The Nielsen winter ratings book in Nashville resulted in strong finishes for both 104.5 The Zone and 102.5/106.3 The Game with a diminished margin coming to light between both outlets. Beginning with 104.5 The Zone, the Cumulus Media-owned station attained a 9.3 share in weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p), placing it third among Men 25-54. The Zone garnered an identical 10.5 share and first-place outcome last winter book as well.
In morning drive, Ramon Foster, Kayla Anderson and Will Bolling secured an 8.3 share, fifth-place outcome. Broadcasting weekdays from 6a-10a, the morning show did however lose 1.4 shares from the fall.
The early midday program (10a-1p CST) hosted by Buck Reising earned a very strong 9.2 share to rank third with Men 25-54. Year-over-year, the show dipped by 1.5-shares. Reising signed a multi-year contract extension with The Zone this past March. The second midday show (1p-3p CST) on 104.5 The Zone hosted by Blaine Bishop and Mickey Ryan pulled an 8.8 share to place fourth. As compared to last year’s winter book, the show was just one-tenth a share off from its 2023 number when it was also fourth.
The Zone’s strongest story came in afternoons. Brent Dougherty, Dawn Davenport and Ron Slay have attained 23 consecutive months of finishing #1 with Men 25-54. 3HL continued their winning ways, picking up a 10.4 and another first place ranking. They were lower than last year’s 12.1 share but still delivered double digits.
Conversely, afternoon drive for 102.5/106.3 The Game experienced the largest gain among programming at the station with an 8.3 share for the quarter. That pulled The Game within two ratings points of its crosstown rival. Stillman & Company previously earned a 3.4 during the prior year’s winter ratings book marking a nearly five point improvement. Jared Stillman leads the program weekday afternoons from 2p-6p CST.
Moving to morning drive on 102.5/106.3 The Game, Robby Stanley and Joe Rexrode finished tied for sixth among Men 25-54 with a 5.4 share. The Cromwell Media-owned outlet’s morning offering, which broadcasts from 6a-9a CST, did increase from the 3.8 share it collected last winter.
The station’s two midday shows each generated quarterly gains. The Chase & Big Joe Show featuring Chase McCabe and Joe Dubin earned a 2.4 share from 9a-11a CST. That represents a full share increase year-over-year. The second midday program with Caroline Fenton, Willy Daunic and Derrick Mason possessed a 2.3 share for the quarter. The 11a-2p CST show was up from a 1.2 last winter, marking a 1.1-share rise.
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