Tom Taylor's NOW Column printed this today, and I'm reposting it here simply because of the mention of my old college radio station WPGU...
Champaign, Illinois hasn’t been surveyed by Nielsen since Spring 2015. Here are the three-book trends from Eastlan for the top-ten finishers (plus a couple more) – Saga’s #1 and #2 in this big college market with country WIXY (9.9-13.5-11.6) and hot AC “Mix 94.5” WLRW (9.0 to 10.1 and another 10.1). Third is DWS Inc.-owned news/talk WDWS (7.9-10.4-9.6). A different kind of news/talker jumps to fourth – University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign’s not-for-profit news/talk WILL-AM (7.5-7.1-8.6). That makes Neuhoff’s urban “Hot 105.5” WCZQ fifth (7.7-8.8-7.8). Eastlan’s second five - Illinois Bible Institute’s contemporary Christian non-com WBGL (4.7-4.0-5.8). SJ Broadcasting’s CHR WQQB (6.7-5.1-4.6). Tied for eighth are DWS-owned AC “Lite Rock” WHMS (5.3-3.7-3.5) and U. of Illinois-owned WILL’s not-for-profit news/classical sister WILL-FM (4.5-4.1-3.5). Saga’s back with the #10 player, classic hits WREE (2.9-2.6-3.4). Illini Media does alternative on eleventh-ranked WPGU (3.4-2.6-2.9). It’s a commercial station owned by the University and run by students. Some distant Chicago stations make the Champaign book, including Cumulus-owned talk WLS (1.1-1.3-1.6) and Tribune’s talk WGN (0.5-0.7-1.3).
Way to go, WPGU! We were in the top five when I was there, but there are a lot more radio stations down there now.
