Barrett Media’s Top 20 series for sports radio has reached the halfway point. Today, the focus shifts to the top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2025. Stay tuned to this website, our newsletters and X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and/or Instagram to learn the results for the remainder of the series. After the Top 20 series is over, I will record a video discussing the key takeaways from this year’s results. That video will be posted on the Barrett Media YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe to be notified once it’s live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the voting.
#2 – We ask our voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our Major Market executive panel consists of thirty six (36) program directors and corporate executives from radio’s top broadcasting companies. They include Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, Bonneville, SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, Radio One, and a bunch of independently owned and operated radio stations. Our voting group is large because we want feedback from every part of the country. We also do that to assure the results don’t favor any one media group.
#4 – The criteria for our voters included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 – A total of 41 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the Major Market Sports Radio Midday Shows category.
And the Winner Is…
98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand. Congrats to Scott, Marc and their entire crew on the well earned recognition. The win marks the fifth straight year and sixth time overall the show has been voted the best Major Market Sports Radio Midday show.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2025.
Additional Notes:
- Zolak & Bertrand finished fifty eight (58) points ahead of Brandon Tierney & Sal Licata to score the first-place finish. The 98.5 Sports Hub midday show received a category best ten (10) first place votes, expanding their lead from last year.
- Spots 21-25 belonged to Papa & Silver, Bump & Stacy, Kevin Sheehan, Polumbus, Hastings & DMac, and Jon Marks.
- The closest contest saw The Michael Kay Show and Dover & Cecil edge Karsh & Anderson and Cellini & Dimino by three (3) points each.
- Of the 41 shows to appear on submitted ballots, nine (9) received at least one 1st place vote.
BNM Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:
- Thursday February 5 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2025
- Friday February 6 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2025
- Monday February 9 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2025
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Jason Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media. The company launched in September 2015 and has provided consulting services to America’s top audio and video brands, while simultaneously covering the media industry at BarrettMedia.com, becoming a daily destination for media professionals. Prior to Barrett Media, Jason built and programmed 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which later became 97.5 The Fanatic. Barrett also led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and worked on-air and behind the scenes at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT producing ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ and ‘GameNight’. JB can be reached on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
