Radio Ratings: Big January for KOST, KIIS, "Omar y Argelia" and "Kevin & Bean"

KOST-FM continued to enjoy a Christmas halo in January.

The station's annual all-Christmas format was a huge hit during the holidays, pulling a staggering 12.1 share of all Los Angeles radio listeners at the end of December. Christmas may be long gone, but listeners were still tuning into KOST way into January, giving it the No. 1 slot among listeners over the age of 12 (with a 5.9 share).

According to Nielsen's January radio ratings, top 40 KIIS-FM was No. 1 throughout the day with listeners 18-34 (8.0 share) and adults 25-54 (5.4 share).

In morning drive, Spanish-language KLVE's Omar y Argelia won overall, while KROQ's Kevin & Bean were tops in the key 25-54 demo. What's more, KROQ's Internet stream of Kevin & Bean also posted strong numbers -- so much more, that if you add the show's over-the-air and web numbers together, the show would be No. 3 overall (with a 4.5 share), and command an even more dominant 6.9 share with adults 25-54.

In public radio, our friends at KCRW led everyone with a strong 2.2 share.

Here are the top radio stations in January among listeners 12+:
1. KOST-FM (5.9 share)
2. KRTH-FM "K-Earth" (4.7)
3. KIIS-FM (4.6)
4. KBIG-FM "My FM" (4.5)
5. KLVE-FM "K-Love" (4.4)
6. KTWV-FM "The Wave" (4.2)
7. KRCD-FM "Recuerdo" (3.5)
tie. KCBS-FM "Jack FM" (3.5)
9. KNX-AM (3.3)
tie. KFI-AM (3.3)


25-54:
1. KIIS (5.4)
2. KBIG (5.0)
3. KLVE (4.8)
tie. KOST (4.8)
5. KCBS (4.0)
tie. KRTH (4.0)

Here are the top stations in morning drive among listeners 12+:
1. KLVE-FM "K-Love"/Omar y Argelia (5.3 share)
2. KOST-FM/Ellen K. (4.7)
3. KFI-AM/Bill Handel (4.4)
4. KIIS-FM/Ryan Seacrest (4.1)
5. KRTH "K-Earth"/Gary Bryan (4.0)
6. KNX-AM/Dick Helton and Vicky Moore (3.8)
tie. KROQ-FM/Kevin & Bean (3.8)
8. KTWV "The Wave"/Pat Prescott (3.6)
tie. KBIG "My FM"/Valentine (3.6)
10. KSCA "LA 101.9"/"El Bueno, La Mala y El Feo" (3.1)

25-54:
1. KROQ (5.6)
2. KLVE (5.2)
3. KIIS (4.7)
4. KBIG (3.8)
tie. KSCA (3.8)

L.A. Radio Ratings: K-Earth Extends Domination to Mornings in November

L.A. likes its classic hits.

According to Nielsen's November radio ratings, KRTH "K-Earth 101" has now extended its lead as the No. 1 radio station in Los Angeles for the fourth month in a row. KRTH has also extended its dominance to mornings, where Gary Bryan's show was No. 1 in the daypart among listeners 12 and older (and in the key listeners 25-54 demo).

Meanwhile, top 40 KIIS-FM was No. 1 throughout the day with listeners 18-34 (8.1 share) and KBIG "My FM" (104.3) with No. 1 with adults 25-54 (5.6 share).

It was also a strong month for our pals at KCRW, which jumped ahead of competitor KPCC for the first time in recent memory (1.9 share vs. 1.8 share).



