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February numbers are here

I don't have access to Men 25-54 numbers, but I'm quite surprised that KFNC is at 0.1 in 6+. That's a low point even for them. Again, don't have the access to the Men 25-54 numbers, but I don't think the market could support three stations in the format. Houston is just not a great sports town.

Some other observations:

Healthy time for Regional Mexican, with KLTN tied at 2nd with a 6 share and both of Estrella Media's rimshots above a 3 share.

KMJQ is finally back in the top 5 for the first time in quite awhile, it will be a station to follow in the coming months to see if this is a fluke or if it will continue to trend up and eventually get back to the top 3.

KRBE down by .9 and KODA up by .7 and now at an 8.1, looks like we might know where part of KRBE's spike last month came from. However, the rock lean of KKHH at times may also be contributing to KODA being over an 8 share without Christmas music for the first time in awhile, as fans of 1980s music who want a consistent pop sound may be choosing KODA over KKHH.

Interesting to see KOVE-FM in the top 10 and above a 4 share for the 2nd straight month, even if it is down slightly.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Gow Media sinks to a 0.1 for its SportsTalk effort on 97.5, tied with 650 The Bet and TUDN on 93.3. Wonder if Houston can support three local English language SportsTalkers…note that DFW is down to only two with the demise of KESN. Once again: David Gow, call Alfred Liggins.
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Assuming there is only room for two "successful" sports stations in Houston, between iHeart's KBME (with rights to the Astros and Rockets) and Audacy's KILT (with the rights for the Texans) and Gow's KFNC, who is the likely "odd man out"?

Is there any question really?
 
Another thing that is interesting: the cume for KFNC seems way down. Unusually lower than the typical low.

Despite having all of the benefit for being on the band where ~85%+ of the listening takes place, KFNC has a cume that is less than 1/6th of that of KILT over on ancient modulation.

KFNC also has a lower cume than spanish-language sports TUDN over 93.3.

Also, strange... at the bottom of the cume list is KFNC-HD2. What is that? The 92.5 translator? I thought KFNC wasn't even broadcasting in HD. The HD2 doesn't show up in the publicly-released share numbers only on the cume list.
 
Ryan Williams said:
Assuming there is only room for two "successful" sports stations in Houston, between iHeart's KBME (with rights to the Astros and Rockets) and Audacy's KILT (with the rights for the Texans) and Gow's KFNC, who is the likely "odd man out"?
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If either Audacy or iHeart were to get ahold of KROI as an FM home for their SportsTalker, it would be a stake through the heart for KFNC. The 92.1 signal is far superior to 97.5. It is also clear that the 92.5 translator hasn’t helped.

It would also be interesting to see what the loser in acquiring KROI might do.

I too would love to see the male 25-54 breakouts for SportsTalk in Houston. The Houston Chronicle used to do that, but apparently not recently.
 
KODA continues to be #1 (in 6+); only a few times have they ever been not #1. When was the last time KODA had a direct [AC] competitor?

Maybe the lower ratings of KQBT are a fluke, given that they recovered the last few books as the pandemic slowly eases.

Do the people in Audacy know what they are doing with KHMX? Granted, 6+ ratings are a beauty contest, but still.

KUHF hasn't been close to KTRH in ratings for a while now [if they ever had been].
 
victorres43 said:
KODA continues to be #1 (in 6+); only a few times have they ever been not #1. When was the last time KODA had a direct [AC] competitor?

Maybe the lower ratings of KQBT are a fluke, given that they recovered the last few books as the pandemic slowly eases.

Do the people in Audacy know what they are doing with KHMX? Granted, 6+ ratings are a beauty contest, but still.

KUHF hasn't been close to KTRH in ratings for a while now [if they ever had been].
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From the AllAccess PPM Analysis article, KODA is also #1 with a dominant lead of over 2 shares ahead of #2 KLTN in 25-54 and 18-49 (also #1 in 18-34, but only leading #2 KTBZ-FM by less than half a share). Meanwhile, KKHH has dropped out of the top 5 in 25-54, 18-34, and 18-49. KODA is seemingly benefitting at the moment from the recent rock lean of KKHH. The article also states that KQBT is still top 10 18-34, so they're still doing fine in the younger target (albeit losing to KBXX).

