Home Blog Page 201

A 15-Year Leap: How Neon 93.1 Is Rewriting the Adult Hits Playbook

Mike Stern
-
1
A 15-Year Leap: How Neon 93.1 Is Rewriting the Adult Hits Playbook

Trying to develop a new radio format, or even a new version of an existing format, is always a gamble. So it only makes sense that a new iteration of the Adult Hits format would launch in the city best known for placing bets — Las Vegas, where iHeartMedia recently flipped Classic Rock KYMT to “Neon 93.1,” which they describe as a high-energy adult hits station playing a mix of music from the nineties and 2000s that includes pop, rock, and hip-hop.

But just how similar or different is the new station from other Adult Hits stations across the country? I decided to look under the hood to find out. Using Mediabase, I compared one day of music (6 a.m. to midnight) on Neon 93.1 to the same day on 93.1 Jack-FM (KCBS/Los Angeles) and 103.5 Bob-FM (KBPA/Austin).

It turns out this really is a whole new approach.

The first, most notable difference is the eras of music the stations focus on. Of the two traditional Adult Hits stations, KCBS is a little more contemporary, with 56% of the titles played coming from before 1990, while KBPA approaches 70%. For the new Neon 93.1, pre-nineties music is only 6% of the playlist. Instead, over 60% of Neon’s songs were released after the nineties, compared to just over 10% of KCBS and Bob-FM’s titles.

ErasKYMTKCBSKBPA
Pre-1990’s6%54%69%
90’s31%33%21%
Post 90’s63%12%11%

That makes a huge difference in the average year of a song played on the stations, with Neon coming in at 2003.2 while the other stations average 1988 — a difference of fifteen years. Looking at the ten-year span that each station focuses on the most, both traditional Adult Hits stations are centered on 1980–1989, while Neon’s core decade is 1994–2003.

Looking at the music by genre, Neon isn’t as attached to rock-based sounds as the other two stations. Titles that would fall under Classic Rock, Classic Hits, or Active Rock make up 25% of KCBS’ playlist and 30% of KBPA’s. Those same sounds make up just 3% of what Neon played.

Instead, Neon’s playlist leans toward pop and rhythmic sounds, which make up just under 60% of the songs they played. Those pop-leaning titles make up 20% and 35% of KCBS and KBPA, respectively. The overlap between the three stations is with alternative-leaning songs, which make up a third to half of each station’s list.

GenreKYMTKCBSKBPA
Pop & Rhythmic58%19%35%
Rock3%26%30%
Alternative38%55%34%

Breaking the sounds down a little further, of the nearly 60% of Neon’s playlist that is pop-leaning, about 20% comes from the 2010s, another 20% from the 2000s, and the rest is from before the turn of the century. Bob-FM and KCBS barely touch any pop titles from after 1999.

On the day I looked at, there was a list of pop artists that included Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Nelly, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Lady Gaga, who all got three to five spins on Neon but didn’t appear on KBPA or KCBS.

While I’ve been writing about how Adult Hits stations are struggling to add nineties music to their mix, Neon skipped right over that issue, embracing music released in the 2000s and 2010s. It will be interesting to see how the new approach plays out in the roulette-like game known as the Nielsen ratings.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Why CNN Employees Shouldn’t Rush to Judge a Paramount Deal

Garrett Searight
-
0
Why CNN Employees Shouldn’t Rush to Judge a Paramount Deal

If you’ve spent even five minutes around cable news Twitter this week, you’ve seen the anxiety. CNN employees are reportedly uneasy about the prospect of being acquired by Paramount Skydance. When the words “CNN” and “Paramount” share the same headline, it’s bound to rattle nerves inside a newsroom that has already endured more than its fair share of turbulence.

That fear is understandable. Change is hard. Few people truly enjoy it, especially when their careers and editorial integrity feel like they’re hanging in the balance. Add in concerns about potential editorial interference from the Ellisons or even someone like Bari Weiss, and the temperature rises quickly. I totally get it.

Journalists are wired to protect their independence. The idea that Trump-friendly billionaires could exert influence over coverage sets off alarms. Reports that promises of “robust changes” were floated to President Donald Trump only amplify those worries. In a hyper-polarized era, perception can be as damaging as reality.

But here’s the thing: CNN has already undergone massive change. You could argue it has already experienced editorial interference. The building didn’t just wake up one day with these anxieties. They’ve been living through them for years.

