WQHT-FM Achieves Strong Year-Over-Year Growth in Key Listening Demographics

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Source: Newsfilter

Updated: Feb 23 2026

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Source: Newsfilter

Significant Ratings Increase: In the January 2026 Nielsen PPM ratings, WQHT-FM ranked #3 among Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, with AQH Persons increasing by 18.5% and 30.7% year-over-year, respectively, showcasing its strong performance in the competitive New York market.
Morning Show Success: The station's 'Mornings with Mero' program has attracted a large audience, reflecting the appeal of culturally relevant and live programming, further solidifying its competitive position in the New York radio landscape.
Enhanced Brand Influence: MediaCo executives noted that achieving a top-three rank in major buying demographics underscores the strength of the HOT 97 brand and its commitment to consistent audience growth, especially amid an overall market decline in listening.
Multi-Platform Reach: MediaCo Holding Inc. reaches over 20 million viewers monthly through its diverse brands and platforms, demonstrating its influence among multicultural audiences and appeal to advertisers.

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About MDIA

MediaCo Holding Inc., its subsidiaries, and a variable interest entity, is an owned and operated multimedia company. The Company is focused on television, radio and digital advertising, premium programming and events. The Company manages its operations through two business segments: Audio and Video. The Company’s Audio Segment includes both MediaCo’s and Estrella’s radio stations serving New York City, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Houston, TX, and Dallas, TX demographic market areas that primarily target Black, Hispanic, and multicultural consumers. The Audio Segment derives revenues primarily from radio and digital advertising sales, but also generates revenues from events, including sponsorships and ticket sales, licensing, and syndication. The Company’s Video Segment includes Estrella’s television stations, offering an aggregation of Spanish-language programming, including originals, topical entertainment, reality, news, and comedy.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.

Sigma Audio Networks Appoints New SVP of Integrated Audio Sales

8 hours agoBusinesswire

Executive Appointment: Sigma Audio Networks has appointed Jason Corelli as Senior Vice President of Integrated Audio Sales, aiming to enhance the company's sales leadership in multicultural audio solutions to meet growing market demand.
Industry Experience: Corelli brings extensive experience from senior leadership roles across major national audio organizations, focusing on driving revenue growth and cross-platform audio strategy, which is expected to create new growth opportunities for Sigma.
Sales Strategy: In his new role, Corelli will lead the national sales strategy, oversee agency and brand partnerships, and drive revenue growth, helping the company expand its market share across terrestrial and streaming platforms.
Market Transformation: Corelli's appointment reflects Sigma Audio Networks' ability to attract senior audio talent, particularly as advertisers shift investments toward multicultural audiences and accountable audio solutions.

HOT 97 Climbs to #3 in New York Ratings Among Key Demographics

Feb 23 2026Businesswire

Significant Ratings Increase: According to the January 2026 Nielsen PPM ratings, WQHT-FM (HOT 97) has climbed to #3 among Adults 25-54 and 18-49 in AM Drive, demonstrating substantial year-over-year audience growth despite an overall market decline, thereby strengthening its competitive position in New York radio.
Content Impact: MediaCo's EVP of Content & Growth, Kudjo Sogadzi, noted that the success of the morning show 'Mornings with Mero' reflects the ongoing power of culturally relevant live programming, indicating a growing audience engagement during critical listening hours.
Market Competitive Edge: Local Markets VP Maire Mason emphasized that New York is the most competitive radio market in the U.S., and achieving a top-three rank in both major buying demographics underscores the strength of the HOT 97 brand and its commitment to consistent audience growth.
Audience Connection Strategy: HOT 97 Assistant Program Director Katrina B stated that the team is focused on building connection and consistency every morning, with the positive audience response and growth directly reflecting the effectiveness of these efforts, showcasing the brand's influence in culturally driven programming.