Newsradio delivers top story in ratings

Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy

Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy

With Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy leading the way in morning drive, CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780 and WCFS FM 105.9 swept Chicago’s radio ratings in February.

Nielsen Audio figures released Monday for the period from January 29 to February 25 put the WBBM Newsradio combo at the top of the market overall as well as in all four dayparts — mornings, middays, afternoons and evenings.

In other morning highlights:

  • Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart of Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9 finished second overall in mornings but first among listeners between 25 and 54.
  • Christopher “Fred” Frederick and Angi Taylor of iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC FM 103.5 tied for eighth overall in mornings but ranked first among listeners between 18 and 34.
  • Mason Schreader and Zach “Remy” Hoesly, who started January 20 on iHeartMedia’s new country WEBG FM 95.5, debuted inauspiciously in a tie for 29th place.
  • Kyle Santillian and Kendra Gilliams, who premiered January 29 alongside Leon Rogers on iHeartMedia urban contemporary WGCI FM 107.5, premiered in a tie for 16th place.
  • Steve Downes, who signed off March 9 after 14 years on Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1, bowed out in a tie for sixth place for his last full month on the air. The new team of Pete McMurray and Dan McNeil succeeded him on March 10.

In afternoon highlights:

  • Kevin “Koz” Koske of The Mix finished second overall in afternoons but first among listeners between 25 and 54.
  • Jordan (aka Ryan Gorman) of Kiss FM finished fourth overall in afternoons but first among listeners bewteen 18 and 34.
  • Roe Conn, who debuted January 26 as afternoon host at Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720, opened in 17th place with a 2.5 share.
  • Steve Dahl, who succeeded Conn and Richard Roeper at Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890 in November, was flat in 26th place with a 1.4 share.

Here are Chicago’s top 10 morning shows among listeners age 6 and older from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio in February, followed by average share (with previous month’s share in parentheses):

1. WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy 11.3 (10.9)

2. WTMX FM 101.9 Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart 6.6 (6.1)

3. WVAZ FM 102.7 Steve Harvey 5.6 (5.8)

4. WOJO FM 105.1 Raul Molinar, Sylvia del Valle and Andres Maldonado 4.5 (3.8)

5. WGN AM 720 Steve Cochran 4.4 (5.7)

6. (tie) WDRV FM 97.1 Steve Downes 3.8 (3.0)

6. (tie) WSCR AM 670 Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley 3.8 (4.0)

8. (tie) WBEZ FM 91.5 NPR Morning Edition; Morning Shift with Tony Sarabia 3.7 (3.0)

8. (tie) WKSC FM 103.5 Christopher “Fred” Frederick and Angi Taylor 3.7 (3.4)

10. WLIT FM 93.9 Paul “Cubby” Bryant 3.3 (3.7)

Here are Chicago’s top 10 afternoon shows among listeners age 6 and older from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio in February, followed by average share (with previous month’s share in parentheses):

1. WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 Kris Kridel and Keith Johnson 6.2 (6.0)

2. WTMX FM 101.9 Koz (Kevin Koske) 5.5 (5.5)

3. WVAZ FM 102.7 Doug Banks 5.4 (5.3)

4. WKSC FM 103.5 Jordan (Ryan Gorman) 4.4 (4.7)

5. (tie) WBBM FM 96.3 Dougie Stylz and Justin Roman 4.1 (4.3)

5. (tie) WLIT FM 93.9 Mick Lee 4.1 (4.5)

7. WLS FM 94.7 Robert Murphy 3.9 (3.3)

8. (tie) WGCI FM 107.5 U.B. Rodriguez 3.5 (3.8)

8. (tie) WSCR AM 670 Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein 3.5 (3.6)

10. WKQX FM 101.1 Walter Flakus 3.4 (3.3)