In morning drive, here are the top shows among listeners 12+:
1. KRTH "K-Earth"/Gary Bryan (5.7 share)
2. KLVE "K-Love"/Omar y Argelia (5.0)
3. KFI-AM/Bill Handel (4.8)
4. KBIG "My FM"/Valentine (4.6)
5. KIIS/Ryan Seacrest (4.5)
6. KROQ/Kevin & Bean (4.1)
TIE. KNX-AM/Dick Helton and Vicky Moore (4.1)
8. KOST/Ellen K (3.9)
9. KTWV "The Wave"/Pat Prescott (3.6)
10. KCBS "Jack FM"/Music (3.4)

25-54:
1. KRTH (5.5)
2. KROQ (5.4)
3. KLVE (5.2)
4. KIIS (4.9)
5. KBIG (4.7)

Here are the top stations among listeners 12+:
1. KRTH "K-Earth" (5.7 share)
2. KBIG "My FM" (5.1)
3. KIIS (4.9)
TIE. KOST (4.9)
5. KTWV "The Wave" (3.9)
6. KLVE "K-Love" (3.8)
TIE. KCBS "Jack FM" (3.8)
8. KFI (3.8)
9. KSWD "The Sound" (3.4)
TIE. KNX (3.4)
25-54:
1. KBIG (5.6)
2. KRTH "K-Earth" (5.5)
TIE. KIIS (5.5)
4. KOST (4.6)
5. KLVE (4.2)

September Radio Ratings: Bill Handel, Ryan Seacrest, Kevin & Bean Lead Mornings

School's back, which means more people on the road-- and listening to morning drive radio. Big beneficiaries included KIIS-FM's Ryan Seacrest and KROQ's Kevin & Bean, both of which saw strong gains in their key listener demos.

According to Nielsen's September radio ratings, KFI's Bill Handel was No. 1 in the morning among listeners 12 and older (mostly thanks to the strength of listeners over 54), tied with KLVE's Omar y Argelia. But in top demos, it was Ryan Seacrest (No. 1 in persons 18-34, leaping to 9.2 share from a 7.9 in August) and Kevin & Bean (No. 1 in persons 25-54, jumping to a 5.6 share from a 5.0 in August) that experienced healthy moves.

In overall listenership (6 a.m. to midnight), KRTH "K-Earth 101" was No. 1 for a second month in a row with a 5.1 share of the listening audience age 12 and over.

Meanwhile, top 40 KIIS-FM was No. 1 with listeners 18-34 (9.2 share) and with 25-54 (5.5 share).

It was also a strong month for KCRW, posted its highest numbers in at least a year.



In morning drive, here are the top shows among listeners 12+:
1. KFI (5.1 share)
TIE. KLVE "K-Love" (5.1)
3. KRTH "K-Earth" (4.9)
4. KIIS (4.6)
5. KROQ (4.0)
6. KNX (3.9)
TIE. KBIG "My FM"(3.9)
8. KTWV "The Wave" (3.4)
9. KLYY "Jose FM" (3.3)
TIE. KOST (3.3)

25-54:
1. KROQ (5.6)
2. KLVE (5.3)
3. KIIS (4.9)
4. KRTH (4.3)
TIE. KBIG (4.3)

Here are the top stations among listeners 12+:
1. KRTH "K-Earth" (5.1 share)
2. KIIS (5.0)
3. KBIG "My FM" (4.8)
4. KOST (4.5)
5. KTWV "The Wave" (3.9)
6. KLVE "K-Love" (3.8)
7. KSWD "The Sound" (3.7)
8. KCBS "Jack FM" (3.6)
TIE. KFI (3.6)
10. KRCD (3.1)
TIE. KLAX (3.1)
TIE. KNX (3.1)
TIE. KAMP "Amp Radio" (3.1)

25-54:
1. KIIS (5.5)
2. KBIG (5.2)
3. KRTH "K-Earth" (4.9)
4. KOST (4.4)
TIE. KLVE (4.4)

August Radio Ratings: KRTH, KFI Top the Charts

KRTH "K-Earth 101" is back on top.

The classic hits station (the classy way of saying "oldies") won the August 2015 book in Los Angeles with a 4.9 share of the listening audience age 12 and over. It was also 8th with persons 18-34 and 4th with the 25-54 year olds.

