Jeffrey T. Mason
More than four years after CBS Radio relaunched WJMK FM 104.3 as K-Hits, the classic hits outlet is finally hitting it big.
In Nielsen Audio ratings released Monday, the station surged into the top five with its best performance to date. But some critics said there was a catch.
K-Hits
For the period from June 18 to July 15, K-Hits ranked fourth overall with a 4.1 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 1,565,200. It also ranked fourth among listeners between 25 and 54 with a 4.2 share and 766,200 cume. One year ago, it was languishing in 16th place overall and 17th in the adult demo.
The station’s strongest showing was in middays, where Jeffrey T. Mason finished second overall and led the market in three key male demographics — 18 to 34, 18 to 49, and 25 to 54. Just last May the station officially named Mason permanent replacement for legendary midday personality Tommy Edwards, who had retired the previous fall.
Competitors were quick to point out that K-Hits is among CBS Radio stations here utilizing Voltair, an audio-processing device that boosts the detection of encoded broadcast signals by Nielsen Audio’s Portable People Meters. At a national webinar for radio clients in July, Nielsen Audio said it did not support the use of Voltair, but stopped short of banning it.
CBS Radio Chicago programming executives declined to comment.
Coming on strong among women in July was WSHE FM 100.3, the adult contemporary station rebranded by Hubbard Radio last March. In every key female demo, the station surpassed iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT FM 93.9, without slowing Hubbard’s juggernaut hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9.
Here are the top 40 radio stations in the Chicago area followed by average share of listeners age 6 and older from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday, as measured by Nielsen Audio from June 18 to July 15 (followed by previous month’s share in parentheses):
1) WVAZ FM 102.7 5.8 (6.5)
2) WTMX FM 101.9 5.0 (5.0)
3) WBBM AM 780 4.7 (4.6)
4) WJMK FM 104.3 4.1 (4.0)
5) WKSC FM 103.5 3.9 (4.1)
6) WGCI FM 107.5 3.8 (3.8)
7) WGN AM 720 3.7 (4.3)
8) WXRT FM 93.1 3.6 (3.0)
9) WDRV FM 97.1 3.5 (3.2)
10) WBBM FM 96.3 3.4 (3.3)
11) WOJO FM 105.1 3.3 (3.5)
12) (tie) WLIT FM 93.9 3.2 (3.6)
12) (tie) WLS FM 94.7 3.2 (2.8)
14) WKQX FM 101.1 3.1 (3.1)
15) WUSN FM 99.5 2.9 (2.7)
16) WSHE FM 100.3 2.5 (2.3)
17) WEBG FM 95.5 2.4 (1.9)
18) (tie) WCFS FM 105.9 2.2 (2.1)
18) (tie) WLUP FM 97.9 2.2 (2.6)
18) (tie) WPPN FM 106.7 2.2 (2.1)
21) (tie) WBEZ FM 91.5 2.1 (2.1)
21) (tie) WSCR AM 670 2.1 (1.9)
23) WPWX FM 92.3 2.0 (2.1)
24) WRME FM 87.7 1.8 (1.6)
25) (tie) WJKL FM 94.3 1.7 (1.5)
25) (tie) WLEY FM 107.9 1.7 (1.9)
27) WMVP AM 1000 1.4 (1.5)
28) (tie) WFMT FM 98.7 1.0 (1.3)
28) (tie) WIIL FM 95.1 1.0 (1.1)
28) (tie) WLS AM 890 1.0 (1.1)
28) (tie) WSRB FM 106.3 1.0 (0.9)
28) (tie) WVIV FM 93.5 1.0 (1.1)
33) WERV FM 95.9 0.8 (0.9)
34) WGRB AM 1390 0.7 (0.6)
35) (tie) WIND AM 560 0.6 (0.6)
35) (tie) WMBI FM 90.1 0.6 (0.6)
35) (tie) WSSR FM 96.7 0.6 (0.6)
35) (tie) WZSR FM 105.5 0.6 (0.4)
39) (tie) WCCQ FM 98.3 0.5 (0.5)
39) (tie) WCFL FM 104.7 0.5 (0.4)
39) (tie) WCPT AM 820 0.5 (0.5)
39) (tie) WXLC FM 102.3 0.5 (0.5)
39) (tie) WXRD FM 103.9 0.5 (0.5)
Here are Chicago’s top 10 morning shows followed by average share of listeners age 6 and older from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio in July (with previous month’s share in parentheses):
1) WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 (simulcast) Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy 10.0 (9.9)
2) WTMX FM 101.9 Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart 7.1 (6.7)
3) WVAZ FM 102.7 Steve Harvey 5.9 (6.3)
4) WGN AM 720 Steve Cochran 5.8 (6.0)
5) WOJO FM 105.1 Raul Molinar, Sylvia del Valle and Andres Maldonado 4.0 (4.1)
6) (tie) WBEZ FM 91.5 NPR Morning Edition; Morning Shift with Tony Sarabia 3.4 (3.2)
6) (tie) WDRV FM 97.1 Pete McMurray and Dan McNeil 3.4 (3.6)
8) WJMK FM 104.3 Dave Fogel 3.3 (2.8)
9) WSCR AM 670 Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley 3.2 (2.9)
10) WKQX FM 101.1 Brian Phillips and Lou Lombardo 3.0 (2.7)
Here are Chicago’s top 10 afternoon shows followed by average share of listeners age 6 and older from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio in July (with previous month’s share in parentheses):
1) WVAZ FM 102.7 Doug Banks 5.1 (5.8)
2) WTMX FM 101.9 Koz (Kevin Koske) 4.8 (4.8)
3) (tie) WGCI FM 107.5 DJ MoonDawg (Michael Muniz) 4.4 (4.2)
3) (tie) WKSC FM 103.5 Brady Broski 4.4 (4.7)
5) (tie) WBBM AM 780 Kris Kridel and Keith Johnson; Cubs baseball 3.7 (3.7)
5) (tie) WBBM FM 96.3 Dougie Stylz and Justin Roman 3.7 (3.9)
7) WJMK FM 104.3 Gary Spears 3.6 (3.9)
8) (tie) WKQX FM 101.1 Walter Flakus 3.4 (3.4)
8) (tie) WXRT FM 93.1 Marty Lennartz; Jason Thomas 3.4 (2.9)
10) WLIT FM 93.9 Mick Lee 3.7 (3.6)