Salt Lake's first-ever "Portable People Meter" ratings by Arbitron came out earlier this month, and it probably raised a few eyebrows as KSFI ("FM-100) was the top station.
But that ranking probably had more to do with holiday music than anything else.
The "PPM," which replaces the written diary method of tabulating radio listening habits, is believed to be a much more accurate log of what listeners are actually tuned in to.
For Dec. 1-28, 2009, the top to oververall stations were KSFI, which aired long blocks of Christmas music each day, and KSL (AM-1160/FM-102.7) with a cumulative audience of 1.2 million, or 20.2 percent of the total radio audience. KSFI logged 10.8 percent and KSL 9.4.
The rest of the top five included KOSY (FM-106.5), 5.5 percent; KXRK ("X-96"), 5.1; and KUBL ("FM-93.3), 5.0.
KODJ (FM-94.1) was sixth at 4.5 percent; KJMY (Y-99.5) and KRSP (FM-103.5) were tied for seventh at 3.8 percent.
KUDD (FM-107.9 ) was ninth at 3.6, followed by KBZN (FM-97.9) at 3.4, and KZHT (FM-97.1) and KNRS (FM-105.7), both at 3.1.
Non-commercial stations also show up in this new ratings format. KUER (FM-90.1) ranked 15th overall, with a 2.6 percent share and 131,400 total listeners.
KBYU (FM-89.1) placed 22nd at 1.8 percent and 120,600 listeners.
KRCL (FM-90.9) was 33rd with a .05 audience share that equals a cumulative audience of 51,700.
KTKK ("K-Talk," AM-630) was 34th at 0.4 percent and 26,400 listeners.
Music stations seem to display a stronger presence with the PPM method rather than the old diary method.
These ratings include listeners, age 6 and up.
Groupwise, the KSL Broadcasting Group (KSFI, KSL and KRSP) commanded 24 percent of the total market. Next was Clear Channel at 16.2 percent; Citadel at 14.3; and Simmons at 11.3 percent.
e-mail: lynn@desnews.com