Day #2 of the BSM Top 20 has arrived. Yesterday we shared the results of the Top 20 National Sports Radio Shows, and today it’s time to recognize the Top 20 Mid Market Sports Radio Morning Shows of 2021. For those who aren’t familiar with the term Mid-Market, we use it to refer to shows operating outside of the Top 20 Major Markets.
As you review all of our Top 20 lists, please remember that the results represent the collective feedback of 46 industry executives, all with different voting responsibilities, experiences, and tastes. Yours truly does not vote. I’d like to thank Stephanie Eads, Dylan Barrett and Demetri Ravanos for helping me with the Top 20 process, and Point to Point for being our exclusive sponsor for this year’s Top 20. Tim Bronsil and his staff are a valued resource to many across the media industry, and if you’re not familiar with their work, you need to make time to learn more. That can be done by clicking here.
As it pertains to the voting, here are a few things to understand.
#1 – These results are based on 2021’s performance. 2022 changes have zero to do with this. Therefore, a show like Sharp and Benning on 1620 The Zone in Omaha didn’t qualify since it didn’t go on the air until January 2022. A show like Jeff & Big Joe, which aired on 93.5/107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis for the first eight months of the year also wasn’t eligible since it didn’t finish the year on the radio station’s airwaves. That’s the one rule we’ve kept in tact since we started this series 7 years ago.
#2 – Our executive panel consists of program directors and corporate executives from a number of top broadcasting companies including Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Hubbard, Good Karma Brands, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, SiriusXM, Spotify, and independently owned and operated radio stations. We involve a large number of people in order to receive feedback from all parts of the country, as well as to avoid the results heavily favoring one company.
#3 – A total of 45 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the Mid Market Sports Radio Morning Shows category.
#4 – The executive panel picked their Top 20 shows based on a few factors; the ear test, ratings success, originality, ability to entertain, multi-platform impact, and on-air chemistry. Keep in mind that our voters live in different cities, have different preferences, and value certain things higher than others. This isn’t a perfect science, but it’s the best system we’ve been able to create to showcase how sports radio’s brain trust view the best in the format.
Which now brings us to the rankings for Mid Market Sports Radio Morning Shows. For the second year in a row, 92.3 The Fan’s The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima has secured the top spot. The Cleveland morning duo picked up their 2nd Top 20 win despite not leading the category in first place votes. They did though score the most top 5 votes of any show, which was enough to hold off the rest of the field. BSM congratulates Ken, Anthony, Owen Lademann, Anthony Alford, Andy Roth and the entire 92.3 The Fan team on earning this year’s top honor, as well as every other show which gained a spot on this year’s list.
Now, here are the full results of “BSM’s Top 20 Mid Market Sports Radio Morning Shows of 2021!”
Additional Notes:
- The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima finished 12 points in front of The Morning Animals, picking up three (3) first place votes in this year’s voting. The Steve Czaban Show and McElroy & Cubelic tied for the most first place votes in the morning show category with five (5) apiece. Carman and Lima did though produce the most Top 5 finishes with twelve (12).
- 21-25 was occupied by The Bart Winkler Show, The Starting Lineup, The Bill & Rookie Experience, Dirt & Sprague and The Deener Show.
- The closest contests involved Fescoe In The Morning nipping The Big Bad Morning Show by 1 point, Karraker & Smallmon edging J-Mart & Ramon by 2 points, and The Drill besting Jen, Gabe and Chewy by 3 points.
- Of the 45 shows eligible for consideration this year, 11 received at least one 1st place vote.
Here is the remaining schedule for the BSM Top 20 of 2021.
- Wednesday February 9 = The Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2021
- Thursday February 10 = The Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2021
- Friday February 11 = The Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2021
- Monday February 14 = The Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2021
- Tuesday February 15 = The Top 20 Original Sports Podcasts/Specialty Selections of 2021
To view prior years of BSM’s Top 20 results, click here.
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.
