TOP-RANKING Perth radio station mix94.5 has come back to the field in the latest survey, suffering a 2.2 percentage point drop in overall audience share. The FM broadcaster fell from 17.5 per cent in survey three to 15.3 per cent in Nielsen Media Research’s radio survey number four. Despite the slide, mix94.5 retained the number one position ahead of Nova 93.7 and 96fm, with 12.2 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, in the Monday to Sunday 5.30am to midnight category. Mix94.5’s slip in audience share was mainly due to its over-25 audience, with its most dominant market, the 40 to 54 age group, slipping 6.5 points from last survey to 20.9 per cent. Nova and 92.9 are clearly the stations of choice for the younger age groups, with Nova scoring 31.7 per cent share in the 18 to 24 age bracket and 92.9 scoring 33.3 per cent in the 10 to 17 age bracket. Both Nova and 96fm led the 25 to 39 years demographic with 21.4 per cent and 20.5 per cent respectively. In the over-55 age group, both ABC720 and 6PR are ahead of the pack on 23.2 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. 6RN climbed 2.8 points, while mix 94.5 dropped 2.2 points. Youth station Triple J experienced a 4.5 point fall in the 10 to 17 years market but gained 5.3 points in the 18 to 24 and 2.6 points in the 25 to 39 age brackets. In the breakfast radio market, Botica’s Bunch maintained mix 94.5’s hold on number one position, despite a 2.9 point fall for the period to 15.2 per cent. Eoin Cameron’s breakfast program on ABC720 remained number two with a 0.1 point fall to 14.6 per cent. Triple J’s Jay and the Doctor experienced the greatest increase for the period, from 3.3 per cent to 5.1 per cent. In the morning timeslot, mix 94.5 held top position at 11.6 per cent despite a 1.3 point fall, followed by 96fm at 14.3 per cent. Talkback host Liam Bartlett of 6PR finds himself at 11.6 per cent in survey four, down 1.1 per cent on last period, but 1.6 per cent ahead of his former station ABC720 morning program (at 10 per cent). Gillian O’Shaughnessy, who presents the ABC 720 morning program, will be replaced by Geoff Hutchison on June 26 following her temporary appointment to the role after Mr Bartlett’s resignation. 96fm scored the highest percentage share in the afternoon timeslot with 15.8 per cent, while Anne Marie’s afternoon show on mix94.5, which delivered the station’s highest ratings last survey, fell 2.8 points to 15.7 per cent. 6PR was another radio station to lose ground in the afternoon timeslot, falling 2.4 points to 9.1 per cent, while Triple J’s share of the afternoon market increased 2.7 points to 7.4 per cent. In the drive and evening timeslots, Nova 93.7 scored 14 per cent and 15 per cent of market share, up 0.7 points and 1 point respectively from last period. mix94.5 dropped 3.5 percentage points to 13.8 per cent in the drive timeslot and 1.2 points to 12.9 per cent in the evening. Triple J and ABC 720 received the greatest increase in the drive timeslot, up 1.9 points and 1.4 points to 8.9 per cent and 10.2 per cent respectively, while 6RN was up 1.7 points to 3.7 per cent in the evening. On the weekends, mix 94.5 is still the station of choice despite a 1.5 point drop to 15.7 per cent. 6PR and ABC720 came second and third with 11.5 points and 11.3 points respectively, while ABC CL-FM climbed 1.3 points to 4.2 per cent. The period for survey four was May 7 to June 10 2006, while the period for survey three was February 12 to April 29.