Radio market researcher BIA/Kelsey has released its 2014 station revenue estimates. It has estimated that iHeartMedia’s Los Angeles property KIIS(FM) is the top revenue-producing station in the nation. Thanks to a hefty $4.3 million revenue increase to an estimated $65.9 million, it topped last year’s number one, Hubbard Radio’s Washington station WTOP(FM), which saw its revenue flat at $63.5 million.
KIIS’ revenue bump was unusual among the top 10 players; all others saw no growth or a downturn.
The other big mover in the rankings was another iHeartMedia L.A. property, KBIG, which moved from number 7 in 2013 to number 5 in 2014, though it actually had a revenue drop of $1.6 million, to an estimated $42.9 million for 2014.
Comparing the years, number 3, iHeartMedia New York’s WHTZ(FM) and number 4, CBS Radio’s WCBS(AM), remained in the same slots though WHTZ was flat revenue-wise at $51 million, while WCBS saw a drop of $1.3 million, landing at $49.2 million.
At slots 6 and 7, iHeartMedia’s WLTW(FM) and CBS Radio’s WINS(AM), both in New York, dropped a place each and suffered hits in revenue of $4 million and $4.5 million, respectively, to end up at $41.5 million and $41 million respectively.
The final three, all CBS Radio properties, retained their order over the year: WFAN(FM), New York, KROQ(FM), Los Angeles and WBBM(AM), Chicago. WFAN dropped $2 million to an estimated $41 million; KROQ fell $2.6 million to $40.2 million; and WBBM missed $2.8 million to settle at $39.2 million.
Nine of the top 10 earners are owned by iHeart or CBS, the exception being Hubbard’s WTOP. Three of the top 10 earners are AMs.
BIA/Kelsey estimated overall that radio revenues were relatively stable year-over-year at $14.9 billion. BIA/Kelsey senior vice president and chief economist Mark Fratrik stated in the announcement, “Last year, a slight decline in over-the-air revenues [$14.3 billion estimated] was offset by an increase in online revenues [$636 million estimated], resulting in steady overall revenues.”
The report also takes a look at overall station sales, saying in a release, “In 2014, radio station trading activity remained about the same as the previous year, with 934 radio stations changing hands, at a total value of $950 million.”
These numbers are from BIA/Kelsey’s latest “Investing in Radio Market Report.”
