It’s been a fun four days highlighting the sports format’s top shows and personalities, but we always wrap up week 1 by showcasing sports radio’s top program directors. These are the folks responsible for guiding some of the best stations in America, and working with the elite talent on each brand’s airwaves to maximize their success.
Before you scroll down, there are a few things to be aware of. First, the voting for this series is done by fifty one radio executives from thirty cities and thirteen companies. BSM president Jason Barrett does not vote. He simply assembles the panel and presents their collective opinions.
Secondly, we ask our voters to consider the following criteria below when judging programs. That said, each voter has different preferences, which makes this a subjective process.
- Strong station ratings in 2018
- Great reputation and consistency
- Exceptional track record of managing elite talent
- Finished 2018 programming a sports radio station
- Points are given for each spot (EX: 20 for 1st, 1 for 20th)
Our one golden rule is that an individual must finish the year programming in the sports format. That alone is why Jay Taylor and John Hanson are not part of this year’s results. Had they remained active in the format thru the end of 2018, they’d be on this list.
Moving on to the rankings, the format’s top mid-market programmer for 2018 according to our executive panel was Ryan Haney of WJOX. Haney unseats 2x winner Andy Roth of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland. Under Ryan’s watch, WJOX made some big changes in 2018, and based on the early returns, the moves have been strongly received. WJOX has been a force in the market for a long time, and with Haney continuing to shape the sound and vision of the brand, they appear to be in great shape for years to come.
We congratulate Ryan on his well deserved recognition, as well as every other programmer who gained a spot on this year’s list. With that in mind, here are the full results of “BSM’s Top 20 Mid Market Program Directors of 2018”!
Additional Notes:
- Ryan Haney knocked off 2x winner Andy Roth by finishing ahead by 13 points. Haney had the most 1st place finishes with seven (7)
- The tightest battles were for spots 6-7 and 13-14. Brad Willis was 4 points ahead of Chad Boeger, and Jeff Austin finished 5 points in front of Dennis Glasgow.
- Jimmy Clark finished in 21st place, 7 points behind Ryan Porth
- 22-25 went to Jason Anderson, Lloyd Cole, Jeff Caves, and Joe Hunk
- 9 of the 46 Program Directors eligible for consideration received a 1st place vote
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
