Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Fall Arbitron books (Updated)

The Arbitron radio books are out today for Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria, Rockford, South Bend, Bloomington, and The Quad Cities.

Robert Feder analyzes the Chicago book for the Sun-Times, while Tim Cuprisin does the same for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Chicago Winners:

Urban Contemporary WGCI-FM Chicago's tops the fall ratings book.

WLIT ought to thank Santa for its Christmas music-fueled ratings jump. Now, the challenge: To hold on to its audience as it returns to its lame "Adult Contemporary" format. (Want a real AC station? XM The Heart is the way to go.)

Rhythmic outlet WBBM-FM (B96) expands its lead over rival WKSC-FM (Kiss). However, WKSC's "Drex" morning show beat B96's Eddie & JoBo.

Oldies WZZN-FM scores highest rating since switch over a year ago, with the additions of Chicago radio legends John Landecker and Dick Biondi. (WZZN also cracked the top 10 middays.)

Regional Mexican formatted WOJO-FM also a big winner, jumping to 5th place, with its morning show showing huge gains.

Hot AC formatted WTMX fell slightly book-to-book, but the morning show featuring Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart, finished first in the highly sought core - and affluent (a.k.a North Side and suburban) 25-54 demo.

In the sports department, WSCR-AM (The Score) beat WMVP-AM (Let's watch as the local media overanalyzes this battle between the two - as usual.)

As for the losers:

Big Drop for urban AC WVAZ-FM. Wonder if its time for a change (like adding a local morning show?)

WILV (Love FM. Love FM! LOL!) plunges in the ratings. Time to get Movin'?

WKQX (Q101) posted its lowest ratings in 30 years, and WCKG-FM continues to struggle. (and despite Steve Dahl doing well in the afternoon.) But the GMs behind both stations are sticking with their respective formats and new struggling morning shows, for now. (And you have to question how the people who run these two stations keep their jobs... I guess you have to ask NY Giants coach Tom Coughlin.)

Nine-FM? Don't even ask.

- In Milwaukee, News/talk WTMJ-AM continues to dominate (Thank you, Packers), while WMYX-FM pulled a WLIT and pulled big numbers, moving to fourth place overall -thanks to all Christmas music. (WMYX will have to answer the same questions WLIT is facing.) Meanwhile, Urban Contemporary WKKV-FM finished third, and Pop outlet WXSS tied for sixth place with classic hits WKLH-FM.

- Outside the region, the biggest news came in Los Angeles, where the new Rhythim AC KMVN-FM, "Movin'" (formerly country KZLA) tanked, finishing in 36th place. Meanwhile, once dominant urban outlet (and now-defunct) KKBT-FM finished a weak 29th.

updated 2007-01-11 at 11:45am

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