Here are some of my thoughts about this trend:
Excellent month for SUNNY...one of their best non-Christmas music months ever. This is especially impressive since it's Summer. This is a tough time of year for AC, many ACs across the country have been trending down as usual, but not KSNE!
102.7 did show some growth in August and it looks like it came directly from MIX. Will 102.7s re-launch as FRESH impact SUNNY? Despite FRESH using the "Today's Soft Music" positioner I see this as more of a FRESH-MIX battle since they share more music. FRESH even plays some "hard teen pop" they criticize MIX for. SUNNY should be fine if they don't over react to FRESH calling them "sleepy".
It's impressive that both Lotus FMs are in the top 5 25-54 this trend. They might not have as many stations as other groups, but they sure maximize what they do have. Of course part of this is due to the gift Beasley gave Lotus when they switched KKLZs format. Speaking of KKLZ, they did not have a good August. I think that adding 80s songs watered down the station too much. It did not help lower the demos as intended. However, adding 80s had the unintended consequence of making KKLZ sound more like a Variety Hits station which might be why JACK had a poor August?
It was a good country trend for a change. Mostly because COYOTE had their first good month in a long time. KWNR had three steady months this trend, but obviously at a level below where they want to be which is why they made a PD change. One problem area for KWNR is nights where they are down to #18 25-54. Maybe the new girl voicetracking from Phoenix will turn things around? She sounds good. Whoever is voicetracking nights on COYOTE had a spectacular August.
Las Vegas has to have the closest CHR/Rhythmic battle in the United States. Both KLUC and HOT are staying in an exact tie 12+. They both continue to be very strong 18-34. They no longer do well 25-54 (which isn't their target demo anyway), probably due to fragmentaton on the upper end from PARTY.
EXTREME rock radio had an awesome month 18-34!
KQRT (TRICOLOR) is really on a growth trend. They had an excellent trend both 18-34 and 25-54. They are especially strong in afternoon drive where they rank #1.
KDWN broke the 2 share threshold 12+ which they haven't done in over a decade. It's mostly 55+ though. With Football season here, I wouldn't be surprised to see ESPN RADIO 920 as the top AM station 25-54 as the KXNT-KDWN-KDOX fragment each other. If Hannity does go to KDOX, I am very curious what KXNT would put in his place.
