from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
August 10, 2004
A casual reading of the local Arbitron ratings might make it look as though nothing ever changes. Pittsburgh is an "older" market, dominated by a heritage 50,000-watt news/talk station (KDKA-AM) and a rock station whose roots go back to the early days of album rock on FM radio (WDVE-FM).
But not all young people leave town, and the ones who stay are shaping a different radio market. Among younger listeners, and at different times of the day, one gets a very different snapshot of the city in the most recent Spring 2004 Arbitron ratings.
For example, among 18- to 49-year-olds, the top five stations are WDVE (rock), WZPT (Hot Adult Contemporary), WDSY (country), WXDX (new rock) and WKST (contemporary hits).
Among the narrower 18- to 34-year-old audience, it's the same five stations but in a different order: WDVE, WXDX, WZPT, WKST and WDSY. At night, two stations tied for first place among this audience: urban WAMO-FM and WKST-FM.
Talk radio
Among younger listeners, new talk station WPGB made a quick dash out of the starting gates. Although ranked ninth among total listeners, in six months it tied with competitor KDKA in fifth place among 25- to 54-year-olds. Morning drive host Jim Quinn took the station to third place among total listeners (from No. 13 the year before), and to second place among 25- to 54-year-olds.
The station's syndicated hosts are also doing well. Gene Romano, Clear Channel's senior vice president of programming, points out that among 25- to 54-year-olds, WPGB beat KDKA in afternoon drive with Sean Hannity and at night with Michael Savage.
Rush Limbaugh on KDKA continues to beat WPGB in the noon to 3 p.m. slot.
"There really hasn't been a Top 25 market where a brand new talk station has debuted and has been able to beat an entrenched competitor" during several parts of the day, Romano says. "I think the market was starved for an alternative. Quinn has been successful for a number of years, so that's not a surprise at all. Sean Hannity is incredibly compelling and is a fresh new voice for Pittsburgh."
"It's been a loud, in-your-face radio station," says WPGB program director Jay Bohannon. "It wasn't easy to say we're going to beat these guys. What we could do was offer Pittsburgh something really different."
Bohannon says it's the older audience with established listening habits that is keeping KDKA at the top of the total ratings.
Launching a new station in an election year and with a war going on hasn't hurt WPGB, he says. "Our news and talk are feeding off one another. There's synergy between the two."
Keith Clark, vice president of programming for KDKA's parent company, Infinity Pittsburgh, says there's a curiosity factor involved. "It's normal for people to check out new things. Jim Quinn's ratings are not a surprise. He has been in the market for many years and has an established following. WPGB simply benefited from the existing Quinn audience following him from one station to another."
But KDKA is also a well-established habit for local listeners, he says. "KDKA is a Pittsburgh institution and dominates the overall news/talk format. KDKA is Pittsburgh, and there's no substitute for that."
Ratings watchers can look for a new force in morning drive in the months to come -- Infinity's new WRKZ (K Rock) station, which began airing Howard Stern last month.
Six months without syndicated Stern hurt WXDX-FM in morning drive. Last fall it was the No. 3 morning show. In the winter ratings, during which the show was dropped, the station fell to ninth place. In the spring ratings, it was tied for No. 12 with WOGI-FM.
In other times of the day, WXDX held steady, especially among younger listeners. "The X was never built around Howard Stern," Romano says. "The station always had a loyal following outside of morning drive."
Music to grow up to
WZPT has been on a steady roll since it adopted the Hot AC format. Once the lowest rated of Infinity's Pittsburgh stations, it's now finding a comfortable niche near the top among younger listeners.
Overall, it's No. 7. Among 18- to 49-year-olds, it's No. 2.
Targeted to 25- to 49-year-olds, WZPT's (Star 100.7) music and presentation are striking a balance that appeals to a wide audience. "We stay away from music and topics that are too juvenile or raunchy" without losing an edgy quality, Clark says.
With WBZZ gone, WZPT seems poised to take its place at the top of ratings for Infinity, along with sister station WDSY. It was designed in part to retain the Top 40 audience, which quickly outgrows the contemporary hits of the day. "In general, we are most musically aggressive and adventurous in our teen years and early 20s. By the time people reach 30, they seem to prefer familiar songs they grew up with, and some new music," Clark says.
"In the last three years, Top 40 music has been mostly hip-hop. While extremely popular with younger people, hip-hop generally loses its appeal to many people over the age of 30. When B94 began to play more hip-hop, we knew a large segment of the B94 audience would look for a new home, so we created Star 100.7 for them. The rise in popularity of this station has been meteoric."
A little bit country
The battle between two country formats continues. WDSY dominates the ratings: It's been in second place among 25- to 54-year-olds and No. 3 among total listeners for the last five ratings periods.
But Frank Bell, vice president of programming for Keymarket Communications, points to the combined ratings of his company's four "Froggy" country stations (WOGI, WOGG, WOGH and WOGF), which simulcast 19 hours a day, except for local programming during middays. Combine the individual ratings, and the stations collectively would be in fifth place among total listeners. WOGI, the Pittsburgh station, made it to the Top 10 in the most recent ratings among 25- to 54-year-olds.
The Froggy stations are also finding a younger country audience, which Bell says has been growing in the past year or so.
While the 25- to 54-year-old audience is considered the prime target for advertisers, the younger 18- to 49-year-old crowd has a lot of appeal. "They're often single and active in their lifestyle," Bell says. "They're going out to concerts and shows. We've been fortunate to attract those folks to the party."
Keymarket's strategy was not to compete with behemoths such as Clear Channel and Infinity in the Pittsburgh market, but to consolidate stations in outlying areas that are counted in the Arbitron Pittsburgh market.
"The Pittsburgh country market was once described to me as a doughnut, meaning that the country audience lies in a circle around the city," Bell says. "We created a ring of four frequencies that cover those areas. This configuration has allowed us to superserve people in the outlying areas."
Often, he says, these listeners work in the city, bringing their radio choices with them into the workplace. "It's slower than spending half a million dollars on a TV campaign, but it achieves the same goal."
Listeners like to have a choice, so it's natural for them to sample from two similar formats, Clark says.
But combining the ratings muddies the issue, he says. "The whole Froggy network thing seems confusing. Trying to cobble four stations together is a mess."
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
July 27, 2004
While there was little change in the overall ratings, the face of morning drive and the key 25- to 54-year-old audience has changed dramatically in the Spring 2004 Arbitron ratings.
In the six months since WPGB-FM launched its all-talk format, its audience has grown rapidly among 25- to 54-year-olds, if not among total listeners. The station's mostly syndicated lineup includes Sean Hannity and Michael Savage, along with local morning drive host Jim Quinn.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the station more than doubled its morning drive audience compared to last year with an 8 average quarter-hour (AQH) share, landing in second place. Among total listeners, Quinn's show is No. 3 -- up from No. 13 a year ago in the station's previous format.
WRRK-FM, Quinn's former employer, dropped from third place a year ago to 17th place in morning drive.
Hot adult contemporary station WZPT-FM continues its upward roll, to No. 7 up from 9th a year ago among total listeners, and holding onto the No. 3 spot among 25- to 54-year-olds.
In recent weeks, there have been major shake-ups in morning drive. Heritage contemporary hits station WBZZ changed to WRKZ-FM and a rock format and picked up syndicated host Howard Stern, who had been off the air since February. WXDX-FM moved Alan Cox to fill its morning drive vacancy. It's too soon for such recent maneuvers in morning drive to be reflected in the current ratings.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the Top 10 stations were: WDVE-FM, WDSY-FM, WZPT, WWSW-FM, with talk competitors KDKA-AM and WPGB tied for 5th place, WSHH-FM, WXDX-FM, WLTJ-FM, WOGI-FM and WKST-FM.
In morning drive, the top five were WDVE, WPGB, WDSY, WZPT and KDKA.
RADIO RATINGS
Among listeners 12 and over, Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight:
Spring 2004 Spring 2003
AQH Share Cume AQH Share Cume
1. KDKA 10.1 446,800 KDKA 11.6 473,700
2. WDVE 8.1 374,900 WDVE 9.0 382,000
3. WDSY 6.8 318,300 WDSY 6.4 303,400
4. WJAS 5.9 (t) 170,700 WWSW 5.7 309,200
4. WWSW 5.9 (t) 289,400 WJAS 5.5 179,200
5. WSHH 5.1 270,400 WSHH 5.0 256,800
6. WZPT 5.0 249,900 WRRK 4.5 270,900
7. WKST 4.3 312,700 WXDX 4.2 263,500
8. WPGB 4.2 149,900 WZPT 3.9 231,000
9. WXDX 4.0 227,700 WAMO 3.6 (t) 157,700
10. WLTJ 3.2 183,100 WKST 3.6 (t) 295,100
Morning drive, from 6 to 10 a.m.:
Spring 2004 Spring 2003
1. KDKA 14.0 248,700 KDKA 15.3 282,000
2. WDVE 9.6 196,300 WDVE 10.2 217,200
3. WPGB 6.5 106,000 WRRK 7.2 143,300
4. WDSY 5.9 164,600 WDSY 6.0 164,300
5. WJAS 5.4 97,600 WSHH 5.2 (t) 129,000
6. WWSW 5.2 133,500 WXDX 5.2 (t) 128,400
7. WZPT 4.8 124,300 WWSW 4.8 132,800
8. WSHH 4.7 127,500 WJAS 4.4 91,500
9. WKST 3.6 147,400 WZPT 3.9 112,500
10. WBZZ 3.4 125,900 WBZZ 3.7 150,200
(t) denotes tieThe average quarter hour (AQH) rating is the average number of persons listening to a particular station for at least five minutes during a 15-minute period, expressed as a percentage of the population being measured.
The cume, or cumulative figure, is the estimated number of different persons who listened to a station for a minimum of five minutes in a quarter-hour within a reported daypart.
from PittsburghLive.com
Howard Stern's return to local airwaves also marks a new era for Pittsburgh radio listeners tuning in to 93.7 FM.
Stern's morning show will return to Western Pennsylvania airwaves July 19 after being bounced in February from WXDX (105.9 FM). It will usher in a new sound for 93.7, formerly pop station WBZZ and now operating as K-Rock.
"WBZZ was a successful top-40 hit radio station for 23 years. Like any business, radio stations have to evolve," said Michael Young, senior vice president at Infinity Pittsburgh, K-Rock's parent company.
The former WBZZ's "Dave-Bubba-Brian-Shelley" morning show signed off for good at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday after a six-year run. The station has been broadcasting without disc jockeys since Tuesday afternoon, Young said.
Stern announced his return to airwaves in Pittsburgh during an 8:30 a.m. on-air news conference aired by K-Rock, followed by the rest of his morning show. Classic and alternative rock replaced pop tunes yesterday after Stern wrapped at 10 a.m.
Stern's show hasn't been heard in Pittsburgh and five other markets since February when Clear Channel axed it. Infinity Broadcasting signed the shock jock for a.m. drive-time broadcast over local airwaves and eight other markets.
Stern yesterday blasted Clear Channel for yanking his show despite high ratings. Stern also claimed Clear Channel dumped him after he criticized President Bush's leadership. Clear Channel did not return calls seeking comment.
Stern also railed against the increased scrutiny he has received in recent months fromthe Federal Communications Commission.
"I'm not taking it sitting down," Stern said.