Remember when David Zaslav installed Chris Licht as CEO? That wasn’t a subtle move. It was a deliberate attempt to steer the network back toward its so-called “just the news” roots. The mandate was clear. Tone down the opinionated edge. Reclaim the middle. Showcase outside opinions rather than drive the conversation themselves. Restore credibility with audiences who felt alienated.

It didn’t go so well.

Licht’s tenure was brief and bruising. His efforts were met with internal skepticism and very public scrutiny. Staffers questioned his strategy. On-air talent bristled at shifts in direction. Ultimately, he didn’t last. You could argue the consternation from CNN employees played a role in that outcome.

And where did that leave the network?

CNN still hasn’t regained its past relevance. Ratings remain inconsistent. Cultural influence feels diminished compared to its heyday. The brand that once defined breaking news now fights for oxygen in a fragmented media environment. None of that happened because of Paramount Skydance.

Leadership change is not new to that building. Editorial recalibration is not new either. The difference now is the perceived politics of potential ownership. That’s what makes this moment feel heavier.

Still, I find myself agreeing with CEO Mark Thompson when he suggests staffers shouldn’t rush to judgment. It’s easy to react to headlines. It’s harder to assess what an acquisition would actually mean in practice. Deals look dramatic on paper. Reality often proves more nuanced.

Yes, the Ellisons have reputations. Yes, their political relationships are well documented. And yes, the idea of ownership tied to power players who have reportedly signaled openness to sweeping changes is unsettling. But let’s not ignore a fundamental truth about billionaires: they love money.

Influence matters. Power matters. Yet profit usually matters more.

There isn’t an obvious business lane for CNN to swerve hard right. That territory is already crowded. Fox News dominates the conservative space. Newsmax has carved out its niche. You could now argue NewsNation occupies at least a center-right position. Why would Paramount Skydance push CNN into a fight it’s unlikely to win?

Cable news is not an open frontier. It’s a mature battlefield with entrenched brands and loyal audiences. A dramatic ideological pivot would risk alienating CNN’s existing viewers without guaranteeing new ones. That’s not just a political gamble, it’s a financial one.

From a cold business perspective, the smarter play would be brand stabilization. Expand digital reach. Find a sustainable identity that doesn’t hinge on chasing whichever partisan lane appears lucrative in the moment. That strategy may not generate viral outrage, but it has a better chance of generating revenue.

None of this dismisses employee concerns. They’re correct about being vigilant about protecting editorial independence. They should ask hard questions of ownership. Healthy skepticism is part of the job description.

However, panic rarely produces productivity. CNN has survived ownership shifts before. It has weathered executive overhauls. It has endured public criticism from both sides of the aisle. The network’s biggest challenge isn’t whether it becomes a conservative outlet overnight. It’s whether it can rediscover a compelling reason for viewers to choose it at all.

Fear of change is human. In media, it’s almost institutional. But change alone isn’t the villain. Poor strategy is. So is a failure to adapt to evolving audience habits.

If Paramount Skydance ultimately takes control, the proof will be in the programming. Until then, measured patience makes more sense than preemptive outrage. CNN’s future will hinge less on political whispers and more on whether it can deliver journalism people feel is worth their time.

And that’s a challenge no billionaire can solve with ideology alone.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Taking a Peak Behind the Curtain at Nielsen’s PPM Ratings System

Dr. Ed Cohen
-
0
Taking a Peak Behind the Curtain at Nielsen’s PPM Ratings System

Two weeks ago, I used quotes from the classic movie Casablanca for the ongoing Cumulus – Nielsen litigation. This week, let’s channel an even older movie, The Wizard of Oz (1939). The line “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” is apt when describing how PPM credits listening. Nielsen doesn’t advertise the rules that operate “behind the curtain,” nor do they hide them, and any electronic system will have a whole series of intricacies.

Consider all the editing twists in the diary service, and that’s just a paper system. Almost no one outside of the company knows exactly what the Nielsen wizards do (some of you may prefer to use wicked witches instead of wizards), so let’s cover their activities here. If you’re reading this on Monday morning when my column first appears in Barrett Media, have some strong coffee handy.

Our trip down the yellow brick road begins with two rules that you may have heard of and that I’ve written about in the past: the lead-in edit and the bridging edit. If you are thinking, “Huh?” here are the reasonable explanations. The lead-in edit assumes that the meter needs a bit of time to pick up codes, so if the panelist didn’t just switch from one station to another, one minute is credited ahead of the time that the meter picks up a solid code.

