STEVE & DC DOMINATE MORNING RADIO RATINGS; WTUG-FM #1 ALL DAY AGAIN

Just like television ratings, the company known as Nielsen (Nielsen Audio), keeps track of listeners to radio and all forms of audio entertainment.

The newest, and arguably most important, Spring 2024 Nielsen Audio ratings for Tuscaloosa and West Alabama came out late last week.

The audience figures help determine how advertisers spend their money on marketing campaigns in our state.

Mornings are usually most important in the Spring and Fall reports and this time is no different.

In 2021, Townsquare Media of Tuscaloosa pulled off the reunion of the long-running and popular “Steve & DC Show” on Country music outlet WFFN-FM (95.3 The Bear).

The duo began in Tuscaloosa on 102.5 FM (Z-102) and migrated to Top 40/Pop station WZBQ-FM (94.1 ZBQ) for much of the 1990’s and 2000’s.

The reunion has paid big dividends for Townsquare Media and WFFN-FM in 2024 with all listeners 12 and over, pulling nearly a double-digit share in Tuscaloosa County.

“Steve & DC” also ranked first among Adults 25-54 (one of the most critical categories to advertisers) with a 10.9 audience share, up from a 6.4 share.

Safe to say this ratings report is the largest one for the WFFN-FM (95.3 The Bear) morning program since 2021.

Elsewhere in mornings, WTUG-FM (92.9 WTUG) moved to a new morning show with strong West Alabama ties, the “Rickey Smiley Show”,  and didn’t miss a beat.

The new show for WTUG fans is ranked first with Adults 18-49 and tied for first place with Adults 18-34 in the Spring rankings.

WALJ-FM (105.1 The Block) also had a big change in the early months of 2024, as well as in the early morning time slot with “The Big Dawg, Dre Day” moving from his popular afternoon slot to mornings with an up and coming, regionally popular comedian “L.P.” 

That move might be considered risky when dealing with an already successful show, had a strong debut with Adults 18-34 hitting first place in a tie with WTUG-FM.

WTXT-FM (98 WTXT) and the syndicated “Bobby Bones Show” was up slightly in the Adult 25-54 demographic and WZBQ-FM (94.1 ZBQ) saw the “Alabama Show” also grow slightly with the Adults 25-54 demographic, from a 3.8 to a 4.0.

“Brother J” on WTSK-AM (790am & Praise 93.3) doubled the number of Adults 25-54 listeners from a 1.9 to a 4.0 rating.

All day, Urban AC powerhouse WTUG-FM (92.9 WTUG) was #1 with the overall Persons 12 and up once again with double digit listener shares.

Legendary Gospel station WTSK-AM (790am and Praise 93.3) was second, followed by the top Country station, WFFN-FM (95.3 The Bear) which has jumped from a 3.6 a year ago to a new 5.3 audience share and a tie for third with Alabama Broadcasters Association Station-Of-The-Year WALJ-FM (105.1 The Block).

Adults 18-49 from 6a-12am, had WTUG-FM claim first place, WALJ-FM at number two, with WFFN-FM taking the biggest leap to third, tied with both WTXT-FM and WZBQ-FM, who were both down in audience share.

Younger demographics, Adults 18-24, chose WFFN-FM and WALJ-FM by a large two to one margin with both stations at an 11.1 share of audience in Tuscaloosa and West Alabama.

The data shows that radio is stronger than ever with Americans spending more time listening to the radio than any other form of media entertainment in 2024.