MAJOR DECLINES IN WEEKLY LISTENERS AT NPR NEWS STATIONS

While compiling today’s list of the Top 20 noncom stations ranked by weekly cumulative listeners I saw an unexpected trend: Many of the NPR News stations lost weekly listeners over the six months between March 2016 and September 2016. Nielsen Audio estimated weekly listener data shows 10 of 13 (77%) NPR News stations lost weekly listeners.

Some of the declines were more than “wobbles.” KPCC had an estimated 170,000 (21%) fewer weekly listeners in September compared with March. WBUR lost around 152,000 (27%), WBEZ lost 136,000 (22%) and KCRW lost 131,000 (19%). These four stations combined lost a total of 589,000 weekly listeners.

The losses appear to challenge the theory that NPR News stations tend to gain weekly listeners during political seasons. I will leave it to another time to examine why this may be happening, but this is a trend worth watching.

Not all NPR News stations lost listeners.  WAMU’s estimated weekly listeners grew approximately 100,000 between March 2016 and September 2016. WAMU now has the most estimated weekly cumulative listeners at noncommercial stations measured by Nielsen Audio PPM. KQED and KNOW also added listeners during the same period.

Let’s look stations #1 - #10:

 

NPR News stations dominate the top twenty will 13 of the 20 stations. The list also includes 3 Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) stations, 2 Classical stations, 2 Jazz stations and 1 Triple A (KCRW was counted twice because of their dual format).

Jazz station WBGO had the biggest gain in weekly listeners, up over 70,000 (27%) when comparing March and September.

Influential CCM station WGTS lost around 114,000 (21%) of its weekly listeners during the same period.

Overall, 15 of the top 20 noncom stations lost estimated weekly listeners; 5 gained listeners.

WAMU HITS HIGHEST WEEKLY CUME EVER • MORE COMPETITIVE BATTLES IN PPM MARKETS

According to Nielsen Audio PPM data for September 2016, WAMU can claim a couple of notable achievements. WAMU’s estimated weekly cumulative listeners hit 832,100, a record high. WAMU also edged out commercial news giant WTOP in average-quarter-hour share: WAMU 9.0% – WTOP 8.7%.  WTOP’s weekly cume was 1,179,300.

WTOP is consistently one of the top performers for commercial radio revenue. Analysts at financial data firm BIA/Kelsey estimate WTOP’s current annual revenue is $65 million. In case you are interested, the most recent top ten commercial station revenues are on the right.

 WAMU also has a significant number of weekly listeners in the Baltimore metro.

DENVER: TWO COMPETITIVE FORMAT BATTLES

Though KUNC and KJAC are located outside of the Denver metro market, they both attract sizable listening in the metro.  The estimated number of KCFR’s weekly listeners fell by 9% between March 2016 and September 2016.

The competition is tighter for two Triple A noncoms.  In the September PPM ratings KJAC a/k/a 105.5 The Colorado Sound almost doubled its number of weekly listeners between the station’s first book in March 20016 and September 2016 within the Denver metro. 

All four of the stations have many additional weekly listeners beyond Denver.

FYI – Modern Rock commercial station KTCL (also licensed to Ft. Collins) had 660,600 estimated weekly listeners. Heritage commercial Triple A KBCO had 542,500 weekly cume listeners.

TWO MARKETS WHERE THE NUMBER OF WEEKLY LISTENERS IS UP

In Detroit WUOM and WDET are using different programming strategies and both are reaching more estimated weekly listeners.  WUOM is straight-ahead news and has many more listeners outside of the Detroit metro. WDET has added a new Triple A-ish midday program. Both seem to be doing well.

Atlanta’s battle between WABE and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s WRAS seems to prove the notion that same-format competition tends to increase the numbers for both stations.   

WRAS continues to gain weekly listeners even though they share their broadcast day with College Rock programming by students.

SEATTLE-TACOMA IS WAITING FOR THE “KNKS SHOE” TO DROP

KNKS is now operating with new, independent ownership. Now get ready for an epic noncom battle with KUOW. 

Radio everywhere should be as exciting as it is in Seattle!

A LOSS FOR NONCOM MUSIC RADIO: SEAN O’MEALY IS LEAVING WNKU

Sean O’Mealy

Less than two years ago the future of WNKU looked so bright folks Cincinnati broke out the shades.  WNKU, licensed to Northern Kentucky University (NKU), hired Sean O’Mealy, a proven commercial radio programmer, to manage WNKU.  O’Mealy arrived and focused the station’s sound around the “music discovery” approach that is doing so well in Dallas (KXT), Minneapolis (89.3 The Current) and Denver (105.5 The Colorado Sound).  Then the roof fell in.

WNKU experienced a perfect storm of problems: debt incurred by previous management, budget cuts to higher education and the lack of desire by NKU to be in the mass communication business. Then WNKU was put up for sale earlier this year, O’Mealy and others at WNKU became lame ducks heading towards an uncertain future. It is tough to be at any business while it is for sale. It is especially difficult when you are in the public eye.

Last week O’Mealy decided to put some certainty back in his life by leaving WNKU to join a small but progressive commercial station group in “Happy Valley” Pennsylvania. Who can blame him?

O'Mealy’s term as WNKU’s GM will end on October 7^th. He told local media:

"With the future of WNKU up in the air I couldn’t not pass up an opportunity to join a stable and growing media company back home."

PUBLIC MEDIA NEEDS EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS LIKE SEAN O’MEALY

The success of folks from commercial media in noncom has been mixed. Some just don’t get listener-supported public media. Others, like O’Mealy, understand noncom’s mission, sensibility and one-to-one relationship with listeners.

I left commercial radio for public broadcasting over two decades ago because I wanted to work in an environment where public service, mission and authenticity matter. Let’s hope the wheel of life brings O’Mealy back to public media.

BTW – WNKU is still for sale. So far SAVE WNKU efforts have failed to gain significant traction.

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NICE JOB OPEN IN INDIANA

 WBAA AM/FM, based at Purdue University in West Lafayette, is looking for a Corporate Support Representative. WBAA has been building a reputation as an up-and-coming shop in recent years. They are making an investment in the future by bringing in bright new folks.   

GM Mike Savage and Content Director Greg Kostraba have been upgrading WBAA’s programming and building relationships with businesses, foundations and WFYI in Indianapolis. Though the job is essentially a “sales” position, the new Corporate Support Representative will be a 100% salaried position.

The WBAA job looks like a good opportunity for someone who is looking to make a career in public media in a place where staff are recognized, nurtured and appreciated. The balance between work and life is important at WBAA. According to Forbes Magazine [link] Lafayette is the second best small city in the nation for starting new businesses and advancing careers.

To learn more about this opportunity go to [link].

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MARK HANDLEY, FORMER HEAD OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO, DIES AT 74

Mark & Judy Handley

One of public media’s most admired leaders, Mark Handley, passed away on September 11^th after a five-year battle with cancer. Handley made many contributions to public media but he is best known for taking New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) from being a sleepy mom-and-pop operation to become a statewide news network.

Handley retired from NHPR in 2005 to embarked with his wife on a trip around the world on the Windbird, their sailboat.

Betsy Gardella, current president and CEO of NHPR, told the New Hampshire Sunday News [link] that Handley “…was an ethical, kind, very, very thoughtful man who was extraordinary at building relationships." 

Handley served as chairman of the NPR board.  He loved public radio news because "it's better if more people can share in the same common base of knowledge.”