From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
Detroit Radio Stations by Formats
May, 1964
RADIO RESPONSE RATINGS FOR DETROIT
DETROIT AREA: Fifth largest radio market. Twelve (12) AM, thirteen (13) FM. One pop-contemporary, 1 standard-pop, 2 R&B, 1 C&W, 4 contemporary, 1 standard, 2 conservative.
D E T R O I T T O P S T A T I O N S
FOR POPULAR SINGLES: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WKNR: 33% | 2. WJBK: 30% | 3. WXYZ: 20% | 4. CKLW: 17%
FOR POPULAR LP’S: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WCAR: 34% | 2. WJR: 28% | 3. WWJ: 15% (Tie) | 3. WKNR 15% (Tie) | Others: 8% (WHFI-FM – WOMC-FM)
FOR R&B: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WJLB: 54% | 2. WCHB: 35% | 3, WJBK: 9%
FOR JAZZ: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WCHD-FM: 42% | 2. WJLB-AM: 34% | 3. WABX-FM: 15% | 4. WHFI-FM: 9%
FOR COUNTRY MUSIC: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WEXL: 100%
FOR SINGLE (MOR): Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WCAR: 54% | 2. WJR: 30% | 3. Others: 17% (WWJ – WBRB-FM-AM)
FOR FOLK: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WQRS-FM: 44% | 2. WDTM-FM: 26% | 3. WJR: 24%
FOR COMEDY: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WJR: 79% | 2. CKLW: 21%
FOR CLASSICAL: Rank; Call Letters; Percentage Points (station listeners)
1. WJR AM-FM: 31% | 2. WDTM-FM: 26% | 3. WWJ AM-FM: 14% | CBE-AM: 12% | Others: 17% (WQRS-FM – WLDM-FM – WDET-FM)
THE RADIO RESPONSE RATINGS of stations and individual radio personalities have been determined by survey of local and national record promotion personnel, distributors and record manufacturers. Not a popularity poll, the ratings are based strictly on the comparative ability of the stations and air personalities to influence their listeners to purchase the singles and albums played on the air. The ratings likewise point up the music of all types in building audiences and creating the framework conducive to influencing the listener to purchase other products and services advertised on radio stations.
FORMAT GLOSSARY: “Contemporary” — Stations that play primarily singles and LP’s of a “rock-n-roll” and rhythm and blues nature. “Pop Contemporary” — Stations that feature “rock-n-roll” programming current and stock singles and LP’s, excluding rock-n-roll and rhythm and blues in nature. “Standard-Pop” — Same as “Pop-Standard” with stations emphasizing standards to current pop singles. “Standard” — Stations programming current or stock versions of the old standards culled primarily from LP’s. Rock-n-roll and “teen sound” excluded. “Conservative” — station featuring primarily LP of a subdued nature in tone and performance. Background instrumental music. “Classical,” Country and Western,” Jazz,” “Rhythm and Blues,” “Ethnic” — Stations programming more than 50 per cent of their music in the above mentioned particular categories. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 16, 1964)
