GSP December monthly ratings

[101tm]

Greenville/Spartanburg

Nielsen Audio Monthly Ratings Greenville/Spartanburg (Market #53) Population: 1,143,400 Hispanic Population: 105,200 - Black Population: 190,200 Average Quarter Hour Share

radioinsight.com

Some observations - WYRD-FM is absolutely defying the nationwide trend of news/talk stations softening in the ratings, coming in 2nd place with over a 7 share!

In what'll be the final trends of just classic rock on WROQ, they went out half a point lower. The Planet was flat, as was The Block.

Decent showing for Star 99.5 - a 0.9 is better than what they had been getting on that frequency for a while. Perhaps the Christmas music launching on 11/1 brought about some awareness.

 

[AMRocks]

It will be interesting to see if Upstate Red affects WORD at all. I know the signals kinda suck, especially compared to WYRD-FM, but it might take some listeners away.

 

[101tm]

It will be interesting to see if Upstate Red affects WORD at all. I know the signals kinda suck, especially compared to WYRD-FM, but it might take some listeners away.

It’ll be interesting to see, since there aren’t even any AMs currently showing in the ratings (1440 WGVL/BIN hasn’t registered recently). 660 occasionally shows, but didn’t show either (I don’t know why somebody would prefer to listen to WESC on AM 🤣).

We also got to see WEPR this month. I still think they would do better if they carried the news and talk feed from SCPR.

 

[AMRocks]

It’ll be interesting to see, since there aren’t even any AMs currently showing in the ratings (1440 WGVL/BIN hasn’t registered recently). 660 occasionally shows, but didn’t show either (I don’t know why somebody would prefer to listen to WESC on AM 🤣).

We also got to see WEPR this month. I still think they would do better if they carried the news and talk feed from SCPR.

They really need to upgrade the signal in this market to put one of the two feeds on HD-2

 

[101tm]

They really need to upgrade the signal in this market to put one of the two feeds on HD-2

Or, put BIN on 104.9. Seriously. It couldn’t do any worse than that dumpster fire on there now.

The Fan 97.7/97.1/101.5 is far superior to 104.9. I’ll be curious to see if the Anderson signal helps their numbers any since they’ve started mentioning it on air.

 

[AMRocks]

Or, put BIN on 104.9. Seriously. It couldn’t do any worse than that dumpster fire on there now.

BIN should at least be on one of their HD channels. I mean we KNOW they have the technology there already. Almost all their upstate signals had some HD 2 channels airing music for a while. Flip the damn switch already!

 

[101tm]

BIN should at least be on one of their HD channels. I mean we KNOW they have the technology there already. Almost all their upstate signals had some HD 2 channels airing music for a while. Flip the damn switch already!

Agreed. They put that bluegrass format on 92.5 HD2 a while back. Put it on 102.5 HD2. Speaking of HD, I’ve noticed 104.9’s HD has been off for over a week now.

AM is DEAD in this market. iHeart is stuck with 660 and 1440. Who would even want them? Any typical AM format is already on a better FM signal. Sports, religion, Spanish, and conservative talk which is on 1330/950 and probably gets more listeners on 98.9 HD2. 1070 feeds a translator with good coverage at 94.9. AM died in this market early, probably back in 2008 when WORD started simulcasting on 106.3.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

One of the only nice AM stations in this market I enjoy listening to (wirhout an FM Simulcast) is Urban AC 1530 WASC AM in Spartanburg (would like to see them get on an FM Translator). 1530 is a limited daytime only signal / hard to hear in Gaffney from 3rd adjacent 1500 WZZQ (which is also on 104.3).

Gaffney's only other AM - 1180 Your Spiritual Friend WFGN (Daytime only 2500 watts) also without an FM translator so limited maybe to a handful of listeners.

BTW, a news Article via Google search & Facebook says WFGN 1180 in Gaffney, has been on the air since 1947 and Facebook page claims its the 3rd oldest radio station in South Carolina (oldest in Cherokee County). 🤔

 

[AMRocks]

Agreed. They put that bluegrass format on 92.5 HD2 a while back. Put it on 102.5 HD2. Speaking of HD, I’ve noticed 104.9’s HD has been off for over a week now.

AM is DEAD in this market. iHeart is stuck with 660 and 1440. Who would even want them? Any typical AM format is already on a better FM signal. Sports, religion, Spanish, and conservative talk which is on 1330/950 and probably gets more listeners on 98.9 HD2. 1070 feeds a translator with good coverage at 94.9. AM died in this market early, probably back in 2008 when WORD started simulcasting on 106.3.

Ooooh. There's another idea. 660 is a total waste, too. They could put BIN on both their throwaway AMs.

 

[101tm]

Ooooh. There's another idea. 660 is a total waste, too. They could put BIN on both their throwaway AMs.

I always figured they put it on 1440 instead of 660 since it’s a 24 hour signal. But at this point, more people in the market are probably going to come across it on an HD2.

I was scanning the dial this weekend and noticed that Hot 98.1 has basically become an urban/hip hop station and has nothing in common with B93.7 anymore like it used to. They used to compete and go back and forth in the ratings but B93 is pretty dominant over them now. They’re calling themselves “The Hip Hop Station” and have a morning and evening show that sounds aimed at Hispanics. Very odd, but their ratings haven’t been as good as they used to be so I guess they figured they needed to do something.

Honestly, Hot 98.1 sounds like the old Streetz 99.5 Summit killed off for Star now. Same voiceovers too.

 

[tylerSC]

One of the only nice AM stations in this market I enjoy listening to (wirhout an FM Simulcast) is Urban AC 1530 WASC AM in Spartanburg (would like to see them get on an FM Translator). 1530 is a limited daytime only signal / hard to hear in Gaffney from 3rd adjacent 1500 WZZQ (which is also on 104.3).