If your brain is functioning right now, the answer is yes – a less than three-minute quarter hour is possible when you think about actual listening.

The bridging edit does just that. It bridges. If a panelist listened to station A, then the data shows a gap of up to one full minute, followed by a resumption of listening to station A, that “blank” minute is credited to station A, which makes sense. So far, so good.

Next is the PPM code itself. A PPM code contains a small amount of information, including a signal that tells the meter that information is on the way, a unique code that identifies the station, and a time stamp from the encoder. The codes are transmitted if the station is broadcasting some level of energy, as the code is a sound and must operate “underneath” the station’s audio. If a PPM-encoded radio station or stream runs dead air, it’s as good as off-the-air for Nielsen purposes, as the code can’t be sent.

When a panelist’s meter receives codes, it does a couple of things. First, it must store the code. It also must add its own time stamp, as well as look at the quality of the code. Generally, all the codes stored by a meter for a given day will be sent to Nielsen via the cell network.

Now let’s look at what happens after a panelist’s codes arrive at Nielsen and are processed. The system starts with 15-second increments and rolls them up to 30-second increments based on “clock minutes,” in other words, 7:00:00 to 7:00:30 and 7:00:30 to 7:01:00. The system allows only one station to get credit for a 30-second increment. What if someone changes stations within a 30-second increment? The rule is usually the “last best code.” The exception: if the last code is not “complete” – because sometimes complete codes don’t come through to the meter – then the last complete code (representing a station) will get the credit.

What if the code is “incomplete,” but there are no other saved codes in that 30 seconds? The system looks 15 minutes behind and ahead for that panelist to see if there is a complete code that is off by one character. If it finds one, credit is given to that station. That clears up most of the incomplete codes.

What of the remaining incomplete codes? The PPM system looks five minutes before and after that code was received and will credit it to a complete code in the same medium. Radio goes to radio and TV to TV. Got it so far? Don’t worry – only my Western Kentucky University students must take exams.

The next step is to go from 30-second increments to minutes, and much like three minutes gets you the quarter hour, 30 seconds earns you the minute. If KAAA “wins” the first 30 seconds and KBBB wins the second 30 seconds, both get credit for that minute. Now the wizard – I mean system – builds a quarter hour, and under the current rules, three minutes earns you credit for the quarter hour from that panelist, who is hopefully in your core demo.

As you’ve probably figured out, multiple stations can get credit for the same quarter hour. One other note: all along, the system has worked with PPM codes. Once the system determines which code or codes will get credit for the quarter hour, the codes are matched to the database, and now the credit is given to KAAA, KBBB, and maybe even KCCC!

In the past, it was possible for three stations to receive credit for the same quarter hour. With 3MQ, my assumption (although I’ve not verified this with anyone at Nielsen) is that five or more stations could get credit for the same quarter hour. It’s not likely, but it’s possible.

That’s how PPM crediting works, and other than the change to 3MQ, it’s worked that way since Arbitron implemented the system 20 years ago. This isn’t meant for radio wizards to think about ways to game the system, but for educational purposes. Once you understand it, you’ll realize you’re not in Kansas anymore – or even Columbia, Maryland!

Let’s meet again next week.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Linda Cohn Fires Back At Keith Olbermann Over Auston Matthews Olympics take

BSM Staff
-
0
Linda Cohn Fires Back At Keith Olbermann Over Auston Matthews Olympics take

Linda Cohn did not let Keith Olbermann’s personal attack go unanswered.

After Olbermann labeled his former SportsCenter colleague a “self-obsessed politically motivated clown” in response to her defense of Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Cohn fired back with a pointed message of her own that further intensified an already public dispute between two of ESPN’s most recognizable former anchors.

“Amazing Keith Olbermann that you describe me how the world actually describes you,” Cohn wrote on X. “What happened to you? Gaslighting and bullying a former colleague? Is that really your thing now? It’s really sad and disappointing. Everyone knows you’ve been irrelevant since you left sports and decided to share your uninvited warped world views with the rest of us. You sound bitter and miserable. I hope you get the help you need.”

The sharp exchange marked a dramatic escalation from what began as a disagreement over a Toronto Star opinion column criticizing Matthews for visiting the White House following Team USA’s gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a traditional stop for American championship teams that in this case drew political scrutiny because of the current occupant of the Oval Office.

Cohn initially objected to the framing of the column, which suggested Matthews had chosen politics over his obligations to the Maple Leafs during a tight NHL playoff race, and she questioned whether the piece reflected the sentiments of Toronto’s fan base rather than the perspective of a single columnist.

