Listenership for top 40 station KIIS-FM (102.7) jumped to its highest level of the year in July, helping the Clear Channel Communications Inc. station hold onto the top spot in Los Angeles radio rankings for the seventh month in a row.

KIIS claimed a 6.7 percent share of listeners, up from 5.9 in June, according to ranking released Thursday by Arbitron Inc.

L.A. radio has been struggling with a decline in listenership, but Mary Beth Garber, president of the Southern California Broadcasters Association attributed the spike in ratings for many stations in July to teenagers and college students on summer vacation.

“They aren’t in school,” she said. “So they’re shifting when they’re listening.”

Classic Hits stations KRTH-FM (101.1) held on to the second place position with a 4.8 percent share, up from 4.6 in June. Meanwhile, KISS rival KAMP-FM (97.1) remained in third with a 3.9 percent share, down from 4.0 percent.

Rhythmic contemporary station KPWR-FM (105.9) jumped into fourth place in July with a 3.8 percent share, up from 3.4 percent.

Tied for fifth were talk radio station KFI-AM (640) and alternative station KYSR-FM (98.7) with a 3.6 percent share. KYSR, which showed no rating change from June, has been attempting to tap into listeners from competitor KROQ-FM (106.7). The alternative station came in well behind KYSR with a 3.3 percent share.

Adult contemporary stations KOST-FM (103.5) and KTWV-FM (94.7) tied for seventh with a 3.5 percent share. This marks a drop for KOST, down from 3.7 in June. KTWV has been realigning its music format since February to go after KOST listeners, playing more R&B and soft-pop and less smooth jazz. The CBS Radio station also added Kim Amidon, a former KOST morning host, to its morning program in May.

Garber said KTWV has caught up to its radio rival because of new program director Jahni Kaye, who previously worked for KOST.

“His talents seem to be working just fine on (KTWV),” she said. “Of course he’s targeting KOST because that’s where he came from.”