This was posted Tuesday, November 22, 2016 by Rodney Ho on AJC's Radio & TV Talk blog
October was another big month for news 95.5 and AM 750 WSB while R&B/hip-hop station Hot 107.9 had one of its strongest months in its 21-year history.
WSB pulled in a 9.9 rating, just shy of its best-ever 10.1 a month earlier, riding high on interest in the presidential election. The ratings covered October 6 through November 2.
The station also ranked second among 25 to 54 year olds with a 6.6, just behind perennial leader in that demo V-103 at 6.9.
WSB's strongest ratings time period was 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., covering Herman Cain and Rush Limbaugh, with a 13.9 rating. That's more than double the second-place station 97.1/The River (6.2).
It was a mixed bag for other news/talk stations. 90.1/WABE-FM slipped to a 2.9, below average for the year. NewsRadio 106.7 moved up to a 1.4 from a 1.2, with 25-54 mid-day numbers (featuring shows hosted by newcomer Shannon Burke and Kim "The Kimmer" Peterson) at its highest ever: a 3 rating. And 88.5/WRAS-FM had a relatively strong 0.8 rating. 640/WGST-AM has been at 0.4 rating for three consecutive months.
In overall ratings, Hot 107.9 tied for second with V-103 at 5.9. (Caveat about V-103: Nielsen Audio, for reasons I can't explain, separates V-103's digital on-line listening, which would add another 0.4 to their rating.)
Second place is the highest ranking Hot has ever had among all listeners. It also led among 18 to 34 year olds with a dominant 11 rating.
In celebration, Hot program director Dave "Hurricane" Smith posted this on Facebook:
When your colleagues call you to say congratulations on an amazing Ratings book. I tell them that ain't nothing but God and a great TEAM. We had the largest lead ever over all stations in Atlanta. @hot1079atl is #1 in every single day part including the weekends. Yes I'm proud of them. # canesrulesforsuccess # god # mylife
Rickey Smiley's syndicated morning show on Hot has been No. 1 or 2 for five consecutive months among 25 to 54 year olds and No. 1 among 18 to 34 year olds for six straight months.
In the pop radio station battle, B98.5 came out on top overall again with a 4.9 rating (6th place overall), followed by Star 94's 4.5 (eighth place), Q100's 4.4 (ninth place) and Power 96.1's 3.9 (11th place).
Among morning shows, the Bert Show on Q100 had its strongest results of the year with its best monthly numbers since Jeff Dauler left last November. It finished No. 1 25-54 (8.3) and No. 2 18-34 (12.2). That 18-34 rating is its best since March of 2015.
Jeff and Jenn on Star 94 finished at a 4.6 among 25 to 54 year olds, comparable to its performance in recent months. B98.5's Tad and Melissa drew a 4 share and Power's PK and DK morning drew a 3.
Among 18 to 34 year olds, Jeff and Jenn came in second behind the Bert Show with a 6.3, good for third overall. Power came in third with a 4.7, followed by B98.5 at 2.8.
It was a weak month for both country stations, with Kicks (3.7) beating the Bull (3.1), which had its worst month since March, 2012.
WSB and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are both part of Cox Media Group.
Top 30 stations, covering October 6 through November 2, 2016
1- WSB
2- (tie) Hot, V-103
4 (tie) Kiss, The River
6- B98.5
7- Fish
8- Star 94.1
9- Q100
10- Majic 104.1
11 (tie) Praise, Power, Kicks
14- 92.9/The Game
15- The Bull
16- WABE
17- Radio 105.7
18- The sports station that I shan't name because they aren't subscribers to Nielsen Audio
19 (tie) Joy 93.3, Rock 100.5
21- Streetz
22 (tie) El Patron, 91.9/WCLK, OG 97.9, Old School 87.7
26- NewsRadio 106.7
27- 88.5/WRAS-FM
28- Boom 102.9
29- WTSH-FM
30 (tie) WAOK/ V-103 stream/ WGST-AM
Top 10 morning shows, overall 6+
1- Scott Slade, WSB
2- Rickey Smiley, Hot 107.9
3- The Bert Show, Q100
4- Tom Joyner, Kiss 104.1
5- Ryan Cameron with Wanda Smith, V-103
6- Steve Harvey, Majic 107.5/97.5
7- Kevin & Taylor, Fish 104.7
8- Jeff & Jenn, Star 94.1
9- Steve Craig, 97.1/The River
10 (tie) Tad & Melissa, B98.5; Morning Edition, WABE
Top 10 stations, 25-54
1- V-103
2- WSB
3- Hot
4- Q100
5- B98.5
6- (tie) Fish, Star
8- River
9 - Kiss
10- Majic
Top 10 morning shows, 25-54
1- Bert Show, Q100
2- Rickey Smiley, Hot
3- Scott Slade, WSB
4- Ryan Cameron with Wanda Smith, V-103
5- Kevin & Taylor, Fish
6 (tie) Steve Harvey, Majic; Tom Joyner, Kiss
8- Jeff & Jenn, Star
9 (tie) Tad & Melissa, B98.5; Steve Craig, The River
Top 10 stations, ages 18-34
1- Hot
2- Q100
3- V-103
4- Star
5- Power
6- Radio
7- River
8- Fish
9 (tie) B98.5, Streetz
Top 10 morning shows, 18-34
1- Rickey Smiley, Hot
2- Bert Show, Q100
3- Jeff & Jenn, Star
4- Ryan Cameron with Wanda Smith, V-103
5- PK & DK, Power
6- Steve Craig, The River
7- The Breakfast Club (now moved), Streetz
8- Bailey & Southside, Rock 100.5
9 - The Morning Cruise, Joy 93.3
10 - Kevin & Taylor, Fish
SOURCE: Nielsen Audio
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