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800.275.2840 MORE NEWS» insideradio.com THE MOST TRUSTED NEWS IN RADIO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014 AC posts lower than average December ratings gain. With the release of Nielsen’s Holiday ratings still a month away, it’s too early to stack up the Christmas format’s 2014 ratings to past years. But results from the December survey, which covers November 6-December 3, shows a slightly softer November-to December gain in 2014 than in past years. The new numbers provide a peek at the format’s performance in the early going of the holiday season. The new Nielsen analysis shows the AC format’s December 2014 ratings are identical to those of 2013 – in both the 6+ (8.5) and 25-54 (8.2) demos. AC is one-tenth of a share lower in 18-34 (7.2) than this time last year. But AC, which historically accounts for the most Christmas format converts, experienced a less robust November-to December gain in 2014 than in past years. In 2010 and 2011, AC grew by more than two shares from November to December, improving from 7.8 to 10.0 in 2011 and from 7.2 to 9.5 in 2012. Last December the format gained just one share from November (7.5-8.5) and this year it increased 1.5 shares (7.0-8.5). The slightly smaller growth from November to December may be due to a combination of factors. For one, 2014 saw AC hit its lowest 6+ numbers ever in PPM measurement, according to Nielsen. And while AC more often than not is the go-to station for holiday music, the all-Yule format has been co-opted by other outlets – other broadcast stations, satellite radio and digital streaming services. Holiday format still Mr. Grinch for country radio. No format takes a bigger ratings hit from the seasonal holiday format than country. Nielsen analysis shows it has historically been the one most likely to see its audience shrink as a result of Christmas music. Based on the limited view afforded by Nieslen’s “December” survey, the Christmas format continues to siphon listening away from country. Country declined from a 7.9 6+ share in November to a 7.7 share in the December survey, which covers November 6-December 3. The declines were felt both in country’s traditional 25-54 stronghold (7.8- 7.6) and its newfound 18-34 coalition (9.2-8.8). While not unexpected, they mark the format’s fifth consecutive down monthly trend. Despite the loss, country isn’t all that far from where it was at this point last year, when it had a 7.8 share among listeners 6+. The full extent of the holiday’s format’s impact on country ratings won’t be known until Nielsen releases the Holiday survey, which covers December 4-December 31. ‘Throwbacks’ help propel urban to new ratings heights. Whether classic hip-hop evolves into the next classic rock or devolves into the next Jammin’ Oldies won’t be apparent for some time. But during the brief period since it became radio’s hottest new format, “throwback” stations are already helping grow the ratings pie for the larger urban contemporary format. “Thanks in no small part to that growing trend, in December urban contemporary picked up right where it left off last month, breaking November’s record results for listeners 6+ (3.4) and 25-54 (3.8) while tying the number for 18-34 year-olds (6.3),” Nielsen says in a new report. Urban is ending the year on a high note: 2014 was its most successful year in PPM history. [email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 1 NEWS insideradio.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014 The format ranked sixth among all formats in its core 18-34 demo. This year was also one for the record books for hot AC, which nailed its best ratings ever under electronic measurement. December’s hot AC PPM ratings shattered its previous records in three demos: 6+ (a 6.5 in December), 18-34 (7.2) and 25-54 (7.0). December heats up as one of best months for auto sales. Radio stations typically bank on holiday-related retail ad spending to make or exceed their fourth quarter sales targets. But there’s new evidence to suggest automotive budgets are also ripe targets this time of year. Long one of the slowest months for new vehicle sales, December has become one of the strongest, according to Automotive News. December is on track to be 2014’s fourth-biggest month for auto sales, with 1.5 million light vehicle sales, according to TrueCar. That would trail only May’s 1.61 million, August’s 1.59 million and March’s 1.54 million – all of which are peak sales months. December’s arrival as one of the hottest for auto sales is especially remarkable in light of the fact that this year it only contains four sales weekends rather than five. “We now see sales congregating around three epic selling seasons,” TrueCar president John Krafcik tells Automotive News. The first takes place from March through late spring, quickly followed by the summer selling season. “The period that stretches from Black Friday to New Year’s has emerged as the third blockbuster period,” Krafcik says. What’s driving the trend? An increase in automotive marketing focused on year- end deals. And the notion of giving a new car, complete with a big red bow, as a holiday gift. Coming to a dashboard near you: hyper-localized weather forecasts. Radio’s new competitors in the car aren’t confined just to streaming music services. Service elements motorists have long relied on the radio to provide, like the weather, are also being offered in new and interactive ways. At next month’s 2015 International CES consumer electronics show, Ford and AccuWeather will unveil a new weather app for Ford’s Sync infotainment system that brings minute-by-minute, hyper-localized weather forecasts to a driver’s exact street address. Using Ford’s Sync AppLink and a paired smartphone, motorists in the U.S. and a handful of other countries can select MinuteCast on the vehicle display menu. They’ll see a static image of the weather condition they’ll soon face, and the time the precipitation is expected to happen on the route. An audio warning will also be delivered. The minute-by-minute forecasts will last for a period of up to two hours. The two companies say the updated app will help drivers plan and time their trips around weather conditions and give advance warning of inclement weather. Ford Connected Services product manager Julius Marchwicki says it will bring consumers “the most up-to-date weather information” and help them to “make safer driving decisions during bad weather.” Radio wins in battle of the coffee beans. Radio is part of the marketing blend for an aggressive new campaign for Cumberland Farms that targets the coffee-drinking customers of Dunkin’ Donuts, a major radio spender. Working with Boston-based ad agency Full Contact, the gasoline, convenience and coffee retailer launched a new campaign December 28. It includes TV spots that highlight real consumers trying both brands of coffee, radio commercials and billboards. The campaign shares the results of an independent, double-blind taste test of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee drinkers in four major markets where both Cumberland Farms and Dunkin’ Donuts stores are located. It found that half of the respondents either preferred the taste of Cumberland Farms or had no preference. “Since launching our signature Farmhouse Blend coffee, we’ve seen huge growth in our coffee business, and the results of this test validate our quality,” Cumberland Farms SVP of marketing Gwen Forman says. Busey averts meltdown in new Hardees radio spots. When it came time to cast a voice actor for the radio campaign for its new patty melt, Hardees called on the quintessential meltdown king, actor Gary Busey. The spots, which debuted December 29, feature Busey being calmed down by a Bacon Velveeta Patty Meltdown. Hardees is promoting the newly arrived comfort sandwich with the message, “Don’t have a meltdown, eat one.” The creative was conceived by award-winning agency 72andSunny. It also includes a new TV ad titled “Meltdown” that features WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. [email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 2 NEWS insideradio.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014 The ad uses footage from Lesnar’s famous meltdown that went viral in 2012, combined with new footage introducing an assistant who tries to calm Lesnar down with the new patty melt. Radio station moves to fill local TV news void. A New Jersey Shore radio station plans to increase its local news coverage to fill a void created by a local TV station that dropped its nightly newscast. Longport Media news/talk WOND, Atlantic City- Cape May (1400) intends to air a half hour of local news each night at 6pm. The news opening was created by extensive changes at WMGM-TV, Wildwood (channel 40). Dropped by NBCUniversal as an affiliate, the TV station is not only losing NBC programming but also its local newscasts, created by Access.1 which has operated the station under a deal with California-based LocusPoint Networks. “We saw it as an opportunity to step in and try to fill the void,” WOND president Dave Coskey tells CBS. Longport is also negotiating with Locus Point to provide local TV shows that would help the TV station meet FCC requirements.