Meanwhile, top 40 KIIS-FM was No. 1 with listeners 18-34 (7.9 share), while hot adult contemporary KBIG "My 104.3" was No. 1 with 25-54 (5.4 share).

The big market success story right now may be hip-hop KRRL "Real 92.3," which has been the No. 2 station in the market among adults 18-34 since May. Not bad for a station that had previously been urban AC "Hot 92.3." It continues to narrowly beat heritage hip-hop KPWR "Power 106," having stolen key morning star Big Boy.

In morning drive time, KFI's Bill Handel remains dominant with radio listeners age 12 and up, averaging a 5.2 share. Close behind was Spanish language KLVE (5.1 share), which was No. 1 with listeners 25-54 (5.4). Ryan Seacrest on KIIS was still No. 1 with persons 18-34, a streak he's held all of 2015.



In morning drive, here are the top shows among listeners 12+:

1. KFI (5.2 share)
2. KLVE (5.1)
3. KRTH "K-Earth" (4.6)
4. KIIS (4.3)
5. KOST (4.0)
6. KTWV "The Wave" (3.9)
7. KBIG (3.7)
TIE. KNX (3.7)
9. KROQ (3.4)
TIE. KSWD "The Sound" (3.4)


25-54:

1. KLVE (5.4)
2. KROQ (5.0)
3. KIIS (4.6)
4. KLYY (4.3)
5. KBIG (4.0)


Here are the top stations among listeners 12+:

1. KRTH (4.9 share)
2. KBIG (4.8)
TIE. KIIS (4.8)
TIE. KOST (4.8)
5. KTWV "The Wave" (4.1)
6. KCBS "Jack FM" (3.8)
TIE. KSWD "The Sound" (3.8)
TIE. KFI (3.8)
TIE. KLVE (3.8)
10. KAMP "Amp Radio" (3.1)

25-54:

1. KBIG (5.4)
2. KIIS (5.2)
3. KOST (4.7)
4. KRTH "K-Earth" (4.6)
5. KLVE (4.3)

Which Radio Station Will Go All-Christmas First, And When?

Last year, 94.7 KTWV-FM "The Wave" pulled a fast one on rival 103.5 KOST-FM and launched its all-Christmas format the night of Sunday, November 13. KOST, which traditionally OWNS the all-Christmas niche here in Southern California, didn't take the competition lying down, and quickly followed suit.

Expect the rivalry to be just as fierce this year -- which makes me assume that the Big Christmas Flip will happen this weekend. But when? And who will go first?

In 2010, KOST went all-Christmas on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. In 2011, The Wave flipped to all-Christmas on Sunday, Nov. 13. So it's time to lay down a wager: When will the first station go all-Christmas this year, and which one? Leave your guesses in the comments!

All-Christmas Radio En Espanol Comes to LA

We wrote a few days ago about the Christmas music war that has broken out between traditional holiday leader KOST-FM and rival smooth jazz KTWV "The Wave." Now enters a third competitor: Spanish-language oldies outlet KRCD-FM, known as "Recuerdo 103.9/98.3."

The interesting thing here: Recuerdo is playing a mix of Spanish-language Christmas songs (yes, including "Feliz Navidad") and English-language Christmas songs from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Because, let's face it, even if you don't speak English, you've been bombarded with these songs over the years and I'm sure they're pretty familiar anyway.

There aren't many Spanish stations that have gone all-Christmas over the years, but Recuerdo probably figured it could steal away from bilingual and Spanish-language listeners who tune into KOST to get into the holiday mood.

Here's a sample of Recuerdo's playlist:

It's KOST vs. The Wave as L.A. Radio's Christmas Smackdown Begins

Oh, it's ON. The Los Angeles Christmas radio wars, that is. Adult contemporary KTWV-FM "The Wave" (94.7) pulled a fast one on KOST-FM (103.5) over the weekend, launching an all-Christmas playlist on Sunday night. As you know, that's traditionally KOST's territory -- and it's paid off handsomely for KOST, which has ended the last few Decembers in first place thanks to its ho-ho-horrible all-Christmas music. (Sorry, just a difference in personal taste.)