He said entering the new markets was a message to the FCC, which has tightened its enforcement of indecency standards. Stern and the FCC have battled for years, with Infinity paying $1.7 million in 1995 to settle various violations by the DJ.
Stern said the FCC's enforcement "has a chilling effect on all broadcasters."
"The FCC is on a witch hunt," he said.
In early June, Clear Channel agreed to a record $1.75 million settlement with the FCC to resolve indecency complaints against Stern and other radio personalities.
His show was pulled from stations in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla., Rochester, N.Y., San Diego, and Louisville, Ky., in addition to Pittsburgh.
Stern's show is syndicated in 45 radio markets, including 27 owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a unit of Viacom International Inc.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Howard Stern is coming back to the Pittsburgh airwaves. Starting July 19, he'll be on mornings (6 to 10 a.m.) on WBZZ-FM, replacing the "Dave-Bubba-Brian-Shelley" morning show.
In February, Clear Channel, citing concerns about indecency, dropped Stern's show from its six stations that carried it, including WXDX-FM here. Stern held a press conference on yesterday's show, which was carried locally on WBZZ (93.7), to announce that nine stations were picking up his show, including six markets where it hasn't been airing: Pittsburgh; Houston; San Diego; Tampa, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Austin, Texas; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Fresno, Calif. That brings the number of markets carrying Stern to 45, with 27 of them owned and operated by Infinity.
"I can't wait to get back into the markets where we were taken off," Stern said in a statement yesterday. "I've missed my fans, and judging from the countless e-mails and calls I've received, they've missed the show."
Since he's been off the air here, Stern has railed against Clear Channel. He and his supporters feel that the decision to drop him came about because of his anti-Bush administration statements in recent months, and not because of alleged indecency on his program. Stern called the situation "a cultural war" on the air yesterday.
The decision to bring Stern back was made locally, and not by its parent company, says Michael Young, senior vice president and Infinity Pittsburgh market manager. "Stern is undoubtedly the premier host in the country," Young said.
Following Stern's show yesterday, WBZZ announced a switch from its long-running contemporary hits format to a classic and modern rock format: 937/K-Rock, The Rock of Pittsburgh. The station will be changing its call letters soon.
The WBZZ morning team said their farewells on yesterday's show. Young said some of the nine WBZZ staffers affected may be hired for the new format, and others may be picked up by Infinity's three other stations here (KDKA-AM, WDSY-FM and WZPT-FM).
The un-silencing of Howard Stern by Infinity-owned WBZZ and the promotion of Alan Cox to morning drive on Clear Channel-owned WXDX are part of a much bigger deal -- aggressive moves in the battle for dominance between two broadcasting giants.
Re-introducing Stern to Pittsburgh morning drive is designed to make a dent in Clear Channel's morning drive assets, including Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann on WDVE, the new Alan Cox show and Jim Quinn on all-talk WPGB-FM.
When WXDX lost Stern in February, its morning drive ratings plummeted sharply to ninth place among total listeners in the winter 2004 Arbitron book, compared to third place in winter 2003. Post-Stern, WXDX fell to number 7 in the target 25- to 54-year-old group, down from a consistent second place behind WDVE.
Contemporary hits WBZZ-FM had been sharing audience with Clear Channel's WKST-FM. Switching to a classic and modern rock mix now pits it against WXDX and WDVE-FM, as well as classic rock WRRK-FM.
It was Stern's availability and popularity among listeners here, and not so much the WBZZ-WKST rivalry that triggered the decision to drop a 23-year-old format, says Keith Clark, vice president of programming for Infinity Pittsburgh. "The fact that Howard Stern was available to us was an opportunity we couldn't pass up."
Addressing the issue of declining ratings for WBZZ, Young said: "It's been a very successful Top 40 for 23 years. But radio evolves and changes." He cites the ratings success of sister station WZPT-FM (100.7) (Star 100.7). Former WBZZ morning host John Cline is now on the Star morning team. "We created Star to be a comfortable home for people who loved B94 in the '80s and '90s," Clark adds.
Meanwhile, the competition is also circling the wagons. Clear Channel senior vice president of programming Gene Romano thinks Cox will hold his own against Stern in keeping listeners tuned to Stern's former home on The X. "Alan lives the lifestyle He's not a 50-year-old Howard."
Romano also doesn't believe moving Cox to mornings will have an impact on the dominance of sister station WDVE's morning show, which is consistently No. 2 among total listeners and No. 1 among 25- to 54-year-olds. "The WDVE morning show is a unique animal. It has an incredibly loyal audience. It's a different audience from the one Alan will be targeting."
Although WXDX lost ground in morning drive without Stern, Romano notes that the station has held steady at other times of the day while other Clear Channel stations that dropped Stern "took an enormous hit."
As for WBZZ"s format change, Romano calls it "a desperate move by Infinity in Pittsburgh."
Now WBZZ is up against WDVE, WXDX, WPGB and WRRK, Romano says. "All of those other stations have an identity in the market already. [WBZZ] won't have any distinct format position after Stern: After 10 o'clock, they won't have anything."
PITTSBURGH -- Howard Stern's syndicated morning radio show will be back on the air in Pittsburgh this summer as part of a big switch for a long-popular station.
Stern will be heard on 93.7 WBZZ-FM, an Infinity Broadcasting station, beginning July 19.
He had been on 105.9 WXDX-FM until February, when parent company Clear Channel instituted a zero-tolerance policy for indecency and suspended him for a racial slur made by a caller.
"I've missed my fans, and judging from the countless e-mails and calls I've received, they've missed the show," Stern said Wednesday morning. "Now we have the opportunity to be together again. It will be great."
Stern said his return to Pittsburgh and other markets where he was yanked sends a message to the Federal Communications Commission. He claimed the FCC "is on a witch hunt" to get him off the radio, and he acknowledged the agency's power.
"I am not beating the FCC," Stern said. "When the government wants you out, you are out."
Stern is part of a wider change for WBZZ, which is moving from a Top 40 format to rock. The station will now be branded as "93.7 K-Rock" instead of "93.7 BZZ."
937krock.com launched Wednesday afternoon with a splash page that promotes the station's new logo and tag line, "The Rock of Pittsburgh." Web site feedback and listener participation in an on-air survey will help decide which bands are played, according to the station.
The show that Stern is replacing, "Dave, Bubba, Brian and Shelley," was still being promoted on 937bzz.com late Wednesday afternoon.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 30, 2004
Shock jock Howard Stern announced today that his syndicated morning show would be returning to Pittsburgh radio. To make way, a long-running morning team will be leaving their station.
Stern had been axed by Clear Channel Communications from its stations, including WXDX in Pittsburgh.
Stern said today he would be carried in nine new markets, including Pittsburgh, on channels owned by Infinity Broadcasting.
Pittsburgh station WBZZ (93.7 FM) will eliminate its team of Dave, Bubba, Shelley and Brian to make way for Stern. The channel is also planning a format change.
Clear Channel Communications suspended Stern in February and dropped the country’s best-known shock jock from its stations in Rochester, Orlando, San Diego, Pittsburgh and two other markets after complaints by federal regulators.
In early June, Clear Channel agreed to a record $1.75 million settlement with the Federal Communications Commission to resolve indecency complaints against Stern and other radio personalities.
Stern made the announcement at a morning news conference aired live on his radio show. Stern railed against the increased scrutiny he has received in recent months from the FCC.
“I’m not taking it sitting down,” Stern said.
He said entering the new markets — in approximately two weeks — was a message to the FCC, which has tightened its enforcement of indecency standards.
from RadioandRecords.com
June 30, 2004
from PittsburghLive.com
June 20, 2004
--snips--
Shock jock Howard Stern might be back on in Pittsburgh very soon. Maybe on WBZZ (93.7 FM). That's the talk reported by Inside Radio, a very reliable industry trade publication. Stern's show had been airing here on WXDX (105.9 FM), as well as on five other Clear Channel Communications stations nationally.
When the Federal Communications Commission started its latest crack down on free speech early this year, it targeted controversial hosts such as Stern. Companies that carried his show were fined excessively. Clear Channel pulled the plug on Stern on the six stations to limit its exposure.
Infinity Broadcasting carries the show to its stations. Other companies also carry Stern on some of theirs. The Infinity stations in Pittsburgh include WBZZ, WZPT (100.7 FM), WDSY (107.9 FM) and KDKA (1020 AM). Stern had very high ratings in Pittsburgh on the "X." If the talk is accurate, Stern would replace the WBZZ morning show.
And since Stern delivers a large young male audience, one industry insider speculated that the WBZZ contemporary hit music format (Britney Spears ad nauseam) could be flipped to a new one, a cross between music heard on the "X" and album rock station WDVE (102.5 FM).
Three Infinity spokespersons, two suits in Pittsburgh and one at corporate headquarters in New York, declined to comment on the Stern speculation. Since declining is not denying, necessarily, stay tuned Stern fans.
--snips--
from insideradio.com
June 16, 2004
Is Infinity poised to convert Pittsburgh CHR WBZZ to a Howard Stern affiliate?
That's the rumor from the 'Burgh, which might help Clear Channel CHR WKST while creating new competition for CC rockers WDVE and WXDX. Stern may soon be re-appearing in some or all of those six Clear Channel markets where he’s been silent since late February.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
April 29, 2004
It was the winter when Pittsburgh lost Howard Stern and when Jim Quinn moved to a new station -- several of the changes that shook up the winter 2004 Arbitron ratings.
WXDX-FM, along with five other Clear Channel stations across the country, dropped the syndicated Howard Stern show in the middle of the ratings period, and WXDX dropped from third place in morning drive a year ago to 9th place, going from a 7.1 share to a 3.6. The station was also down in the overall ratings -- from fifth place last year to a tie for 8th place.
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
March 1, 2004
Pittsburgh radio listeners who tuned in Thursday morning to hear Howard Stern on WXDX (105.9 FM) heard the sound of de facto censorship.
The "X" replaced the shock jock's show with music. Blaming station owner Clear Channel Communications for pulling the plug in Pittsburgh, as well as at the other five Clear Channel stations that had been airing the syndicated guilty pleasure, is tempting. And misguided.
Clear Channel has little choice but to keep him off the air. The Federal Communications Commission put the largest radio ownership company between a rock and an alternative rock place. The U.S. Congress did the same to the FCC. Blame Bono and Janet Jackson.
U2 lead singer Bono dropped the f-bomb on live TV last year. An FCC ruling stated that, since it was used as an adjective, it did not warrant a fine. That was a kick in the butt to social conservatives. They overwhelmed the government with complaints.
Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl poured high-octane gasoline on a smoldering fire. Congress held hearings about indecency on the public airwaves.
They are "public" because the government grabbed them in the early days of broadcasting. The FCC issues licenses for their use. Congress has not given the FCC authority over programming on cable TV or satellite radio -- yet.
"Bubba the Love Sponge" had been a Florida Clear Channel shock jock. He was fired a few days ago, shortly after the company faced a proposed fined of $755,000 for alleged indecent broadcasts. Had he not been fired, his next alleged obscene utterance could have been more costly.
The FCC could have snatched the broadcast licenses of the company, thereby bankrupting it.
"Everyone right now is reacting out of concern of the financial cost," said Jim Glass, news/talk/sports radio consultant for McVay Media, which describes itself as the world's largest radio consultancy company. "What concerns me are the levels of censorship. Cleveland and Pittsburgh are not the same as Topeka and Santa Fe."
