Below is the second in a series of articles that celebrate public radio success in 2019 and acknowledge some landmark audience achievements.
After tracking PPM stations monthly for over eight years, Scott has created Share benchmarks for the best performing stations among Persons 6+ by format. To be a top ten performing news station a 4.8 Share is required, while the top classical stations require a minimum 2.0 Share. The best Triple A stations need a Share of at least 1.0.
In the News category, the top-rated station is WAMU in Washington DC with a 2019 6+ Share of 8.4. In the DC market, the station tied for first place in this top-line measurement with their commercial news competitor WTOP. Radio news listening was obviously a top priority in the nation’s capital during 2019.
Among Classical stations, WETA, also in Washington DC, finishes number one with a 3.4 Share. The top Triple A station in 2019 is KCMP in Minneapolis with a 2.9 Share.
A similarity of the top three stations mentioned above is that they are in markets with a high density of college-educated listeners. Washington DC is the top ranked market for education with 51.7% of the listeners age 25+ with a Bachelor Degree or more. Minneapolis ranks seventh among PPM stations for college education with 41.8% of all listeners age 25+ with at least a Bachelor Degree.
Not to be forgotten is the performance of Religious stations throughout 2019. RRC looked at stations with a minimum share of 2.8 to create a Top 10. At the top of the list stands KTIS-FM in Minneapolis with a 2019 6+ share of 6.3.
Scott Williams on behalf of RRC
