October L.A. Radio Arbitrons: KBIG Back On Top

Clear Channel's hot AC KBIG-FM "My FM" dropped to a 5.3% share of the Los Angeles market listening audience (12+) in October, from a 5.6% in September. But it was still good enough to lead the market, as KBIG has been in the No. 1 or No. 2 spot for the entire year. Not bad.

In second was top 40 KIIS (5.2%, down from 5.8% in September), followed by a surging oldies KRTH "K-Earth" (4.3%, up from 4.1%), then AC KOST-FM (4.2%, unchanged) and top 40 KAMP-FM "Amp Radio" (4.1%, down from 4.2).

KBIG was also tops with adults 25-54 (6.0%), followed by KIIS (5.2%); KIIS led with adults 18-34 (8.2%), followed by KPWR "Power 106" (8.0%).

Among public radio stations, classical KUSC (2.2%) edged out KPCC (2.1%) for the first time this year.

In the morning drive race, KLAX-FM's El Mandril continued his streak at No. 1 for the fifth month in a row (5.6%), although he was down from September (6.9%). In second was KFI's Bill Handel/Rush Limbaugh combo (5.0%, up from 4.1%), with KROQ's Kevin & Bean in third (4.8%), then KIIS' Ryan Seacrest (4.4%) and KRTH's Gary Bryan (4.0%).

El Mandril also led listeners 18-34 (9.8%) and 25-54 (6.6%). Kevin & Bean were second in 25-54 (6.4%), while Seacrest was second with 18-34 (7.0%).

March Arbitron Ratings: KIIS Still Dominates; KAMP Back on the Rise

It's still not exactly a contest in the 6+ radio popularity race, as KIIS still dominated the Los Angeles market in the month of March. The top 40 station's 5.7 share is a full percentage point ahead of any other station.

Rival KAMP "Amp Radio" is back in the hunt, re-entering the top five -- and once again gunning for its bigger competish.

Interestingly, Spanish radio -- which ruled the L.A. Arbitrons for much of the 1990s and into the 2000s -- continues to shrink down the list. The top-rated Spanish-lingo station, KLVE-FM (3.1 share), is in 13th place. Some broadcast companies have blamed the switch to personal people meter ratings methodology (which has hit several different genres hard), while others point to competition (with many more Spanish-language stations these days).

KPCC-FM managed to squeak ahead of KUSC to earn the top-rated public radio honors this time out (1.8 vs. 1.7).

KUSC: L.A.'s Public Radio Champ

Ever wonder how many people listen to L.A.'s public radio stations? We know pretty much the commercial station leaders, starting with KIIS 102.7 FM. But Arbitron's new Personal People Meter (PPM) service is finally including pubcasters among its tally, and the results are interesting.

Several of L.A.'s public stations outperform their commercial counterparts. Pasadena City College's KPCC 89.3 FM, for example, has more listeners than CBS-owned FM talk station KLSX 97.1 FM. And KCRW 89.9 FM far out paces KDLD "Indie 103.1" FM. Cal State Long Beach's KKJZ "K-Jazz" 88.1 FM, meanwhile, outperforms Stevie Wonder's KJLH 102.3 FM.

The champ, however, among local public radio outlets is classical KUSC 91.5 FM, which I'm sure benefitted from the elimination of KMZT "K-Mozart" a few years ago.

Here's how they do, with September average week cume numbers:

KUSC-FM 756,400
KPCC-FM 557,900
KKJZ-FM 400,900
KCRW-FM 322,100
KPFK-FM 187,900

L.A.'s other public stations didn't amass a big enough audience to be reported.