MediaCo Posts Breakout End-of-Year Audio Growth, Ranking Among the Fastest-Growing Radio Broadcasters in America

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Key Terms

aqh technical

AQH (Average Quarter-Hour) is a broadcast audience metric that measures the average number of people listening to or watching a station during a typical 15-minute period. For investors, AQH is a practical signal of a media outlet’s consistent reach and popularity — similar to counting how many customers are in a store during a busy quarter-hour — which directly affects advertising demand, pricing power, and revenue forecasts.

cume technical

Cume is the short form of “cumulative” used to describe the total number of unique people reached by a service, program, website or channel over a given period. Investors watch cume because it shows the size and growth of an audience—like counting how many different people attended a series of concerts—which helps predict advertising reach, subscription potential and future revenue trends.

ppm technical

Parts per million (ppm) is a unit that expresses how many units of a substance exist in one million units of a mixture or material — imagine one drop of dye spread through an Olympic-sized pool to picture a very small concentration. Investors watch ppm readings because regulatory limits, product contamination, pollutant emissions or chemical residues often use this scale; small numeric changes can mean compliance problems, remediation costs, production shutdowns or reputational risk that affect a company’s value.

01/22/2026 - 10:14 AM

Ratings Momentum Fuels Major Market Gains, Younger Demo Growth, and the Launch of Sigma Audio Networks

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MediaCo Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: MDIA) today announced strong year-end audience growth across its radio portfolio, delivering significant gains in key markets and reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing audio companies in the country.

Driven by increased listening and expanded reach, MediaCo posted robust year-over-year performance across Adults 25–54, with particularly strong results during weekday Prime listening hours, underscoring the continued strength of the company’s culturally relevant brands and local-first programming strategy.

Top Market Highlights

New York City: +18.3% AQH and +9.9% Share, led by HOT 97’s weekday resurgence and steady WBLS performance
Los Angeles: +25.0% AQH and +38.2% Cume, driven by the continued rise of Que Buena LA
Dallas: +31.1% AQH and +15.0% Cume, powered by growth at KNOR and KBOC

Younger Audience Momentum

MediaCo also delivered strong gains among Adults 18–49, led by HOT 97, Que Buena LA, KRQB, and KTJM, reinforcing the company’s connection to culturally engaged, high-value listeners and its ability to drive meaningful engagement across younger demos.

Standout Station Performance

HOT 97 (New York): +40.6% AQH and +30.6% Share among Adults 18–49, Share among P25–54; +54.3%
Que Buena LA: +25.0% AQH and +17.3% Share among P25–54, with strong weekday growth
KNOR (Dallas): +45.0% AQH and +21.9% Share among P25–54 driven by increased weekday listening

“These results validate what advertisers are seeing firsthand: our brands are growing, our audiences are deeply engaged, and our connection to culture is translating directly into scale and impact,” said Danny Lowry, SVP, Audio Sales at MediaCo. “Across markets, we’re delivering both reach and relevance at a time when that combination matters more than ever.”

This ratings momentum also sets the stage for the launch of Sigma Audio Networks, MediaCo’s new national multicultural audio platform, designed to bring the company’s local market strength to advertisers at national scale.

“This is a pivotal moment for MediaCo,” said Brian Fisher, Chief Revenue Officer of MediaCo. “Our audience momentum, combined with our national footprint and growing share, created the perfect foundation to launch Sigma—bringing advertisers a modern, scalable audio solution rooted in culture, authenticity, and measurable impact.”

These results reflect sustained momentum across MediaCo’s audio portfolio and provide a strong foundation for continued growth in 2026, as the company expands its reach, deepens engagement, and scales its leadership in multicultural audio.

Source: Nielsen Audio PPM Analysis Tool — Jan–Dec 2024 vs Jan–Dec 2025. Supporting: Nielsen Audio Control Panel Reports, Dec 2025

About MediaCo
MediaCo Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: MDIA) is a diverse-owned, multi-platform media company serving multicultural audiences nationwide. Its powerhouse brands—including HOT 97, WBLS, EstrellaTV, Estrella News, Que Buena Los Angeles, and the Don Cheto Radio Network—reach more than 20 million people each month across television, radio, digital, and streaming platforms. Its Sigma Audio Networks LLC, a groundbreaking national multicultural audio network, is modernizing how advertisers reach America’s growing multicultural audiences. Learn more at https://mediaco.now.