Perry and Price prevail in ratings

The perennial favorites take Oahu's top rank for the spring period

The Arbitron survey for spring 2007 names KSSK-FM 92.3 Oahu's highest-rated radio station and its morning simulcast of Michael W. Perry and Larry Price is on top, as usual.

The April 5 to June 27 rating period showed many top-rated stations losing varying amounts of audience share while others gained -- some, dramatically.

The Hawaiian music format of KINE-FM 105.1 retained its No. 2 rank, despite share slippage.

Industry insiders are mystified that adult contemporary KSSK-AM 590 jumped to No. 3 from No. 10 last spring. The mystery could be solved with the release of more Arbitron data in a week, said Jamie Hyatt, director of programming for Clear Channel Hawaii.

Among listeners 12 and older, the so-called hot adult contemporary format of KUCD-FM 101.9 fell out of the top 10, edged out of the No. 7 spot it got a year ago.

The adult standards on KHUI-FM 99.5 soared from No. 19 last year with a 1.4 share, to a 4.2 share this time, placing it in a tie for No. 9 with the island music of KDNN-FM 98.5.

The top five morning-show rankings were unchanged, but changes at stations below them yielded significant upturns, especially among those aimed at 25-to-54-year-old adults.

KSSK's Perry and Price simulcast is still on top, despite a one-point slide. The duo is likely not looking over its shoulders, as its 22.5 percent of the morning radio audience is miles ahead of all others, with the No. 2 station garnering a six share.

Bill "Billy V" Van Osdol on KINE-FM 105.1 is still at No. 2; Chris and Sherry on KRTR-FM 96.3 are No. 3; and Lina and Pipi on KCCN-FM 100.3 and the Wake-Up Crew at KIKI-FM 93.9 are at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.

The 12-plus ratings are all about bragging rights, which can be claimed by morning hosts at KUMU-FM 94.7 and KKEA-AM 1420.

KUMU's Frank and Mandy jumped to No. 6 from No. 13 last spring, with an audience share rise to 4.4 percent from 3.2.

Sports-talker Bobby Curran on KKEA, or "ESPN 1420," leapt from No. 15 last year and got hang-time this spring in a tie for No. 8 with Lanai on KDNN.

The No. 10 rung is occupied by Sam the Man at KDDB-FM 102.7.

Bragging rights are cool, but advertisers buy demographic delivery.

The ranking of many morning shows focused on 25-to-54-year-olds changed from last spring, but Perry and Price remain perched at the pinnacle.

KRTR is still No. 2; KIKI moved up to third from fourth; KUMU, not in last spring's top 10, is tied for fourth with John Matthews and the Kap'n at KGMZ; KPOI rocked into the spring top 10, breaking in with Brock "B-Rock" Whaley at No. 6; KINE is up from No. 10, tied for seventh with KKEA, which also was not in the top 10 tier last year. KCCN dropped to ninth from fifth among adults, and KDNN dipped from No. 7 to No. 10.