KQAC, WCLV & WETA LEAD ONE-YEAR CLASSICAL LISTENER TRENDS

Last Wednesday in my column about SRG’s Classical Music Rising initiative [link] I used the word “resilience” to describe the format's ability to sustain and grow despite aging demographics, disruption from digital media, cutbacks by orchestras and cultural changes in society. Today’s comparison of classical stations in Nielsen Audio’s PPM markets between Fall 2015 and Fall 2014 underscores this notion.

We track 30 stations carrying classical music in PPM markets.  Twenty-five are full-time classical and 5 have dual formats, stations devoting at least 50% of their schedules to classical.  Of the 25 full-time classical stations 7 (28%) were up in the one-year trends of estimated weekly cumulative listeners; 21 (72%) of the stations were down. (Scroll down to see the results for all 30 stations.)

The four stations with the biggest gains in weekly listeners are trendsetters for the system. KQAC and WCLV’s gains are particularly notable.

CLASSICAL NONCOMMERCIAL STATIONS WITH BIGGEST GAINS

NIELSEN AUDIO PPM MARKETS • FALL 2015 & FALL 2014

STATION	NIELSEN AUDIO MARKET	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
KQAC	Portland OR	181,400	216,800	+ 14%
WCLV	Cleveland	65,500	74,200	+ 11%
WETA	Washington DC	394,400	425,600	+ 7%
WDAV	Charlotte	97,500	103,500	+ 5%

Stations showing one-year declines, particularly WGUC and KSJN are causes for conern.

CLASSICAL NONCOMMERCIAL STATIONS WITH BIGGEST DECLINES

NIELSEN AUDIO PPM MARKETS • FALL 2015 & FALL 2014

STATION	NIELSEN AUDIO MARKET	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
KCNV	Las Vegas	75,900	49,700	- 34%
WGUC	Cincinnati	124,100	96,100	- 22%
KSJN	Minneapolis/St. Paul	177,400	152,400	- 14%
KMFA	Austin	83,700	74,200	- 12%

CLASSICAL NONCOMMERCIAL STATIONS

NIELSEN AUDIO PPM MARKETS • FALL 2015 & FALL 2014

WEELY CUMULATIVE LISTENERS • RANKED BY WEEKLY LISTENERS

STATION	NIELSEN AUDIO MARKET	FALL 2014 WEEKLY LISTENERS	FALL 2015 WEEKLY LISTENERS	ONE YEAR TREND
KUSC	Los Angeles	735,100	664,600	- 9%
WQXR	New York	604,500	553,100	- 9%
WETA	Washington DC	394,400	425,600	+ 7%
KDFC	San Francisco	350,200	356,100	+ 1%
KING	Seattle/Tacoma	307,800	279,000	-  9%
WCRB	Boston	251,300	222,600	- 11%
KQAC	Portland OR	181,400	216,800	+ 14%
WRTI*	Philadelphia	195,000	197,500	+ 1%
KBAQ	Phoenix	185,900	168,100	- 9%
KSJN	Minneapolis/St. Paul	177,400	152,400	- 14%
KBYU	Salt Lake City	141,300	143,700	+ 1%
KUHA	Houston	147,100	141,900	- 3%
WBJC	Baltimore	132,900	131,800	- >1%
WRCJ*	Detroit	159,900	121,300	- 24%
KVOD	Denver	120,700	114,600	- 5%
WDAV	Charlotte	97,500	103,500	+ 5%
WGUC	Cincinnati	124,100	96,100	- 22%
KXPR	Sacramento	83,500	83,600	+ >1%
WCPE	Raleigh/Durham	88,800	82,100	- 7%
KPAC	San Antonio	95,700	79,800	- 14%
KMFA	Austin	83,700	74,200	- 12%
WCLV	Cleveland	65,500	74,200	+ 11%
WICR*	Indianapolis	42,100	68,300	+ 28%
WOSA	Columbus	61,600	56,100	- 8%
WFCL	Nashville	52,500	51,900	- 1%
KCNV	Las Vegas	75,900	49,700	- 34%
WKNO*	Memphis	53,500	49,600	- 7%
WSMR	Tampa/St. Petersburg	35,500	34,000	- 4%
WFCR*	Hartford (Springfield MA metro station)	31,800	23,400	- 26%

* Indicates dual format station

These data are provided for use by Nielsen subscribers ONLY, in accordance with RRC's limited license with Nielsen Inc.
Monday-Sunday 6AM-Midnight Persons 6+
Data Copyright Nielsen Inc. Format distinctions are the sole responsibility of Ken Mills Agency, LCC, the publisher of SPARK!