KMCK Kicks KKIX

Radio station KMCK—Power 105.7, locked in a three-way tie for third place among the region’s stations last fall, climbed into first place during the spring ratings period, according to the latest report from Arbitron Co.

That knocked country station KKIX-FM, which held a lock on the No. 1 position for 15 years, into second place, where it tied with KEZA.

Eric Marshall is operations manager for Cumulus Radio Group, which owns six local stations, including KMCK. “Any time that a market leader for 15 years is unseated, you have to consider that a significant event,” Marshall says. He credits his staff of disc jockeys, all of whom had “monster books.”

He says KMCK, which plays contemporary hits and pop music, has had the same format for 17 years. “It has a very consistent format and very talented performers,” Marshall says.

The ratings are percentage of listeners in Washington and Benton counties for people aged 12 and older during the hours of 6 a.m. and midnight every day. The potential market includes 231,000 listeners. The list includes:

The University of Arkansas’ National Public Radio station, KUAF, was not included in the Arbitron book, although KRMG, a Tulsa station, was listed with a 0.06 share.