Radio Ratings

No. 2 is actually No. 1, and No. 1 is really No. 3. Move No. 3 to No. 4, take No. 4 off the Top 12, and bring up No. 5 to the No. 2 spot. Confused? Those are part of the maneuvers radio executives and advertisers go through every three months to determine the real meaning behind the Arbitron ratings.

Talk station KFI-AM (640) retained the top spot in the local radio ratings in February, while its co-leader in January, soft-rock outlet KOST-FM (103.5), slipped to second. KFI averaged 4.9% of the listening audience in Los Angeles and Orange County age 6 and older, according to figures released Monday by the Arbitron ratings service. KOST slipped from 4.8% in January to 4.5%, based on the survey of listeners from Feb. 3 to March 2. By comparison, KOST held an impressive 8.5% of the audience at the end of last year, when — as it does every Christmas season — it switched to a playlist featuring only holiday music.

Talk station KFI-AM (640) retained the top spot in the local radio ratings in February, while its co-leader in January, soft-rock outlet KOST-FM (103.5), slipped to second. KFI averaged 4.9% of the listening audience in Los Angeles and Orange County age 6 and older, according to figures released Monday by the Arbitron ratings service. KOST slipped from 4.8% in January to 4.5%, based on the survey of listeners from Feb. 3 to March 2. By comparison, KOST held an impressive 8.5% of the audience at the end of last year, when — as it does every Christmas season — it switched to a playlist featuring only holiday music.

For the 10th year in a row, KOST-FM (103.5) celebrated the Christmas season by switching to nonstop holiday music, which predictably led to another celebration at the station: a ratings win for the late-November, early-December period. Every year since 2001, KOST has traded its adult-contemporary format in mid-November for wall-to-wall holiday fare, sprinkling classics by Andy Williams, Bing Crosby and Vince Guaraldi with carols by newer artists such as Amy Grant and Josh Groban.

Far from moldy oldies, the classic hits on K-Earth 101 blared from more radios during the most recent ratings period than any other local station, according to figures released Wednesday by Arbitron. KRTH-FM (101.1) snagged the top spot in Los Angeles-Orange County radio during the Oct. 15 to Nov. 11 ratings period. KRTH garnered 4.9% of the listening audience age 6 and older, just edging pop purveyor KIIS-FM (102.7), which slipped to 4.8% from 5.2% the period before. KIIS had held the top spot for most of the last two years, on the strength of its Top 40 playlist.

Arbitron's fall quarter ratings for the Los Angeles radio market cite the following stations, followed by their percentage share of listeners, as the 20 most popular stations in Los Angeles: KIIS-FM (102.7) 8.2 KABC-AM (790) 6.0 KJOI-FM (98.7) 4.9 KLOS-FM (95.5) 4.8 KBIG-FM (104.3) 4.7 KROQ-FM (106.7) 3.9 KFWB-AM (980) 3.9 KOST-FM (103.5) 3.4 KMPC-AM (710) 3.4 KRTH-AM (101.1) 3.3 KNX-AM (1070) 3.0 KZLA-FM (93.9) 2.6 KMET-FM (94.7) 2.5 KIQQ-FM (100.3) 2.5 KKHR-FM (93.1) 2.4 KJLH-FM (102.3) 2.

For the third month in a row, pop outlet KIIS-FM (102.7) widened its lead as the top-rated radio station in Los Angeles and Orange County, according to figures released Wednesday. In May the station snagged 6.1% of all radio listeners 6 and older, up from 5.8% the month before. Second-place KRTH-FM (101.1), the oldies station, remained at 4.9%, according to the Arbitron ratings service. Adult-contemporary station KOST-FM (103.5) and talk station KFI-AM (640) held onto their third- and fourth-place finishes from the previous month, despite losing audience share in the survey of listeners from April 29 to May 26. Unlike times in the past, when hip-hop, country or other genres were more popular, this is "a real good time for Top 40," said KIIS program director John Ivey.

More than 70 years after Orson Welles panicked thousands with radio reports of a Martian invasion in Grover's Mill, N.J., another spoken-word broadcaster shook up the status quo Monday, at least regarding radio ratings in Los Angeles and Orange County. Talk station KFI-AM (640) finished first in October, according to Arbitron figures released Monday, knocking pop station KIIS-FM (102.7) out of the top spot for the first time all year. KFI last won the local ratings race in September 2009.

The ratings wars in local radio remained pretty much a stalemate during the summer, even with the controversial arrival in August of a new format on KLSX-FM (97.1), which went from classic rock to light talk. According to the quarterly audience measurement released Tuesday by Arbitron, the national radio ratings service, KLSX increased its audience share only one-tenth of a point to 2.3%, tying for the 18th spot among the 80-plus stations in the Los Angeles market.

Radio giant Clear Channel Communications and ratings service Arbitron said Monday they had concluded nine months of stormy negotiations with a new three-year agreement that covers more than 700 radio stations. Financial details were not disclosed. The deal, which extends Arbitron ratings coverage in 130 markets through the fall 2004 season, was reached late Sunday, Arbitron spokesman Thom Mocarsky said.

