V103
Last month's rise to the top of the ratings proved short-lived for Chicago Public Media news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM, which fell from a tie for first place to third in the Nielsen Audio survey released Tuesday.
Alone at the top this time was iHeartMedia's WVAZ 102.7-FM, marking its 71st ratings victory since the R&B powerhouse debuted in 1988. Audacy all-news combo WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM finished second.
"The key to V103’s success is our consistency," said Derrick Brown, vice president of programming for the Chicago region of iHeartMedia. "When it comes to our music and content, V103’s listeners aren’t shy about letting us know what they want, and we strive daily to exceed their expectations.
"Seventy-one No. 1 books later, I couldn’t be prouder of our team. We’re grateful for the enduring loyalty of our audience," Brown said.
WBBM Newsradio finished first in mornings with news anchor Cisco Cotto, and V103 led in evenings with the syndicated Keith Sweat. WLIT 93.9-FM, the iHeartMedia adult contemporary station, won middays with Robin Rock and afternoons with Mick Lee.
A possible consolation for WBEZ is that it finished first among adults between 25 and 54, the demographic most sought by advertisers and underwriters.
One notable surge was the first top 10 showing for WCHI 95.5-FM, the mainstream rock station launched in 2020 by iHeartMedia. Rock 95.5 also hit the top 10 in middays with Walt Flakus and afternoons with Josh Klinger.
Here are Chicago’s top 30 radio stations from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday, as measured by Nielsen Audio from March 3 to 30, followed by format and average quarter-hour share of listeners age 6 and older (with previous month’s share in parentheses):
1. WVAZ 102.7-FM R&B, 5.8 (5.7)
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.5 (5.1)
3. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 5.4 (5.7)
4. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 5.0 (5.0)
5. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.8 (4.6)
6. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 4.4 (3.7)
7. WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.5 (4.6)
8. WUSN 99.5-FM country, 3.3 (3.0)
9. WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 3.1 (3.3)
10. (tie) WCHI 95.5-FM rock, 3.0 (2.5); WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 3.0 (3.1);
WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.0 (3.2)
13. (tie) WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.9 (3.2); WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 2.9 (2.9)
15. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 2.6 (2.7)
16. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.5 (2.3); WGCI 107.5-FM hip-hop, 2.5 (2.5)
18. WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip-hop, 2.4 (2.5)
19. WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.3 (2.0)
20. (tie) WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 2.2 (1.5); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.2 (2.2)
22. WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 1.9 (1.9)
23. (tie) WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 1.3 (1.6); WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian music, 1.3 (1.3)
25. (tie) WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.2 (1.4); WPWX 92.3-FM hip-hop, 1.2 (1.2)
27. (tie) WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 0.9 (0.9); WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 0.9 (1.0)
29. (tie) WSRB 106.3-FM R&B, 0.8 (0.7); WXLC 102.3-FM hot adult contemporary,
0.8 (0.6)
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 Cisco Cotto
2. WBEZ 91.5-FM “Morning Edition”; “BBC Newshour”
3. WGN 720-AM Bob Sirott
4. WVAZ 102.7-FM Steve Harvey
5. WOJO 105.1-FM Raúl Molinar, Carla Medrano and Andrés Maldonado
6. (tie) WDRV 97.1-FM Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle; WKSC 103.5-FM Christopher “Fred” Frederick; WTMX 101.9-FM Chris Petlak, Nikki Chuminatto, Brian Paruch and Violeta Podrumedic
9. WLIT 93.9-FM Melissa Forman
10. WXRT 93.1-FM Richard Milne
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. WLIT 93.9-FM Robin Rock
2. WDRV 97.1-FM Bob Stroud
3. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM Lin Brehmer; WVAZ 102.7-FM Bioncé Foxx
5. WBEZ 91.5-FM “1A”; “Reset”; “Here and Now”
6. WGN 720-AM John Williams
7. WRME 87.7-FM
8. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Rob Hart
9. WPPN 106.7-FM Vicky Aguilera
10. (tie) WUSN 99.5-FM Drew Walker; Katie Neal; WCHI 95.5-FM Walt Flakus; WOJO 105.1-FM Rafael “El Primo Rafa” Bautista
Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 afternoon shows from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen:
1. WLIT 93.9-FM Mick Lee
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding
3.(tie) WBEZ 91.5-FM “All Things Considered”; “Marketplace”; WVAZ 102.7-FM Joe Soto
5. WDRV 97.1-FM Steve Seaver and Janda Lane
6. WXRT 93.1-FM Marty Lennartz
7. WUSN 99.5-FM Scotty Kay
8. WCHI 95.5-FM Josh Klinger
9. WLS 94.7-FM Tim Virgin
10. WBBM 96.3-FM Julia Lepidi
Here are Chicago radio’s top 10 evening shows from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, as measured by Nielsen:
1. WVAZ 102.7-FM Keith Sweat
2. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM Bob Conway; Andy Dahn
3. WFMT 98.7-FM Kerry Frumkin
4. WLIT 93.9-FM Delilah Rene
5. WUSN 99.5-FM Rob Stone and Holly Hutton
6. WDRV 97.1-FM John “Byrd” Kempf
7. WGCI 107.5-FM Zach Boog
8. WXRT 93.1-FM Ryan Arnold
9. WBEZ 91.5-FM “Marketplace”; “The Daily”; “Fresh Air”; “1A”; “BBC World Service”
10. WBMX 104.3-FM
(Copyright © 2022 The Nielsen Company.)