Gaffney's only other AM - 1180 Your Spiritual Friend WFGN (Daytime only 2500 watts) also without an FM translator so limited maybe to a handful of listeners.

BTW, a news Article via Google search & Facebook says WFGN 1180 in Gaffney, has been on the air since 1947 and Facebook page claims its the 3rd oldest radio station in South Carolina (oldest in Cherokee County). 🤔

Looks like 101.9, 105.3, and 107.3 may fill the FM format for Urban AC, although I guess 105.3 may be more old school. And is 97.9 more of a blend of Hip Hop and R&B?

 

[101tm]

Looks like 101.9, 105.3, and 107.3 may fill the FM format for Urban AC, although I guess 105.3 may be more old school. And is 97.9 more of a blend of Hip Hop and R&B?

V101.9 always gets at least a 1 share in GSP ratings. I always figured that audience came from areas to the east of Greenville. It has a city grade signal with HD lock in much of Spartanburg county.

 

[CrazeeCarroll2]

Back in the late 80's when Kiss 102 was around it had a very loyal following. When Power 98 moved to their new stick back in Dec of 90 they also had a loyal following. Made sense for what was Z104 to go R&B. Power 98 is pretty much straight up Hip Hop & R&B. From the sounds of it Hot 98.1 is more Rap intense then Power 98.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Back in the late 80's when Kiss 102 was around it had a very loyal following. When Power 98 moved to their new stick back in Dec of 90 they also had a loyal following. Made sense for what was Z104 to go R&B. Power 98 is pretty much straight up Hip Hop & R&B. From the sounds of it Hot 98.1 is more Rap intense then Power 98.

Also, Powe 98 shouldn't have a good signal because Hot 98.1 is there.

Can you believe Hot 98.1 was standards with a 100,000-watt signal?

 

[101tm]

I would say The Block is closer to WPEG in playlist and presentation than Hot 98.1. The Block will play more R&B and throwbacks which are not really an element of Hot’s playlist.

Speaking of Hot 98.1, as I’ve said on here before, they were amazing in the mid-late 10s when they still had Dex and Barbie T and were a mainstream leaning rhythmic CHR that was very uptempo and didn’t just play hip hop. It was like B93.7 has always been but better variety and energy.

98.1 was one of the longest lasting standards FM blowtorches for sure.

 

[CrazeeCarroll2]

They have been everything from standards, classic hits, news talk, you name it.

 

[101tm]

Also, Powe 98 shouldn't have a good signal because Hot 98.1 is there.

Also, to add to this, WPEG at 97.9 is the reason 98.1 has never been moved closer to the market from Seneca. If I recall, when Cox Media owned WHZT, they had a CP to move it to the WJMZ tower, drop power, and go directional to the NE (protecting WPEG) to slightly improve coverage to the east and in western Spartanburg county slightly. This was never built out, but it wouldn’t have made a huge difference.

Nevertheless, 98.1 is a flamethrower that sends a very listenable signal all the way down to Laurens and Greenwood as well as the Atlanta exurbs. Once you get in to Spartanburg county, it does start to weaken past the airport on 85 and WPEG becomes stronger. They don’t promote it, but there’s the 94.1 translator in Greer on the WLTS 103.3 tower to improve coverage there and west of Spartanburg. It’s fed by WJMZ-HD4 and can’t be moved any further east in to Spartanburg due to constraints of having to be inside WJMZ’s 60dbu contour which is one of the requirements for commercial translators under current FCC rules. The signal issues in part of the market haven’t stopped the station from being very successful in the past.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I figured it couldn't be moved.

I remember hearing the station in Hickory back in the 80s (before the power increase!), and I would listen in the mountains when the power was increased.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

i Would Call 98.1 an Anderson / Clemson Radio Station, that is a Rimshot of Greenville and can't say they provide Reliable Coverage in Spartanburg even with the translator.

Here's Some Fresh Picked Humor For Ya To Munch Onn this Morning .. They Are Too Far West & Pretending That is Downtown Greenville, but its just li'l ol' Seneca and Walhalla, exclave in Oconee County. You Know What, It's Probably Better off Considered a Part of "Georgia" at that Point. 😅 or Pretty Much Thinks so Feels Like It Anyway. Why Not Let Georgia Claim & Take Over Anderson County Already. 🍑 a Butt Fruit from a State with a Place Called "BUTTs County." 😂 Gaffney SC has a Peachy Peachoid. 🍑

Anyway ... Both 98.1 & 94.1 have an almost identical weak Signal Strength in most of Spartanburg City, with 1st Adjacent Channel interference from WPEG in Charlotte common .. 94.1 Coverage vs 98.1 in Spartanburg City Limits isn't that much of an improvement in 80% of the city, it's really just a city Grade signal in Greer and Barely rimshots Spartanburg, and often gets hammered with Tropo Interference from WWLV (94.1 K-love) From the Triad Area in NC, and especially east of there, difficult to hear Hot WHZT on 98.1 or even 94.1 in most of Cherokee County, but WWLV seems to be more common lately ..

 

[AMRocks]

V101.9 always gets at least a 1 share in GSP ratings. I always figured that audience came from areas to the east of Greenville. It has a city grade signal with HD lock in much of Spartanburg county.

I'm always surprised seeing V in the Greenville/Spartanburg ratings, but not because they don't have a signal. I just can't believe Beasley actually pays for the G/S book. Isn't that the way Nielson works these days? If you don't pay for it, they don't show you? It's not like they are looking for ad dollars outside of the Charlotte Metro.