By David Bray

COVID is continuing to substantially impact radio revenues across Canada – but let’s see if we can find some good news in the latest PPM radio ratings, released this week.

The new PPM release from Numeris completes the thirteen-week period covering Nov. 30, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021. All listening for this period occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes yielding unusual results.

Toronto

Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CBC Radio One, delivering a 16% share for A12+ (down slightly from 16.9% in the previous period).

Taking the top spot with females 25 to 54 is CHFI-FM, delivering a 14.5 % share (up from 10.2%). Q107 is back on top for males 25 to 54, posting a 12% share, followed closely by BOOM-FM with 11.1%. Q107 also leads the way for men between 18 and 34 with a 20% share. Despite some unusual results in recent periods, CHFI-FM is back in front with women 18 to 34 at 24.6% share…but coming in a strong second with young women is, again, Q107 with 14.3%.

Vancouver

CKNW grabs the top spot for A12+ with a 13.9% share of hours tuned (down from 14.6%).

Jumping up to take the top spot for females aged 25 to 54 was 94.5 Virgin, posting a 12.4% share (up from 8.6%). ROCK 101 was second at 11.4%, but rose to first when looking at women between 10 and 34, with a 16.3% share. FOX holds the lead for 25- to 54-year-old male listeners, delivering a 11.2 % share (down from 13.4%), and is also well out in front for men between 18-34 with a 25.8% (up from 21.1%).

Edmonton

The Breeze sweeps in to take #1 with A12+, posting an 9% share of hours tuned (up from 7.9% in the last book).

NOW! Radio holds top spot for both main demos for women, delivering a 13.9% share for 25- to 54-year-olds (though it is down from 17.2%) and delivering a 22.8% share for 18- to 34-year-olds. Sonic tops the list for men, having an 11.7% share for those between 25 and 54 (also down, from 13.5%), with a 21.5% share for those between 18 and 34.

Calgary

Newstalk 770 leads the way for A12+ with a 10.2% (up from 9.6%).

101.5 Today Radio is popular with females 25 to 54, taking the top spot with an 11.8% share (down from 15.9%). For men 25 to 54, X92.9 rules with a 9.9% (up slightly from 9.4%). XL 103 takes top spot for younger men, delivering a 14.3% share for those between 18 and 34, while Country 105 steps out front for women 18 to 34, posting an 11.6% share, though it is followed closely by Wild 95.3 at 11.1%.

Montreal

CHMP 98.5 FM is number one for A12+ Francophone audiences, with a 20.8% share (up ever so slightly from 20.4%). For Anglo audiences, CJAD 800 is number one with a 29.8% share, flat with the last book).

105.7 Rythme is tops with Francophone females, taking the top spot for 25- to 54-year-olds, delivering a 17.2% share (down from 17.4%). For Francophone males between 25 and 54, NRJ 94.3 is on top at a 17.4% share (down from 17.6%).  For Anglophone audiences, The Beat 92.5 is, once again, way out in front with women between 25 and 54, with a 32.3% share (up from 30.8%). For men between 25 and 54, CHOM is number one at 23.1% (down from 25.1%).

David Bray is president of Bray and Partners.