Years ago Boston was considered a weak market for country but bit by bit WKLB raised the profile and did better in the ratings...reaching #1 12-plus (yes, though not 25-54?) at one point. But as has been said ratings don't necessarily agree with revenue. The station has won various awards for country radio and Mike Brophey has been praised. Some country concerts like Kenny Chesney at Gillette sell out right away, etc.
GM is happy enough with the station to keep it country and it must make them some money but as you say, GM has been weak compared with the other owners (CBS, Entercom, and iHeart) that you mentioned. Ratings wise Magic 106.7 has done well over the years, ditto WROR, but again that's ratings not earnings.
iHeart's country effort to draw listeners away from 'KLB and maybe make them some money, too, has done so so in the ratings but again, they may be happy about it, or else they (like Evolution and Harbor before them) will change to something else (what, though?). iHeart saw how well 'KLB was going and decided to not just go country but accent the
hot new country. Well, either WKLB is poorly programmed, or The Bull has siphoned off enough listeners to make GM
start to worry about their longtime CW outlet here....
>>Country 102.5 WKLB-FM Program Director Mike Brophey and Music Director Ginny Rogers both received top honors on Friday, March 1st at the 2013 Country Radio Seminar/Country Aircheck Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.
Brophey was named Operations Manager/Program Director of the Year (Major Market).
http://www.greatermedia.com/?p=4702
https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazin...-music-soul/kc65VvEuCb138mUpXIPaRK/story.html
>>And what a lucrative monopoly it had been. Country music, once considered a lost cause in Boston, has captured the city’s heart. Top country artists now routinely fill area stadiums and arenas and sell many singles and albums locally...For WKLB, owned by Braintree-based Greater Media, this ballooning fan base has brought sky-high ratings and accompanying advertising dollars.