Buffalo December Ratings

[SirRoxalot]

Some significant moves in the December ratings, including a big drop for 97-Rock.

Subscriber	Format	OCT 24 (AUG-OCT)	NOV 24 (SEP-NOV)	DEC 24 (OCT-DEC)
WYRK-FM	New Country	9.2	10.1	9.0
WBLK-FM	Urban Contemporary	9.0	9.4	8.6
WHTT-FM	Classic Hits	6.7	6.4	6.4
WBEN-AM	News Talk Information	6.7	6.3	6.4
WKSE-FM	Pop Contemporary Hit Radio	5.8	5.7	6.2
WGRF-FM	Classic Rock	8.5	7.0	6.0
WGR-AM	All Sports	5.2	5.5	5.9
WTSS-FM	Adult Contemporary	4.3	4.2	5.4
WEDG-FM	Alternative	4.0	3.2	3.3
WBFO-FM	News Talk Information	2.9	3.0	2.7
WNED-FM	Classical	1.6	2.1	2.4
WBUF-FM	Mainstream Rock	1.9	1.5	1.3
WLKK-FM	Country	1.4	1.6	1.2

See more here:

Buffalo/Niagara Falls

Nielsen Audio Monthly Ratings Buffalo/Niagara Falls (Market #59) Population: 1,011,800 Hispanic Population: 57,100 - Black Population: 133,100 Average Quarter Hour

radioinsight.com

 

[davideduardo]

There is certainly what looks like a trend with WGRF. All the rest are normal ratings wobbles and, perhaps, seasonal issues. We need to keep in mind that the "monthlies" in Buffalo are really 3-month rolling averages.

 

[tbolt909]

Some significant moves in the December ratings, including a big drop for 97-Rock.

Where are the aging Rock listeners going? 97 Rock is plummeting, but WBUF isn't the reason. The combined share of WBUF and WLKK only totals a puny 2.5 (which ties the Classical Station). The fact that 2 failed formats remain on the air after years of futility is telling. They've given up and it's no longer worth the effort to try.

The Bills are propping up WGR AM. They typically lose half or more of their audience when the Bills exit the playoffs...

 

[SirRoxalot]

The "New 96.1" is trending upward as 97-Rock trends downward. It's hard to believe that's where listeners are going. What's likely the largest missing pieces to the puzzle are WECK and 102.5. Is WECK pulling a bigger number? National trends indicate that the KLOVE format does quite well in many markets. It's hard to believe they'd be taking shares away from 97-Rock.

 

[Easily Amused]

Re: 97 Rock's drop off:

Time to start the Living Strings recording instrumentals of all the hits of the 70s? 🤔

 

[vw86]

Now *that* takes me back to the cassette collection at my grandmothers house!

 

[SirRoxalot]

Well, it is a Christmas book after all. Let's see where things are at in February and March.

 

[pepsiru1es92]

I wasn’t thrilled 97 Rock let go of Slick Tom, and he and I couldn’t be further apart politically. Can’t say I’ve made a point to listen less but I haven’t been listening as often.

 

[tbolt909]

I wasn’t thrilled 97 Rock let go of Slick Tom, and he and I couldn’t be further apart politically. Can’t say I’ve made a point to listen less but I haven’t been listening as often.

Why would a jock on a Classic Rock station discuss politics? I doubt he did that. He was terminated (supposedly) over a post on his personal Facebook page. That may be the reason, but Cumulus could have let him go anyway. Maybe they figured why are we still paying someone to host 7--12 midnight in Buffalo.

The ratings decline for 97 Rock is not surprising. I doubt that this station has added any new listeners in over 20 years. They have a base audience with no growth potential...

 

[TheBigA]

Remember what these ratings are. They're not just about individual stations. They're about the SHARE of the market each station has. The radio marketplace is changing. Even in a diary market, there are changes in who is listening to what. The Nielsens only show the stations that subscribe. So they don't show non-broadcast media. The share numbers you see in the 12+ lack that context. For years, the share of 97Rock has been pretty constant. Now it's not. It's not necessarily because of anything the station did. It could be because of other stations, or just that a diary holder is using more non-broadcast media. We don't know. There's likely a lot more to the story.

 

[tbolt909]

Remember what these ratings are. They're not just about individual stations. They're about the SHARE of the market each station has. The radio marketplace is changing. Even in a diary market, there are changes in who is listening to what. The Nielsens only show the stations that subscribe. So they don't show non-broadcast media. The share numbers you see in the 12+ lack that context. For years, the share of 97Rock has been pretty constant. Now it's not. It's not necessarily because of anything the station did. It could be because of other stations, or just that a diary holder is using more non-broadcast media. We don't know. There's likely a lot more to the story.

