ONE-YEAR TRENDS: ALBANY, GRAND RAPIDS, ALBUQUERQUE & MOBILE

ALBANY • Nielsen Audio Market #65

STATION	FORMAT	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
WAMC	NPR News	149,700	134,500	- 10%
WEXT	Triple A	25,900	23,300	- 10%
WMHT	Classical	64,000	61,100	- 6%

There are a lot of radio stations in the Albany area.  As you know, it is a hyphenated market that includes Schenectady and Troy. Known as the Capitol District, the metro area is geographically one of the largest markets in the northeast. Over the years a lot of FM stations that cover only part of market have established themselves. 

A good example is gutsy Triple A WEXT, licensed to Amsterdam, NY. Despite covering only 60% of the market, WEXT Is  the progressive music trendsetter and covener. PD Chris Wienk is the hardest working guy in Triple A radio.  Buy him coffee of a beer the next time you see him.

WAMC and WHMT dominate noncom listening in the Capitol District with full-metro coverage and established fans. Other stations that do not subscribe to the ratings but likely have measurable listening are College Rock WRPI and EMF Air1 repeater WYAI.

GRAND RAPIDS • Nielsen Audio Market #68

STATION	FORMAT	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
WCSG	CCM	166,900	174,200	+ 4%
WGVU-AM	Rock Oldies	25,900	20,900	- 19%
WGVU-FM	NPR News & Jazz	32,600	30,300	- 7%
WUOM	NPR News	135,700	136,200	+ 1%

There two world-class noncom broadcasters in Grand Rapids, CCM pioneer WSCG and WVGR, a part of Michigan Radio originating from WUOM in Ann Arbor.  Then there are two “mystery noncoms” – the WGVU’s, AM and FM. They have underperformed their potential since they began. They think small but maybe this how they like it.

Triple A WYCE and Classical WBLU also do well in Grand Rapids but they do not subscribe to Nielsen Audio.

ALBUQUERQUE • Nielsen Audio Market #69

STATION	FORMAT	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
KANW	NPR News & Spanish Music	126,800	122,800	- 3%
KSFR	BBC News & Pacifica	Na	18,100	Na
KUNM	NPR News & Freeform	99,600	102,000	+ 2

Will someone ever get serious in Albuquerque? The local noncoms are all programming compromises.  KANW is actually two radio stations: NPR News in the morning and New Mexico Spanish Music the rest of the day. KANW carries Morning Edition but does not carry ATC.  Go figure. KUNM is stuck in the 1970s. If you haven’t seen my video about why freeform music rules KUNM, check out my video [link]:

KQLV, another K-LOVE repeater, and local CCM KLYT likely have measureable listening. KHFM is one of the few remaining commercial Classical stations. The best new thing I’ve seen in Albuquerque is LPFM, KMGG The Beat – an Urban Cotemporary station that appears to be providing valuable pubic service.

MOBILE • Nielsen Audio Market #98

STATION	FORMAT	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
WBHY	CCM	49,600	46,800	+ 5%
WHIL	NPR News & Classical	30,600	37,500	+ 18%
WUWF	NPR News	45,000	55,900	+ 19%

By my count, over 60% of the noncoms in Mobile air Evangelical Christian programming of one sort or another. Many of these stations are piped in by satellite from far-distant places and don’t appear to provide much local service. EMF’s WLVN – K-Love – likely has measurable listening.

WUWF, Pensacola, is the big dog in town with 24/7 NPR News. Alabama Public Radio’s WHIL repeats programming from Tuscaloosa.

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