Olbermann responded with a blistering post aimed directly at Cohn, accusing her of political bias and asserting that colleagues had long “indulged” her views, a remark that drew immediate attention given the pair’s shared tenure at ESPN during the 1990s and their joint appearance on a 2018 SportsCenter reunion special.

Cohn’s rebuttal shifted the focus from Matthews and the White House visit to Olbermann himself, accusing him of gaslighting and bullying while arguing that his relevance has waned since departing sports media to concentrate primarily on political commentary after leaving ESPN in 2020.

The broader backdrop to the dispute remains Matthews’ decision to attend the White House celebration with most of his U.S. teammates. The Toronto Star column also criticized his post-Olympic downtime in Miami as the Leafs fight to secure a playoff spot.

However, what might have remained a debate about athlete responsibility and tradition has instead evolved into a personal feud between two veteran broadcasters whose careers once intersected at the height of ESPN’s SportsCenter dominance.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

CNBC Begins Round of Layoffs Ahead of Versant’s First Earnings Report

BNM Staff
-
0
CNBC Begins Round of Layoffs Ahead of Versant’s First Earnings Report

A round of layoffs has been enacted at CNBC as the network works to unify its digital and TV news operations following Versant’s split from NBCUniversal.

The network says that fewer than a dozen staffers saw their positions eliminated. However, it shared that the cuts are more of a reorganization than a downsizing, saying that it plans to add more editorial jobs in the coming months.

”The changes made today are to align CNBC’s newsroom structure for the future, they are not driven by cost cutting,” a CNBC spokesperson said. “We expect to hire more than 40 new editorial roles over the next year across TV, Digital and direct-to-consumer platforms.”

All layoffs related to the reorganization of its editorial department have been completed.

The editorial operations for CNBC are now being helmed by Editor-in-Chief David Cho, who joined the network last year. Cho previously worked in the same role at Barron’s and as the business editor of The Washington Post.

The cuts for CNBC come as Versant prepares to showcase its first-ever financial results next week.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Jason Williams: Stephen A. Smith Needs To Move on From Beef With LeBron James

BSM Staff
-
0
Jason Williams: Stephen A. Smith Needs To Move on From Beef With LeBron James

The back-and-forth over LeBron James’ wardrobe choices has escalated beyond a simple style critique, as Barstool Sports personality Jason Williams accused Stephen A. Smith of harboring something deeper than fashion frustration during a recent appearance on the “Hoopin’ N Hollerin’” podcast.

Smith recently questioned whether James, particularly while sidelined, should adopt a more polished look when attending NBA games, echoing sentiments about professionalism and presentation that surfaced after the Los Angeles Lakers’ nationally televised loss to the Boston Celtics. However, Williams suggested the repeated commentary signals more than stylistic preference.

“Stephen A. Smith. There’s something so personal with he and LeBron that he’s just going to keep going and going until something crazy happens,” Williams said. “I don’t know what it is. I just think both of them will be better off, maybe not both of them. But Stephen A., I think his life is so good that he shouldn’t be worried about s**t like that, unless it’s so personal that he has to hold on to it.”

Rather than treating the remarks as harmless debate fodder, Williams framed Smith’s ongoing critiques as fixation, arguing that a media figure of Smith’s stature has little to gain from revisiting James’ attire when larger basketball issues dominate the league landscape.

He added that perspective should come with experience, especially for prominent voices who have already achieved professional and financial success.

“Life is shorter than longer,” Williams said. “He’s in the same boat as me, bro. Just live life. The hell with what LeBron and them are doing.”

At the same time, Williams acknowledged the realities of modern sports media. He noted that polarizing superstars consistently drive digital engagement. Mentions of LeBron James often produce audience spikes across debate shows and social platforms. Williams implied that controversy surrounding James almost guarantees attention. As a result, he suggested the topic is unlikely to fade from studio discussions anytime soon.

“Every time he mentions LeBron, just imagine what’s happening to the views and stuff that he’s getting,” Williams said. “That’s never going to stop, but I think his life’s way too good to be worried about little petty s**t.”

Williams also briefly addressed the broader public profile Smith has cultivated, including periodic speculation about political aspirations, and questioned whether someone focused on wardrobe debates would be suited for higher office.

