WTMX
In the weeks following accusations of misconduct against former morning personality Eric Ferguson, ratings took a nosedive at WTMX 101.9-FM, according to Nielsen Audio figures released Monday.
The Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station's share of morning listeners dropped 22 percent since mid-September, falling from a tie for fifth to a tie for ninth. Among women between 25 and 54 — a key demo that long had been owned by Ferguson and his partners — The Mix lost more than 25 percent of its morning share, falling from fourth to seventh.
The latest survey period ran from September 16 to October 13.
Ferguson had been off the air since late September when former co-workers went public with complaints of abusive behavior toward women. Ferguson, who denied the allegations through his attorneys, announced Friday he would not be returning to the station, ending his 25-year run at The Mix.
Left to make the best of a tarnished brand and hemorrhaging audience are Ferguson's former cast mates Nikki Chuminatto, Brian Paruch and Violeta Podrumedic, "with long-term plans to be determined," according to The Mix.
WBBM Newsradio
Again finishing first overall was WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, the Audacy all-news combo and home of Chicago Bears football broadcasts.
WBBM Newsradio also swept all four measured time periods, winning in mornings with Pat Cassidy, middays with Cisco Cotto, afternoons with Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding, and evenings with Bob Conway and Andy Dahn.
For the ninth consecutive month Univision Spanish-language regional Mexican WOJO 105.1-FM was No. 1 among listeners between 25 and 54. WOJO also finished first in the key adult demographic in mornings with Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado, middays with Rafael “El Primo Rafa” Bautista and afternoons with Sylvia del Valle.
Hispanic listeners comprise 21.5 percent of the Chicago radio market and Black listeners comprise 16.6 percent of the market, according to Nielsen.
Here are Chicago’s top radio stations from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday, as measured by Nielsen Audio from September 16 to October 13, followed by format and average quarter-hour share of listeners age 6 and older (with previous month’s share in parentheses):
1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 6.7 (6.6)
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM R&B, 5.8 (6.3)
3. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 4.9 (4.3)
4. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.6 (4.8)
5. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 4.5 (4.2)
6. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.3 (4.1)
7. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 4.0 (3.6)
8. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 3.8 (3.8)
9. (tie) WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.5 (3.6); WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 3.5 (4.1)
11. WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.9 (2.8)
12. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 2.8 (2.7)
13. WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.7 (3.3)
14. (tie) WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 2.5 (2.5); WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip-hop, 2.5 (2.7); WGCI 107.5-FM hip-hop, 2.5 (2.4)
17. (tie) WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.4 (2.3); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.4 (2.6)
19. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.3 (2.5); WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 2.3 (2.1)
21. (tie) WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.0 (1.9); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 2.0 (1.9)
23. WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 1.8 (2.2)
24. WCHI 95.5-FM rock, 1.7 (1.7)
25. WPWX 92.3-FM hip-hop, 1.3 (1.2)
26. (tie) WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.1 (1.7); WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.1 (1.2); WZSR 105.5-FM hot adult contemporary, 1.1 (0.7)
29. WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian music, 1.0 (1.2)
Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 morning shows from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen:
1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Pat Cassidy
2. WBEZ 91.5-FM “Morning Edition”; “BBC Newshour”
3. WVAZ 102.7-FM Steve Harvey
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado
5. WGN 720-AM Bob Sirott
6. WXRT 93.1-FM Richard Milne
7. (tie) WDRV 97.1-FM Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle; WLS 94.7-FM Dave Fogel and Kim Berk
9. (tie) WLIT 93.9-FM Melissa Forman; WTMX 101.9-FM Eric Ferguson, Nikki Chuminatto, Brian Paruch and Violeta Podrumedic
Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 midday shows from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen:
1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Cisco Cotto
2. WDRV 97.1-FM Bob Stroud
3. WLIT 93.9-FM Robin Rock
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Rafael “El Primo Rafa” Bautista
5. WVAZ 102.7-FM Bioncé Foxx
6. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM Lin Brehmer; WLS 94.7-FM Erin Carman
8. WGN 720-AM John Williams; Anna Davlantes
9. WBEZ 91.5-FM “1A”; “Reset”; “Fresh Air”
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:
1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM Joe Soto
3. WBEZ 91.5-FM “All Things Considered”; “Marketplace”
4. WOJO 105.1-FM Sylvia del Valle
5. WLIT 93.9-FM Mick Lee
6. WDRV 97.1-FM Steve Seaver and Janda Lane
7. WKSC 103.5-FM Brady Broski
8. (tie) WPPN 106.7-FM Maria Esther “La Chula” Mendez and Poncho “La Bestia” Mercado; WTMX 101.9-FM Chris Petlak and Lisa Allen
10. WXRT 93.1-FM Marty Lennartz
Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 evening shows from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen:
1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Bob Conway; Andy Dahn
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM Keith Sweat
3. WFMT 98.7-FM Kerry Frumkin
4. WBEZ 91.5-FM “Marketplace”; “The Daily”; “Fresh Air”; “1A”; “BBC World Service”
5. WLIT 93.9-FM Delilah Rene
6. WTMX 101.9-FM Jordan “Dash” Orman-Weiss
7. WXRT 93.1-FM Ryan Arnold
8. WLS 94.7-FM Kid Kelly
9. WGCI 107.5-FM Zach Boog
10. WBMX 104.3-FM
(Copyright © 2021 The Nielsen Company.)