Top story in ratings: WBBM Newsradio

Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy

Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy

Was it “traffic and weather together on the eights” that did it? Or an especially busy month for news of politics and crime?

Either way, the CBS Radio all-news combo of WBBM AM 780 and WCFS FM 105.9 again was Chicago's most popular station, according to the Nielsen Audio survey released Monday. The anchor duo of Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy won morning drive, while Kris Kridel and Keith Johnson topped afternoon drive in the period from January 28 to February 24.

News also helped Chicago Public Media news/talk WBEZ FM 91.5 tie its best overall share ever and land in the top 10 during both morning drive and afternoon drive for the first time.

Other highlights included the continuing rise of Weigel Broadcasting soft rock/oldies WRME LP 87.7. MeTV FM reportedly posted the highest share ever for any low-power VHF television channel in the country operating as a radio station on that frequency.

Among listeners between 25 and 54, the advertiser-coveted demographic, Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9 was No. 1 overall as well as in mornings, middays and afternoons. Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart’s morning show on The Mix led by a margin of more than 75 percent in the demo over Middlebrooks and Cassidy on WBBM Newsradio.

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 January 28 to February 24 (followed by previous month’s share in parentheses):

1) WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 (simulcast) 6.9 (6.8)
2) (tie) WTMX FM 101.9 5.5 (5.2)
2) (tie) WVAZ FM 102.7 5.5 (6.0)
4) WLIT FM 93.9 4.5 (4.7)
5) WGCI FM 107.5 3.8 (3.5)
6) WKSC FM 103.5 3.7 (3.7)
7) WGN AM 720 3.6 (4.2)
8) (tie) WDRV FM 97.1 3.2 (2.6)
8) (tie) WJMK FM 104.3 3.2 (3.3)
10) WOJO FM 105.1 3.1 (3.6)
11) WBBM FM 96.3 3.0 (3.3)
12) WLS FM 94.7 2.9 (2.6)
13) (tie) WBEZ FM 91.5 2.7 (2.4)
13) (tie) WKQX FM 101.1 2.7 (2.6)
13) (tie) WUSN FM 99.5 2.7 (2.8)
16) WXRT FM 93.1 2.6 (2.6)
17) WMVP AM 1000 2.5 (2.3)
18) (tie) WLUP FM 97.9 2.4 (2.0)
18) (tie) WRME FM 87.7 2.4 (2.2)
18) (tie) WSCR AM 670 2.4 (2.6)
21) WSHE FM 100.3 2.3 (2.0)
22) WLEY FM 107.9 2.2 (2.0)
23) (tie) WPPN FM 106.7 2.0 (2.2)
23) (tie) WPWX FM 92.3 2.0 (2.4)
25) (tie) WEBG FM 95.5 1.8 (1.8)
25) (tie) WLS AM 890 1.8 (1.8)
27) WJKL FM 94.3 1.6 (1.5)
28) (tie) WCPT AM 820 1.1 (0.7)
28) (tie) WVIV FM 93.5 1.1 (1.0)
30) (tie) WFMT FM 98.7 1.0 (1.1)
30) (tie) WIND AM 560 1.0 (0.9)
32) (tie) WMBI FM 90.1 0.9 (0.9)
32) (tie) WSRB FM 106.3 0.9 (0.8)
34) (tie) WGRB AM 1390 0.7 (0.4)
34) (tie) WIIL FM 95.1 0.7 (0.8)
34) (tie) WZSR FM 105.5 0.7 (0.7)
37) (tie) WCCQ FM 98.3 0.6 (0.5)
37) (tie) WERV FM 95.9 0.6 (0.7)
39) WSSR FM 96.7 0.5 (0.6)
40) (tie) WCFL FM 104.7 0.4 (0.4)
40) (tie) WFXF FM 103.9 0.4 (0.4)
40) (tie) WXLC FM 102.3 0.4 (0.5)

Morning drive top 10

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 (with previous month’s share in parentheses):

1) WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 (simulcast) Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy 9.7 (10.0)
2) WTMX FM 101.9 Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart 7.9 (8.0)
3) WGN AM 720 Steve Cochran 5.0 (6.2)
4) WVAZ FM 102.7 Steve Harvey 4.9 (5.2)
5) WLIT FM 93.9 Kristina Kage 3.8 (3.9)
6) WOJO FM 105.1 Raul Molinar, Sylvia del Valle and Andres Maldonado 3.7 (3.9)
7) (tie) WKSC FM 103.5 Christopher “Fred” Frederick and Angi Taylor 3.6 (3.3)
7) (tie) WSCR AM 670 Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley 3.6 (3.6)
9) WBEZ FM 91.5 Morning Edition; Morning Shift with Tony Sarabia 3.3 (3.2)
10) (tie) WDRV FM 97.1 Pete McMurray and Dan McNeil 2.8 (2.7)
10) (tie) WGCI FM 107.5 Kyle Santillian, Kendra Gilliams and Leon Rogers 2.8 (2.4)

Afternoon drive top 10

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 (with previous month’s share in parentheses):

1) WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 (simulcast) Kris Kridel and Keith Johnson 6.3 (5.6)
2) WTMX FM 101.9 Koz (Kevin Koske) 5.0 (4.7)
3) WVAZ FM 102.7 Doug Banks 4.8 (5.2)
4) WLIT FM 93.9 Mick Lee 4.7 (5.1)
5) WGCI FM 107.5 Tone Kapone 4.2 (3.9)
6) WKSC FM 103.5 Brady Broski 4.0 (4.3)
7) (tie) WJMK FM 104.3 Gary Spears 3.3 (3.3)
7) (tie) WMVP AM 1000 Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman 3.3 (2.8)
9) WBBM FM 96.3 Dougie Stylz and Justin Roman 3.2 (3.6)
10) WBEZ FM 91.5 All Things Considered; Marketplace 3.0 (2.6)