Talk Radio Scoreboard for Major Markets - December 2014

[Gregg.]

There were plenty of topics for Talk Radio this month, from the results of the midterm elections, to Pres. Obama's move on immigration. You can see that Talk Radio stations, as well as most adult formats, take a slight hit as the holidays get near, with many upper demo adults tuning in All-Christmas stations playing Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Yet five Talk Radio stations in the major markets finished in the top 10.


1. New York ... WABC (Cumulus) #29 tie ... WOR (iHeart) #21 tie ... WKXW(FM) (Townsquare) #23 tie
2. Los Angeles ... KFI (iHeart) #8 ... KEIB (iHeart) #32* tie ... KABC (Cumulus) #34* tie
3. Chicago ... WGN (Tribune) #7 tie ... WLS (Cumulus) #24 tie
4. San Francisco ... KSFO (Cumulus) #18 tie ... KKSF (iHeart) #27
5. Dallas ... WBAP (Cumulus) #22 tie
6. Houston ... KTRH (iHeart) #7
7. Washington ... WMAL-AM-FM (Cumulus) #6
8. Philadelphia ... WPHT (CBS) #20
9. Atlanta ... WSB/WSBB(FM) (Cox) #2 ... WYAY(FM) (Cumulus) #19
10. Boston ... WRKO (Entercom) #17

* I only include commercial Talk stations that scored at least a one rating, except for heritage Talk outlet KABC Los Angeles and Rush's LA outlet, KEIB.

 

[FredLeonard]

Once again, the right-wing talk for tea dummies scoreboard.

 

[TheBigA]

Big jump for WMAL.

 

[davideduardo]

Once again, the right-wing talk for tea dummies scoreboard.

I think it was pretty clear than the list is for commercial stations. Several of those stations are not Tea Party Conservative... starting with KFI which is center to left and not conservative at all.

 

[davideduardo]

Big jump for WMAL.

Other than the FM apparently kicking in, what might be the reasons for such a jump? I tend to discount the news cycle in DC as it's always political season there.

 

[Avid Listener]

Once again, the right-wing talk for tea dummies scoreboard.

Anyone else planning on reporting this incident of "name calling"? Or doesn't it count when directed against a group of people?

 

[TheBigA]

Other than the FM apparently kicking in, what might be the reasons for such a jump? I tend to discount the news cycle in DC as it's always political season there.

Here's a good in-depth analysis from Talkers, crediting an increase in local talk, and the strength of the morning show, which is also #6 in the market.

http://www.talkers.com/2014/12/11/station-snapshot-wmal-washington-dc/

They've had the FM simulcast for 3 years. At first it seemed like a bad idea. Now it seems to be paying off. DC has no AM-only stations in the Top 10.

 

[Avid Listener]

Other than the FM apparently kicking in, what might be the reasons for such a jump? I tend to discount the news cycle in DC as it's always political season there.

Since when is politics the only thing on the news? When I hear radio news, much of the content is about fires, robberies, murder, mayhem, and other "newsworthy" events that have nothing at all to do with politics. In fact, one of the biggest complaints I've heard or read about most newscasts is that there is not enough coverage of political events because there's too much coverage of tragedies and mayhem.

 

[FredLeonard]

Anyone else planning on reporting this incident of "name calling"? Or doesn't it count when directed against a group of people?

Phase it however you want, the fact is the talk radio audience is not well educated, low socio-economic status - the type of people once commonly referred to as "po' White trash," "rednecks," "blue collar," "lower class," "working class," "the great unwashed" ... Take your pick.

They are in marked contrast to the demographic profile of the public radio news and information audience.

On second thought, maybe public radio should not be listed with these outlets for demagoguery, ignorance and hate speech - ignorant and proud of it.

 

[wadio]

Phase it however you want, the fact is the talk radio audience is not well educated, low socio-economic status - the type of people once commonly referred to as "po' White trash," "rednecks," "blue collar," "lower class," "working class," "the great unwashed" ... Take your pick.

What a wonderful, kind, understanding, compassionate, inclusive and loving individual this poster is to put all hate aside on Christmas Day!! I'm glad NPR is such an inspiration.

 

[FredLeonard]

What a wonderful, kind, understanding, compassionate, inclusive and loving individual this poster is to put all hate aside on Christmas Day!! I'm glad NPR is such an inspiration.

What makes you think I'm part of the Jesus cult?

 

[davideduardo]

Since when is politics the only thing on the news? When I hear radio news, much of the content is about fires, robberies, murder, mayhem, and other "newsworthy" events that have nothing at all to do with politics. In fact, one of the biggest complaints I've heard or read about most newscasts is that there is not enough coverage of political events because there's too much coverage of tragedies and mayhem.

