Chicago radio ratings: Eric & The Mix still top of the morning

Melissa McGurren, Eric Ferguson and Brian "Whip" Paruch (Photo: Todd Rosenberg Photography)

Eric Ferguson continued his reign as Chicago’s most popular morning personality in the latest radio ratings released Tuesday.

Nielsen Audio figures for the four-week period from January 4 to 31 showed the longtime morning star of WTMX FM 101.9 still solidly No. 1 among all listeners and those between 25 and 54 — the group most coveted by advertisers.

Since the departure of co-host Kathy Hart from the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station last year, Ferguson has shared billing on “Eric in the Morning” with Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch.

Overall, The Mix ranked second in January behind WVAZ FM 102.7. The iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary station recaptured the top spot from iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT FM 93.9, which fell to sixth place after its annual Christmas music juggernaut in November and December.

WBMX FM 104.3, which Entercom Communications debuted in November as a classic hip hop station, remained third. Although it declined by more than half a share point from the previous month, 104.3 Jams jumped to first in the 25-to-54 demographic and other key demos. The station has not yet announced a talent lineup.

The Entercom all-news combo of WBBM AM 780 and WCFS FM 105.9 ranked fourth, followed by Univision Mexican regional WOJO FM 105.1.

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 morning shows from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio in January, followed by host and average share of listeners age 6 and older:

1. WTMX FM 101.9 Eric Ferguson 7.5

2. WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy 7.0

3. WVAZ FM 102.7 Steve Harvey 5.9

4. WOJO FM 105.1 Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado 4.1

5. WSCR AM 670 Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley 4.0

6. WGN AM 720 Steve Cochran 3.9

7. (tie) WBMX FM 104.3, 3.5; WDRV FM 97.1 Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle 3.5

9) WLEY FM 107.9 Alberto Terry “El Terrible” Cortez 3.4

10) WKSC FM 103.5 Christopher “Fred” Frederick and Angi Taylor 3.3

Here are Chicago’s top 30 radio stations from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday, as measured by Nielsen Audio in January, followed by format and average share of listeners age 6 and older:

1) WVAZ FM 102.7 urban adult contemporary, 6.8

2) WTMX FM 101.9 hot adult contemporary, 5.4

3) WBMX FM 104.3 classic hip hop, 4.8

4) WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 all news, 4.7

5) WOJO FM 105.1 Mexican regional, 3.5

6) (tie) WLIT FM 93.9 adult contemporary, 3.4; WKSC FM 103.5 Top 40, 3.4; WUSN FM 99.5 country, 3.4

9) (tie) WDRV FM 97.1 classic rock, 3.3; WGN AM 720 news talk, 3.3

11) WXRT FM 93.1 adult album alternative, 3.2

12) WLS FM 94.7 classic hits, 3.1

13) (tie) WKQX FM 101.1 alternative rock, 3.0; WBBM FM 96.3 Top 40, 3.0

15) WLUP FM 97.9 classic rock, 2.9

16) WPPN FM 106.7 Spanish adult contemporary, 2.8

17) (tie) WSCR AM 670 sports talk, 2.7; WGCI FM 107.5 urban contemporary, 2.7

19) (tie) WSHE FM 100.3 adult contemporary, 2.6; WLEY FM 107.9 Mexican regional, 2.6

21) WRME FM 87.7 soft rock oldies, 2.4

22) WBEZ FM 91.5 public radio news talk, 2.2

23) WPWX FM 92.3 urban contemporary, 2.1

24) WEBG FM 103.5 country, 2.0

25) WLS AM 890 news talk, 1.7

26) WMVP AM 1000 sports talk, 1.6

27) WFMT FM 98.7 classical, 1.5

28) WIND AM 560 news talk, 1.4

29) WJKL FM 94.3 contemporary Christian, 1.1

30) WVIV FM 93.5 Spanish contemporary, 1.0