what AM stations do well in the U.S.

[alok]

I am sure this has been discussed before but as of recent what AM station or stations do pretty good in overall ratings and making money?

Also, how about foreign language AM stations?

How do ratings look for different age groups for both?

A station that is AM & FM with same programming, are people listening more to the FM then AM or is listening about even between AM & FM, etc.
How much does this AM or FM listening vary by market size?

 

[Kelly A]

According to the latest data, there are really only three top twenty AM stations in the U.S.
WLS, KFBK, and WFAN.

 

[vchimpanzee]

What about WDIA Memphis? It's always way up there.

 

[Kelly A]

What about WDIA Memphis? It's always way up there.

Nope.

 

[Weiserguy]

According to the latest data, there are really only three top twenty AM stations in the U.S.
WLS, KFBK, and WFAN.

As you included WFAN (which simulcasts on 101.9) on your list, then you should also include WINS (simulcasting on 92.3). Also, WCBS (AM) probably should be on the list also, based on ratings and revenue.

Picking "top 20" (presumably, of all of the 13,000 stations in the USA) is rather arbitrary for an answer to the OP's questions.

 

[Kelly A]

As you included WFAN (which simulcasts on 101.9) on your list, then you should also include WINS (simulcasting on 92.3). Also, WCBS (AM) probably should be on the list also, based on ratings and revenue.

I'm only including stations with ratings (size of audience) and revenue. Not one or the other.

 

[crainbebo]

My guess is the Midwest farm/country stations, like KRVN and KFRM. More of a full-service, public service to the community rather than another clearinghouse for Sean Hannity. Not many of those AMs left, or even FMs for that matter.

 

[Mark Roberts]

According to the latest data, there are really only three top twenty AM stations in the U.S.
WLS, KFBK, and WFAN.

FYI, KFBK has an FM simulcast (93.1 KFBK-FM Pollock Pines, a B1).

 

[Kelly A]

FYI, KFBK has an FM simulcast (93.1 KFBK-FM Pollock Pines, a B1).

Sure, but in the case of pointing out successful AM stations they are the primary, not their translators, LMA's or simulcasts on rimshot FM's.

 

[davideduardo]

I am sure this has been discussed before but as of recent what AM station or stations do pretty good in overall ratings and making money?

"Ratings" and "making money" are not necessarily connected. Many specialty stations that are not in English or Spanish do extremely well. Many stations that serve small interest groups do well. Many limited coverage stations that serve a specific coverage area do well, whether AM or FM.

Ratings are really only important for big signal stations that serve entire markets. The rest don't buy and don't use ratings. And smaller local advertisers don't use ratings, don't understand them and don't need them; the best ratings for them is "the cash register".

Also, how about foreign language AM stations?

Lots of them in markets like Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis, LA, SF, Fresno, Seattle, Miami, New York, DC, Boston and lots of others do just fine in a language other than English or Spanish.

How do ratings look for different age groups for both?

Most of the stations not in English or Spanish don't show or show very low in ratings. It does not matter. Clients measure results, not ratings.

A station that is AM & FM with same programming, are people listening more to the FM then AM or is listening about even between AM & FM, etc.

We don't know as 100% duplicated programming is nearly always listed by Nielsen as a single station. Translators are never listed alone as Nielsen lists the originating station.

How much does this AM or FM listening vary by market size?

Depends on many factors like total population, number of AMs and FMs doing specialty programming, quality of signal on each, percentage of people in the target of each station, programming skill and quality of each station, percentage of ethnic groups that still speak the heritage language and much more.

Example: a Spanish language station in the New York Market that targets Puerto Ricans specifically will fail as the last migration from the Island of any size ended in the later 1960's and anyone under about 60 won't speak Spanish (although the grandparents or parents may). And advertisers don't want people in their 60's and 70's and beyond.

Ratings are only important for the most popular stations which sell based on metrics such as "Cost Per Point" or "reach" or "Reach and frequency" and which offer efficient delivery of one or more very desirable advertiser targets.

 

[Kelly A]

Picking "top 20" (presumably, of all of the 13,000 stations in the USA) is rather arbitrary for an answer to the OP's questions.

Not arbitrary at all. These are the remaining AM stations that rank within the top twenty of a combination of ratings and revenue among all the 13,000 stations you mentioned. Of course. within your 13,000 number are stations that don't qualify, including NCE's, public, and religious.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

KNLV, KVSH, KBRX, KBRB.. heard them all.... KVSH does pretty good, all 4 are big on sports....... KBRX and KBRB are real big on sports and using websites/social media for video, audio. All 4 are the epitome of what commercial local radio in a small town is all about.

 

[davideduardo]

According to the latest data, there are really only three top twenty AM stations in the U.S.
WLS, KFBK, and WFAN.

However, in specific demographics a large number of AM stations show up quite well; perhaps not in the top five or even 10 but close enough to generate significant revenue. For the people who are not in the industry, it’s important to say (even at the risk of being highly repetitive) that radio is not a horse race or a political campaign. There can be multiple winners.

I can think of perhaps 35 stations and maybe a couple more in the Los Angeles MSA, which are profitable and generally each is in somewhat of a proportion to whether it is AM or FM are full coverage, suburban, or a rim shot and other determining factors. The prices people paid for those stations were at the time of purchase proportional to the potential for revenue and profit.

 

[davideduardo]

Not arbitrary at all. These are the remaining AM stations that rank within the top twenty of a combination of ratings and revenue among all the 13,000 stations you mentioned. Of course. within your 13,000 number are stations that don't qualify, including NCE's, public, and religious.

