We’ve reached the end of the first week of the 7th annual edition of the BSM Top 20. We’ve featured the Top 20 National Shows, Major Market Morning, Midday, and Afternoon Shows, as well as the Mid Market Morning, Midday and Afternoon Shows. Thanks to all who’ve taken the time this week to share the Top 20 lists and congratulate those recognized on social media. It’s greatly appreciated.
As you go over the selections, please remember that the lists represent the collective opinions of 46 industry executives. 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 Marketing 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 no impact on these outcomes. This means that program directors such as Jeff Rickard, who recently exited WEEI was eligible since he programmed the station thru the end of 2021. On the other hand, PD’s such as Danny Zederman and Sean Thompson, who recently earned opportunities in Chicago and Phoenix were not eligible since they didn’t work in the position in 2021. Our one rule since starting this series in 2016 is that an individual/show must finish the year with the station they’re working at in the same position they were hired for.
#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 27 programmers were eligible for voting consideration in the Major Market Sports Radio Program Directors category.
#4 – Our executive panel picked the Top 20 program directors using a few factors; station success, multi-platform excellence, industry respect, brand reputation, and creative ideas. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, have different tastes and experiences, and work for different companies, so certain factors may be given more or less merit per individual. This isn’t a perfect science, but it’s the best system we can think of to showcase sports radio’s best.
Which brings us to the rankings for this year’s Major Market Sports Radio Program Directors. The top prize this year goes to 98.5 The Sports Hub’s, Rick Radzik. The Boston sports radio station, which has cleaned up on Top 20 awards this year, had a monster ratings performance during each quarter, which led to The Hub becoming the top money maker among all sports stations. With Rick at the helm, business and listenership was thru the roof. Rick did receive a good battle from WFAN’s Spike Eskin, who finished 2nd. Radzik had the most Top 5 votes among all PD’s including seven (7) first place votes. Eskin had more 1st place votes, ten (10) but less top 5 finishes. BSM congratulates Rick and the entire 98.5 The Sports Hub team on earning this year’s top honor, and all of the PD’s who earned a spot on this year’s list.
Now, here are the full results of “BSM’s Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2021!”
Additional Notes:
- Rick Radzik secured seven (7) 1st place votes and a category best twenty two (22) top-5 votes to hold off WFAN’s Spike Eskin by twelve (12) points. Eskin led the category though with the most first place votes, notching ten (10) of them.
- 21-25 was occupied by Rich Moore of Sports Radio KJR in Seattle, Jeff Rickard from WEEI in Boston, Adam Klug of 97.3 The Fan in San Diego, Matt Edgar of 680 The Fan in Atlanta, and Kyle Brown of 710 ESPN in Seattle.
- The closest battles saw Dave Tepper finish 3 points ahead of Brian Long, and Ryan Hurley edge Armen Williams by 4 points.
- Of the 27 programmers eligible for consideration this year, 7 received at least one 1st place vote.
Here is the remaining schedule for the BSM Top 20 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.
