RadioInsight

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Who Had the Hits In 2020?

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 12:00 PM PST
https://radioinsight.com/ross/203800...-hits-in-2020/





Earlier this week, veteran consultant Guy Zapoleon took his annual look at
the musical cycles impacting the Top 40 radio format. Zapoleon found that
those stations were disproportionately focused on “pop,� which, by his
calculations, represented 67% of their music. Zapoleon encouraged Top 40
radio to take more songs from other formats—the thing that typically
defines Top 40.

Those recommendations dovetail with newly released BDSRadio stats on the
number of top-20 hits at each format last year. Top 40 radio, which was the
most musically aggressive format when we first looked at the stats in 2013,
has fallen from fourth to seventh overall over the last year. Top 40 is now
breaking fewer songs than the Adult Top 40 format that is supposed to be
its more conservative cohort. Overall, Top 40 has 20 fewer top hits last
year than it did in 2013. (Accordingly, Zapoleon says CHR had 30 consensus
power rotation songs this year, rather than the usual 20.)

Rhythmic Top 40 remained the format with the most top-20 hits in 2020,
followed again by Triple-A, which had its most robust year for product to
date. The other significant gainers were Christian AC, which had 10 more
hits than it did in 2019, and switched places with Top 40, up from No. 7 to
No. 4, and Active Rock which held rank at No. 5, but is up noticeably from
2013.Â*

Here’s this year’s ranking of top 20 hits by format, and here’s what we
wrote last year.
2019 Rank 2020 Rank Format 2013 2016 2018 2019 2020 1 1 Rhythmic
Top 40 103 107 106 108 106 2 2 Triple-A 93 94 100 99 104 3
3 Hip-Hop/R&B 94 98 104 98 96 7 4 Christian AC n/a n/a n/a 82
92 5 5 Active Rock 82 88 92 88 91 6 6 Adult Top 40 88 90 82
84 88 4 7 Top 40 105 96 87 89 85 7 8 Alternative 91 75 84
82 84 10 9 Adult R&B 76 71 75 77 78 11 10 Mainstream AC 83
81 69 73 75 9 11 Country 95 89 85 78 73

The BDSRadio count of top-20 hits by format is one way of measuring the
year-to-year strength of radio formats that play current music. Having the
most chart hits is not, of course, the same thing as “playing the hits.�
Formats such as Mainstream AC are traditionally successful with almost no
new music. Also, in 2020, many factors, including the continued exodus of
younger, more active listeners, played across a pandemic-altered listening
landscape that was unkind to most current-based formats.

But feeling good about the available current product is a sign of any
format upturn, and it’s noteworthy that both Contemporary Christian and
Active Rock stations were among 2020’s few success stories. In Dallas,
Christian AC KLTY led the market, including much-admired KHKS (Kiss 106.1),
for much of the year, even before the pandemic.Â*

As a group, Christian AC programmers adjusted their clocks to become more
current-driven several years ago; they are also continuing to weed some
heritage titles that still test. Both of those moves are hallmarks of a
format on the rise, driven by a rise in available uptempo pop and the
continued strength of praise-and-worship music.

After reading Zapoleon’s evaluation of Top 40, one wonders if the 20 fewer
hits vs. 2013 represent all the songs that are not crossing over from other
formats. It is worth noting that while Zapoleon codes the format’s current
“pop� offerings as 67% of the format, “pop� as CHR practices it now can
range from the uptempo pop of “Blinding Lights� to Justin Bieber’s “Yummy,�
typical of the downtempo rhythmic pop that sometimes comes from major
artists like Bieber and Ariana Grande, and sometimes from left-field
artists propelled by streaming stories.

In the most recent heyday of Top 40, 2008-13, uptempo rhythmic pop was the
driver. Artists might reside within the format, at R&B, or even at
Alternative, but all of them made uptempo “turbo-pop� hits and CHR was
wildly successful, even if the music mix sometimes felt claustrophobic. CHR
embraced uptempo house-flavored hits from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, and others
last year, but still relied heavily on slower rhythmic pop, especially as
it began to seek out more hits from TikTok. That there are 20 fewer hits
than before is, in part, because CHR cannot support 20 more hits in a small
number of styles.Â*

Here’s a look at the other major formats and their product availability:

Rhythmic Top 40 has been the format with the most top-20 hits since 2016
and leads again this year. Rhythmic Top 40 continues to benefit from being
at the intersection of Top 40, Hip-Hop, and the Latin Urban format, as well
as many of the streaming success stories. But while the format’s biggest
hits of 2020 included DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, and Jack Harlow, it’s also worth
noting that the No. 2 song in the format this week is an R&B ballad from
Jhene Aiko and H.E.R.

