Charlotte ratings from (nearly) 20 years ago.

[RobynWattsV2.0]

These are the 12+ Arbitron ratings from Winter, 1988 (back when Charlotte was Market #41).

station format Sp/87 Su/87 F/87 W/88

WSOC-FM Country 12.2 10.8 12.1 14.4
WPEG Urban 11.9 13.7 14.2 10.5
WEZC AC 6.5 7.2 6.2 7.6
WLVK Country 7.1 7.3 6.7 6.9
WCKZ Crossover 4.5 3.4 3.3 6.6
WBCY Top 40 5.1 5.3 6.5 5.9
WBT AC 8.0 7.1 7.0 5.8
WRFX Album 7.8 7.7 8.1 5.8
WROQ Top 40 7.6 8.4 6.3 5.1
WWMG AC 5.6 5.1 5.2 4.2
WRLX Easy __ 0.5 3.6 4.1
WGIV Oldies 1.1 1.8 2.0 1.7
WQCC Religious 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.3

Enjoy,
Robyn

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

with the exception of some stations that are no longer with us things look about the same as they are today... CC1

 

[eacalhoun1]

Thanks for posting, Robyn!! What memories...and speaking of memories, let me test mine. Stations of note that were not showing on the ratings you posted were...

95.7 WXRC - I think by late 1988 (or maybe it wasn't until '89) they had flipped from CHR-Top 40 to AOR "The Rock" and on a tower that should've been getting them into Charlotte.

102.9 - Apparently was still IN Hickory as WHKY-FM in early '87; then WRLX as shown; and later WEZC and today's WLYT

106.5 - Still IN Salisbury as WRDX, but with a great signal yet not in the ratings. Beach music at this time?

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

with the exception of some stations that are no longer with us things look about the same as they are today... CC1

Well, I wouldn't say that. For instance, this was WCKZ first book as Kiss 102 and was impressive in that the the station was able to get numbers in such a short time (the format change took place during the book). As you can see, Kiss's debut came at the expense of WPEG, WBCY, & WROQ.

Beside, I believe that it was you that had always wanted to see some of the old ratings from some of the markets in the Carolina's. Well, here ya go. ;D And ratings from the Triad, Triangle, and GSP from this time period are up as well.

Best,
Robyn

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

Thanks for posting, Robyn!! What memories...and speaking of memories, let me test mine. Stations of note that were not showing on the ratings you posted were...

95.7 WXRC - I think by late 1988 (or maybe it wasn't until '89) they had flipped from CHR-Top 40 to AOR "The Rock" and on a tower that should've been getting them into Charlotte.

102.9 - Apparently was still IN Hickory as WHKY-FM in early '87; then WRLX as shown; and later WEZC and today's WLYT

106.5 - Still IN Salisbury as WRDX, but with a great signal yet not in the ratings. Beach music at this time?

Hi Eric,

WXRC had already flipped to Album Rock by this time (I think the change came in 1985). Although it didn't show in this book, it had appeared in the past. In the Greenville/Spartanburg book, it showed up with an "impressive" 1.2. Yay.

I think the WRDX change took place in 1990, but I'm not sure. Anyway, the station was the feature of an article in Billboard sometime in 1990. I'll dig it up when I get the chance.

Robyn

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Very interesting! I remember where I was back then and some of the things going on. A friend of mine was an early production / air person for WRLX. We used to have it on in the Baby's room to help her sleep.

WBT was taking quite a slide in the ratings by then. I forgot about that!

Ah the good old days when there were more than just 4 or 5 owners.

 

[NewsNow]

WRDX was still doing the AC thing in 1988, not a lot of room there for yet another soft rocker to chime in. The fulltime beach music came around in 1990. They had a long time beach music affinity though, and published Carolina Class, a beach and shag mag in 1987.

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

WOW!!!! Robyn you come through again with some good fun info... It was nice seeing where Kiss started when they launched Jan 24 1988... Man how the time flies... as for XRC I wanna say it was oct or nov of 85 when they went from top 40 to aor... That was back in the days when Kiss FM did pretty good(85) that is... CC1

 

[JOHNNY on the RADIO]

I wasn't paying attention to radio in 1988. Where was Religious WQCC on the dial?

 

[wncc]

I wasn't paying attention to radio in 1988. Where was Religious WQCC on the dial?

1540 according to wikipedia.

 

[JOHNNY on the RADIO]

I wasn't paying attention to radio in 1988. Where was Religious WQCC on the dial?

1540 according to wikipedia.

Thank you.