Star 94’s move of Cindy & Ray to mornings continues to bear fruit as the top 40 station pulls in its strongest numbers this year. (The Morning Mess is quickly become a faded memory.) In May Arbitron ratings, the former afternoon team of Cindy & Ray ranked 9th (in a tie) 25-54 and 7th among 18 to 34 year olds. In comparison, the Mess in January ranked 16th among 25 to 54 year olds and a tie for 10th among 18 to 34 year olds.

Those aren’t nearly as good as Steve & Vikki (now at B98.5) in their heyday but improvement is improvement.

Country station 94.9/The Bull, too, keeps steadily growing under new management. It’s still behind established country king Kicks 101.5 but is closing the gap. In January, Bull was a weak 23rd while Kicks landed in 6th among 25 to 54 year olds. In May, the Bull had moved up to 13th with 25 to 54 year olds while Kicks had slipped to 10th. Clearly, the new Bull program director Scott Lindy is doing something right.

Dave FM, after major progress the first four months of the year, had a tough May, especially middays, which remains the station’s strongest day part. The rock station dropped to 13th among 25 to 54 year olds, its worst performance this year and about the same as its January numbers.

99X at 97.9 in its second month on the air more than tripled its 18 to 34 audience, moving up to a tie for 22nd from 28th.

Top 12 Atlanta radio stations for May 2009, according to Arbitron
1. V-103 (No. 2 in April)
2. 750/WSB (No. 1 in April)
3. Kiss 104.1 (flat at No. 3)
4. B98.5 (flat at 4th but ratings up)
5. Majic (up from tied for 7th)
6. Hot 107.9 (up from tied for 7th but ratings flat)
7. Q100 (down from 6th)
8. Praise 102.5 (down from 5th)
9. Kicks 101.5 (down from a tie for 7th)
10 (tie). 97.1/The River (up from 11th)
10 (tie). Star 94 (up from tied for 12th)
12. True Oldies 106.7 (up from 14th)

Top 10 18-34 year olds
1. V-103
2. Hot 107.9
3. Q100
4. 95.5/The Beat
5. Star 94
6. El Patron
7. (tie) Project 9-6-1
7. B98.5
9. Majic 107.5
10. Kicks 101.5

Top 10 25-54
1. V-103
2. 750/WSB-AM
3. Kiss 104.1
4. Majic 107.5
5. Q100
6. B98.5
7. Star 94
8. (tie) Praise 102.5
8. (tie) 97.1/The River
10. Kicks 101.5

Top 10 18-34 mornings
1. Frank & Wanda, V-103
2. Bert Show, Q100
3. Patrones de la Manana, El Patron
4. The Regular Guys, Rock 100.5
5. C.J. & Murph Dawg, 95.5/The Beat
6. Ricky Smiley, Hot 107.9
7. Cindy & Ray, Star 94
8. The Giant Show, Project 9-6-1
9. Scott Slade, WSB-AM
10. Cadillac & Dallas, Kicks 101.5

Top 10 25-54 mornings
1. Scott Slade, WSB-AM
2. Frank & Wanda, V-103
3. Tom Joyner, Kiss 104.1
4. Bert Show, Q100
5. Steve Harvey, Majic 107.5
6. Cadillac & Dallas, Kicks 101.5 (huge gap between No. 5 and 6)
7. Steve & Vikki, B98.5
8. Patrones De La Manana, 105.3/El Patron
9. (tie) The Regular Guys, Rock 100.5
9. (tie) Cindy & Ray, Star 94
9. (tie) Kaedy Kiely, 97.1/The River