But the FCC is acting as if every city's standards are the same. Congress wants it that way. If the FCC gets a listener complaint, that station risks economic ruin. The irony is that Stern, Bubba and other shock jocks do not offend their fans -- only those who do not like to listen, yet do anyway.
The FCC turns a deaf ear to the opinion of millions of their avid listeners, but it listens to the bipartisan complainers.
Radical left-wingers also scream about so-called indecency on the airwaves. They have been talking down consolidation, specifically the recently relaxed FCC ownership rules expanding the number of stations companies can own locally and nationally.
FCC commissioner Michael J. Copps, the lone Democrat on the five-person commission, was raising the "indecency" issue long before Bono to rail against broadcast conglomerates.
The left and the right each have their agendas -- one thinks the industry has too much dirt, the other, too much consolidation.
If the Big Government jihad against free expression continues, look for it next to grab control of cable TV and satellite radio.
Congress calls this serving the public interest. But is the public really being served when government allows you only to hear the blandest common denominator?
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
February 27, 2004
Shock radio is getting its mouth washed out with a heavy-duty bar of soap -- not as expected by the guardians at the Federal Communications Commission but by the nation's top radio conglomerate.
In the space of two days, Clear Channel Radio removed two controversial shock jocks from its airwaves and announced a tough stance on indecent material.
The popular syndicated Howard Stern show was pulled from six Clear Channel stations, including Pittsburgh's WXDX-FM (105.9), Wednesday, hours after the company unveiled a new "zero tolerance" policy on indecent material.
Yesterday morning, WXDX aired its "new rock" music format in place of Stern's show and will continue to do so indefinitely.
Although widely syndicated across the country's major markets, Stern is carried on only six of Clear Channel's 1,200 stations: Pittsburgh, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Rochester, N.Y., San Diego and Louisville, Ky.
The show is distributed by Infinity Broadcasting and airs on 40 other stations, about half of them owned by Infinity. Infinity owns four stations in Pittsburgh: KDKA-AM, WBZZ-FM, WDSY-FM and WZPT-FM.
Infinity announced its own zero-tolerance policy on offensive material last week. Its parent company, Viacom, is under fire for the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake halftime "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl last month.
Stern's absence on the local airwaves resulted in a traffic jams on WXDX's switchboard with calls from listeners complaining about -- and some commending -- the change. Callers were referred to Clear Channel national headquarters, and told it was a "national decision."
"The content of Howard Stern's program is not in compliance with the FCC's content standards. Until the program provider makes those adjustments, we will be unable to air 'The Howard Stern Show,' " said Clear Channel regional Vice President John Rohm of WXDX's suspension of Stern's broadcasts. Rohm deferred further comment to Clear Channel corporate management in San Antonio.
The company said Stern's suspension stemmed from comments made on Tuesday's show during an interview with socialite Paris Hilton's former boyfriend and sex video co-star Rick Solomon. The segment contained an unedited racial slur from a caller and Stern's graphic questions about Solomon's alleged sexual experiences.
"Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content and Howard Stern's show blew right through it," said Clear Channel Radio President and Chief Executive Officer John Hogan. "It was vulgar, offensive and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency."
The day before, Clear Channel dropped controversial morning host Todd Clem, better known as Bubba the Love Sponge. His program does not air in Pittsburgh.
Stern's show was picked up here in 1995, and remains one of the most listened-to morning shows among 25- to 54-year-olds -- in second place for five out of the last six Arbitron ratings periods. Among total listeners, it has been No. 3 during morning drive time for most of the last year and a half.
Stern's suspension could affect other Clear Channel stations here, such as rock station WDVE-FM, new rock WXDX and contemporary hits station WKST-FM that are targeted to young listeners and feature sometimes raunchy material.
WDVE hosts Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann addressed the issue on yesterday's show, telling listeners that while they don't plan to lose their edge, they do have to be more careful in terms of language and how it's used.
"No more scantily clad F-bombs," as Krenn put it.
Stern may or may not come back, but the debate won't be going away soon.
Christian station WORD-FM talk host Marty Minto has used his show on several occasions to draw attention to and criticize offensive radio promotions, urging listener and advertiser boycotts. He said the Clear Channel move is "in line with what the American people, the listenership wants. I think Clear Channel is doing what they have to do. They're kind of forced to take a stand.
"My hope and prayer is across the board radio will begin to see a real cleanup of the acts out there."
WEAE-AM/ESPN 1250 sports talk host Mark Madden begged to differ, calling the muzzling of Stern "ridiculous."
"Radio conglomerates underestimate their audience's ability to discern what they find personally offensive and to turn the dial," Madden said.
The suspension gave Stern plenty of ammo for one of his trademark morning show diatribes. What Pittsburgh listeners didn't hear yesterday was Stern's only public comment on the matter.
"The thing I just don't like about Clear Channel being forced to suspend me is that it makes it seem like I did something wrong on Tuesday," Stern said during the broadcast. "They are being forced to say that I did something wrong. ... A caller called in and used the 'n' word, and I hung up on him. ... I'm so tired of this."
Stern took calls from disconnected Pittsburgh listeners, and lashed out against the Republicans and the Bush administration and "Fear Channel." He said these could be "the last days of the Howard Stern Show ... spontaneity and creativity must be dangerous things." He also offered to appear in front of Congress and "apologize for being a 'visionary broadcaster.' "
The latter comment referred to Hogan's testimony at a House subcommittee hearing on decency in broadcasting, during which he apologized for the Bubba program, which recently drew $755,000 in FCC fines.
Under the new zero tolerance policy, Clear Channel on-air talent who are slapped by the FCC for offensive material will face immediate suspension and share the cost of any fines.
Material many find offensive is pervasive on radio. A look at the WXDX Web site to see if it had any explanation about Stern's absence revealed "Thong of the Day," a collection of photographs of barely clad women.
The FCC defines as offensive, however, any material referring to sexual and excretory functions that airs between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., theoretically when children might be listening. The FCC Web site -- www.fcc.gov/parents -- provides guidelines and definitions on what constitutes indecency in broadcasting, along with instructions on how to file a complaint.
Penalties for stations range from revoking licenses or withholding license renewals, to fines and warnings.
These six markets (Fort Lauderdale, Rochester, Orlando, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Louisville) lost Howard on February 25, 2004, when Clear Channel dropped Howard for indecency. Go here for more info.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 16, 2003
Adrian McCoy
WSHH dropped from fourth to eighth place in morning drive, while WZPT moved into the Top 10, up from 13th a year ago.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were: WDVE, WDSY, WWSW, KDKA, WXDX, WRRK, WZPT, WSHH, WLTJ and WJJJ. In morning drive, the top five shows for this age group were: WDVE's Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann, WXDX's syndicated Howard Stern, WRRK's Jim Quinn, with WDSY's Welch and Woody and KDKA's Larry Richert tied for 4th, and WWSW's Merkel and Dickson.
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
July 23, 2003
The ratings gods smiled upon several stations in the spring Arbitron ratings. Among total listeners, the following moved up a few notches in the pecking order, compared to where they were a year ago: WWSW-FM (from seventh to fourth), WRRK-FM from 11th to seventh and WZPT-FM (from 12th to ninth). WXDX-FM dropped to eighth place, from fifth a year ago.
In morning drive, WRRK's Jim Quinn edged into third place from seventh a year ago -- a gain of more than 2 ratings points, and up to fifth in cumulative ratings. The WZPT team of John, J.R. and Kate moved to ninth from 12th a year ago: John Cline, formerly of the WBZZ morning show, joined the team in February.
WXDX and Howard Stern lost some ground, dropping from third to a fifth-place tie with WSHH-FM, which moved up from eight. WBZZ-FM dropped to 10th place from fourth last year, although it remained No. 4 in terms of cumulative ratings.
Among 25- to 54-year olds, the top 10 stations were: WDVE-FM, WDSY-FM, WWSW, WRRK, WZPT, KDKA-AM, WSHH, WXDX, WJJJ-FM and WLTJ-FM. The top five morning shows among this age group: WDVE, WRRK, KDKA, WXDX and WDSY tied for fourth place, and WZPT, which moved into the top five -- up from ninth place a year ago.
from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
July 23, 2003
KDKA (1020 AM), with 473,700 listeners, is the most popular radio station in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, according to an Arbitron Inc. survey of people age 12 and older from March 27 through June 18.
The Maryland-based company conducts four radio listenership surveys annually in this region. Randomly selected people are asked to keep weekly diaries noting what stations they listen to. Arbitron uses that data to extrapolate the estimated size of every station's listening audience, its demographic composition and the times people listen.
WDVE (102.5 FM), with 382,000, is the second most popular station in the greater Pittsburgh area. WWSW (94.5 FM), with 309,200, is third. WBZZ (93.7 FM), with 308,500, is fourth, and WDSY (107.9 FM), with 303,400, is fifth.
WXDX (105.9 FM), with 162,800, is the most popular station among people ages 18 to 34. WDVE, with 152,900, is second. WBZZ, with 137,600, is third. WKST (96.1 FM), with 132,700, is fourth, and WZPT (100.7 FM), with 98,700, is fifth.
WDVE, with 281,500, is the most popular station among people ages 25 to 54. WRRK (96.9 FM), with 192,400, is second. KDKA, with 188,900, is third. WWSW, with 175,700, is fourth, and WZPT, with 172,900, is fifth.
KDKA, with 243,100, is the most popular station among people ages 35 to 64. WWSW, with 210,400, is second. WDVE, with 198,400 is third. WRRK, with 165,800, is fourth, and WSHH (99.7 FM), with 154,100, is fifth.
Most weekday morning radio programs air during part or all of the 6 to 10 a.m. time period. Some shows start at 5 or 5:30 a.m., and others end at 9 a.m. KDKA, with 282,000, is the most popular station during the four-hour span. WDVE, with 217,200, is second. WDSY, with 164,300, is third. WBZZ, with 150,200, is fourth, and WRRK, with 143,300, is fifth.
Additional ratings are found below. A station's "cume" identifies the estimated number of people who listened for a minimum of five minutes in any 15-minute period during a daypart, such as from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays. No matter how long the listening occurred, each person is counted only once. "Cume" also is called the "unduplicated audience," "reach" or "circulation," according to Arbitron.
The top 10 most listened to Pittsburgh radio stations in the metropolitan area among persons ages 12 and older, 6 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Sunday, including call letters, frequency, format and cume unless otherwise noted:
1. KDKA (1020 AM), news and talk, 473,700. 2. WDVE (102.5 FM), album rock, 382,000. 3. WWSW (94.5 FM), oldies, 309,200. 4. WBZZ (93.7 FM) contemporary hit radio, 308,500. 5. WDSY (107.9 FM), country music, 303,400. 6. WKST (96.1 FM) contemporary hits radio, 295,100. 7. WRRK (96.9 FM), classic album rock, 270,900. 8. WXDX (105.9 FM), alternative rock, 263,500. 9. WSHH (99.7 FM), adult contemporary, 256,800. 10. WZPT (100.7 FM), hot adult contemporary, 231,000.
The top 10 most listened to Pittsburgh radio stations in the metropolitan area among persons ages 25 to 54, 6 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Sunday:
1. WDVE, 281,500. 2. WRRK, 192,400. 3. KDKA, 188,900. 4. WWSW, 175,700. 5. WZPT, 172,900. 6. WDSY, 161,400. 7. WXDX, 144,600. 8. WBZZ, 144,200. 9. WSHH, 136,800. 10. WKST, 119,300.