More than 70 years after Orson Welles panicked thousands with radio reports of a Martian invasion in Grover's Mill, N.J., another spoken-word broadcaster shook up the status quo Monday, at least regarding radio ratings in Los Angeles and Orange County. Talk station KFI-AM (640) finished first in October, according to Arbitron figures released Monday, knocking pop station KIIS-FM (102.7) out of the top spot for the first time all year. KFI last won the local ratings race in September 2009.

In August, for the eighth month in a row, Top 40 outlet KIIS-FM (102.7) led the Los Angeles-Orange County radio ratings, according to figures released Tuesday by Arbitron. The result might seem like a no-brainer, or even unfair, for a station whose playlist includes the most popular songs in the country. But the recipe for success is not so easy, said Greg Ashlock, who oversees KIIS and seven other stations in Los Angeles for Clear Channel, the nation's largest radio chain. A station in a smaller market can simply mimic the pop charts, or follow what everyone else is doing, he said.

With television royalty starting her own network, it only makes sense to seek royal personalities to fill the programming. Or, in this case, a former member of the British royal family. Move over Weight Watchers commercials! Sarah Ferguson is the latest personality to join OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. In the six-part series, which is produced by World of Wonder and will premiere in early next year, viewers will watch as the Duchess of York struggles to rebuild her life with the help of experts Dr. Phil McGraw, Suze Orman and Martha Beck, among others.

For the third month in a row, pop outlet KIIS-FM (102.7) widened its lead as the top-rated radio station in Los Angeles and Orange County, according to figures released Wednesday. In May the station snagged 6.1% of all radio listeners 6 and older, up from 5.8% the month before. Second-place KRTH-FM (101.1), the oldies station, remained at 4.9%, according to the Arbitron ratings service. Adult-contemporary station KOST-FM (103.5) and talk station KFI-AM (640) held onto their third- and fourth-place finishes from the previous month, despite losing audience share in the survey of listeners from April 29 to May 26. Unlike times in the past, when hip-hop, country or other genres were more popular, this is "a real good time for Top 40," said KIIS program director John Ivey.

The shortest month of the year was kind to the stations with -- at least traditionally -- the shortest playlists, as Top 40 outlet KIIS-FM (102.7) extended its lead in the local radio ratings while rival pop station KAMP-FM (97.1) jumped from 10th place to fifth, according to February figures released Wednesday by the Arbitron ratings service. With more than 3.9 million people tuning in for at least five minutes every week, KIIS snagged the top spot, averaging a 5.6% share of the Los Angeles-Orange County audience in the survey of listeners ages 6 and older from Feb. 4 to March 3. That was up from 5.4% in January, and its highest share since hitting 5.7% in February 2009.

When Andy Williams sings "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," the folks at KOST-FM (103.5) ought to sing along -- and not because they like marshmallows for roasting and caroling in the snow. The adult-contemporary station, elevated by its annual switch to nonstop holiday music, trounced its rivals in Los Angeles-Orange County radio last month, according to figures released Wednesday by the Arbitron ratings service. KOST attracted a whopping 8.1% of the listening audience from Dec. 10 to Jan. 6, with more than 4.5 million people tuning in for at least five minutes each week.

Los Angeles radio is moving to the right--the far right of the dial. According to the latest Arbitron radio survey, the real action is on the starboard side of your car radio. KROQ-FM (106.7)--just purchased for an astounding $45 million by Infinity Broadcasting--has moved up from a 3.9 to a 4.3 rating, making it easily the highest-rated album-rock station in the market. And in an even more spectacular ratings jump, KPWR-FM (105.9 and known as Power 106) has catapulted to a 4.

Pop station KIIS-FM (102.7) held on to the top spot in the local radio ratings for July, while all-news station KNX-AM (1070) staked a claim as a morning staple for Los Angeles-Orange County listeners, according to figures released Wednesday. KIIS dipped slightly in its share of the local audience ages 6 and older, going from 5% in June to 4.8% last month, but the station kept its grip on the No. 1 ranking that it has held since January, based on the Arbitron survey of listeners from June 25 through July 22. Talk station KFI-AM (640)

It's the same gift exchange every year: KOST-FM (103.5) offers its listeners wall-to-wall holiday music, and they in turn give the adult-contemporary station a bump to No. 1 in the ratings. Last month was no different, according to figures released by the Arbitron ratings service. KOST shot to the top of the Los Angeles-Orange County market, garnering 5.5% of the radio audience ages 6 and older. Top-40 station KIIS-FM (102.7) finished second, at 4.7%, for the ratings period, which surveyed listeners from Nov. 12 to Dec. 9. In previous period, KOST was fourth at 3.7%.

Far from moldy oldies, the classic hits on K-Earth 101 blared from more radios during the most recent ratings period than any other local station, according to figures released Wednesday by Arbitron. KRTH-FM (101.1) snagged the top spot in Los Angeles-Orange County radio during the Oct. 15 to Nov. 11 ratings period. KRTH garnered 4.9% of the listening audience age 6 and older, just edging pop purveyor KIIS-FM (102.7), which slipped to 4.8% from 5.2% the period before. KIIS had held the top spot for most of the last two years, on the strength of its Top 40 playlist.