On Friday, FMQB reported that Howard Stern topped the Winter 2004 Arbitron morning show ratings in his hometown New York market.  In the wake of his public verbal assaults on the FCC, Clear Channel, and George W. Bush over the past few months, Stern has also seen a dramatic increase in his numbers in Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago.

In Boston, where WBCN was the first affiliate to "Stand Up For Stern," Howard vaulted from a sixth place 4.6 12+ in the Fall to a second-place 8.2 in the Winter.

In L.A., Stern advanced from sixth to fourth 12+ (3.7-4.2) on KLSX during the Winter survey, which covers January 8-March 31.  Stern's rants began in earnest on February 26 -- the day Clear Channel suspended him in six markets -- so March is where you'd expect to see the biggest spikes. That's the case in L.A., where Stern had the number-one morning show in the extrapolated March monthly -- 5.4 12+ and 7.0 adults 25-54. He also tied KROQ's Kevin and Bean for first in 18-34 (in March) with a 9.6.

In Chicago, Stern leapt from 15th place in the Fall to ninth in the Winter.  In the 25-54 demo, he went from sixth to third.

In the Stern stronghold of Philadelphia, WYSP maintained its second place morning drive finish, inching 8.9-9.0. 

Stern gained 1.9-2.5 on WKRK/Detroit, but only moved up from 16th to 15th.  (The bigger story in Detroit was WRIF's Drew & Mike crushing 7.6-8.7, unseating WWJ from No. 1.)

Even in San Diego, where Howard wasn't heard for almost five weeks of the 12-week survey, KIOZ maintained its morning drive ratings (4.6-4.7).