The top 10 most listened to Pittsburgh radio stations in the metropolitan area among persons ages 12 and over, 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday:
1. KDKA, 282,000. 2. WDVE, 217,200. 3. WDSY, 164,300. 4. WBZZ, 150,200. 5. WRRK, 143,300. 6. WWSW, 132,800. 7. WSHH, 129,000. 8. WXDX, 128,400. 9. WKST, 117,300. 10. WZPT, 112,500.
The top 10 most listened to Pittsburgh radio stations in the metropolitan area among persons ages 25 to 54, 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday:
1. WDVE, 172,700. 2. WRRK, 101,700. 3. KDKA, 101,000. 4. WZPT, 95,800. 5. WDSY, 92,400. 6. WWSW, 82,700. 7. WXDX, 80,000. 8. WBZZ, 76,100. 9. WSHH, 70,900. 10. WLTJ (92.9 FM) light rock, 51,100.
ARBITRENDS Trend Report, Pittsburgh metropolitan area, March 27 through June 18, 2003. Arbitron Inc.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
April 25, 2003
The Winter 2003 Arbitron figures continue to show KDKA-AM and WDVE-FM as top dogs 1 and 2, although there were some shifts further down in the pecking order.
WZPT-FM, aka Star 100.7, could say its own star is rising: The '80s/'90s/current hits station picked up listeners compared to winter 2002, going to eighth place overall, up from 12th, and to 10th place in morning drive. Among 25- to 54-year-olds, its rise was even more dramatic, shooting to the No. 3 spot: it was No. 9 a year ago. Its morning show, which recently added John Cline from the WBZZ morning show to its roster, ranked fifth among this age group.
The contemporary hits battle rages on. While WKST-FM held steady at No. 9, WBZZ-FM dropped out of the top 10 this time around at 11th place. However, in terms of "cume" (cumulative), or total number of listeners, WBZZ still ranked fourth among total listeners.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations (in terms of average quarter-hour) were WDVE, WDSY-FM, WZPT, WXDX-FM. KDKA, WWSW-FM, WSHH-FM, WRRK-FM, WLTJ-FM and WBZZ.
The top 10 morning shows for this age group: WDVE, WXDX, KDKA, WDSY, WZPT, WRRK, WWSW, WSHH and WBZZ tied for eighth place, WLTJ and WEAE-AM.
from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
April 25, 2003
By Dimitri Vassilaros
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
News/talk station KDKA (1020 AM) with 448,100 listeners -- or "cume" -- is the most popular Pittsburgh area radio station, according to the latest Arbitron Inc. survey of listeners in the metropolitan area from Jan. 2 through March 26, 2003.
A stations' "cume" identifies the estimated number of different people who listened for a minimum of five minutes in any 15 minute period during a daypart, such as from weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. No matter how long the listening occurred, each person is counted only once. "Cume" also is called the "unduplicated audience," "reach" or "circulation," according to Arbitron.
Album rock station WDVE (102.5 FM) with 405,100 drops to second after being ranked first in the previous rating period. Oldies station WWSW (94.5 FM) with 311,300 is third. Contemporary hits station WBZZ (93.7 FM) with 288,700, is fourth followed by contemporary hits station WKST (96.1 FM) with 285,900.
Arbitron Inc, a Maryland-based company, conducts four 12-week radio listening surveys annually in the Pittsburgh area.
"Our Infinity Broadcasting cluster of stations is very pleased with the winter (latest rating) book," says Michael Young, senior vice-president, Pittsburgh market manager and general manager of KDKA. The other three Infinity stations are WBZZ, WZPT (100.7 FM) and WDSY (107.9 FM).
"I am especially pleased to see KDKA back where the station was prior to the fall (previous rating) book. I attribute it to an appetite for information that has increased in the post 9/11 era."
John Rohm is the region vice-president of the Pittsburgh Clear Channel Communications stations -- WDVE, WWSW, WKST, WJJJ (104.7 FM), WXDX (105.9 FM) and WBGG (970 AM). "Is there anything more compelling or topical than the war?" asks Rohm. "We certainly believe this temporary situation will normalize in the next book (rating period)."
The KDKA success mirrors national radio ratings.
"Early indications are that news/talk stations nationwide have experienced good growth as a result of the war preparation and initial stages of the gulf war," says Jim Glass, an international consultant for news, talk and sports stations. He is affiliated with McVay Media, the largest worldwide radio programming consultancy.
The increase might be temporary, says Ron Rodrigues, editor-in-chief of Radio & Records, a national radio trade publication. "Historically, it is a spike (a temporary increase in listenership). When no significant events exist, fewer people listen."
--snips--
Top 10 stations, age 12 and older (6 to 10 a.m. Mon.-Fri.)
Station Listeners 1. KDKA 297,100 2. WDVE 218,600 3. WDSY 159,200 4. WXDX 147,900 5. WBZZ 142,000 6. WWSW 135,500 7. WSHH 128,600 8. WKST 127,300 9. WZPT 118,800 10. WRRK 103,600
--snips--
Top 10 stations, ages 25 to 54 (6 to 10 a.m. Mon.-Fri.)
Station Listeners 1. WDVE 175,600 2. KDKA 110,500 3. WXDX 102,000 4. WZPT 98,900 5. WDSY 90,600 6. WBZZ 84,600 7. WWSW 83,500 8. WSHH 77,100 9. WRRK 75,200 10. WLTJ (92.9 FM) soft rock63,200
Source: Arbitron Inc. (Arbitrends Trend Report) fall survey.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 15, 2003
The latest fall Arbitron ratings were released yesterday. Little changed compared to year-ago figures, with KDKA, WDVE and WDSY dominating the top three in terms of share, although adult contemporary WSHH-FM moved from a seventh-place tie in 2001 to fourth place this time around. WSHH also made inroads in morning drive, moving from ninth to fifth place.
Among 25-to-54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were: WDVE-FM, WDSY-FM, WXDX-FM, WRRK-FM, WWSW-FM, KDKA-AM, WSHH, WLTJ-FM, WZPT-FM and WJJJ-FM. In morning drive, the top 10 were: WDVE, WXDX, WRRK and WDSY tied for third place, followed by KDKA, WBZZ, WWSW, WSHH, WLTJ and WZPT.
from the NY Daily News
November 13, 2002
Ever wondered how many other people in America are actually listening to, say, Howard Stern at the same time you are?
Tony Sanders, who crunches national numbers for the trade publication Inside Radio, says it's around 1,490,000.
Standard radio ratings, designed for advertisers, use a figure called "cume," which is the cumulative number of persons who tune to a given show or station at some time during an average week.
That's obviously a much higher figure. The national weekly "cume" for Stern has been estimated by the trade mag Talkers at "8 million-plus."
By comparison, Rush Limbaugh is rated at 14.5 million-plus per week, Sean Hannity at 10 million-plus and Dr. Joy Browne and Imus at 5 million-plus.
The numbers of people listening to those hosts at any one time presumably are proportionate to Stern's numbers.
Stern's numbers also mean more than 10 times as many people are listening to him at any given time than are, say, watching cable news channels on television.
Sanders has also tracked Stern's ranking in all of his markets for summer 2002 - though this is just based on his share of the total audience. Like most hosts, Stern scores higher among his specific target audiences, which for him includes younger men.
Overall, Stern is No. 1 in New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Syracuse and York, Pa.
In other cities, it goes like this: Philadelphia, second; Washington, D.C., fourth; Los Angeles, seventh; Baltimore, 16th; Cleveland, second; Buffalo, fourth; Chicago, 10th; Dallas, 11th; Detroit, ninth; Hartford, sixth; Las Vegas, second; Boston, second; San Diego, third; Pittsburgh, third; Seattle, fourth; Rochester, seventh; Miami, fourth; San Francisco, fifth.
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
July 24, 2002
The spring Arbitron book sparked the usual round of champagne cork-popping at some stations, but not always the ones you'd expect.
--snips--
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were: WDVE, WXDX-FM, WDSY-FM, KDKA, WBZZ, with WWSW-FM and WZPT-FM tied for sixth place, followed by WSHH-FM and WRRK-FM.
The top five morning shows for this age group: WDVE's Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann, WXDX's syndicated Howard Stern, WRRK's Jim Quinn, WBZZ's JohnDaveBubbaShelley team and KDKA's Larry Richert.
from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
July 24, 2002
KDKA (1020 AM) is the most popular radio station in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, according to the Arbitron Spring 2002 local radio ratings released Tuesday.
--snips--
Top five morning shows, ages 25 to 54, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mondays through Fridays
1. WDVE (102.5), rock, 176,000
2. WBZZ (93.7), contemporary hits, 109,500
3. WXDX (105.9), alternative rock, 100,900
4. KDKA (1020), news/talk 88,500
5. WDSY (107.9), country, 87,500
Source: Arbitron Inc. (Arbitrends Trend Report) spring survey, March 28 to June 19.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
April 26, 2002
Most other stations held steady, with WSHH-FM moving up to No. 4, compared to No. 7 last year.
The same pattern holds true for morning drive listening. Again KDKA and WDVE were No. 1 and 2, and again the gap narrowed.
In the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, the top 10 stations were: WDVE, WDSY-FM, WBZZ-FM, with KDKA and WXDX-FM tied for No. 4, followed by WSHH, WWSW-FM, WJJJ-FM, WZPT-FM and WRRK-FM. This age group's top five morning shows: Jim Krenn/Randy Baumann on WDVE; the JohnDaveBubbaShelley team on WBZZ and syndicated Howard Stern on WXDX tied for No. 2; KDKA's Larry Richert and WDSY's Welch and Woody.
Radio ratings
Morning drive, from 6 to 10 a.m
Winter 2002 Winter 2001 1. KDKA 14.7 KDKA 17.8 2. WDVE 10.6 WDVE 8.9 3. WBZZ 6.7 WBZZ 7.2 4. WXDX 6.6 WDSY 6.2 5. WDSY 6.3 WXDX 5.9 6. WSHH 5.5 WJAS 5.1 7. WRRK 4.3 WRRK 4.9 8. WJAS 4.2 WWSW 4.6 9. WWSW 4.1 WSHH 4.2 10. WKST 2.8 WKST 3.5Each number represents a share of the market. (t) denotes tie
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 15, 2002
The gap continues to tighten in the most heated battle in local radio: the struggle between contemporary hits formats WBZZ-FM and WKST-FM.
According to the latest Arbitron figures, longtime top dog WBZZ lost some ground, slipping from third to fourth place, while newcomer WKST moved up to seventh place, tying with WSHH-FM.
In morning drive, there was little change in Pittsburgh radio listening habits in fall 2001 from fall 2000.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were: WDVE-FM, WDSY-FM, WBZZ, WXDX-FM, WJJJ-FM (which seems to have benefitted from the shift from Jammin' Oldies to Jammin' Hits), KDKA-AM, WWSW-FM, WRRK-FM, adult contemporary competitors WLTJ-FM and WSHH tied for ninth place and WZPT-FM.
The top five morning shows for this age group were: Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann on WDVE, syndicated Howard Stern on WXDX, WRRK's Jim Quinn and WBZZ's JohnDaveBubbaShelley team tied for third place, followed by KDKA's John Cigna in the last quarter before his retirement from morning radio, and WDSY's Welch and Woody.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 19, 2001
--snips--
In morning drive, KDKA-AM and WDVE-FM remain strong first- and second-place holders, with both picking up more listeners compared to year-ago levels. WBZZ regained the No. 3 spot, but lost listeners, as did WXDX-FM.