Former KOST program director Jhani Kaye is over at The Wave now, and has turned the smooth jazz outlet further away from Kenny G (oh, don't worry, your aunt's favorite frizzy-haired saxophonist is still heard) and more of a competitor to KOST. And this holiday season, that means he hopes to steal some of KOST's Christmas audience.

Billboards all over town have gone up promoting The Wave as Los Angeles' "NEW Christmas Station" and promising cash prizes. But KOST isn't taking things lying down. The station bumped up its switch to Christmas music by a few days (last year it launched the Thursday before Thanksgiving) and is continuing to tout itself as "Your Official Holiday Music Station."

Radio consultant Sean Ross took a listen to The Wave's Christmas format and had this to say:

The good news is that this is definitely NOT the holiday format as heard on most Mainstream AC stations. The promos emphasize that there’s lots of music from Smooth Jazz artists and there indeed seemed to be one represented every 15 minutes or so.

As a station that effectively doubles as Urban AC for its market, one might have expected The Wave to do a more soulful holiday format than the typical AC model. In the segment I heard, there were more R&B artists in the mix, performing the holiday standards, but it was very different from the very R&B-flavored holiday format of the U.K.’s Smooth Radio. (The station does have an upcoming “Winter Wonderland” concert starring Brian McKnight, El DeBarge, and Johnny Gill.)

In fact, if anything, because the jazziness of the station lent itself to so many of the pre-rock artists heard at holiday time, the Wave actually plays a little more traditional than the average AC station. When you break up Sinatra and Bing Crosby with Al Jarreau, it almost plays like those neo-Standards/lounge formats that a number of programmers were trying to float a few years ago.

Here's a comparison of the two stations. First, what Ross heard on The Wave:

Ella Fitzgerald, “Sleigh Ride”
Katherine McPhee, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Frank Sinatra, “Jingle Bells”
Al Jarreau, “The Christmas Song”
Bing Crosby, “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”
Kenny G., “Winter Wonderland”
Mariah Carey, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
Kirk Whalum, “Do You Hear What I Hear”
Stylistics, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
Amy Grant, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
Peter White, “Jingle Bells”
Patti Austin, “This Christmas”

And here's a sample of what KOST played today:

Celine Dion - O Holy Night
Wham! - Last Christmas
Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - The Little Drummer Boy
Elvis Presley - Here Comes Santa Claus
Amy Grant - Winter Wonderland
Jack Wagner - All I Need
Neil Diamond - You Make It Feel Like Christmas
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song

OK, I'm guessing the "All I Need" was dropped in there because a DJ was talking about Heather Locklear's breakup with Jack Wagner. But what do you think -- does either station have the edge in holiday tunes? Or will you be blocking both from your car stereo?

May Arbitron Ratings: KIIS dominates, while "The Wave" crests

L.A. radio junkies have been waiting for the demise of CBS Radio's KTWV-FM 94.7 "The Wave."

But don't count out the "smooth jazz" station just yet. While similar-formatted stations have been disappearing across the country, Los Angeles' "The Wave" still has quite a bit of life in it, if the May 2010 Arbitron ratings are any indication.

Part of The Wave's success is simple: It's not really a "smooth jazz" station at all. Program director Jhani Kaye, who also programs CBS Radio's KRTH "K-Earth 101," has repositioned The Wave as a much more approachable adult contemporary station.

And just as he found success in making K-Earth (now a solid No. 2 in the market, behind KIIS) much more current and mainstream, Kaye's done the same with The Wave.

