July 11, 2022, Issue 815
Market Analysis: The Facts, Jax
Jacksonville may not jump to mind as one of Country’s strongest markets, but the format earned 16.8 shares in the May Nielsen PPMs, placing it second only to Nashville (which has one more station contributing). iHeartMedia WQIK clocked an 8.9 share – off just one tenth from April’s 9.0, which was its largest in more than four years – while Renda WGNE leapt 6.6 to 7.9 for the largest share in that station’s 22-year history. Crucially, the stations have generated ratings in the money demo – with both finishing top five Persons 25-54 four out of the past five months. Mediabase data shows WQIK’s airplay ratio is 41% current, 36% gold and 23% recurrent, while WGNE is 35% current, 33% recurrent and 32% gold (see Airplay Composition graphs, pg. 9; this week’s current airplay on Chart Page 4). A further sign of the stations’ strength is each has managed to top the market in the 25-54 demo in the last three months. Among 18-34s, WGNE has had the format lead in all five months this year, while WQIK has led in the 35-64 demo all year. The WQIK call letters have been playing Country music in Jacksonville – first on AM, then on FM – since 1957. While PD Cindy Spicer declined to comment for this feature, it’s clear that heritage coupled with consistent talent factor into the station’s success. Morning host Robbie Rose has been on the air in the market nearly 50 years – the last 20 on ‘QIK. MD John Scott has been with the station 30 years, the last 10 in mornings; (continued on page 6)
JACKSONVILLE DEMOS JAN P18-34 WGNE 2 WQIK 7 P25-54 WGNE 3t WQIK 3t P35-64 WGNE 7 WQIK 1
FEB 2 12t 1t 6 5 2
MAR 2 8t 1 4 5t 1
APR 2 10t 3 2 6 1
MAY 3t 8t 4 1 4t 1
Rank among subscribers. Source: Nielsen
Slow Down Summer(fest): Valory‘s Thomas Rhett closes Summerfest in Milwaukee. Pictured (top, l-r) are Albright & O‘Malley & Brenner‘s Kenny Jay, WNCY/Appleton-Green Bay, WI‘s Dan Stone, WWQM/Madison, WI‘s Randy Hawke with daughter Reese, guest Dillon with Stone‘s granddaughter Sapphire and wife Mindy, WNCY/Appleton-Green Bay, WI‘s Shotgun Shannon and guest Nicole; (bottom, l-r) WMIL/ Milwaukee‘s Quinn, Rhett, WMAD/Madison‘s Chelsey Steinhauer and the label‘s Adam Burnes.
KRTY: How It Started, How It’s Going
Three weeks in to the new streaming-only KRTY(.com)/San Jose, and much has changed ... but much hasn’t. Prior to signing off the 95.3 broadcast signal (CAT 6/17), the station changed its onair “95.3 KRTY San Jose Hot Country” position to “KRTY.com Legendary Country” to reinforce its market heritage. Music and programming, however, are virtually unchanged. Being freed of the broadcast signal hasn’t made for much boundary breaking – one launch-day use of the word “shit” aside. “We never felt constrained by [broadcast rules],” GM Nate Deaton says. “The playlist Nate Deaton is identical. We still meet with our music
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