Chicago radio ratings: The Drive revs up to the top after 18 years

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The Drive 97.1 FM

Eighteen years after WDRV 97.1-FM signed on as an edgy new choice for Chicago radio listeners, the Hubbard Radio classic rocker is the most popular station in town.

Nielsen Audio ratings released Monday showed The Drive No. 1 in overall audience share for the first time. The latest monthly survey ran from June 20 to July 17.

It was another one-two punch by Hubbard Radio Chicago, which also captured the No. 2 spot with hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM. Last month the two stations finished in reverse order.

The ascent of The Drive culminated a year of growth following the demise of principal competitor WLUP 97.9-FM. With the sale of The Loop to Educational Media Foundation (and its switch to contemporary Christian music as WCKL), The Drive became Chicago's sole classic rock station.

Bob Stroud

In the just-released survey The Drive also led the market in middays with Bob Stroud and in afternoons with Steve Seaver and Janda Lane.

Top-of-the-morning honors again went to "Eric in the Morning" on The Mix with Eric Ferguson, Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch.

iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary WVAZ 102.7-FM, which finished third overall behind The Drive and The Mix, led in evenings with Chris Michaels.

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 June 20 to July 17, followed by format and average quarter-hour share of listeners age 6 and older (with previous month’s share in parentheses):

1. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 5.4 (5.1)
2. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 5.2 (5.6)
3. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 4.9 (4.3)
4. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 4.8 (4.8)
5. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.3 (4.2)
6. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 4.0 (4.8)
7. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.8 (3.4); WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 3.8 (3.9)
9. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 3.3 (3.7); WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.3 (3.5)
11. (tie) WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.1 (3.2); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 3.1 (3.0)
13. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 3.0 (2.8); WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.0 (3.0); WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 3.0 (3.0)
16. (tie) WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.8 (2.7); WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary,2.8 (2.8); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.8 (2.9)
19. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 2.7 (2.5)
20. WLS 890-AM news talk, 2.2 (2.1)
21. (tie) WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 1.9 (2.0); WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 1.9 (2.2); WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.9 (1.9)
24. WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.6 (1.6)
25. (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.5 (1.2); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.5 (1.2)
27. WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.4 (1.7)
28. WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 1.3 (1.3)
29. (tie) WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 0.8 (1.0); WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 0.8 (0.8)

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 morning shows from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WTMX 101.9-FM Eric Ferguson, Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy
3. WDRV 97.1-FM Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado
5. (tie) WSCR 670-AM Mike Mulligan and David Haugh; WVAZ 102.7-FM Steve Harvey
7. WGN 720-AM Steve Cochran
8. WLS 94.7-FM Dave Fogel and Kim Berk
9. WXRT 93.1-FM Lin Brehmer and Mary Dixon
10. WBEZ 91.5-FM “Morning Edition” and “Morning Shift” with Jennifer White

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. WDRV 97.1-FM Bob Stroud
2. WTMX 101.9-FM Lisa Allen
3. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Cisco Cotto and Rob Hart
4. (tie) WLIT 93.9-FM Robin Rock; WLS 94.7-FM Greg Brown
6. WVAZ 102.7-FM Bioncé Foxx
7. WXRT 93.1-FM Terri Hemmert; Richard Milne
8. WOJO 105.1-FM Rafael “El Primo Rafa” Bautista
9. WLS 890-AM Chris Plante; Rush Limbaugh
10. WRME 87.7-FM

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 afternoon shows from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WDRV 97.1-FM Steve Seaver and Janda Lane
2. WTMX 101.9-FM Kevin “Koz” Koske and Jennifer Roberts
3. WLIT 93.9-FM Mick Lee
4. WVAZ 102.7-FM Joe Soto
5. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding
6. WLS 94.7-FM Ron Parker
7. WKSC 103.5-FM Brady Broski
8. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM Marty Lennartz; WRME 87.7-FM
10. (tie) WSCR 670-AM Dan McNeil and Danny Parkins; Cubs baseball; WBMX 104.3-FM Sean “Sonic” Leckie

Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 evening shows from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen Audio:

1. WVAZ 102.7-FM Chris Michaels
2. WSCR 670-AM Joe Ostrowski; Julie DiCaro; Cubs baseball
3. WLIT 93.9-FM Delilah Rene
4. WGCI 107.5-FM DJ MoonDawg (Michael Muniz)
5. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Mariam Sobh; Bob Conway
6. WDRV 97.1-FM Phil Manicki
7. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM Julian Jumpin’ Perez; WTMX 101.9-FM Nikki Imbracsio
9. WBBM 96.3-FM Julia Lepidi
10. WLS 94.7-FM Brian Peck

(Copyright © 2019 The Nielsen Company.)

Monday’s comment of the day: Nancy Angell Babendir: The chance that a New York-based Hall of Fame would host its induction ceremony anywhere but New York is zero. If the [Radio Hall of Fame] is based here, the induction ceremony should be here.