Talk Radio Scoreboard for April in Top 10 Markets

[Gregg]

Talk Radio stations saw a bit of slipping in April. Only four Talk stations finished in the top 10 in the largest markets, although KTRH Houston came close, in a tie for #11. No Talk station was #1, although KFI was the top LA station in morning drive. Both KFI and WGN Chicago finished at #4, with WSB Atlanta at #5 and WBAP-AM-FM Dallas at #8. WMAL-AM-FM Washington slipped out of the top 10.


I only include stations getting at least a one-rating, except for legacy Talk station KABC LA. WOR New York is also in danger of falling below a one-rating.

1. NYC....WABC Cumulus #16, WOR Clear Channel #23 tie, WKXW(FM) Townsquare #23 tie.
2. LA....KFI Clear Channel #4, KABC Cumulus #34 tie
3. Chicago....WGN Tribune #4, WLS Cumulus #16
4. San Francisco....KSFO Cumulus #18, KKSF Clear Channel #19 tie
5. Dallas....WBAP-AM-FM Cumulus #8
6. Houston....KTRH Clear Channel #11 tie
7. Washington....WMAL-AM-FM Cumulus #16
8. Phildelphia....WWIQ(FM) Merlin #16, WPHT CBS #19
9. Atlanta....WSB/WSBB(FM) Cox #5
10. Boston....WRKO Entercom #15

 

[MC]

Guess talk radio is more small market an rural states and towns. look at Reno NV or OK City, that is where it is popular. now Forget Major markets.

 

[wadio]

Maybe that's because small rural stations can pick and choose from the best of the syndication out there (and provide some shows of their own.) They're not stuck with the entire lineup of the mother ship.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Guess talk radio is more small market an rural states and towns. look at Reno NV or OK City, that is where it is popular. now Forget Major markets.

Since you called out these stations as successes:

KTOK/OKC (Market #48). From an average of 5.3 five years ago to 4.3 over four books, an audience drop of 19%.

Or KKOH-AM/Reno (Market #124). From a 10.4 12+ share in 2009 to 8.6 12+ share in 2012, an audience drop of 17% (two book average since Reno is not a continuously surveyed market)

 

[FredLeonard]

AQH share is a meaningless number, which is why Arbitron lets everyone see it for free.

All diary market numbers are meaningless, especially for talk radio. True believers tend to "support" right-wing hosts by writing down that they listened, whether they actually did or not.

Except for college towns, small markets are ditto-head country.

In any case, advertisers see the demo numbers and the audience is ancient and down market. Listeners are not people whose attention advertisers want to buy.