Chicago Radio Ratings

From Tom Taylor's NOW column...

Chicago has a clear 6+ leader (urban AC “V103”) and a bunch of ties, further down. iHeart’s WVAZ wins (5.8-6.6-6.1) and wins all the dayparts except the 6am-10am shift. The first tie is between Entercom’s news WBBM/WCFS (4.7-5.3-5.1) and Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX (5.4-4.9-5.1). “Eric in the Morning with Melissa & Whip” is #1 in mornings for Mix. Fourth overall is Entercom’s classic hip-hop/throwbacks “104.3 Jams” WBMX (4.8-4.0-4.5, and second on weekends). Fifth place is another tie, between Hubbard’s classic rock “Drive” WDRV (3.3-3.3-4.2) and Univision’s regional Mexican WOJO (3.5-3.7-4.2, and second place middays/afternoons). The country leader remains Entercom’s “US 99” WUSN (3.4-3.0-3.9, and up in rank from a fifteenth-place tie to eighth). iHeart’s “Big” WEBG is twenty-fourth (2.0-1.7-1.5). The owner just changed out PDs, importing Lance Houston from Boston. Finally, three stations score 3.5-shares – Cumulus classic hits WLS-FM (3.1-3.4-3.5), Entercom’s adult alternative WXRT (3.2-3.1-3.5) and Weigel-run easy oldies-on-a-low power TV audio signal WRME (2.4-3.6-3.5). Chris Huff says “This is the largest share for SBS’ regional Mexican WLEY-FM since January 2009, 2.6 to 2.6 to 3.0.” How about the station Cumulus just agreed to buy for $18 million, after LMAing it since 2014? Alternative WKQX is steady (3.0-2.8-2.8). Tough book for Tribune’s talk WGN. It’s #22, down 3.3-3.1-2.2. For Chicago’s 97.9, the month is split between classic rock “Loop” WLUP (until March 10) and EMF’s not-for-profit “K-Love” as WCKL. Nielsen shows the frequency going 2.9-3.2-1.3. Chicago’s leading cume station is iHeart CHR “Kiss” WKSC (1,775,900). In the share rankings, it’s tied for tenth (3.4-3.0-3.1).