If someone gets a Nielsen diary and says they ONLY listen to Spotify, You Tube or Sirius XM-- How does that get calculated? You are correct that listening habits are far different from 30 years ago. Morning and PM drive time was once peak Radio listening. Remote work has impacted that as well in addition to unlimited entertainment options...

 

[TheBigA]

If someone gets a Nielsen diary and says they listen to Spotify, You Tube or Sirius XM-- How does that get calculated?

They write it down and subscribers see what they wrote. It just doesn't get factored in the 12+ numbers because it is only based on broadcast stations.

If you add up all the published share numbers, it should add up to about 100. That won't include non-broadcast media.

 

[CTListener]

Why would a jock on a Classic Rock station discuss politics?

Jocks on the original free-form/progressive FMs that spawned AOR and, later, classic rock talked politics -- liberal politics -- frequently. Vietnam and civil rights were the big issues for young adults back then. Of course, many of those idealistic 20-somethings grew up to become conservative 60- and 70-somethings, and succeeding generations have grown less and less liberal even in their younger years. Still, right-wing talk, especially of the locker-room variety, is heard on sports talk radio quite a bit, so why not on classic rock radio?

 

[tbolt909]

Jocks on the original free-form/progressive FMs that spawned AOR and, later, classic rock talked politics -- liberal politics -- frequently. Vietnam and civil rights were the big issues for young adults back then. Of course, many of those idealistic 20-somethings grew up to become conservative 60- and 70-somethings, and succeeding generations have grown less and less liberal even in their younger years. Still, right-wing talk, especially of the locker-room variety, is heard on sports talk radio quite a bit, so why not on classic rock radio?

I have a feeling that if the 97 Rock guy in Buffalo was constantly mocking Trump, that wouldn't have gone over well with the Blue Collar base there.

Many artists like Crosby, Stills & Nash (and countless others) were very clear about their political beliefs. It was part of the fabric of the Counter Culture. Unfortunately, that time has passed. All that's left is Vitriol and Hate. Peace & Love isn't hip anymore...

 

[TheBigA]

I have a feeling that if the 97 Rock guy in Buffalo was constantly mocking Trump, that wouldn't have gone over well with the Blue Collar base there.

Once again, I don't think this has much to do with the night show. The numbers for that show were not enough to account for a two point drop.

 

[vw86]

If someone gets a Nielsen diary and says they ONLY listen to Spotify, You Tube or Sirius XM-- How does that get calculated? You are correct that listening habits are far different from 30 years ago. Morning and PM drive time was once peak Radio listening. Remote work has impacted that as well in addition to unlimited entertainment options...

I know for PPM markets anyone that has a meter that does not pick up anything (OTA radio, streaming radio or encoded TV) they would not be included in the PUMM (People Using Measured Media). It doesn't mean they aren't watching/listening to anything. They could have several music and TV streaming services, but none are encoded for inclusion in Nielsen numbers.

I honestly am not even sure what (if any) streaming TV is encoded to be picked up by PPM these days.

 

[Moss Steiger]

These 97 Rock listeners aren't just vanishing into thin air and there's no way 60 year olds are dying off that quickly to support this decline. I would like to see the ratings for WECK. It's too bad they no longer subscribe.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Why would a jock on a Classic Rock station discuss politics? I doubt he did that. He was terminated (supposedly) over a post on his personal Facebook page. That may be the reason, but Cumulus could have let him go anyway. Maybe they figured why are we still paying someone to host 7--12 midnight in Buffalo.

The ratings decline for 97 Rock is not surprising. I doubt that this station has added any new listeners in over 20 years. They have a base audience with no growth potential...

You've been saying that about 97-Rock for years now with little visible proof. Ditto WBEN, which is still generally a Top 5 station. If you had access to a ratings book you'd find that 97-Rock has significant 25-34 numbers as well as 35-64. Have there been changes? Yes. Are people finally noticing? Maybe. Is this book the result of a tumultuous fall and a Christmas book? We'll know in a couple of months. We get it. You don't like 97-Rock, and you don't have any other format that has a chance of outperforming it. Or performing at a level that would make money.

 

[CTListener]

The one thing that can't be argued is that rock as a genre is dying. Younger music consumers of all ethnicities and races are being drawn to more rhythmic genres, with less emphasis on instrumental skills and more on beats, beats, beats. I felt like a dinosaur In the last place I worked, with many of my younger coworkers (20s and 30s) bigger fans of hip-hop than rock.

 

[tbolt909]

These 97 Rock listeners aren't just vanishing into thin air and there's no way 60 year olds are dying off that quickly to support this decline. I would like to see the ratings for WECK. It's too bad they no longer subscribe.

Maybe a 6 share is a more accurate number than a 9 share for 97 Rock. WECK is a different format, but it's possible that some listeners switch back and forth. Both play Oldies -- even though the genres differ...