The kings of morning radio boosted their ratings and further cemented the No. 1 ranking of both KSSK-FM 92.3 and AM 590 in the latest Arbitron survey.
Ratings for the long-dominant "Perry & Price" morning show, featuring Michael W. Perry and Larry Price, were up among all listeners 12 and older, as well as in the 18- to 34-year-old and 25- to 54-year-old groups.
"We’re always trying to fine-tune the music and trying to appeal to the broadest audience we can," said Chuck Cotton, vice president and general manager of Clear Channel Hawaii’s seven radio stations: KSSK AM and FM, KDNN-FM, KHJZ-FM, KHVH-AM, KIKI-AM and KUCD-FM.
KSSK also got a boost from an annual promotion giving away trips to Las Vegas.
"It’s always a big promotion for us," Cotton said.
Most stations across the Clear Channel group rose in ratings and rankings, but KHJZ-FM 93.9 (called 93.9 Jamz) tumbled since the previous survey, taken between Sept. 15 and Dec. 7.
Michael W. Perry
Larry Price
The station’s old-school rhythm-and-blues format competes against a similar format at KUMU-FM 94.7 and against an oldies format at KKOL-FM 107.9.
Work to improve the music mix is ongoing, and "we’re always trying to offer people a different choice," Cotton said.
Officials at Cox Media Group Hawaii are "taking a victory lap," said Vice President and General Manager Patti Milburn. "It’s nice to be kind of cruising there right under the big guys. … Most of our stations are in the top six, top five," she said.
Cox’s KRTR-FM 96.3 with its adult contemporary format is No. 2 among 25- to 54-year-olds, she noted, and KINE-FM "broke into the top five (in the) 25-to-54 demographic … the money demo," after a lengthy absence, she noted.
Following "some tweaks in the music," the "K.C. and Taka" morning show on KPHW-FM 104.3 shot up to No. 2 from No. 8 among 18- to 34-year-olds a year ago, and to No. 5 from No. 11 among the 25- to 54-year-old demographic, Milburn said.
The station has "evolved into a wonderful, high-energy music station that has more mass appeal. … It’s more than hip-hop," Milburn said.
Cox’s other Hawaii stations are KCCN-FM, KKNE-AM and KRTR-AM.
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OAHU’S TOP RADIO STATIONS
| STATION |
WINTER 2012 |
WINTER 2011 |
(RANK) |
| 1. KSSK-FM 92.3 |
10.7 |
9.0 |
(1) |
| 2. KINE-FM 105.1 |
6.8 |
8.8 |
(2) |
| 3. KRTR-FM 96.3 |
6.5 |
5.4 |
(5) |
| 4. KDNN-FM 98.5 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
(4) |
| 5. KPHW-FM 104.3 |
5.3 |
4.4 |
(8) |
| 6t. KUMU-FM 94.7 |
5.0 |
6.7 |
(3) |
| 6t. KCCN-FM 100.3 |
5.0 |
4.1 |
(9) |
| 8. KKOL-FM 107.9 |
4.5 |
3.6 |
(10) |
| 9. KDDB-FM 102.7 |
3.8 |
4.9 |
(6) |
| 10. KUCD-FM 101.9 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
(11) |
OAHU’S TOP RADIO STATIONS IN THE MORNING
| STATION |
WINTER 2012 |
WINTER 2011 |
(RANK) |
| 1. KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590 |
19.6 |
18.4 |
(1) |
| 2. KDNN-FM 98.5 |
8.0 |
7.5 |
(2) |
| 3. KRTR-FM 96.3 |
5.9 |
4.3 |
(6) |
| 4. KINE-FM 105.1 |
5.8 |
7.2 |
(3) |
| 5t. KUMU-FM 94.7 |
4.6 |
6.3 |
(4) |
| 5t. KCCN-FM 100.3 |
4.6 |
3.6 |
(9) |
| 5t. KPHW-FM 104.3 |
4.6 |
3.5 |
(10) |
| 8. KKOL-FM 107.9 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
(12t) |
| 9. KUCD-FM 101.9 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
(14) |
|
| 10. KDDB-FM 102.7 |
3.1 |
4.7 |
(5) |
Rankings and share reflect listeners 12 and older. Share is the percentage of audience listening. Honolulu is the nation’s 64th-largest radio market.
Survey dates: Jan. 5 to March 28
Source: Arbitron Inc.
