Near the end of December, area radio stations knew where they would end up in the ratings race. Christmas music does well and overall, radio station listeners settle into place the final two weeks of the year.

It makes sense that as the holidays take over our tendencies to keep with what we know will stop us from sampling other stations. It’s like hot coca and a blanket on a cold day – we stick to what we know in times of chaos because the comfort keeps us calm.

So, when country station WMIL-FM emerged as the market leader, it wasn’t a surprise. The station near the far reaches of the dial has kept its No. 1 spot among its peers for each month of the 2014 calendar year. Thank you to the Tom Taylor NOW newsletter for the market numbers.

Here is how everything shook out:

WMIL-FM, Country: 10.2

WTMJ-AM, News Talk Info.: 9.9

WRIT-FM, Oldies: 6.1

WMYX-FM, Hot Adult Contemporary: 5.1

WISN-AM, News Talk Info.: 4.9

WKKV-FM, Urban: 4.7

WXSS-FM, Pop: 4.6

WLUM-FM, Alternative: 4.4

WLDB-FM, Adult Contemporary:  4.2

WLWK-FM, Adult Hits: 4.0

WRNW-FM, Pop: 2.7

WUWM-FM, News Talk Info.: 1.9

WHAD-FM, Talk/Personality: 1.6

WSSP-AM, All Sports: 1.5

WZTI-AM, Adult Standards: 1.4

WYMS-FM, AAA               : 0.8

WOKY-AM, All Sports: 0.7

WMSE-FM, Alternative: 0.3

STATE SPORTS: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel announced this week that Menasha High School won its "Play of the Year" contest for the 2014 high school football season and will be awarded a $1,000 donation. Fans in Time Warner Cable markets across the country selected the best high school football plays in each region, and Menasha faced off against 13 weekly finalists to win the honors.

"I would like to once again thank the community for the amazing support we received this season," said Menasha Head Coach Jeramie Korth. "From the Time Warner Cable SportsChannel ‘Play of the Year’ award to ‘Player of the Week’ awards, Menasha has responded through social media and other ways to win awards and contests such as this one. The two-point play vs. Homestead will forever be remembered in Menasha and we want to thank Time Warner Cable SportsChannel for capturing that moment."

The winning play was set up late in the fourth quarter on Nov. 15 after a Mequon Homestead fumble.

"Menasha proceeded to drive 91 yards down the field for a touchdown with 0:26 remaining in the game, pulling them within a point," Time Warner Cable SportsChannel reported. "With the game and the season on the line, quarterback Tyler Johnson pitched to running back Jadin Sell, who sprinted into the end zone for the two-point conversion. The win sent the Bluejays to Madison, where they went on to win their first state title."

Menasha’s two-point conversion clip garnered 30.2 percent of the vote. Three of the 13 "Play of the Year" finalists were Menasha plays, and they combined to account for 38 percent of the total vote.

The Time Warner Cable SportsChannel in Wisconsin combines separate coverage areas including the Milwaukee market and the Green Bay and Appleton/Fox Valley TV-coverage market. In it efforts, the cable outlet features local sports content and live events including high school, amateur and professional sports that are key to Wisconsin fans. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is available on channel 32 and HD channel 1332 on Time Warner Cable Systems. For more follow