Nielsen Delists WLNO Over PPM Panel Violation

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 3:21pm CT

Nielsen

Nielsen has delisted Spanish Hot AC WLNO & WDCN-LD (Latino 104.1/87.7) from the August 2026 Washington, DC PPM radio ratings after discovering that the household of a WLNO staff member had been participating in its Portable People Meter panel.

According to Nielsen, the household had been part of the Washington PPM panel since the January, 2025 survey. The company said the individual involved intentionally misrepresented their background to circumvent safeguards intended to prevent people affiliated with media outlets from participating in its measurement panels.

Nielsen prohibits households associated with radio stations from participating in its ratings panels and surveys. Following an investigation, the company determined the situation violated its Rating Distortion policy and removed WLNO from the August Washington market report.

The action explains the station's absence from the August PPM results released earlier this month.

Nielsen limited the delisting to WLNO rather than extending the action to other stations in the Radio One/Urban One Washington cluster. The company cited several mitigating factors, including the broadcaster's cooperation with the investigation, its previous compliance record and the fact that the employee involved had joined the company through a recent acquisition.

The delisting will also be limited to the August monthly report.

Because the affected household had participated in the panel for an extended period, Nielsen is issuing revised Washington ratings covering earlier survey periods beginning in February, 2026. Revised reports are being provided to subscribers starting with the July monthly.

WLNO is expected to return to Nielsen's Washington PPM report with the September results.