BSM’s Top 20 Mid Market Local Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2019

We’re up to the fourth day of BSM’s Top 20 of 2019, placing the spotlight today on the sports talk format’s top afternoon shows. Before you jump ahead to see the results and grab screenshots of the photos to promote your favorite hosts and shows on social media, here are a few things to be aware of.

First, the voting for our Top 20 series this year involved forty seven radio professionals from thirty cities and eighteen companies. Yours truly (Jason Barrett) does not vote on the awards, I simply collect the information, add up the votes, design the images, and present and promote the results.

Secondly, our voters were asked to consider the criteria below to judge the format’s best programs. Keep in mind, each individual values different things and has deeper knowledge of some shows and cities than others. Though that may make this an imperfect science, we could say that about any list on any topic ever created. Therefore, we’re going to move forward and present a collective snapshot of what radio industry executives believe to be the format’s best shows.

• Strong ratings in 2019
• Industry track record
• Reputation and influence
• Ability to entertain and inform consistently
• Must have finished 2019 with the network/station in the timeslot
• Points are given for each spot (EX: 20 for 1st, 1 for 20th)

That brings us to this year’s rankings for the Mid Market Local Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2019. Last year, Gary Parrish shot up the ladder to grab the top spot, but this year the honor is heading to Oklahoma City. 98.1 The Sports Animal’s afternoon king Jim Traber has been named the #1 Mid Market Local Sports Radio Afternoon Show for 2019.

Traber has been a fixture in the sports radio industry for over two decades following a career in Major League Baseball. He’s been a ratings and revenue producer for WWLS throughout his career, and his reputation and talent factored into him earning this year’s honor. Rounding out the Top 5 were Garry Parrish, Schopp & The Bulldog, The Fast Lane and Poni and Mueller.

BSM congratulates Jim, his supporting cast at WWLS, PD Chris Baker, and Cumulus SVP of Sports Bruce Gilbert on the well deserved recognition. Now let’s take a look at the final results of “BSM’s Top 20 Major Market Local Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2019!”

Additional Notes:

• Jim Traber and Gary Parrish tied for the most 1st place votes with three (3). Traber recorded more Top 5 finishes to earn a nine point win.
• Spots 21-25 belonged to The Big Show (SLC), Cofield & Company, Rob Dibble, Unsportsmanlike Conduct and After Further Review with Matt Moscona.
• Isaac & Big Suke tied with Milwaukee’s The Big Show, and the second closest race saw Adam & Joe finish 1 point ahead of Bull & Fox.
• 10 of the 53 shows eligible for consideration this year received at least one (1) 1st place vote.

Here is the remaining schedule for the BSM Top 20 of 2019.

• Friday January 31 = The 2019 Top 20 Sports Radio Program Directors
• Monday February 3 = The 2019 Top 20 Major and Mid-Market Local Sports Radio Sports Stations
• Tuesday February 4 = The 2019 Top 20 Original Sports Podcasts

Jason Barrett

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.