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 shifts 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 Mid Market executive panel consists of thirty one (31) 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 54 brands were eligible for voting consideration in the Mid Market Sports Radio Stations category.
And the Winner Is…
104.5 The Zone in Nashville. This is The Zone’s first category win since 2016. The station ranked third in 2024. Congrats to Allison Warren, Paul Mason, and the entire Zone staff on the well earned recognition.
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 Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2025.
Additional Notes:
- 104.5 The Zone registered a nine (9) point victory over WJOX. The Zone and WJOX finished tied for the most first-place votes in the category with three (3).
- Spots 21-25 belonged to 102.5 The Game, KSL Sports Zone, SA Sports Star 94.1, ESPN Las Vegas 1100, and 99.1 The Sports Animal.
- The closest battles included 97.1 The Fan and 1010XL holding off 104.5 ESPN and 93.5/107.5 The Fan by two (2) points each.
- Of the 54 Sports Stations to appear on submitted ballots, eleven (11) 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.
