Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of music radio! Today, we're diving into Barrett Media's Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows of 2025, a celebration of the industry's finest. But here's where it gets controversial... or at least, a little complex.
These results are the collective wisdom of industry voters, with Barrett Media acting as the impartial host. Think of it like an MVP race in sports, where voters cast their ballots based on last season's performance. So, while 2026 may bring changes, they won't affect these final results.
Now, music radio is an expansive landscape, and some shows appear on multiple format lists. Programmers often juggle stations in different cities and formats, and sometimes, key information goes unupdated. This makes it a challenge to give proper credit where it's due, but we're doing our best!
This series specifically focuses on US terrestrial music radio, excluding shows and brands associated with Apple Music, Spotify, and other major platforms. We've got 320 images of radio shows and program directors to showcase, and while we aim for perfection, we're only human, so mistakes might slip through. If you spot an error, feel free to reach out to Jason@BarrettMedia.com so we can set things right.
A record-breaking 192 program directors, corporate executives, and format consultants participated in this year's voting, beating last year's mark of 173. This diverse group represents companies like iHeartMedia, Audacy, and Cumulus Media, ensuring a balanced perspective and preventing any one company from dominating the results.
For this AC/Hot AC category, 51 programmers, consultants, and executives cast their votes. They considered 239 radio shows, using a point system where a 1st place vote equaled 20 points, and each subsequent selection earned two points less. It's not a perfect system, but it's a fair way to showcase the industry's cream of the crop.
And the winner is... Karson & Kennedy of Mix 104.1 in Boston! This dynamic duo has claimed their second consecutive category victory in the Top 20 series. A huge congratulations to Karson, Kennedy, and the entire Mix 104.1 team for this well-deserved recognition.
Karson & Kennedy scored a 17-point victory over Ellen K, and they tied with Ellen K and The KVJ Show for the most first-place votes in the category, with five each. Spots 21-25 went to Mercedes in the Morning, Kramer & Jess, John Tesh, Wendy Wilde, and Miguel & Holly. And in a close race, Bret edged out Sean by just one point for 19th place.
Stay tuned for more Top 20 revelations! The next category is CHR/Top 40 Radio Shows and Program Directors. Sign up for Barrett Media's newsletters to stay in the loop and get these insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Barrett Media is your daily destination for all things music, news, and sports media. With a team led by Founder and CEO Jason Barrett, we've been covering the media industry since 2015 and providing consulting services to top audio and video brands.
So, what do you think? Are these results a fair representation of the industry's best? Or do you have your own picks for the top AC/Hot AC shows? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! It's a friendly debate, after all.