Check out The Wave's current top 10 list:

Michael Buble – "Haven't Met You Yet"
Sade – "Soldier Of Love"
Usher – "Making Love (Into The Night)"
Sade – "Babyfather"
Leona Lewis – "Better In Time"
Fergie – "Big Girls Don't Cry"
Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillet – "Lucky"
Kenny G featuring Robin Thicke – "Fall Again"
Norah Jones – "Chasing Pirates"
Mary J. Blige – "I Am"

The May book is also the first with Kim Amidon in the morning, who replaced Brian McKnight in May as Pat Prescott's morning drive partner.

Overall, KIIS-FM is once again market leader, with a commanding 6.1% share of the L.A. radio audience. Meanwhile, the local rock radio race continues to heat up. KYSR 98.7 FM (3.5 share) continues to lead over KLOS (3.3 share) and KROQ (3.1 share).

The usual disclaimer, you should always take the 6+ audience share numbers -- the ones reported by everyone -- with a grain of salt. It's demos that stations and advertisers care about.

Kim Amidon replaces Brian McKnight at 94.7 "The Wave"

Take that, KOST.

Radio personality Kim Amidon is back in weekday morning drive. The host has been paired with longtime morning drive DJ Pat Prescott on 94.7 KTWV-FM ("The Wave"), where she begins on Monday.

Amidon replaces recording artist Brian McKnight, who had been co-hosting with Prescott.

Amidon has been guesting on KTWV's weekend schedule since February. Amidon and Prescott host weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. -- against competition including KOST and her longtime radio partner (22 years) Mark Wallengren.

The move comes as Kim's former KOST boss, Jhani Kaye (who has more recently overseen KRTH "K-Earth"), added oversight of "The Wave" to his duties.

More info:

In making the announcement, KTWV program director Jhani Kaye called Amidon one of the most relatable personalities in the industry. “Kim is a perfect fit for The Wave’s audience and is sure to attract many of her former listeners. Together Pat and Kim will add a local flavor to the show as they both have the unique ability of making every listener feel like they’re in the car right alongside with them.”

Current morning show co-host Brain McKnight will continue to periodically appear on the program and will contribute to other Wave projects and events. McKnight is an accomplished R&B recoding artist and also hosts a self-titled television talk show.

Amidon was raised in Southern California. In addition to her legendary run at KOST she has worked for L.A. stations KRTH, KHJ, KUTE, KACE and KOLA. She has a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has won several major broadcasting awards during her career.

Here's what we wrote in 2007 when KOST, in a cost-cutting move, let go of Amidon.

Local Media Notes: KNBC Traffic Reporter Undergoes Brain Surgery; Former KOST Host Finds New Home

:: "Today in L.A." traffic anchor Paul Johnson has been absent for several weeks -- leading several viewers to leave comments on KNBC/Channel 4's web site, asking what happened.

KNBC finally addressed Johnson's condition on Friday, noting that he had undergone brain surgery. The station reports:

If you're wondering where Paul Johnson is, you're not alone. We've had tons of emails and calls, and Paul wants you to know that he's truly grateful for your concern.

Paul underwent brain surgery the last week of January and is at home recovering. He's doing well, walking his dogs and hoping to get back up on that horse. Yes, literally -- he and his wife Nancy have a horse in the back yard, right next to the putting green, so he has all three things he loves the most around him at all times. Well, four things, if you count the Great Dane therapy dogs, Sampson and Atlas, that he counts as part of his family.

Johnson has been with KNBC since 1988.



:: The last we heard of Kim Amidon, the longtime Los Angeles radio personality was let go by KOST after nearly 22 years as Mark Wallengren's co-host.

After a few years off the air, Amidon is back, and serving as a weekend DJ on KTWV "The Wave" 94.7 FM.

The move comes as Kim's former KOST boss, Jhani Kaye (who has more recently overseen KRTH "K-Earth"), recently added oversight of "The Wave" to his duties.

Kaye has been charged with updating "The Wave's" sound -- and perhaps go directly against his old KOST home. Hiring Amidon is a part of that.