Triple-A has been the format that has most aggressively fought for the
“music discovery� franchise, as challenges proliferate. In 2020, with the
concert scene that represents a large part of the format’s business on
hold, one PD felt that his peers were doubling down on music discovery —
because they had more time, and because the audience needed the diversion.
Its also significant that Triple-A is the format with a significant number
of noncommercial reporting stations. And the number of top-20 hits likely
reflects the breadth of both product and stations. Bruce Springsteen and
the Rolling Stones both had chart hits last year, even as the format
continues to lean to the Alternative side. Â*

At R&B/Hip-Hop, KKDA (K104) Dallas Director of Operations George Cook began
the year concerned about dormant core artists — Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole,
Rihanna, Migos — before two of them, Drake and Cardi B., emerged with two
of the year’s biggest records. Those who remained inactive created an
opening for new prolific hitmakers Roddy Ricch (who had the No. 1 and No.
2 songs of the year); DaBaby (three in the top 30); Lil Baby (four in the
top 30); Megan Thee Stallion (only two in the top 31, but they were
“Savage� and her appearance with Cardi B. on “WAP�). Both R&B and Rhythmic
PDs also mentioned the posthumous success of Pop Smoke. But there were also
three songs from Chris Brown in the year’s top 30. And the big story for
many PDs has also been the influence of female-led R&B — Summer Walker,
H.E.R., and Aiko, who is currently No. 1.

Active Rock had several prominent ratings success stories this year. It has
benefitted from the increased ratings influence of adult-male listening,
and perhaps as the most direct musical reflection of our turbulent times.
Some PDs note that there’s still a split between smaller-market reporters
focused on edgier product and larger-market outlets that have become more
like the Heritage Rock stations of old, with more Alternative crossovers
and more Greta Van Fleet-style retro acts.

Adult Top 40 was one of radio’s least musically aggressive formats in 2013.
For the first time since we began these measurements, however, it had more
top-20 hits than the Mainstream Top 40 format. While there had been concern
that Adult Top 40 was taking too many of its cues from Mainstream, in 2020
it had a key role in helping more variety from artists such as AJR, Lewis
Capaldi, Maren Morris, and JP Saxe make its way to Mainstream. Adult Top 40
also ratified a number of songs — “Only Human,� “Rain on Me� — that
mid-charted at Mainstream Top 40 but became significant hits for a number
of stations.

Alternative has been a pop-flavored format for years. Last year, many of
its stations, particularly the Entercom outlets, drew attention for playing
24KGoldn and Post Malone. The format also saw the continued resurgence of
teen punk, both from comeback acts like All Time Low and from Machine Gun
Kelly’s sudden career change. The formats top three all crossed over to
some extent, but theres still likely upside for both formats if Top 40
begins to acknowledge Alternative more.

Urban AC’s No. 1 song at this writing is by Chris Brown and Young Thug. Its
No. 1 song for 2020 is by Brown and Drake. The No. 3 song of the year was
by Wale and Jeremih. Besides the continued rise of adult Hip-Hop, Urban AC
is seeing the increased influence of a new group of female artists — Summer
Walker, Snoh Aalegra, Queen Naija — as well. But veterans Charlie Wilson
and Toni Braxton also had a significant presence at the format.

Adult Contemporary has at least one “I can’t believe it’s an AC record�
every year. In 2020, it was Post Malone’s “Circles.� AC, despite a slight
rise in the number of top-20 hits, had relatively few consensus titles, and
continues to rely heavily on those songs handed down from Top 40, despite
its travails. A slightly increased number of songs made it to the top 20,
although its usually the charts top five where a song can be declared an AC
hit.

Country began paying serious attention to streaming and other metrics this
year. The format seemed as if it were addressing the recent dearth of
female artists. It was also the current-based format that seemed to be
holding up the best despite changes in radio usage. At year’s end though,
ratings were starting to decline in a way that won’t be fully
understandable until after the holiday ratings period. There were twelve
hits by female-led acts vs. ten from the previous year. And two of the
songs that were seen as game-changing — Morgan Wallen’s “7 Summers� and
Priscilla Block’s “Just About Over You� are just two more songs on a
typically slow-moving chart now, although Wallen’s long-term prospects are
likely better. Theres always been division on whether musical aggression in
Country is a good thing, look for more on this as we approach this years
virtual Country Radio Seminar.

Special thanks to Adam Foster of BDSRadio for his help supplying this data.



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Taylorville IL Gains A Winner

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 11:21 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...ains-a-winner/



After two years as Oldies Cruisin 96.5, Miller Media Group launched Sports
96.5 The Winner W243DN Taylorville/WMKR-HD2 Pana IL on January 1.