--snips--
Radio ratings
Among listeners 12 and over, Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight:
Summer 2001 Summer 2000
1. KDKA......11.7 KDKA......10.6
2. WDVE.......8.9 WBZZ.......8.1
3. WDSY.......6.0 WDVE.......7.7
4. WJAS ......5.8 WDSY ......7.2
5. WBZZ.......5.4 WXDX.......6.7
6. WXDX.......5.1 WJAS.......6.0
7. WWSW.......4.9 (t) WSHH...5.2
8. WKST.......4.9 (t) WJJJ...4.9
9. WSHH.......4.8 WWSW.......4.4
10. WRRK.......4.2 WAMO.......3.8
Morning drive, from 6 to 10 a.m.:
Summer 2001 Summer 2000
1. KDKA......17.4 KDKA......15.3
2. WDVE......10.6 WDVE.......9.1
3. WBZZ.......6.0 WXDX.......8.6
4. WXDX ......5.9 WBZZ.......8.4
5. WRRK.......5.7 WDSY.......6.2
6. WDSY.......5.2 WRRK.......5.0
7. WJAS.......4.3(t) WSHH....4.6
8. WSHH.......4.3(t) WJAS....4.5
9. WWSW.......4.1 WJJJ.......3.9
10. WKST.......3.2 WWSW.......3.8
Each number represents a share of the market.
(t) denotes tie
from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
July 25, 2001
More on ratings
Yesterday's Arbitron ratings pointed to a format battle shaping up between the market's two contemporary hits stations -- WBZZ-FM (93.7) and WKST-FM (96.1). WBZZ has been a chart-topper for years, but newcomer WKST is gaining ground quickly. It was the No. 6 station, compared to WBZZ's No. 4, among total listeners.
And in terms of ratings, 2001 is shaping up to be a good year for WRRK-FM (96.9) morning host Jim Quinn.
First, the Clintons leave the White House, and, although one might think that would give him less to talk about, the show is thriving. Among the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, it's now the No. 3 morning show, behind early-morning stalwarts Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann on WDVE-FM (102.5) in first place, and the John Dave Bubba Shelley team on WBZZ in second, and bypassing morning drive fixtures such as Howard Stern on WXDX-FM (105.9) and John Cigna on KDKA-AM (1020).
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
July 24, 2001
Although this is traditionally an older radio market, it was young listeners who made the biggest splash in the spring Arbitron ratings, pushing the new contemporary hits format WKST-FM into sixth place, up from 13th last year, with an almost three-point gain in ratings. The other winner was classic rock WRRK-FM, which edged into the top 10.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were: WDVE-FM, WDSY-FM, WWSW-FM, WBZZ-FM, WRRK, KDKA-AM, WXDX-FM, WKST, WJJJ-FM and a tie between WLTJ-FM and WZPT-FM for 10th place. The top five morning shows were: WDVE, WBZZ, WRRK, WDSY and WXDX.
[Ed. - Howard is on WXDX.]
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
April 27, 2001
The winter Arbitron ratings showed little change over the previous year. The most notable shift was for new kid on the block WKST-FM. It switched to a contemporary hits format in October and found its way back into the top 10, more than doubling its listenership and debuting in eighth place among overall listeners. WSHH-FM made some gains, moving to seventh from ninth place compared to year-ago figures.
In morning drive, WJAS-AM made strides compared to last year, moving to sixth place from ninth a year ago, and gaining more than one rating share point. Perhaps it reflects the draw of longtime morning radio personality Jack Bogut, who moved to morning drive on WJAS last August. Newcomer WKST moved into 10th place in morning drive.
In the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, the top 10 stations were: WDVE-FM, WDSY-FM, WWSW-FM, WBZZ-FM, KDKA-AM, WRRK-FM, WXDX-FM and WSHH tied for seventh place, WJJJ-FM, with WZPT-FM and WKST tied for 10th place. The top five morning shows for this age group were: WDVE, WBZZ, WXDX, KDKA and WDSY.
--snips--
Overall 12+ numbers
Morning drive, from 6 to 10 a.m.:
[Ed. - Howard is on WXDX-FM]
Winter 2001 Winter 2000
1. KDKA.....17.8 KDKA......18.3
2. WDVE......8.9 WDVE.......8.1
3. WBZZ......7.2 WDSY.......7.1
4. WDSY .....6.2 WBZZ ......7.0
5. WXDX......5.9 WXDX.......6.1
6. WJAS......5.1 WRRK.......4.5(t)
7. WRRK......4.9 WWSW.......4.5(t)
8. WWSW......4.6 WJJJ.......4.1
9. WSHH......4.2 WJAS.......3.8
10. WKST......3.5 WSHH.......3.3
Each number represents a share of the market.
(t) denotes tie
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
April 15, 2001
It's been a year and change since WDVE-FM (102.5) introduced its morning lineup and got off Scott-free.
--snips--
In recent years, changes in the market and listening habits have eroded some of those 'DVE listeners, but the same could be said of KDKA. The introduction of Howard Stern's syndicated radio show (on WXDX-FM) altered the morning dynamic as much as anything.
--snips--
The station's comfortable lead with 25- to 54-year-olds was never really threatened, Moschitta adds. "[The morning show] didn't really lose too much. ... Howard Stern, WDSY [remained] behind us."
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
February 11, 2001
A glance at a current movie marquee or a trip with a remote around the cable channels reveals, before long, something important about Americans: We love transgression. Even if (and probably because) we don't actually break the rules ourselves very often, we spend lots of time watching and talking about others who do.
Transgression has always had its charms, of course, as writers from Sophocles onward have understood. Aristotle talked about the twin pleasures we derive from vicarious participation in defiant, delinquent or deviant behavior and relief in escaping the consequences embraced by the tragic or foolish characters on stage.
In our current appetite for misconduct, this observation seems truer than ever, with the growing number of TV programs, movies, stand-up routines and music CDs whose reason for being is to reproduce representations of transgression. Jerry Springer, Howard Stern, Tom Green, MTV's "Jackass," Comedy Central's "South Park" and "The Man Show," rappers Eminem and Puff Daddy and many others can be seen as fitting a rather simple transgressive formula. But what complicates most of these (and is perhaps the saving grace of some of them) is the sense of irony that accompanies them. Transgression itself -- of taste, of appropriateness, of political correctness -- becomes their true subject.
Viewed with this in mind, even a program as blatantly exploitative as "The Jerry Springer Show" is a more ambiguous mix of cultural messages as the audience at home watches the studio audience watch Jerry, who in turn watches the transgression play itself out on the stage.
Is the true "subject" of the program the misbehavior of Jerry's guests? Or is it the authority displayed by the studio audience in its disgust and disapproval? Perhaps it is Jerry's own air of superiority and detachment, which seems to confer authority on himself and the audience at home. And what about those guests, anyway, who appear to be fully aware of the kind of behavior expected of them? In order to transgress successfully enough to outrage and entertain their audience, they need to understand the authority from which they are deviating. Guests act up and the audience disapproves within a framework of societal prejudices and stereotypes of which both are aware and which neither questions.
True transgression attacks the basis for the rules themselves. Transgression as entertainment merely breaks them.
This distinction might lead to the conclusion that transgression as entertainment is relatively harmless, since no one really takes it seriously. After all, even the crudely racist and misogynous "Howard Stern Show" often hosts serious-minded public figures such as Rudolph Giuliani and female role-model athletes such as Gabrielle Reece. Besides, Stern's co-host, Robin Quivers, an African-American woman, laughs right along with him and the program's other male co-hosts. Doesn't this send a signal that the views expressed by the hosts aren't necessarily their own?
As Friedrich Nietzsche was fond of saying, the answer to this is yes and no. Yes because the Stern program, like the Springer program and others, exaggerates prejudices and stereotypes, allowing for an ironic reading of the program' s intent. No, because in failing to include alternative representations of the program's most frequent targets, it fails as parody because there is little to distinguish it as such.
That other famous bigot, Archie Bunker from "All in the Family," had son-in-law Meathead and daughter Gloria, among others, to offset his retrograde opinions. Instead, Stern stacks the deck with a bogus authoritative cover, setting up a power differential between him and his most vulnerable guests that is insurmountable. Viewers are encouraged to join in on the fun, not create a sense of critical distance between their own societal views and the unquestioned assumptions of Stern, his co-hosts and his guests.
All this is not to say there isn't a place for plenty of unrepentant naughtiness. Risk-taking imparts dynamism to the culture. Media critic bell hooks (who transgresses grammatical rules by choosing not to capitalize her name) points out that determining how much and what kind of risk is being taken is the key ingredient in establishing a sense of critical distance, which can mean the difference between accepting the same tired old formulas and realizing the arrival of something truly new and surprising. Usually this is not a clear choice, but a complex blend of both.
With this year's Academy Award nominations just two days away, let's reflect on last year's Best Picture winner, "American Beauty." The film, a haunting but mixed bag of cultural messages, combined a bold look at autoeroticism, homosexuality, voyeurism and pedophilia with a rather conventional, even reactionary, tale of patriarchal family values.
In "Beauty's" most advertised scene, ineffectual husband and father Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) takes back the reins of family leadership by smashing a plate of asparagus against a wall to get the attention of his seriously bratty wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) and daughter Janie (Thora Birch). This is followed by some authoritative there'll-be-a-few-changes-around-here type of statements, indicating who will be wearing the pants in the family from now on.
This is just the kind of dad Janie has been asking for since the first scene of the film, but Carolyn takes longer to come around. She doesn't allow herself the luxury of self-pity and tells Janie, "You can't count on anyone but yourself."
Transgression time. Lester calls Carolyn a "bloodless, money grubbing freak," tells their daughter that Carolyn is a bitch, accuses her of frigidity, reacts with hurt and self-pity when she interrupts his drunken sexual advances to prevent him from spilling beer on a $4,000 couch and has trouble understanding why she is making such a big deal over the fact that he quits his job, buys bags of marijuana from the kid next door and wants to sleep with his daughter's girlfriend.
But, sin of all sins, Lester catches Carolyn in an affair with her real-estate colleague and success object, Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher). How does it all end? As it must in this patriarchal cautionary tale, with Carolyn sobbing brokenly as she clutches Lester's shirts hanging in the closet. In a fitting symbol of her return to her true gender role, she buries the gun that has become the symbol of her new sense of personal power in the clothes hamper.
For many, the beauty of America is that even when we break the rules, the core values remain intact. Sometimes, however, the core values need to change. This is when things get a little tougher.
from the Pittsburgh City Paper
January 10 - 17, 2001
RADIO
I have a PhD from Yale University. I am a college professor. I am a feminist and a social activist. And yet, most mornings, from the hours of 7:30 to 10 o'clock, I listen to the Howard Stern radio show on The X at 105.9. Moreover, I often like it.
I tell you this now because when Stern announced last December that his contract renegotiations were hitting a snag, and that he might end his radio career, I felt an actual pang. After a year of complaining to my boyfriend that Howard Stern was stupid and sexist and racist and disgusting -- and begging him to change the station to National Public Radio on WDUQ -- I had to admit that, as Howard himself explained in his movie Private Parts, he had grown on me "like a fungus."