Maybe KUHF is closer to KTRH in the key demos? The left leaning NPR talk is probably more appealing to younger listeners than the right leaning talk of KTRH.
 
jt99 said:
From the AllAccess PPM Analysis article, KODA is also #1 with a dominant lead of over 2 shares ahead of #2 KLTN in 25-54 and 18-49 (also #1 in 18-34, but only leading #2 KTBZ-FM by less than half a share). Meanwhile, KKHH has dropped out of the top 5 in 25-54, 18-34, and 18-49. KODA is seemingly benefitting at the moment from the recent rock lean of KKHH. The article also states that KQBT is still top 10 18-34, so they're still doing fine in the younger target (albeit losing to KBXX).

Maybe KUHF is closer to KTRH in the key demos? The left leaning NPR talk is probably more appealing to younger listeners than the right leaning talk of KTRH.
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I neglected to say that KHMX is #8 within 18-34 (up from #16 within that demo, I believe?). But at times, Audacy's strategy for KHMX can be unclear.

We may need to see subsequent books to see if KKHH's rock tendencies have contributed to their decline in rank. But classic rock is not the "in" thing [to revive], given its absence in the upper echelons of the 25-54 ratings in many markets.

Usually, an NPR station would have a significant showing within 6+ if there is a strong News/Talk outlet in the market, as we've seen for Sacramento, Kansas City, and Phoenix. So that's why I pointed out KUHF being a laggard in the ratings.
 
victorres43 said:
I neglected to say that KHMX is #8 within 18-34 (up from #16 within that demo, I believe?). But at times, Audacy's strategy for KHMX can be unclear.

We may need to see subsequent books to see if KKHH's rock tendencies have contributed to their decline in rank. But classic rock is not the "in" thing [to revive], given its absence in the upper echelons of the 25-54 ratings in many markets.

Usually, an NPR station would have a significant showing within 6+ if there is a strong News/Talk outlet in the market, as we've seen for Sacramento, Kansas City, and Phoenix. So that's why I pointed out KUHF being a laggard in the ratings.
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The last time KGLK/KHPT was a consistent top 5 25-54 station was in 2020, but it seems Classic Rock is still at or near the top 5 in 25-54 in some other markets. Regardless, I think the recent ocassional rock tendencies of KKHH are odd given the demographics of Houston and their previous success with a more consistent pop sound. They had been seeing slight share declines for a few books, but this seems to be the first time they've fallen several positions like this since they went more rock. https://www.westwoodone.com/programming/formats/variety-hits/variety-hits-pop/

If you look at that link and the sample hour provided, just replace "Rock Your Body" with a 1980s pop song and that's pretty how they used to sound like at all times. Now, they still have that sound sometimes, but at other times they sound more rock, it depends on when you catch them. I just hope they change back soon, because I miss hearing them play songs like "Billie Jean", "Everything She Wants", "Let's Go Crazy", "Our House" and others!
 
jt99 said:
The last time KGLK/KHPT was a consistent top 5 25-54 station was in 2020, but it seems Classic Rock is still at or near the top 5 in 25-54 in some other markets. Regardless, I think the recent ocassional rock tendencies of KKHH are odd given the demographics of Houston and their previous success with a more consistent pop sound. They had been seeing slight share declines for a few books, but this seems to be the first time they've fallen several positions like this since they went more rock. https://www.westwoodone.com/programming/formats/variety-hits/variety-hits-pop/

If you look at that link and the sample hour provided, just replace "Rock Your Body" with a 1980s pop song and that's pretty how they used to sound like at all times. Now, they still have that sound sometimes, but at other times they sound more rock, it depends on when you catch them. I just hope they change back soon, because I miss hearing them play songs like "Billie Jean", "Everything She Wants", "Let's Go Crazy", "Our House" and others!
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Classic rock may have been more favorable than Oldies or [the] Classic Hits [of old], but there are times Classic Hits has beaten Classic Rock in key demos. In New York, WCBS-FM surpasses WAXQ in 25-54 and 18-34, and WCBS-FM is pop-centric. In Los Angeles, KRTH beats KLOS in key demos, though some rock fans may tend towards KCBS-FM instead of KLOS. WROR in Boston dwarfs WZLX in key demos.

Not Classic Hits, but for all the "sappy" love songs they play, Soft ACs KISQ and WLIT have done well in money demos (even 18-34) within San Francisco and Chicago, respectively. They are, in fact, surpassing the Classic Rock stations within their demos.
 
victorres43 said:
Classic rock may have been more favorable than Oldies or [the] Classic Hits [of old], but there are times Classic Hits has beaten Classic Rock in key demos. In New York, WCBS-FM surpasses WAXQ in 25-54 and 18-34, and WCBS-FM is pop-centric. In Los Angeles, KRTH beats KLOS in key demos, though some rock fans may tend towards KCBS-FM instead of KLOS. WROR in Boston dwarfs WZLX in key demos.

