GSP ratings

[101tm]

https://ratings.****************/content/arb191

Outside of 98.9 and 101.1, I sure wouldn’t want to be Audacy. CHR, rock, and AC are all at a 3 share or below - not to mention the fact The Block has collapsed down well below a 1 share despite having a translator in each principal city in the market. And how low will WSPA-FM fall? They’re being beaten by WBAV - LOL!

Jamz has to be near a record high. I continue to scratch my head at why this station, year after year, goes unchallenged by another full power signal (not translator). There’s no shortage of underperforming FM’s.

WORD moving to 98.9 seems to be kneecapping 94.5 - their decline is almost completely in tandem with the move of news/talk to the 98.9 signal.

We get to see how the non-comms do here. I’m somewhat surprised at the very low showing for 103.9 WSHP, since the “praise” format seems to be doing well in a number of markets.

 

[Ktownradioman]

Audacy killed Magic due to lack of promotion during the move. I know it's been said before. I never expected it to drop this low though. Now what? Does 106.3 flip to Urban AC and challenge 107.3 and someone else try the AC format. Maybe 94.5? It would compliment 95.5/103.3 very well.

 

[CrazeeCarroll2]

It sad to see Magic just be treated like the red headed stepchild. I wonder if by next year if things have not improved for 106.3 will Magic go poof in the night! WYRD, and WROQ seems to be the only two stations that are really doing anything for Audicy

 

[101tm]

Audacy killed Magic due to lack of promotion during the move. I know it's been said before. I never expected it to drop this low though. Now what? Does 106.3 flip to Urban AC and challenge 107.3 and someone else try the AC format. Maybe 94.5? It would compliment 95.5/103.3 very well.

Salem’s not going to move their flagship format off 94.5 even though it seems like a waste of a signal. I’m not 100% on this, but if I recall the University and Salem had an agreement (to appease folks concerned about losing a “Christian” station) that 94.5 would refrain from airing secular music. I’m not sure how long that was to last, or if it was even in writing, but that’s what I remember hearing at the same time. Their AM 1260 was the same, it has stayed religious since it was sold. However technically they are with the Earth FM simulcast on 94.5 HD2 and Spanish format on HD4.

I’m so confused why Audacy didn’t promote 106.3 even on air. AC is so easy and it’s doing well vs formats like CHR right now. It generally bills well. The station wasn’t doing that badly on 98.9 - its final book on 98.9 was #3 12+. Seems like most of the listeners went to 100.5, 101.1 and 102.5. I did notice they didn’t do Christmas music this July - did they forget?!

I had wondered about Urban, but The Block is barely making it on those 3 translators. 93.3 and 93.7 have serious issues outside of their morning shows that stay popular. My opinion is WTPT should have gone to 106.3, WORD to 93.3 and Magic left at 98.9. But nothing is going to work on any frequency if they don’t promote it as we see with the established Magic moving to 106.3.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I’m not 100% on this, but if I recall the University and Salem had an agreement (to appease folks concerned about losing a “Christian” station) that 94.5 would refrain from airing secular music. I’m not sure how long that was to last, or if it was even in writing, but that’s what I remember hearing at the same time.

I assume "Christian" is in quotes because technically WMUU was never a Christian station. The station played sacred music at night and on Sunday and had preaching, but during the day the music was pretty much all secular. There may have been Christian messages of some sort too, like the scripture at the top of each hour that BBN does.

At Christmas there was a mix of Christian and secular Christmas music during the day.

 

[tylerSC]

Interesting to see Magic rank below WBAV, an out of market Charlotte signal known as V-101.9. An unfortunate decline for WSPA-FM since the move to 106.3. But WBAV has a strong signal in Spartanburg County and a decent signal in parts of Greenville County, especially north of Laurens Rd. Apparently Urban AC is a good performing format these days, as WBAV ranks high in Charlotte and WOSF is now number one. WOSF would probably generate more listeners in the Upstate if it weren't for that religious translator signal that now interferes on 105.3.

I wonder if Audacy should move Magic to a stronger signal on 93.7 since the CHR format is declining, and just concede CHR to 98.1. In fact Hawk and Tom have now aged more appropriately into an AC format anyway. 106.3 seems like a bad move for Magic, however they may be succeeding with improved gains for WORD on 98.9, not only ratings but also expanded political ad revenue due to the expanded signal. This may be one case where the broadcaster may recruit out of market advertisers.

 

[101tm]

Magic’s performance on 106.3 can’t be blamed on the signal, either. WORD hit the top 5 and even sometimes top 3 on that signal - and it hits plenty of the sweet spots in the market for AC. Their transmitter is literally in the center of where the most AC listeners would be. Oldies got a 3 something also if I recall.

WSPA-FM’s programming is also heard in Pickens county on 95.1 and in Anderson County on 101.5. They mention those on the website on a page, but never mentioned on air. Maybe taking The Block full urban AC would be a good idea and fit in with Steve Harvey now that Streetz 99.5 is on the air and apparently not doing anything.

I assume "Christian" is in quotes because technically WMUU was never a Christian station. The station played sacred music at night and on Sunday and had preaching, but during the day the music was pretty much all secular.

Correct. There were obvious Christian undertones, but most of the music during the day was instrumentals of various genres like show tunes, standards, etc with occasional sacred songs blocked in. It wasn’t called “Unique FM” for nothing!