Nice try, but the driving force on WMAL is talk. It is a talk station. WTOP is the newser in DC.

 

[davideduardo]

Phase it however you want, the fact is the talk radio audience is not well educated, low socio-economic status - the type of people once commonly referred to as "po' White trash," "rednecks," "blue collar," "lower class," "working class," "the great unwashed" ... Take your pick.

Just for the heck of it, I ran the "above average income" report on Los Angeles for November (to avoid the Christmas music distortions) and found:

#3 station in households above the national average for the US (which is currently at just about $50 k) is KFI. In fact, KFI is 0.1 share points away from being #1 in above average income listeners in Los Angeles.

When I run the report on households below the national average, KFI is 18th.

Then, if you go to members of households with over $75 k annual income, KFI is quite definitely #1 in the market.

So KFI outperforms dramatically in higher income households, while it underperforms in lower income ones.

Well performing talkers like WGN, KTRH and WSB have similar profiles, too. In Phoenix, the two talkers, KTAR-FM and KFYI are both in the top 5 in $75 k and over income households.

As usual, your compass is 180 degrees off true north.

(Similar runs on a couple of other markets shows the same thing)

 

[davideduardo]

What makes you think I'm part of the Jesus cult?

"Ye of so little faith..."

 

[wadio]

What makes you think I'm part of the Jesus cult?

I don't. There are nasty people on both sides of the aisle.

 

[FredLeonard]

Absolutely no faith. But you wouldn't understand.

I had no idea truck drivers and the like made so much money. Still doesn't make them smart. Your profile, from your description, was income - not education. If blue collar workers have so much income, it is thanks to unions - which tea people now oppose, playing right into the hands of the elite who use right-wing talk to manipulate them. Once the unions are eviscerated, these workers will have incomes to match their levels of education. Let's see how right-wing they are then.

 

[umfan]

Big shift in parity between WABC and WOR, significant for this time of year as baseball isn't distorting the comparison between the two. Not sure how long Cumulus can hold on before a restructure is needed.

Thanks for compiling the list Gregg and thanks DavidEduardo for the information on the income status of talk radio listeners. Isn't it funny when the rationale for ridiculing an audience by a certain person is debunked, that poster runs away from prior assertions? Sure makes the NPR crowd look foolish.

 

[Jul]

When will CBS radio throw in the towel for talk on 1210 AM WPHT in Philly? They can't even compete with the other successful radio stations in town, including WHYY, which is number 1 for news/talk in this market. Doesn't make sense that a public radio station like WHYY is number 1 for talk, not 1210 WPHT.

 

[Gregg.]

I just caught a typo on the New York Talk Radio ratings, affecting WABC. My apologies. Here's the correction...

1. New York ... WABC (Cumulus) #19 tie ... WOR (iHeart) #21 tie ... WKXW(FM) (Townsquare) #23 tie
2. Los Angeles ... KFI (iHeart) #8 ... KEIB (iHeart) #32* tie ... KABC (Cumulus) #34* tie
3. Chicago ... WGN (Tribune) #7 tie ... WLS (Cumulus) #24 tie
4. San Francisco ... KSFO (Cumulus) #18 tie ... KKSF (iHeart) #27
5. Dallas ... WBAP (Cumulus) #22 tie
6. Houston ... KTRH (iHeart) #7
7. Washington ... WMAL-AM-FM (Cumulus) #6
8. Philadelphia ... WPHT (CBS) #20
9. Atlanta ... WSB/WSBB(FM) (Cox) #2 ... WYAY(FM) (Cumulus) #19
10. Boston ... WRKO (Entercom) #17

* I only include commercial Talk stations that scored at least a one rating, except for heritage Talk outlet KABC Los Angeles and Rush's LA outlet, KEIB.

 

[davideduardo]

Absolutely no faith. But you wouldn't understand.

I had no idea truck drivers and the like made so much money. Still doesn't make them smart. Your profile, from your description, was income - not education. If blue collar workers have so much income, it is thanks to unions - which tea people now oppose, playing right into the hands of the elite who use right-wing talk to manipulate them. Once the unions are eviscerated, these workers will have incomes to match their levels of education. Let's see how right-wing they are then.

Keep trying...

Examples:

Phoenix
KFYI Tied for #2 in Some College / College Degree
KTAR-FM Averages 6th in college educated.

Los Angeles
KFI
Tied for second in Some College / College Degree

Houston
KTRH
Absolute #1 in Some College / College Degree

CHicago
WGN
#3 in Some College / College Degree

In each of these four markets, the talkers do better in college educated than they do in those with less education.

A spot check of another 10 markets showed the talkers to all over-index in college educated and under-index in lesser educated people.