Not Classic Hits, but for all the "sappy" love songs they play, Soft ACs KISQ and WLIT have done well in money demos (even 18-34) within San Francisco and Chicago, respectively. They are, in fact, surpassing the Classic Rock stations within their demos.
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It seems things have changed over the past few years, I would definitely be interested in seeing the 2021 national share for Classic Hits vs Classic Rock in 25-54, 18-34, and 18-49. With stations like KRTH constantly being top 5 (if not top 3, or even ocassionally #1) in 18-34 in recent years, its clear that old pop is having better resonance with younger demos than it did in past years.
 
victorres43 said:
Classic rock may have been more favorable than Oldies or [the] Classic Hits [of old], but there are times Classic Hits has beaten Classic Rock in key demos.
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Sure, but what musical compromises has Classic Hits made to stay in demo, while Classic Rock is still playing lots of 70s. Older music doesn't hurt classic rock in the way it does classic hits.
 
jt99 said:
I don't think the market could support three stations in the format. Houston is just not a great sports town.
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What I notice is the music stations seem to do a better job merchandising the sports teams than the sports stations.

KILT did a great promotion last fall with the Astros and used it to improve their ratings.
 
TheBigA said:
Sure, but what musical compromises has Classic Hits made, while Classic Rock is still playing lots of 70s. Older music doesn't hurt classic rock in the way it does classic hits.
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Given that Classic Hits stations are adding 90s music at a more glacial place than we may expect, it's safe to say 80s pop is here to stay for at least a while. And I'd say the 80s differ from the 70s as far as pop music's appeal is concerned.

Both Classic Hits and Classic Rock have to make compromises and adjustments, when needed. Classic Rock may still play Led Zeppelin and The Doors, but these days, you're more likely to hear the Stone Temple Pilots than Cream or Yes.

jt99 said:
It seems things have changed over the past few years, I would definitely be interested in seeing the 2021 national share for Classic Hits vs Classic Rock in 25-54, 18-34, and 18-49. With stations like KRTH constantly being top 5 (if not top 3, or even ocassionally #1) in 18-34 in recent years, its clear that old pop is having better resonance with younger demos than it did in past years.
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No phenomenon a la Guitar Hero to accompany Classic Rock's popularity. And younger listeners are less enamoured by the likes of Motley Crue.
 
TheBigA said:
What I notice is the music stations seem to do a better job merchandising the sports teams than the sports stations.

KILT did a great promotion last fall with the Astros and used it to improve their ratings.
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I believe it was said a while back that KILT-FM was a strong biller in the Houston market, perhaps moreso than KKBQ?

KILT-FM being the home of the Texans, along with AM sister KILT, could have helped 100.3's standing.
 
victorres43 said:
I believe it was said a while back that KILT-FM was a strong biller in the Houston market, perhaps moreso than KKBQ?

KILT-FM being the home of the Texans, along with AM sister KILT, could have helped 100.3's standing.
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It was said a while back that KILT-FM was the 3rd highest billing station in the market in 2019, which was the best year the station had in awhile. It's often been said that music stations that air sports games do it for the money, so I would assume that counts for the station billings. So whatever money they earned from airing Texans games combined with the station's performance in 2019 may have contributed to it billing that high that year.
 
jt99 said:
It was said a while back that KILT-FM was the 3rd highest billing station in the market in 2019, which was the best year the station had in awhile. It's often been said that music stations that air sports games do it for the money, so I would assume that counts for the station billings. So whatever money they earned from airing Texans games combined with the station's performance in 2019 may have contributed to it billing that high that year.
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If KILT-FM bills that strongly, perhaps being "the new" station with less commercials may not always provide an advantage for Cox-owned KKBQ. :D
 
BamaTX said:
I'm surprised KTHT is even in the 2 range. That station is unlistenable south of Downtown thanks to the 96.9 translator near the medical center. I can usually put up with a bit of fading/static if the content is good. But the bleeding over is too much. Cox should try their hardest to get 96.9 off the air.
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If there are enough complaints from listeners in the south side of Houston, then it could happen. (See the 103.3 Baltimore debacle in relation to DC's WTOP 103.5.)

But there are fewer people within the classic country core demographics that reside in that part of town, so the chances may be minimal. Cox must be content in superserving Deep East Texas (and making Classic Country fans living outside of KTHT's coverage area tune to an HD subchannel.)
 
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