KLAX again takes top spot among local radio stations; talk radio continues its inroads onto Southland airwaves.

Ranchera station KLAX-FM has taken its Mexican country music format to the top of the Los Angeles charts again, marking the second consecutive year the Spanish-language station leads The List of the county's top 25 radio stations.

KLAX checked in with a 1993-1994 average Arbitron rating of 6.2, down from its 1993-1992 average rating of 6.4, but still enough to beat its nearest competitor by more than one full point. Arbitron is a national radio ratings service based in New York.

An Arbitron rating -- or share -- is equal to the average percentage of the listening audience that is tuned in to a given station. The List averages the Arbitron ratings of the spring, summer and fall quarters of 1993, and the winter quarter of 1994.

Second on The List of L.A.'s top 25 rated stations was KPWR-FM, a contemporary-hits station that earned a 4.9 share, up from its 1992-1993 No. 3 showing of 4.7.

Falling from No. 2 to No. 3 this year was adult contemporary station KOST-FM, whose 4.7 share showing had dropped from 5.2 last year.

KLAX reported 1993 revenues of $20 million, up from a mere $4 million the previous year.

But the real winner in the revenues war was KABC-AM talk radio, which reported revenues of $33 million for 1993. However, 12 out of The List's 25 stations declined to report revenues.

The biggest gainer on The List this year was KFI-AM, which continued is climb by moving from the No. 12 spot last year to No. 4 this year. The talk radio station beat out rival talk outlet KABC, which checked iN at the No. 7 spot this year.

This year was the second in a row in which KFI made a run up The List. The station had jumped from No. 19 to No. 12 in 1993.

Howard Neal, vice president and general manager of KFI, credited his station's success to good personnel and good programs.

On-air programs like Rush Limbaugh's political show, Laura Schlessinger's family issues talk show and Stephanie Miller's humorous take on the day's news have all performed well, Neal said.

What's more, Neal said, local issues such as the riots, Menendez trial and earthquake have broadened the market for talk radio, with more people looking for the day's news, as well as some analysis and opinion behind it.

"In many ways," he said, "these things picked up new listeners and given regular talk radio listeners a new enthusiasm."

KCBS-FM, which switched from an oldies format to the classic rock category this year, saw an impressive four-spot gain to No. 18 on The List.

Dave Van Dyke, general manager of KCBS, said the station ran out of room to grow when it was playing oldies from the 50s and 60s -- and competing head-to-head with powerful KRTH-FM (No. 8 this year).

But research proved there was a large market interested in rock and roll oldies from the 1970s, Van Dyke said, adding that, "The change has been a very successful for us. The station seems to have hit a nerve."

KCBS's gain came at rival classic rockers KLSX-FM's expense, as the station fell three spots to No. 11. Album-oriented rock station KLOS-FM also fell three spots to No. 12 on The List.

Those debuting on The List this year were KXEZ-FM, Viacom International's adult contemporary station which hit No. 23. Spanish-language contemporary country station KXED-AM ranked No. 24.

Those falling off The List this year were the soft adult contemporary station KLIT-FM, and urban contemporary broadcaster KJLH-FM. With an audience share of 1.0 and 0.8 respectively, neither made it in the top 25.