“Stephen A. Smith is a smart human being, don’t get me wrong,” Williams said. “But President? That’s a different level than worrying about what LeBron is wearing.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Star 92.9 Adds Adri Stuhr For Afternoon Drive

BMM Staff
-
0
Star 92.9 Adds Adri Stuhr For Afternoon Drive

Star 92.9 in Burlington, Vermont, has announced it has named Adri Stuhr as its new afternoon drive host.

Stuhr joins the station after previously working at country 97.9 WKKW in Morgantown. She was at the station from 2019 until her exit in 2025.

Other stops include time spent in Duluth, Las Cruces, and San Diego, among others.

“Adri is a perfect fit for our Star family and will be a terrific addition to our team on the air, on the street with listeners and in the building!” said Star 92.9 Program Director Mary Cenci. “She radiates an enthusiasm and energy which will be contagious!”

The full Star 92.9 lineup now includes:
5-9 AM: Mike Czarny and Mary Cenci
9 AM-2 PM: Ted Richards
2-7 PM: Adri Stuhr
7 PM-12 AM: Delilah
12-5 AM: Tara Madison

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Former KLOS Host Uncle Joe Benson Dies

BMM Staff
-
0
Former KLOS Host Uncle Joe Benson Dies

Radio lost one of its most recognizable voices this week as longtime Los Angeles personality Uncle Joe Benson died Tuesday, at 76, following a battle with Parkinson’s disease and related complications.

A message posted to the Uncle Joe’s Garage Facebook page confirmed the news, noting that Benson passed away peacefully while dealing with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s dementia and injuries sustained in a fall. The announcement quickly drew an outpouring of tributes from listeners, colleagues and fellow broadcasters who grew up with, worked beside, or competed against the deep-voiced host whose delivery became synonymous with rock radio in Southern California.

Veteran disc jockey Rita Wilde, who shared the airwaves with Benson at both KLOS-FM and KSWD-FM, called him “a radio legend silenced,” to the Orange County Register, adding that she would remember him with love and respect after decades of friendship and professional partnership.

Benson’s radio journey began in 1968 in Dubuque, Iowa, launching a career that would stretch nearly 40 years and traverse some of the Midwest’s most prominent rock stations before he made his mark in Los Angeles. During the 1970s, he worked at outlets including WQFM, WRKR, WZMF and WZUU in Milwaukee, along with a morning stint at WWWM in Cleveland, building a reputation for authenticity and a connection with listeners that transcended playlist trends and ownership changes.

In 1980, Benson arrived in Los Angeles and joined KLOS-FM, where he would spend roughly three decades across multiple stints and become one of the defining voices of the station’s rock identity. Beyond his regular shifts, he hosted specialty programs such as “The 7th Day” and “Local Licks,” platforms that showcased emerging artists and underscored his commitment to the local music scene at a time when consolidation increasingly narrowed the focus of many commercial outlets.

Benson later brought his familiar tone to mornings at KCBS-FM, branded as Arrow 93.1, from 1997 through 2005, and eventually joined KSWD-FM, known as 100.3 The Sound, where he remained until the station signed off in 2017.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Blaze Media Adds Dave Landau to Stu Burguiere’s Podcast

BNM Staff
-
0
Blaze Media Adds Dave Landau to Stu Burguiere’s Podcast

Stu Burguiere has been hosting Stu Does America for Blaze Media. That’s about to change, with Dave Landau joining the show.

Burguiere has been hosting the program by himself since 2020. Earlier this week, he began teasing the “end” of his show.

“As I’ve gone through the six years, one thing I’ve realized over those six years is that it might be impossible for one man to do all of America,” Stu Burguiere said. “I needed someone else to come in and help me do America on a daily basis.”

However, he revealed that Stu Does America is becoming Stu and Dave Do America in the coming weeks.

“I am happy to be a part of it. It’s hard to just do Dallas, so we’re gonna do America,” said Landau. “I grew a mustache for it, so maybe I thought it was a different kind of show, but I’m excited about it. I’m excited to see what we can do, because America, as we know, is getting better every day.”

Landau is a touring comedian and author. He added that he hopes to bring levity and comedy to the show.

“There is a lot to make fun of … and it’s the only way I feel like you can stay sane,” he said. “Otherwise, you have to focus on the reality. And if you take time to do that, it’s worthless. So the best thing to do is just mock everything. And I’m happy to be a part of that.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Barrett Media’s Top 20 Urban/Hip Hop Radio Shows of 2025

Jason Barrett
-
0
Barrett Media’s Top 20 Urban/Hip Hop Radio Shows of 2025

We’ve reached the end of week 1 of Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2025 in Music Radio presented by Strategic Solutions Research. Strategic Solutions Research is celebrating its 20th year providing strategic research, music testing and personality content testing for clients in the US and in 22 countries. Please reach out and give a special thanks to Hal Rood and Kevin Cassidy for supporting the Top 20 series and the entire music radio industry.

