Story via Inside Radio
WMGK’s André Gardner and B101.1’s Bobby Smith Are The Big Cheese In Philly PM Drive
Which afternoon radio hosts help most Philadelphia commuters negotiate the “Sure-kill” Expressway on their drive home? Thanks to Nielsen’s rankings based on PPM-based weekly cume persons 6+ during May 2022 in the land of the cheesesteak, Inside Radio‘s “By The Numbers” has the answer.
Beasley Media Group classic rock WMGK’s André Gardner leads with a 406,200 cume, reaching an estimated 8.8% of the market. Gardner, celebrating two decades of hosting on MGK, has been a part of Philadelphia radio dating back to 1978. “I still get a rush of adrenalin each and every day I enter that studio,” he says. “What a great joy and privilege it is to play this incredible and timeless music for classic rock music lovers in my hometown, all while I air-guitar and air-drum to my heart’s content!”
At a strong second with a 387,100 weekly cume, good for reaching 8.4% of Philadelphians, is Audacy adult contemporary “B101.1” WBEB afternoon host Bobby Smith. “The escape from work is the happiest time of the day for so many people in Philly, and that’s exactly what I’m helping them celebrate every weekday afternoon on B101.1,” says Smith, who’s also the station’s Assistant Brand Manager. “With hybrid schedules, a listener’s commute could take an hour one day, and the next day it could just be walking from one room to the next. So no matter where they’re listening, I’m trying to give them a memorable experience so they have a reason to come back to B101.1.”
“B101.1’s familiarity in Philadelphia is unparalleled,” adds WBEB Brand Manager Tim Herbster. “Workplaces and commuters turn to us to be instantly connected to Philly and feel good. You can’t help but smile when you’re riding shotgun with Bobby Smith.”
Audacy also places third with the recently re-branded and 90s-hits-updated classic hits “Big 98.1” WOGL’s 357,600 cume, which gets out to 7.7% of those in the market. “Big 98.1’s recent changes deliver on our promise to constantly be evolving and be top of mind for adults 25-54,” Herbster, also Big 98.1’s Brand Manager, says. “The music recipe is right, [and] we can’t wait to add in more Philly personality very soon.”
Between them, Beasley, Audacy and iHeartMedia claim all ten stations in Nielsen’s ranking. In addition to WMGK, Beasley places fourth with rocker WMMR’s Paul Jaxon, fifth with adult hits “95.7 Ben-FM” WBEN’s afternoon music mix and ninth with country WXTU’s Nicole Michalik. Audacy grabs two additional spots, with sports WIP’s Jon Marks and Ike Reese all-news KYW-AM/WPHI-FM’s afternoon anchors Jay Scott Smith and Michelle Durham. iHeart has two, with urban AC WDAS-FM’s Philly-based syndicated Frankie Darcell, and CHR “Q102” WIOQ’s team of Rebekah “Bex” Maroun & Brandon “Buster” Satterfield.