The first time I heard Howard Stern I was riding in a taxi in Manhattan. It was the early 1990s. The cab driver was Egyptian, and I was talking to him, trying to remember the Arabic I learned in college. He pointed to the radio. "I love this guy." I shook my head in dismay. How could an Arab immigrant like Howard Stern?
Moving in with my boyfriend changed everything. It started with him making fun of my beloved NPR. He called it "National depressing Radio." I had loved Morning Edition with Bob Edwards since 1984 when I started working for the Berkeley radio station, KALX. I wanted to be a reporter for NPR. NPR was my life.
Gradually, however, I began to hear NPR through my boyfriend's British ears. Some mornings the depressing meter on NPR was off the charts. Famine. Ecological destruction. Death in the Middle East. Miserable rural people. Miserable urban people.
Howard Stern is a lot of things. But he is not depressing. His stated goal, and I actually believe him, is to make people laugh. But given his national reputation as a lewd, no-talent bigot, and the obviously objectionable material on his show, I have struggled over this last year to come to terms with the reasons I now look forward to his morning shtick.
1) Stern is about how much we all hate to go to work in the morning. Arguably, all a.m. radio shows are about this, but when Howard Stern is on my radio, I can pretend that I'm not really at work because even though Howard Stern is at work he sounds like he is sitting around talking crap with his friends.
2) Stern affects the mantle of anti-establishmentarian. Even though he just signed what is rumored to be a $96 million contract for five years, Stern makes us feel like he is on the side of the little people. He stands up to his employers (calling his former NBC boss "pig vomit" on the air), his sponsors, and even his callers.
3) Stern creates a sense of intimacy. By talking about his personal life, and the personal lives of his cast/staff, Stern gives the listeners a sense of belonging to a big, dysfunctional radio family. In a world in which the public and the private are already hopelessly blurred, Stern takes the breakdown to the next level. There are no private parts.
4) Stern loves people who do not fit in. He loves strippers, dwarfs, stutterers, comedians who aren't funny, female bodybuilders, transvestites, lesbians. He makes fun of people on the margins, but he also gives them a voice. His audience is so huge, I suspect, because he attracts the people who are racist and sexist and homophobic, as well as the people who aren't and who think that Stern's bigotry is mostly an act.
5) Stern is a romantic. Somehow, underneath all the dirty talk, the outrageous sex stunts and the ego as big as his nose, Stern still comes across as the goofy, shy, gangly guy who wants desperately to fall in love and live happily ever after. Since his divorce from his wife of 21 years in 1999 Stern seems lonely, depressed, horny and neurotic. These traits are appealing. They make Stern seem real.
We must take Stern seriously, I would argue, even if we hate him. He has something to say, and people listen to him. We might not always like what we hear, but at bottom Stern offers a critique of restrictive social and sexual norms, of the modern workplace, of social marginalization, and of the commodification of love.
If you don't believe me, try a little Howard Stern for yourself. Make yourself listen beyond the point at which you want to turn it off. I'm warning you: You might like it.
writer: KATHY NEWMAN
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 18, 2001
By Adrian McCoy
Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Among listeners 12 and over, Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight:
Fall 2000 Fall 1999 1. KDKA.......11.9 KDKA........10.7 2. WDVE........8.7 WDSY.........8.8 3. WBZZ........7.3 WDVE.........8.5 4. WDSY .......7.2 WBZZ ........6.8 5. WXDX........5.6 WXDX.........6.0 6. WJAS........5.2 (t) WJAS.........5.7 7. WSHH........5.2 (t) WSHH.........5.5 8. WWSW........4.3 WWSW.........4.9 9. WJJJ........3.5 WJJJ.........4.1 10. WAMO.......3.4 WAMO.........3.6Morning drive, from 6 to 10 a.m.:
Fall 2000 Fall 1999 1. KDKA.......16.6 KDKA.......15.3 2. WDVE........9.2 WDVE........9.5 3. WBZZ........7.6 WDSY........7.9 4. WXDX .......7.4 WXDX .......7.8 <----- Howard 5. WDSY........6.3 WBZZ........7.5 6. WRRK........5.0 WSHH........5.4 7. WJAS........4.4 (t) WRRK......4.9 8. WSHH........4.4 (t) WWSW......4.0 9. WWSW........3.4 WJAS........3.9 10. WAMO ......3.1 WJJJ........3.6
Each number represents a share of the market.
(t) denotes tie
Among the key 25- to 54-year-old audience, the top 10 stations according to Arbitron were: WDVE-FM,WDSY-FM, WBZZ-FM, a three-way tie for 4th place between WXDX-FM, KDKA-AM and WWSW-FM, followed by a tie between WSHH-FM and WZPT-FM and a tie between WJJJ-FM and WRRK-FM. The top five morning drive choices for this group: WDVE, WXDX, a tie for third place between WDSY and WBZZ, followed by KDKA.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
December 14, 2000
The syndicated weekday morning show, which airs on dozens of stations coast to coast including Pittsburgh's WXDX-FM, hasn't been a ratings juggernaut nationally for years. With the exception of New York, where it continues to dominate its competitors, "The Howard Stern Show" has worn out its welcome with many of the bored listeners it once titillated in middle America.
Mr. Stern's brand of frat-boy vulgarity pales in comparison to much funnier and cruder material found on the Internet. Perhaps his employers at Infinity Broadcasting have noticed this as well. They don't seem to be in as much of a hurry as they were in previous years to negotiate a five-year contract that is more to Mr. Stern's liking.
The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" and his radio sidekicks won't return to the program after their two-week Christmas break without a new contract. It's possible that 2001 and beyond will be devoid of the daily coarsening of the culture that Mr. Stern excelled in for so many years.
What will we do without Mr. Stern's flatulence jokes, the show's wholesale mockery of people with physical and mental disabilities, the sexual humiliation of studio guests for whom 15 minutes of fame is the ultimate aphrodisiac and the merciless skewering of the minority du jour?
Perhaps we'll use that valuable time during the morning drive to get a life.
from the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
October 29, 2000
If you take the industry at its word, so-called "shock" radio is targeted at older listeners -- for example, young males or the 25 to 54 target demo. But everything on the medium is readily available to anyone with an opposable thumb, teens or younger. And they get an earful.
While the f-word remains on the fast-evaporating list of profanities you can't say on radio, you can say "f," immediately followed by a beep. It doesn't leave much to the imagination, particularly given its prevalence. During a four-hour stretch Tuesday, the "f-beep" could be heard 10 times on two local stations.
Violence plays less of a role in radio than in other mass media. Even so, news dealing with tragedies are treated with humor by Howard Stern and others, diminishing their reality and consequences.
Morning-drive radio is the place for listeners to get information about various body functions -- complete with sound effects. Self-proclaimed "King of All Media" Stern reigns here. His syndicated show typically features the porn star/stripper du jour and recorded comedy bits tinted a vivid shade of blue. Heard between 7 and 9 a.m., Stern is carried locally on WXDX-FM (105.9).
Here's a sample of what was out there -- all before homeroom:
*An upcoming "Porno-ween" contest, in which listeners are invited to play a sort of X-rated version of "Where's Waldo?" The winner who finds the hidden porn star ... well, you guessed it. Stern takes a call from a woman who claims to be bisexual and wants to know if she can be included if her boyfriend wins. This is followed by a tape of the featured porn star having sex.
*Reaction to a news about Paul McCartney and girlfriend Heather Mills spawns discussion on whether one would want to have sex with a woman with an artificial leg. Even if it's Pamela Anderson.
*Stern interviews Lenny Kravitz, questioning persistently about girlfriends present and past. When he learns that Kravitz has paid huge sums of money for rock star memorabilia, including some of Jimi Hendrix's clothing, Stern offers to sell him his underwear for $5,000. He also offers detailed information about the state of the underwear artifacts.
*In the et al. department: Stern jokes about drinking on the weekend "until I forget"; a morning-show character with a stutter is imitated and made sport of.
*On the WBZZ-FM (93.7) morning show -- a contemporary hits station aimed at young listeners -- the extreme humor is more of the gross-out variety. Most of the 7 to 9 a.m. stretch is taken up by an expedition to a local cemetery to see an allegedly haunted grave site.
*Today's sample of literal bathroom humor on WBZZ includes a discussion on bidets -- what they're for, how to use one. We also learn how often one member of the morning team changes underwear (Howard Stern, take note).
*On the WDVE-FM (102.5) morning show, a magazine story on "morning-after etiquette" sparks a discussion on how to behave with someone picked up the night before. Also, there's an "f"-beep-laced comedy bit simulating a Joe Pesci appearance on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
And after school?
* WXDX host Alan Cox takes a call from a guy who wants Cox to advise his 20-year-old buddy against getting involved with a 15-year-old girl. In locker-room language aimed at the peer group, Cox urges the guy to do the right thing and pass on this one. This sparks other calls from listeners, including a guy who said he'd done time for the same thing.
*On Mark Madden's WEAE-AM (1250) sports talk show, strippers are mentioned about as often as they're interviewed on Howard Stern. A monologue about things that should be illegal includes "fat strippers."
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 20, 2000
Local radio stations played a lively game of musical chairs in the summer Arbitron ratings.
Among total listeners, contemporary hits WBZZ-FM edged sister station country WDSY-FM out of second place, compared to summer 1999. It also edged ahead of a key competitor -- rock station WDVE-FM -- for the first time in years. WDVE remained in third place compared to last year, and slipped from a second place tie with WDSY in the previous spring ratings. Oldies WWSW-FM dropped back from sixth place a year ago to ninth place this time.
In morning drive, syndicated Howard Stern (heard here on new rock WXDX-FM) took a giant step forward to third place (from fifth place in '99 and seventh in the previous book): the show gained more than three ratings points between last quarter and this one. Adult contemporary WSHH-FM made some inroads among total listeners -- both in morning drive and the all-day ratings.
Among the 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were WDVE, WBZZ, WDSY, WJJJ-FM, WXDX, WWSW, WRRK-FM, WSHH-FM, WZPT-FM and in 10th place, KDKA-AM. While powerhouse news/talk KDKA hasn't been top dog in this age group for awhile, this marks a drop from eighth place a year ago, and from fifth place in the previous quarter. WBZZ was a winner with this audience, moving into the No. 2 spot behind WDVE, up from No. 3 last summer. WXDX moved up to fifth place. WZPT, which changed format from '70s/'80s hits to Hot AC, edged into ninth place from a 10th place tie with WLTJ-FM and WSHH last year. WJJJ's Jammin' Oldies format held onto fourth place, and made some gains over the previous spring book.
In morning drive for this target audience, the top five shows were WDVE, WXDX, WBZZ, WRRK and WDSY. Howard Stern again cleaned up, moving WXDX into the No. 2 spot behind Jim Krenn and the WDVE Morning show: it also moved into the double digit ratings, with a 10.3, up nearly three points from last year. WBZZ also gained some listeners compared to summer '99.
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
July 25, 2000
The spring 2000 Arbitron ratings were released yesterday, and it's looking like something of a new millennium for the local market.
KDKA-AM remains No. 1 among total listeners, but right behind it, the battle gets intense. For the past few ratings periods, WDVE-FM had slipped to third place behind second place WDSY-FM. This time around, WDSY and WDVE tied for second place, although both lost some listeners from the Spring '99 totals. A year ago, three stations were slugging it out for fourth place -- WBZZ-FM, WWSW-FM/AM and WXDX-FM. WBZZ moved ahead a little in the most recent ratings.
