Chicago radio ratings: Christmas music lights up Lite FM

Melissa Forman

For the 18th consecutive year, around-the-clock Christmas music catapulted WLIT 93.9-FM to the top of the ratings, according to Nielsen Audio figures released today.

The iHeartMedia adult contemporary station ranked No. 1 among all listeners with an 8.3 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of more than 2.1 million. The previous month the station tied for 11th place with a 3.2 share.

Mornings on Lite FM, hosted by Melissa Forman, jumped from a tie for 16th to fourth place. First in their respective time slots were Lite FM's Robin Rock in middays, Mick Lee in afternoons and Delilah in evenings.

"The Holiday Lite" began November 8 — coinciding with the first day of the Nielsen Audio survey — and ran through Christmas Day. As of today, the station is back to its usual format, rebranded as "Relaxing Favorites."

The Entercom simulcast combo of all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM ranked second with a 5.7 share — the same as it posted last month. WBBM Newsradio anchors Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy finished first in mornings.

Among news/talk stations, Tribune Broadcasting WGN 720-AM and Cumulus Media WLS 890-AM declined. Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM was unchanged.

Note: In accordance with Nielsen’s publishing guidelines, I cannot report actual audience shares other than those for the full week (below). For mornings, middays, afternoons and evenings, I can list only their rankings — not specific shares.

Here are Chicago’s top 30 radio stations from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday, as measured by Nielsen Audio from November 8 to December 5, followed by format and average quarter-hour share of listeners age 6 and older (with previous month's share in parentheses):

1. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 8.3 (3.2)
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.7 (5.7)
3. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 5.3 (5.3)
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 4.8 (5.4)
5. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.3 (4.3)
6. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 4.2 (4.5)
7. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 4.0 (4.8)
8. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 3.5 (3.1); WUSN 99.5-FM country, 3.5 (3.7)
10. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.4 (3.7)
11. WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary, 3.3 (3.1)
12. (tie) WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 2.9 (2.9); WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 2.9 (3.3); WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 2.9 (2.8)
15. WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.8 (3.1)
16.(tie) WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.7 (2.7); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.7 (3.3)
18. WGN 720-AM news talk, 2.6 (3.2)
19. WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.3 (2.3)
20. WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.2 (2.9)
21. WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.1 (2.5)
22. WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.9 (1.9)
23. WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.5 (1.4)
24. (tie) WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.4 (1.4); WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.4 (1.6)
26. (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.1 (0.9); WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 1.1 (1.2); WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.1 (1.1)
29. WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 1.0 (0.8)
30. WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 0.7 (0.7)

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 morning shows from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy
2. WTMX 101.9-FM Eric Ferguson, Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch
3. WOJO 105.1-FM Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado
4. WLIT 93.9-FM, Melissa Forman
5. WVAZ 102.7-FM Steve Harvey
6. WSCR 670-AM Mike Mulligan and David Haugh
7. WGN 720-AM Steve Cochran
8. WDRV 97.1-FM Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle
9. WXRT 93.1-FM Lin Brehmer
10. WLS 94.7-FM Dave Fogel and Kim Berk

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 midday shows from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WLIT 93.9-FM Robin Rock
2. WLS 94.7-FM Greg Brown
3. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Cisco Cotto and Kris Kridel
4. WDRV 97.1-FM Bob Stroud
5. WVAZ 102.7-FM Bioncé Foxx
6. WOJO 105.1-FM Rafael “El Primo Rafa” Bautista
7. WXRT 93.1-FM Terri Hemmert; Marty Lennartz
8. WTMX 101.9-FM Lisa Allen
9. (tie) WLEY 107.9-FM Diane “La Patrona” Fong; WSHE 100.3-FM Lisa Kosty

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 afternoon shows from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WLIT 93.9-FM Mick Lee
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM Joe Soto
3. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Kris Kridel and Keith Johnson
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Sylvia del Valle, Jose Gutierrez and Carlos Ivan Paez
5. WDRV 97.1-FM Steve Seaver and Janda Lane
6. WLS 94.7-FM Ron Parker
7. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM Sean “Sonic” Leckie; WGCI 107.5-FM Tone Kapone; WTMX 101.9-FM Kevin “Koz” Koske and Jennifer Roberts
10. WUSN 99.5-FM Mike Kasper

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 evening shows from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WLIT 93.9-FM Delilah
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM Chris Michaels
3. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Mariam Sobh; Bob Conway
4. WGCI 107.5-FM DJ MoonDawg (Michael Muniz)
5. WBMX 104.3-FM Julian Jumpin’ Perez
6. WSCR 670-AM Laurence Holmes; Julie DiCaro
7. (tie) WDRV 97.1-FM Phil Manicki; WTMX 101.9-FM Chris Reese
9. WKSC 103.5-FM Erik Zachary
10. WOJO 105.1-FM Karen “La Coqueta” Duran

(Copyright © 2018 The Nielsen Company.)