number1 spot. They've been a powerhouse in NY for decades. They have the urban ac market to themselves of course but any competitors are sure to lose.
 
I have listened to WBLS on and off since I was a kid. I have always considered WBLS to be one of New York's greatest stations; therefore, I am glad to see that it has reached number one for the second time in two years.

Congratulations, WBLS!
 
I have an honest thought. Consider that we're two plus years into many offices being closed and people working from home. You know where stations like WLTW got played a lot? In offices, where it was a favorable station to play because the mix of music would fit the environment. I'll be curious if their numbers rise again as companies ramp up return to office efforts and suddenly there's a lot of daypart listening for LiteFM that probably hasn't happened for a while.
 
dcowboy7 said:
Hopefully they flip to country. 😜
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Only if Idiocy notices the Country war on the Jersey Shore.Meanwhile, here in Midwood brooklyn, we are stuck with a weak 1310 with no 106.3 due to a pirate.I just renewed Sirius XM. The new Cat Country has a great mix of songs without the Hick Hop.
 
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