Chicago radio ratings: Lite FM basking in Christmas glow

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Lite FM

For WLIT 93.9-FM — and more than three million listeners to the iHeartMedia adult contemporary station — 2018 ended on a high note.

The final weeks of nonstop Christmas music delivered an eye-popping 13.3 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 3,065,800 to Lite FM, according to Nielsen Audio figures released Tuesday.

Lite FM also finished first in mornings with Melissa Forman, middays with Robin Rock, afternoons with Mick Lee, and evenings with Delilah.

"Listening to Christmas music on Lite 93.9 is a real Chicago tradition," said Matt Scarano, president of iHeartMedia Chicago. "We're thrilled with the amazing results that 'The Holiday Lite' has generated once again."

The station's 18th annual Yuletide music marathon began November 8 and continued through Christmas Day. The latest survey period ran from December 6 to January 2.

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 December 6 to January 2, 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, 13.3 (8.3)
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.3 (5.7)
3. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 4.9 (5.3)
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 4.6 (4.8)
5. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 4.4 (4.2)
6. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 3.9 (4.3)
7. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 3.6 (4.0)
8. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.2 (3.4)
9. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 3.0 (3.5); WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary, 3.0 (3.3); WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 3.0 (2.9)
12. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 2.9 (2.9)
13. WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.8 (3.5)
14. (tie) WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 2.6 (2.9); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.6 (2.7)
16. (tie) WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.5 (2.3); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.5 (2.8)
18. WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.4 (2.1)
19. (tie) WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.3 (2.2); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.3 (2.7)
21. WGN 720-AM news talk, 2.2 (2.6)
22. WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.9 (1.9)
23. WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.5 (1.4)
24. WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.3 (1.1)
25. (tie) WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 1.2 (1.0); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.2 (1.5)
27. (tie) WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.1 (1.4); WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 1.1 (1.1)
29. WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.0 (1.1)
30. WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 0.6 (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. WLIT 93.9-FM, Melissa Forman
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy
3. WTMX 101.9-FM Eric Ferguson, Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado
5. WSCR 670-AM Mike Mulligan and David Haugh
6. WVAZ 102.7-FM Steve Harvey
7. WDRV 97.1-FM Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle
8. WGN 720-AM Steve Cochran
9. WLS 94.7-FM Dave Fogel and Kim Berk
10. WLEY 107.9-FM Alberto “El Terrible” Cortez

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. WOJO 105.1-FM Rafael “El Primo Rafa” Bautista
4. (tie) WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Cisco Cotto and Kris Kridel; WVAZ 102.7-FM Bioncé Foxx
6. WDRV 97.1-FM Bob Stroud
7. WTMX 101.9-FM Lisa Allen
8. WXRT 93.1-FM Terri Hemmert; Marty Lennartz
9. WLEY 107.9-FM Diane “La Patrona” Fong
10. WBMX 104.3-FM Diana Steele

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. (tie) WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Kris Kridel and Keith Johnson; WOJO 105.1-FM Sylvia del Valle, Jose Gutierrez and Carlos Ivan Paez
5. WTMX 101.9-FM Kevin “Koz” Koske and Jennifer Roberts
6. WDRV 97.1-FM Steve Seaver and Janda Lane
7. WLS 94.7-FM Ron Parker
8. WGCI 107.5-FM Tone Kapone
9. WBMX 104.3-FM Sean “Sonic” Leckie
10. (tie) WKSC 103.5-FM Brady Broski; WXRT 93.1-FM Richard Milne

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. WTMX 101.9-FM Chris Reese
6. WSCR 670-AM Laurence Holmes; Julie DiCaro
7. WDRV 97.1-FM Phil Manicki
8. WBMX 104.3-FM Julian Jumpin’ Perez
9. (tie) WOJO 105.1-FM Karen “La Coqueta” Duran; WXRT 93.1-FM Ryan Arnold

(Copyright © 2019 The Nielsen Company.)

Tuesday's comment of the day: Darryl Ebner: George [Preston] is a fabulous choice. He knows WFMT and is much admired for his great knowledge of classical music. (He occasionally participated on the Metropolitan Opera Quiz.) WFMT is top flight. George Preston will guide it to new heights.