Today the Top 20 series turns its attention to the best Urban/Hip Hop radio shows. All results from this series are available on our website. We also encourage you to subscribe to The Nooner newsletter to receive the information in your inbox each day at 12pm ET. All results are promoted across our social media pages too including Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram and X.

The full schedule of releases is listed down below the images. After this series is done, I will record videos discussing the entire process for music, sports and news. Those videos will be posted to the Barrett Media YouTube page. Make sure you subscribe so you’re notified once the video goes live.

Important Information

#1 – These results represent the collective feedback provided 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. Voting is based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the final results. Think of it like an MVP race in sports – voters vote on last season’s performance.

#2 – Music radio is a massive space. Shows appear on lists in multiple formats. Programmers run stations in different cities and formats. Changes occur under the radar and without stations updating key information. That makes it difficult when trying to issue proper credit to deserving programmers, hosts and/or brands. We try to get it perfect, but we’re human, and mistakes do happen. If you notice an error, please email Jason@BarrettMedia.com so we can fix it.

#3 – This series specifically focuses on United States terrestrial music radio shows and programmers. Shows and brand leaders with Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, SiriusXM, YouTube, podcasts and programming outside the United States are not included.

#4 – This series showcases 320 images of radio shows and program directors. There are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. We understand you may not like the way your left shoulder looks in a photo but such is life. Thanks in advance for understanding.

The Voting Process

A record One Hundred and Ninety Two (192) program directors, corporate executives, and format consultants were involved in this year’s voting. That beat last year’s mark of 173. Like always, there were a few who didn’t weigh in who I’d have loved to include but overall, the support was outstanding. THANK YOU!

Be advised that our voters represent the following companies: iHeartMedia, Audacy, Cumulus Media, Beasley Media, Cox Media Group, Townsquare Media, Hubbard Radio, Bonneville, Radio One, Connoisseur Media, SummitMedia, Saga Communications, MediaCo., Buck Owens Production Company, Pamal Broadcasting, Times-Shamrock Media, Stephens Media Group, Guaranty Media, Lotus Communications, Cromwell Media Group, Midwest Communications, One Putt Broadcasting, Griffin Media, plus numerous consultancies. We involve a large group to assure input is received from all areas of the country and to prevent the results from favoring any one company.

Though 192 voters are involved, the number of people voting on each format is lower. This is by design. We want experts from each format voting on what they know best. Depending on their role and expertise, some vote on all eight formats, others vote on as little as one. For this category, 36 programmers, consultants, and executives voted on the Top 20 Urban/Hip Hop Radio Shows and Program Directors.

Two hundred and fifty one (251) Urban/Hip Hop radio shows appeared on ballots submitted by our voters. We use a point system for this process with a 1st place votes equaling 20 points, and each selection between #2-#10 earning two points less. It’s not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.

And the Winner Is…

The Breakfast Club featuring Charlamagne Tha God, Jess Hilarious and DJ Envy. Premiere Networks’ massively popular morning show follows last year’s win with another victory. Congrats to Charlamagne, the entire cast and all involved with iHeartMedia and Premiere Networks on the well deserved recognition.

I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each Urban/Hip Hop voter who participated in the voting process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Urban/Hip Hop Radio Shows of 2025.

Additional Notes:

  • The Breakfast Club cruised to a forty three (43) point win over Big Tigger Morning Show to secure the win. Charlamagne’s show also recorded a category best nine (9) first place votes.
  • Spots 21-25 went to Mike Street, Greg Mack, Brown Bag Mornings, EBro in the Morning, and Keith ”Papa Keith’ Walcott.
  • The closest race featured DJ Pup Dawg narrowly defeating The Morning Hustle by two (2) points for 13th place.
  • Of the Two Hundred and Fifty One (251) shows to earn votes, nine (9) received at least one 1st place vote.

Barrett Media’s Music Radio – Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:

  • Monday March 2 = BM Top 20 Country Radio Shows and Program Directors
  • Tuesday March 3 = BMM Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows and Program Directors
  • Wednesday March 4 = BM Top 20 CHR/Top 40 Radio Shows and Program Directors

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

1...200201202...2,648Page 201 of 2,648