The Drive, WLIT tie again in latest PPM survey

Also: Ali Matta departs Q101 

A touch of Christmas has led iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite (WLIT-FM) to tie Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM) for first place in the overall ratings for the second time this year.

The last time the two tied for first in the overall ratings was in September. 

Both stations came up with even 6 shares in the November 2022 PPM book, as WLIT became one of the first stations in the country to flip to Christmas music November 1, with three weeks of the format in the totals. WLIT was up from the previous month while WDRV was down slightly. With iHeart’s V103 finishing in third, Audacy’s all-news WBBM-AM finished fourth with a half-share drop from last period. Rounding out the top five was TelevisaUnivision’s WOJO-FM, flat in fifth place. 

The next two periods are for December and Holiday, which means WLIT will dominate the ratings and demos for the next few weeks with the Holly Jolly format. 

In the key adult 25-54 demo, WLIT also found success, finishing second behind WOJO, who scored its best ratings in the demo since May. Rounding out the top five was Audacy Triple A outlet WXRT (who should get a boost from a returning Lin Brehmer); Hubbard’s Hot AC station 101.9 The Mix (WTMX), whose ratings were up; and NPR’s WBEZ. Of note, WDRV fell to seventh. 

WLIT also surged in the adults 18-34 demo, from eleventh place to a tie for third with WDRV, once again thanks to Christmas music, behind WOJO and Cumulus’ classic hits outlet WLS-FM. Of note in the demo, their sister station Q101 (WKQX-FM) fell from fifth place last month to a tie for ninth place with TelevisaUnivision’s Spanish AC station WPPN-FM. On Wednesday, Q101 morning co-host Ali Matta announced her departure from the alternative rock station after four years for unknown reasons. Cumulus plans to search for a replacement: 

From @Q101Chicago on the departure of morning co-host Ali Matta: pic.twitter.com/OQhtFMkWdV

— T Dog Media (@tdogmedia) November 30, 2022

Overall, Q101 finished nineteenth in the November book, down from last month. 

The rest of the survey of the overall six-plus numbers was quiet, with no big, earth-shaking moves. Looking at the trends over the last four months, 101.9 The Mix was heading upward while the downward trajectory can be applied to WBEZ; Hubbard’s Gold AC WSHE; Audacy’s Top 40 B96; and the aforementioned Q101. Among all-sports talk stations, Audacy’s The Score (WSCR-AM) maintained their lead over Good Karma’s ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM).

Finally, Crawford’s Hip-Hop/R&B outlet Power 92 continues to lose power finishing 25th in a tie with sister R&B station 106.3 Soul (and Univision’s WVIV-FM) while conservative talk WLS-AM continues to languish at the bottom in 27th place.