And the main factor with AM stations is power and coverage. In the top 100 markets there are less than 180 stations on the AM band which cover at least 80% of the market day and tonight there are some markets which have no full coverage station, and a few that have five or six, but in general, most AM stations in larger markets where most of the national revenue originates do not have a good enough signal to cover the full market and, of course, they have the distinct disadvantage of being AM.

 

[davideduardo]

Not arbitrary at all. These are the remaining AM stations that rank within the top twenty of a combination of ratings and revenue among all the 13,000 stations you mentioned. Of course. within your 13,000 number are stations that don't qualify, including NCE's, public, and religious.

And to add a little perspective to this, going back historically to the 60s, the average radio station in the United States billed (and billed) less than the gross sales of the average McDonald’s. Most are small businesses and over half of them historically have not been profitable. Some of those unprofitable stations, of course, are owner operator small market stations, where any profit is taken as the owners salary but that still means that they are small businesses.

 

[keys2]

700 WLW Cincinnati.

 

[davideduardo]

700 WLW Cincinnati.

And in that market, it is the only AM with truly decent full MSA day and night coverage. Same for markets like Albany/Schenectedy, Salt Lake City, Rochester, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Austin, New Orleans, Orlando, Charlotte, Richmond, and many others that have just one or maybe two stations with close to full market coverage.

 

[Larry]

I would add KYW (Newsradio) in Philly to the list, although since thru started simulcasting on FM in 2020 the owners are probably the only ones that know how much of their listenership is AM and how much is FM.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

A station that is AM & FM with same programming, are people listening more to the FM then AM or is listening about even between AM & FM, etc.

There is very little published information about this. But there is some data we can infer. Many simulcasts use only the FM frequency in the branding: KYW/Philly, KNX/LA, WSB/Atlanta. If the listening was even, you would expect both frequencies to be in the brand.

Second, very few of these AM/FM simulcasts have resulted in the product going back to AM only. If the FM signal didn't provide value as a simulcast, most broadcasters would flip it back to music.

How much does this AM or FM listening vary by market size?

AM listening tends to be worst in medium to large markets. For example, last month there were 13.5 shares for AM in Springfield, Mass (market 101), 2.8 in Indianapolis (#39), and only 1.1 in Nashville (#40). (This analysis is based only on public 12+/6+ data, and is based on the call sign suffix Nielsen uses only)

In the largest markets, there are lots of Class A AM stations, which have held up better than most. In small markets, there is less land area to cover, and a FM translator availability was better.
But medium markets probably didn't get a real good AM frequency in the 1930s, had less opportunities for translators, and probably have had plenty of sprawl from the 1950s to present.

 

[Gregg.]

Inside Radio, an industry publication, put together two lists of the top 10 AM stations. The first is according to billing. WINS is listed first. It was still only on the AM dial when the list was published last year. All the other stations on the list are still AM-only, although KOA Denver and WLW Cincinnati also have FM translators.

The Top Billing AM-Only Stations

1. WINS New York ... All-News ... Audacy ...$32,100,000
(WINS got a full-power FM simulcast in Oct. 2022.)

2. WCBS New York ... All-News ... Audacy ... $31,350,000

3. KFI Los Angeles ... Talk ... iHeart ... $25,100,000

4. KOA Denver ... Talk/Sports ... iHeart ... $22,650,000
(KOA also broadcasts on two FM translators, both at 94.1 MHz, one in Boulder and one in the Denver suburb of Golden.)

5. WSCR Chicago ... Sports ... Audacy ... $17,250,000

6. WGN Chicago ... Talk ... Nexstar ... $17,200,000

7. KLAC Los Angeles ... Sports ... iHeart and Los Angeles Dodgers ... $16,900,000

8. KTRH Houston ... Talk ... iHeart ... $15,400,000

9. WLW Cincinnati ... Talk/Sports ... iHeart ... $13,625,000
(WLW also broadcasts on a 99 watt FM translator at 107.1 MHz.)

10. WWJ Detroit ... All-News ... Audacy ... $13,600,000

=====

And this is a list of cume ratings for the top AM-only stations. (Cume counts how many people tune in for 15 minutes or more, at least once a week.) This was also in Inside Radio last year. But when this list was published, WINS had gotten its FM simulcast so it was not included.

The Leading AM-Only Stations in Cume (8/23)

1. WCBS New York ... All-News ... Audacy ... 891,700

2. WABC New York ... Talk ... Red Apple ... 491,700
(WABC also has a Class A FM simulcast on Eastern Long Island at 107.1 MHz.)

3. KFI Los Angeles ... Talk ... iHeart ... 477,300

4. WSCR Chicago ... Sports ... Audacy ... 444,100

5. KLAC Los Angeles ... Sports ... iHeart and Los Angeles Dodgers ... 433,900

6. WLW Cincinnati ... Talk/Sports ... iHeart ... 363,500
(WLW also broadcasts on a 99 watt FM translator at 107.1 MHz.)

7. WWJ Detroit ... All-News ... Audacy ... 356,900

8. WBZ Boston ... All-News ... iHeart ... 355,400

9. WBAP Dallas ... Talk ... Cumulus ... 332,700

10. KTRH Houston ... Talk ... iHeart ... 332,300

Interesting to note that, even though KOA Denver is among the top billing AM-only stations in the U.S. (right after WCBS and KFI), its ratings aren't strong enough to make this second list.