In morning drive, WBZZ moved into third place, up from No. 5 last year, while Howard Stern's syndicated show (heard locally on WXDX) lost more than two ratings points, losing its No. 3 spot from last year and slipping back to seventh place. The reunited WWSW morning team of Jim Merkel and Gary Dickson moved up from seventh place a year ago, tying for fifth place with WRRK-FM's Jim Quinn.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the Top 10 stations in spring 2000 were: WDVE, WDSY, WWSW, WBZZ, KDKA, WJJJ-FM, WSHH-FM, WXDX, WRRK and WLTJ-FM. The top five morning shows were: WDVE, WRRK, WDSY, WBZZ and KDKA. The big winner here is WRRK's Quinn, who beat out morning mainstays WDSY and WBZZ to move into second place behind WDVE, while the Stern show took a hit among these listeners, dropping to sixth place from its No. 2 spot a year ago.
--snips--
Morning drive, from 6 to 10 a.m.:
Spring 2000 Spring 1999
1. KDKA......18.1 KDKA......16.4
2. WDVE.......8.9 WDVE......10.1
3. WBZZ.......6.8 WXDX.......7.7
4. WDSY ......6.5 WDSY ......7.4
5. WRRK.......5.6 (t) WBZZ.........6.2
WWSW.......5.6 (t) WRRK.........5.6
7. WXDX.......5.5 WWSW.......4.3
8. WSHH.......4.4 WSHH.......4.0
9. WJJJ.......4.1 WJAS.......3.8
10. WJAS.......3.7 WLTJ.......3.7
Each number represents a share of the market.
(t) denotes tie
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
May 3, 2000
The last round of Arbitron ratings points to an even more competitive radio market in the months to come.
While it may be premature to speculate on what effect, if any, Scott Paulsen's departure has had on the WDVE-FM (102.5) morning show, the ground appears to be shifting among the top morning drive shows. More stations are enjoying more equal slices of pie. KDKA-AM (1020) still dominates among total listeners, but after that, the space between competitors is getting closer and closer.
Things particularly heated up in morning drive among the 25- to 54-year-old audience. WDVE retained its No. 1 spot, although it lost more than two share points from the previous book. KDKA was second, separated by a mere 10th of a rating point from WDSY-FM (107.9) and WBZZ-FM (93.7), which tied for third. The Howard Stern show (heard on WXDX-FM [105.9]), slipped from second place in the fall to fifth this time around. WRRK-FM's (96.9) Jim Quinn continues to hang on to sixth place.
Among 25- to 54-year-old listeners, KDKA's morning show hit something of a slump in the fall, coming in at No. 5, but rebounded to second place this time. KDKA general manager Michael Young says the station has been working to market its different morning show services -- news, sports, traffic, weather -- to these listeners, who typically might zap in briefly to hear one or more of these features, and then head back to a music station.
WJJJ-FM's (104.7) rhythmic oldies format has yet to celebrate its first birthday but has quickly rocketed to No. 3 among 25- to 54-year-olds. This frequency has been through many incarnations in the past decade -- country, smooth jazz, modern rock -- none of which caught on as well or as quickly as The Beat has. The format hasn't been as successful in some other markets across the country as it is here.
WJJJ program director Clarke Ingram credits The Beat's rapid rise to two factors. The first is adding more '80s music to the mix, which further sets it apart musically from sister oldies station WWSW-FM/AM (94.5, 970), which doesn't play '80s music, and also feeds growing listener demand for '80s music.
The second is its personalities.
"It's a brand-new radio station, but the air staff is familiar to the audience," Ingram says. New morning host Mike Frazer was at sister station WWSW for 10 years. Kerri Griffith, Mike Neal, Clarke Ingram and Brother Matt all worked at other local stations. WJJJ music director Ray Walker started the weekly disco show at his former employer WLTJ-FM (92.9).
Another new format that may be finally catching on is hot Adult Contemporary WPHH-FM (96.1), which moved into the top 10 among 25- to 54-year-olds, tying at 10th place with WSHH-FM (99.7), and is doing very well among its target female audience.
KDKA's Young predicts that we will see a more competitive marketplace in terms of overall listeners. "It certainly has become a little more competitive at the top. That's good for consumers. It means there's good radio out there."
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
April 29, 2000
The winter 2000 Arbitron ratings came out yesterday. Not much changed among total listeners except for a gain by the new kid in town: WJJJ-FM's rhythmic oldies format, which climbed to a sixth- place tie with new rock WXDX-FM.
WDVE-FM dropped from second place a year ago and didn't regain any ground after slipping to No. 3 in the previous fall rating period.
In the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, the top 10 stations were: WDVE, WDSY-FM, WJJJ, WBZZ-FM, WWSW-FM/AM, KDKA-AM, WXDX, WLTJ-FM, WRRK-FM, with WSHH-FM and WPHH-FM tied for 10th place. The top five morning shows among this age group were: WDVE, KDKA, a tie between WDSY and WBZZ for third place, followed by WXDX.
The big winner in this target age group was WJJJ, which went from No. 6 in the previous book to No. 3 this time. The station, which switched to the rhythmic oldies format a year ago, was No. 10 in winter '99. In morning drive, KDKA rebounded from its fifth place slump in the previous book, back to second place in the current ratings.
from Radio Digest
Margolis: About Pittsburgh Radio column
By Lynne Margolis
Local Web chatters are practically laying odds that 1-year-old Mix 96.1 (WPHH-FM) is about to disappear following its dismal 2.0 showing in the latest Pittsburgh Arbitron ratings. The hot adult-contemporary station has shown a steady decline since flipping last year from its modern AC format and "River" moniker. One year ago, as WDRV-FM, the station had a 3.5 rating.
Jammin’ oldies station WJJJ (104.7 FM), also showed a noticeable drop, down to a 4.1 share from the summer book’s 5.2. But jammin’ oldies stations typically grab great ratings in the first book after their format switch, then show declines after the honeymoon is over. Both stations are owned by AMFM Inc., which also holds third-ranked classic rocker WDVE (102.5 FM) and fifth-place alternative-formatted WXDX (105.9 FM).
Though ’DVE was able to turn around its recent ratings slide, rising from a summer share of 7.9 to fall’s 8.5, it’s still in third place behind country station WDSY (107.9 FM) overall among listeners 12 and older. The ratings boost - it’s ’DVE’s best overall rating in a year - might be attributable to its first season of Steelers football coverage. That number also doesn’t reflect any possible fallout from morning man Scott Paulsen’s Dec. 31 departure after 13 years.
’DVE still rules its chosen 25- to 54-year-old demo, though. Despite a drop from last quarter’s 15.7 to this quarter’s 14.8 in the morning drive slot, ’DVE far outranks its closest competitor, sister station WXDX (the Pittsburgh home of Howard Stern). Stern has a 9.7 share in that age group. News-talk station KDKA (1020 AM), which dominates overall, is in fifth place among 25- to 54-year-olds with a 6.4 share for John Cigna’s morning show, down from last fall’s 8.4.
KD is continuing its ratings see-saw. The radio granddaddy has posted its worst showing in a year with a 10.7 share overall for 12-and-up listeners, down from summer’s 12.1 and last fall’s 11.9. Its high for the year was last winter’s 13.7. Among 25- to 54-year-olds overall, it lurched to a seventh-place 5.1.
’DSY is showing an overall 12-plus gain, up to 8.8 from summer’s 8.1 and last fall’s 8.2 share. After climbing ahead of ’DVE, WDSY dipped last winter to 7.1 but jumped to 8.3 in the spring ’99 book. Among 25- to 54-year-olds, however, it climbed to 9.3 overall to hold its second-place spot behind ’DVE. That’s a strong gain from its summer slump to 8.0, but still not quite up to its spring share of 9.9.
Both KD and ’DSY are owned by CBS/Infinity Broadcasting, which also holds fourth-place B-94 (WBZZ 93.7 FM). The contemporary-hits/pop station also took a hit this time out, falling from 7.2 to 6.8. But it’s still up from last fall’s 5.4.
WXDX has shown its third gain in a row, rising a 0.1 point to a 6.0 share.
Sixth-place WJAS (1320 AM), whose adult-standards format is popular in this older-skewing market, also increased from 5.4 to 5.7, almost recovering from its winter tumble. The station had posted a 6.0 share last fall, then fell to 4.1 in the winter book.
Also up is adult-contemporary WSHH (99.7 FM), from 4.7 to 5.5; and ESPN network sports talker WEAE (1250 AM), from 1.1 to its previous two-book level of 1.6. It tied with religious station WORD (101.5 FM), which showed identical summer and fall numbers. News station KQV (1410 AM) also crept up from 1.1 to 1.4.
But staffers at several stations are most likely feeling somewhat less cheerful. Oldies station 3WS (WWSW 970 AM and 94.5 FM), another AMFM property, faded from 5.8 to 4.9 overall, reflecting the 4.7 showing it had a year ago before three seasons of gains. Urban station WAMO (106.7 and 107.1 FM) lost two-tenths of a share for a 3.6 showing; classic rocker WRRK (96.9 FM) dropped 0.4 points to 3.0. Soft AC station WLTJ (92.9 FM) earned its poorest showing in some time, falling to 2.9 from summer’s 3.8 and last fall’s 3.7. ’LTJ reached 4.1 in both the winter ’99 and summer ’98 books. Talker WPTT (1360 AM) is down a notch as well, from 1.3 to 1.2.
One might infer that Internet listening is taking its toll on traditional radio, but suggesting these figures are based on any one trend or factor would be oversimplifying the picture, particularly in light of record 1999 advertising revenue reports.
--snips--
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The newest format to hit town made the loudest noise in the Summer 1999 Arbitron ratings. WJJJ-FM, which switched to rhythmic oldies from smooth jazz in May, rocketed into the top 10 at 8th place among total listeners, up from 13th place in summer '98, and also moved into 10th place in morning drive.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the new format's success was even more dramatic. It's now the No. 4 station - gaining 3 ratings points and up from 8th in the previous book, and from 12th place in the summer '98 book.
"That's a heck of a jump," said WJJJ program director Clarke Ingram.
"This is a market that loves their oldies." He noted that the summer book covers a period in which the station wasn't doing any marketing or contests, and had not yet hired its present air staff. "The music carried the day."
In other developments, WDSY regains second place among total listeners while WDVE moves to third - a flipflop that has been occurring in the last few survey periods.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations are: WDVE, WDSY, WBZZ, WJJJ, WWSW, WXDX, KDKA, WRRK, a three-way tie for 9th place between WSHH, WLTJ and WZPT, and in 10th place, WAMO.
The top five morning shows for this age group: WDVE, WBZZ, a tie for No. 3 between WRRK's Jim Quinn and WXDX Howard Stern, followed by WDSY and KDKA.
Quinn has been making steady inroads in the morning-drive wars: the show is up from No. 6 for this age group a year ago.
from the Pittsburgh City Paper
Volume 9 - Issue 42 - October 20 thru October 27, 1999
The readers of the Pittsburgh City Paper recently voted on the "Best of Pittsburgh" and Howard won these two awards:
Best Talk Radio:
Howard Stern WXDX (The X)
2nd: KDKA 1020 AM
3rd: WTAE 1240 AM
Best Morning Radio Show:
Howard Stern, WXDX (The X) 105.9 FM
2nd: Scott Paulsen & Jim Krenn, WDVE 102.5 FM
3rd: John, Dave, Bubba & Shelley, WBZZ 93.7 FM
Congratulations, Howard!
from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
--snip--
In morning drive, there's less of a shakeup in the status quo, although Howard Stern on WXDX, WDSY's John Garabo and WRRK-FM's Jim Quinn continue to draw growing numbers of listeners. The flurry of recent format and morning show air staff changes won't have an impact on this rating period: It's too soon to tell what will happen because of those shifts. Ironically, the former smooth jazz format on WJJJ-FM was showing some growth before the plug was pulled.
