92% OF NPR NEWS STATIONS GAINED WEEKLY LISTENERS IN ONE-YEAR PPM TRENDS

Nielsen Audio’s June PPM ratings brought good news for all five major noncommercial radio formats compared to June 2015.  But I can’t recall ever seeing such an “up” book as scored by NPR News stations in one-year trends.

We received estimates (courtesy of RRC) for 68 NPR News.  We also had June 2015 data for 64 stations.  When we compared 2016 to 2015 we learned that nine out of ten NPR News stations had more weekly listeners in 2016.

Common wisdom is a hot news cycle was the major reason.but there are other factors. Stations that sound good also increase listening.

NPR News wasn’t the only format that increased weekly listeners.  Classical, Triple A, Jazz and CCM also gained in the estimated number of weekly listeners.

We crunched the Nielsen Audio numbers for almost every noncom station. We will provide a deep look at all five major formats this week.  Here is the schedule:

TUESDAY: TRIPLE A, JAZZ and CCM

WEDNESDAY: NPR NEWS

THURSDAY: CLASSICAL

FRIDAY: SUMMARIES & SMALLER NONCOM FORMATS

 

QUICK OVERVIEWS OF EACH FORMAT

• NPR NEWS – 64 In-Tab Stations

58 (92%) of stations increased the number of weekly listeners; 6 (8%) declined. Top performers included WUSF, Tampa and WRAS, Atlanta, both up over 30%.  WKSU was down 10% in the Cleveland metro.

• CLASSICAL – 27 In-Tab Stations

17 (63%) of stations increased the number of weekly listeners; 10 (37%) declined. Top performers included KBAQ, Phoenix was up over 24%.  WSMR, Tampa was down 10%.

• TRIPLE A – 16 In-Tab Stations

10 (63%) of stations increased the number of weekly listeners; 6 (37%) declined. Top performers included KCMP’s streaming audio was up 59% and KRCL, Salt Lake City was up 15%.  KVOQ, Denver was down 10%.

• JAZZ – 11 In-Tab Stations

9 (82%) of stations increased the number of weekly listeners; 2 (18%) declined. Top performers included KMHD, Portland and KSDS, San Diego were up 22%.  WUCF, Orlando was down 11%.

• CHRISTIAN CONTEMPORARY (CCM) – 24 In-Tab Stations

12 (50%) of stations increased the number of weekly listeners; 11 (46%) declined; one station was the same both years Top performers included CCM Rocker WBVM, Tampa was up 22%.  WRMB, Miami was down WBVM, 25%.