Friday, October 20, 2000

By Adrian McCoy, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Local radio stations played a lively game of musical chairs in the summer Arbitron ratings.

Among total listeners, contemporary hits WBZZ-FM edged sister station country WDSY-FM out of second place, compared to summer 1999. It also edged ahead of a key competitor -- rock station WDVE-FM -- for the first time in years. WDVE remained in third place compared to last year, and slipped from a second place tie with WDSY in the previous spring ratings. Oldies WWSW-FM dropped back from sixth place a year ago to ninth place this time.

In morning drive, syndicated Howard Stern (heard here on new rock WXDX-FM) took a giant step forward to third place (from fifth place in '99 and seventh in the previous book): the show gained more than three ratings points between last quarter and this one. Adult contemporary WSHH-FM made some inroads among total listeners -- both in morning drive and the all-day ratings.

Among the 25- to 54-year-olds, the top 10 stations were WDVE, WBZZ, WDSY, WJJJ-FM, WXDX, WWSW, WRRK-FM, WSHH-FM, WZPT-FM and in 10th place, KDKA-AM. While powerhouse news/talk KDKA hasn't been top dog in this age group for awhile, this marks a drop from eighth place a year ago, and from fifth place in the previous quarter. WBZZ was a winner with this audience, moving into the No. 2 spot behind WDVE, up from No. 3 last summer. WXDX moved up to fifth place. WZPT, which changed format from '70s/'80s hits to Hot AC, edged into ninth place from a 10th place tie with WLTJ-FM and WSHH last year. WJJJ's Jammin' Oldies format held onto fourth place, and made some gains over the previous spring book.

In morning drive for this target audience, the top five shows were WDVE, WXDX, WBZZ, WRRK and WDSY. Howard Stern again cleaned up, moving WXDX into the No. 2 spot behind Jim Krenn and the WDVE Morning show: it also moved into the double digit ratings, with a 10.3, up nearly three points from last year. WBZZ also gained some listeners compared to summer '99.

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