--snip--
The top 10 morning drive shows: WDVE'S Scott Paulsen and Jim Krenn, followed by Howard Stern on WXDX, WDSY, KDKA, WBZZ, WRRK, WWSW, WLTJ, WSHH and WJJJ.
Thanks to Roger...
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 30, 1999
According to last week's fall Arbitron book, for the first time in many moons, we had a new No. 2 radio station. Country station WDSY-FM (107.9) knocked longtime rock giant WDVE-FM (102.5) out of second place among total listeners.
Although WDVE remained No. 2 in morning drive, the gap between it and No. 3 station WXDX-FM (105.9), which carries Howard Stern, wasn't quite as wide as it used to be.
In the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, where most stations target listeners, WDVE is still a comfy No. 1 with a wide margin ahead of the rest of the pack.
Country was the hot format several years back. So why the sudden upsurge in an urban market? CBS/Infinity operations manager Keith Clark attributed WDSY's upturn to several factors - a wider playlist and growing popularity of new air personalities.
But no one's jumping out of windows at WDVE's Fleet Street headquarters. In the business, a good Arbitron book is known as "getting kissed." Chancellor Media vice president/general manager Bob Roof admits, "We were totally un-kissed in the fall book." But he says the slip was merely a fluke in the ratings. "Frankly, we ain't concerned."
WDVE's 1998 ratings stayed fairly consistent throughout the year and dipped precipitously in the last month, which was factored into the three-month fall ratings. When evaluating the performance of a station, one looks at the big picture, not one high or low month, Roof says. "This is a marathon race. This is not a three-month sprint."
Besides, the battle isn't between country and rock, or two radio stations anymore. It's between the 800-pound gorillas that own them. WDVE owner Chancellor Media also has WXDX, WJJJ-FM (104.7), WWSW/FM/AM (94.5, 970) and WDRV-FM (96.1). WDSY owner CBS/Infinity also has KDKA-AM (1020) and WZPT-FM (100.7). Add them all together and you get market shares that would have been unheard of in the era before ownership consolidation.
Still, WDVE is at an interesting crossroads. Rock is a very competitive format. While there is one country, urban and oldies format here, rock has fractured into many subspecies - modern rock, classic rock, soft rock, the '70s-'80s mix.
And Howard Stern's presence has reshaped the morning radio landscape here, as it has elsewhere.
--snips--
Thanks to gbug for sending this following in:
Following is an article which appeared in yesterday's (1/20/99) edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. No one was credited with a by-line, and this article doesn't appear on the P-G website as of yet, but I thought you still might be interested in adding it to your ratings grid. This is exactly as it appears:
RADIO RATINGS: The fall Arbitron book reveals a real change in season for the local radio market, indicating notable changes in listening habits compared to fall 1997.
While news/talk KDKA-AM remained No. 1 among total listeners, longtime second place rocker WDVE-FM slipped to No. 3, edged out by country WDSY-FM. And nostalgia WJAS-AM leapt to 4th place, compared to 6th last year, while modern rock WXDX-FM continued climbing, moving from 7th to 5th place. These moves edged contemporary hits WBZZ-FM and oldies WWSW-FM/AM out of the top five to 6th and 8th place respectively.
There was a little more stability in morning drive among total listeners. Howard Stern's audience continues to grow, giving WXDX the No. 3 spot behind morning giants KDKA and WDVE. The X was No. 5 a year ago in morning drive.
In the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, the top 10 stations were: WDVE, WDSY, KDKA, WXDX, WWSW, WBZZ, WSHH-FM, WDRV-FM, WLTJ-FM and WRRK-FM. The top five morning shows were WDVE, WXDX, KDKA, WDSY and WBZZ. Again, Stern made a dent in morning drive, moving to second place from 5th a year ago, and edging out WBZZ, which was No. 2 last year and No. 5 this year.
Radio Ratings
Among listeners 12 and over, Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight:
Fall 1998 Fall 1997
1. KDKA..........11.9 1. KDKA..........12.4
2. WDSY...........8.2 2. WDVE...........9.2
3. WDVE...........7.3 3. WDSY...........7.4
4. WJAS............6.0 4. WBZZ............6.5
5. WXDX............5.6 5. WWSW.........5.5
6. WBZZ............5.4 6. WJAS............5.2
7. WSHH...........5.2 7. WXDX............5.0
8. WWSW.........4.7 8. WLTJ.............3.9
9. WJJJ.............3.8 9. WJJJ..............3.5 (tie)
10. WLTJ............3.7 WZPT............3.5 (tie)
Morning drive from 6 to 10 a.m.:
Fall 1998 Fall 1997
1. KDKA..........18.1 1. KDKA...........17.6
2. WDVE...........9.7 2. WDVE..........11.2
3. WXDX............7.9 3. WDSY............6.8
4. WDSY...........7.6 4. WBZZ.............6.6
5. WBZZ............5.7 5. WXDX.............5.6
6. WRRK...........4.9 6. WWSW..........5.1
7. WSHH...........4.1 7. WRRK............4.2
8. WWSW.........3.9 8. WSHH............4.1
9. WJAS............3.7 9. WJAS.............3.8
10. WLTJ............2.8 (tie) 10. WLTJ.............3.2 (tie)
WDRV...........2.8 (tie) WTAE...........3.2 (tie)
WJJJ.............2.8 (tie)
from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and robk...
July 22, 1998
If the spring Arbitron ratings are any indication, two kinds of disparate radio are growing on Pittsburgh listeners - the music of the '70s and '80s and Howard Stern.
In the 25- to 54-year age group, the top 10 stations were WDVE-FM, WWSW-FM/AM, WZPT-FM, WDSY-FM, WBZZ-FM, KDKA-AM, WLTJ-FM, WXDX-FM, WSHH-FM and WJJJ-FM.
The top five morning shows among 25- to 54-year-olds: WDVE, WXDX, KDKA, WBZZ and WWSW.
The big winner in morning drive is WXDX's Stern, who's now No. 2 among 25- to 54-year-olds, edging out former second place WBZZ and third place KDKA in the spring '97 ratings - although still well behind sister station WDVE's Scott Paulsen and Jim Krenn. In the overall ratings, the Stern show moved into the No. 3 spot behind KDKA's John Cigna and WDVE, up from fifth place last year.
The people at all-'70s and '80s WZPT certainly had something to be happy about. The station moved to a comfortable No. 3 among listeners in the key 25- to 54-year-old group, with a gain of two rating points and a move up from sixth place last year. The same pattern holds true in morning drive for this age group - another two-point gain and a move into seventh place. In the overall ratings, WZPT went from 12th place to tie at ninth with WLTJ. It picked up some listeners in morning drive, too, moving into the top 10.
Oldies WWSW picked up more 25- to 54-year-old listeners and went from fourth to second place in that demographic, beating out WBZZ and WDSY, who lost some ground this time around. Although they remain in the top five, WBZZ and WDSY's listenership declined compared to spring '97 - both overall and among 25- to 54-year-olds.
Sports/talk WTAE-AM dropped more than 2 rating points and went from 11th place to 17th in the overall ratings.
Stations that gained some new listener support in the overall ratings include WJAS-AM and WAMO-FM. WLTJ's morning show picked some listeners and moved to eighth place from a 10th place tie last year.
Adrian McCoy wrote a little snippet on Howard's ratings in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Howard's holding his number five spot but inching up while Signa on KDKA-AM and Paulsen and Krenn on WDVE-FM (the number 1 and 2 Pittsburgh morning shows) are slowly losing listeners. Howard was voted number one morning show in Pittsburgh's hip "City Paper" (a free paper aimed at the nightclub crowd) while Paulsen and Krenn came in at number two. Stern was also voted best dj. Signa is strictly for the blue-haired old ladies crowd.
According to Adrian McCoy in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Howard inches up the morning ladder while WDVE and KDKA loses ground. Howard placed 5th overall and 5th in the 24-54 age bracket. This doubles his ratings at this point last year. Paulsen and Krenn who hold the 1 spot in the 24-54 group lost over half a point and continue to slip.
Thanks to RRussitano for this item.
According to Fred Honsberger (KDKA-AM on air personality), Howard's move to fifth place (5.7 share in the 12+ demographic) in the morning show ratings is unprecedented in Pittsburgh radio. The prediction is that Howard should top #1 Paulsen and Krenn (WDVE-FM) by next year. Stern has never really launched an attack against the WDVE team, like he has against other competing morning shows. Maybe he thinks the market is not big enough to worry about? When Howard first hit Pittsburgh in Nov. of '95, he was ranked dead last (17th). He truly is the atom bomb of ratings!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to RRussitano for this item.
While the ratings went up in the 12+ demographic to a 5.4 rating, apparently everyone else in town went up as well, since this rating is good for only a 6th place.
In the home of Westinghouse, Howard is showing them how it's done. For the 12+ demographic, the show is now in 2nd place with a 5.3 rating.
Howard is currently the #7 ranked morning show, with a 3.8 share. Not bad, considering he's only been on a very short time in Pittsburgh.
Howard Stern went on the air on WXDX 106.7 FM in Pittsburgh in November, exposing listeners to the belches and dirty words that have made him the most famous disc jockey in the country. Stern predicted he would be No. 1 in the ratings in Pittsburgh within a year.
But was Secret Communications, owner of WXDX, taking a gamble? It slotted Stern opposite Scott Paulsen and Jim Krenn, the region's top-rated morning team at WDVE, which Secret also owns.
"Conventional radio wisdom doesn't apply in this hyper-competitive market," says Gene Romano, operations manager for both stations. "Our long-term goal is to have the dominant rock combo in the U.S., and that requires two dominant morning shows. Howard will help the X own new rock in Pittsburgh."
During Stern's on-air press conference last year, Stern, who traditionally declares war on the top DJ in each new city by holding a "funeral" for them, asked about the competition, but was for the most part restrained. No funeral was held for Paulsen and Krenn.
"Times have changed for Howard," says Romano. "I don't think that's a major priority for him anymore."
Romano's priority is to entrench Secret Communications at the top of the Pittsburgh rock market. Romano says changes in communications law mean that Secret can pursue the goal of controlling the rock segment of the airwaves here. In other words, more advertising dollars would be paid to Secret.
Currently WDVE plays rock, while WXDX has an alternative music format. Plans may be in the works to acquire another station pursuant to new regulations allowing ownership of more than two stations in a market. WXDX will eventually move to 105.9 FM, currently held by WAMO, and boost its wattage from 47,000 to 72,000. WAMO will move to 106.7 FM in a swap that includes a $14 million payment from Secret to WAMO owner Sheridan Broadcasting.
Romano says the strategy pitting Stern against Paulsen and Krenn makes long-term sense, and that he has great confidence in Paulsen and Krenn to get better and better. As for Stern? In his first month on the air, he rocketed into third place among 25- to 34-year-olds with an 8.6 share, while Paulsen and Krenn maintained a solid domination with a 21.4 share.
© March 1996, Executive Report, Inc.
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