Latest San Diego Radio Ratings Put Q106 on the Top of the Heap

KKLQ (Q106), a Top 40 format radio station, can now call itself the most-listened-to station in San Diego, based on the Arbitron ratings released Thursday for the summer ratings period.

Q106, which simulcasts on its AM (600) and FM (106.5) outlets, pulled a cumulative 8.9 share, .9 on the AM side and an 8.0 for the FM. The 8.9 total was a slip of a 10th of a point from the spring book. However, the rock ‘n’ roll-oriented KGB-FM (101.5), which posted a 9.0 in the spring, fell to a 7.4 share.

A share represents the percentage of the listening audience who actually tuned in to the station. Since most stations aim for specific demographic groups, most industry professionals discount the general 12-and-over ratings, although the numbers do reflect the size of the stations’ total audience.

“We’re very satisfied with the results,” said KGB program director Ted Edwards. “We fluctuate. In a market this competitive, to be consistently among the leaders is a real achievement.”

KKLQ management was unavailable for comment by deadline on Thursday.

A news, music and sports format, bolstered by San Diego Padres broadcasts, helped KFMB-AM (760) to post a 7.1 rating, while the contemporary hits of KFMB-FM (B100) had a 6.3 share. Both were up slightly from the spring quarter. The “light and easy” tunes of KJQY-FM (103.7) earned a 6.9 share, up a 10 of a share point from the spring. The news-talk format of KSDO-AM (1130) slipped from a 7.3 to a 6.8 for the summer quarter.

The biggest increase in the market was recorded by KYXY-FM (96.5) and its “soft, relaxing favorites.” The station jumped from a 3.1 to a 5.4 share.

“Our consistency has been our best thing,” said KYXY general manager Jim Price. “When all around us have been changing, we’ve been consistent.”

Country station KSON-FM (97.3) went from 3.7 in the spring quarter to a 5.8 share. The “Lites Out” format of KIFM-FM (98.1) jumped from 3.4 to 4.7.

XTRA-AM (690), which switched to a news-talk format near the end of the ratings period, was able to post only a 1.0 share, down from 1.4 the previous quarter. However, its sister station, XTRA-FM (91X), held strong with its new music format, posting a 5.2 share, the same as in the spring.

One of the biggest drops in the market was recorded by KPOP-AM (1360), which slipped from a 4.9 to a 2.8 share.