The station is running programming from Sports Map Radio around the clock.
A local show will air on Wednesdays from 1-3pm featuring talent from other
Miller Media Group stations in the cluster. W243DN will also carry Chicago
Bulls basketball, Chicago Bears football, and Big Ten Basketball.



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Atlanta's King Joins Fox-FM Classic Hits Network

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:40 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...-hits-network/



Murray Communications, operators of Classic Hits Fox-FM 1090 WBAF/97.3
W285FK Barnesville and 1370 WFDR/97.3 W247CJ Manchester GA have begun
simulcasting the brand on 102.1 W271CV/96.1 WWPW-HD4 Atlanta.

Light Media Networks had flipped W271CV/WWPW-HD4 from Gospel to Classic
Hits in September while retaining its 102.1 The King moniker. It then went
Christmas music in November and briefly back to Classic Hits before
starting its simulcast of WBAF/WFDR. The move gives the stations, which
serve the southern most portions of the Atlanta metro, coverage in parts of
the city itself. The Fox brand is a direct call-back to the former Fox 97
Oldies format on 97.1 Atlanta from 1989 to 2003.

The station features veteran Atlanta talent Kevin Steele as PD/morning
host, Jeremy Hawkins as afternoon host, and Rick Dees Daily Dees in
middays. A second localized version of Fox-FM airs in the Macon market on
94.7 W234CQ Macon/95.5 W238CG Warner Robins/107.1 WFXM-HD3.



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Premiere Networks Adds Ben Ferguson's Sunday Show

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 06:17 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...s-sunday-show/



Premiere Networks has announced that the Sunday night syndicated
Conservative Talk show hosted by 600 WREC Memphis morning host Ben Ferguson
will join its suite of programming offerings.

Fergusons show airs live on Sundays from 7-10pm eastern and airs on
stations in Dallas, Miami, Minneapolis, Denver and Baltimore. iHeart will
also be adding Fergusons podcast to its podcast network.

Ferguson has hosted mornings at WREC since 2016, with the weekend show
dating back to 2003, with his own Icon Radio Network handling distribution
since 2009. He has also hosted late mornings at WBAP Dallas and afternoons
at 98.9 WKIM Memphis.

National radio host and political commentator Ben Ferguson announced today
that the popular “Ben Ferguson Podcast� one of the fastest-growing
conservative podcasts in the country will join the iHeartPodcast Network.
Featuring Ferguson as he goes beyond the headlines to share his takes on
the latest news and information Americans need to know, the podcast is
available now with new episodes posting Sundays through Fridays on
iHeartRadio and everywhere podcast are heard.

Additionally, Ferguson’s nationally syndicated weekend radio program, “The
Ben Ferguson Show,� joins Premiere Networks’ industry-leading lineup,
effective immediately. The three-hour talk show, which currently airs
nationwide in markets such as Dallas, Miami, Minneapolis, Denver and
Baltimore, will continue to be available live on Sundays from 7 10 p.m. ET.

Every week, callers from all over America tune in to “The Ben Ferguson
Show� to discuss the latest news and events affecting our world. Featuring
the biggest topics in news and politics of the day, Ferguson’s unique takes
and informative, exciting conversations have made “The Ben Ferguson Show�
one of the most-listened-to live weekend call-in shows.

“This is a significant milestone in my career,� said Ferguson. “Partnering
with iHeartRadio and Premiere Networks is like being called up to play in
the majors. Working with the best in the business has always been my dream
and now I get to do what I love in radio and podcasting with a brilliant
team behind me!�

“Ben’s refreshing perspective, along with his vibrant style of talk,
entertainment and listener interaction, have made him a multiplatform
star,� said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “As news-talk
programming continues to be a vital piece of the national conversation, we
couldn’t be happier to work with Ben to further expand his audience across
the country.�

Listen to “The Ben Ferguson Podcast� now and follow the show on iHeartRadio
to be alerted when new episodes are available.

For more information about “The Ben Ferguson Show,� contact
or visit www.PremiereNetworks.com.




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Q108 Clarksville Debuts Sari and Tom in the Morning

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 06:09 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...n-the-morning/



Saga Communications Hot AC Q108 WCVQ Fort Campbell KY/Clarksville TN has
launched a new morning show hosted by Sari Rose and Tom Dupree.

Rose has previously worked in Atlanta, hosting middays at WKHX and nights
at WSTR, and most recently was Promotions Manager and on-air for Rome Radio
Partners cluster in Rome GA. Dupree had been hosting afternoons at
Christian CHR 90.5 Spirit-FM WBVM Tampa and has previously worked at WPOZ
Orlando, WYKS Gainesville, and WXCF Homosassa FL.

Sari and Tom fill the morning show opening created by the promotion of Ryan
Ploeckelman to cluster Operations Manager and Gretchen Cordys retirement in
November.