 

[tylerSC]

Driving south down 26 to Columbia today I noticed most GSP and Charlotte stations came in good from Clinton down to Newberry. Then they began to break up a bit as you entered Lexington County and were absorbed by Columbia interference when you got to the Chapin exit. There are now translators in Columbia that interfere with 96.1, 99.3, and 107.9 from Charlotte, all which used to be heard in parts of Richland County. And another translator overtakes 98.9-WORD, which otherwise would make it further into Columbia. Actually WBAV-101.9 And WSOC-103.7 fared best with outlasting interference. Kiss 95.1 from Charlotte starts dueling with 95-SX from Charleston, and eventually cedes the battle there. But I was able to switch to WBT on 11.10AM when 99.3 was overtaken by the Columbia station past Chapin.

 

[The Beat]

I wouldn't worry about WSPA. Christmas is right around the corner.

 

[101tm]

I wouldn't worry about WSPA. Christmas is right around the corner.

This is the first time in at least several years we've had no "Christmas in July." Perhaps it's being realized that isn't the best idea.

I don't know if it's just me, but every time I scan by WSPA-FM, the likelihood of hearing "Cry Me a River", "Rock Your Body" or "What Goes Around..." by Justin Timberlake, or "Stay With Me" or "Dancing With A Stranger" by Sam Smith is 50/50. Honorable mention to "Roar" by Katy Perry and "I Hope" by Gabby Barrett. I swear they used to have a fresher/wider playlist.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I don't know if it's just me, but every time I scan by WSPA-FM, the likelihood of hearing "Cry Me a River",

I'm guessing that isn't Julie London, but maybe back in the day, that was played on WSPA-FM.

 

[101tm]

https://ratings.****************/content/arb191

No big changes at all, but two periods in a row where V101.9 hit almost a 2 share.

X-98.5 isn’t what it used to be. Streetz 99.5 doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Both are tied with the C3 104.9 which is even worse for the latter considering its better signal.

Other than classic rock and hate news talk, Audacy is really doing poorly. 1.6 does seem to be the bottom for WSPA-FM while 2.6 is BAD for the Planet. Just bad.

 

[KI4KKB]

https://ratings.****************/content/arb191

No big changes at all, but two periods in a row where V101.9 hit almost a 2 share.

X-98.5 isn’t what it used to be. Streetz 99.5 doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Both are tied with the C3 104.9 which is even worse for the latter considering its better signal.

Other than classic rock and hate news talk, Audacy is really doing poorly. 1.6 does seem to be the bottom for WSPA-FM while 2.6 is BAD for the Planet. Just bad.

All the Audacy stations are doing poorly because they have terrible audio quality none of them have a listenable sound.

 

[101tm]

The HD’s sound fine but the analog is terrible. 106.3 which is analog only sounds like it’s rumbling around in a trash can. It sounded even worse back in the spring but they haven’t improved it any further. When I compare it to the other non HD stations that’s comparable with format (103.3 and 106.9) the difference is jarring.

 

[KI4KKB]

I agree the HD and the Streams sound ok. I would say the IHeart stations have the best sound in the area.

 

[vchimpanzee]

The HD’s sound fine but the analog is terrible. 106.3 which is analog only sounds like it’s rumbling around in a trash can. It sounded even worse back in the spring but they haven’t improved it any further. When I compare it to the other non HD stations that’s comparable with format (103.3 and 106.9) the difference is jarring.

106.9 is CCM in the Asheville area. Is that what you mean?

 

[genius]

https://ratings.****************/content/arb191

X-98.5 isn’t what it used to be.

while 2.6 is BAD for the Planet.

Yeah X unfortunately has lost momentum again and lately for whatever reason the playlist has been a rather terrible mix of lower quality music and an increase of heavy metal as opposed to something more traditional alternative like Alt Nation on Sirius XM or WXRY down in Columbia.

Meanwhile the Planet lately just sounds bad, partly due to the dismal audio quality as noted above but it also as a station feels outdated.

Also don’t understand how it seems every year WHZT and WFBC flip flop back and forth between big gains and losses. Here we see WHZT sinking and WFBC rising. Fickle listeners?

 

[ngriffin]

Also don’t understand how it seems every year WHZT and WFBC flip flop back and forth between big gains and losses. Here we see WHZT sinking and WFBC rising. Fickle listeners?

Maybe. It may also depend on how the diaries for any given book are spread out geographically, since WHZT's signal isn't competitive in the eastern part of the market.

 

[101tm]

Hot’s recent slide may be due to the fact they lost their popular morning show and the pitiful replacement (decent show but designed to be a night show they’re delaying for 12+ hours) for it.

Planet was a product of its time, and I’m assuming the morning show is the only thing keeping it alive. Some of the music is 35 years old overlapping with WROQ. Whoever programs X now probably has no knowledge of the format, I think it used to be somebody out of market and Summit doesn’t do alt. Apparently putting WORD on a strong signal was smart but I still say it should have gone to 93.3. Magic isn’t that far behind them to be on a C3.

 

[101tm]

https://ratings.****************/content/arb191

Not a lot surprising here, but WSPA-FM is up to a 1.9 share so maybe some former listeners are starting to find it…
Nice jump for The Block.

Hot 98.1 is slipping badly. That new morning show can’t be helping.

I miss Real Rock 104.9. If anything it never fell as low as a 0.1. I understand why iHeart changed this station to sports but I wonder if this is acceptable. FOX Sports 104.9’s Facebook page disappeared, I guess they were embarrassed they couldn’t hit 50 likes 🤣