Barrett Media’s Top 20 series for Sports Radio has reached its conclusion. Today, we recognize the format’s top Sports Radio Stations in Major and Mid-sized Markets. Starting on Tuesday, we shift to the Top 20 in News/Talk radio and television. The series then pivots to Music Radio from February 23-March 4.
To stay updated on all of the Top 20 Major and Mid Market lists across the entire industry, keep an eye on this website, our newsletters and X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and/or Instagram. After the Top 20 series is done, 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 39 brands were eligible for voting consideration in the Major Market Sports Radio Stations category.
And the Winner Is…
98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. This is the eighth straight year that The Hub has been voted the best Major Market Sports Radio Station. The brand has been recognized with the top honor a total of nine (9) times in this series. Without question, it is recognized by sports radio’s finest as the cream of the crop among sports radio stations. Congrats to Mary Menna, Rick Radzik and the entire Hub team on the well deserved honor.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork for this series, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Stations of 2025.
Additional Notes:
- 98.5 The Sports Hub enjoyed a sixty four (64) point win over Sports Radio 94WIP. The Hub scored the most first-place votes in the category with twelve (12).
- Spots 21-25 belonged to 97.3 The Fan, Sports Radio 610, Altitude Sports 92.5, 680 The Fan, and WQAM.
- The closest contests saw 95.7 The Game and Seattle Sports 710 edge 106.7 The Fan and KNBR by one (1) point each.
- Of the 39 Sports Stations to appear on submitted ballots, eight (8) received at least one 1st place vote.
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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.
