The undisputed champions of AC/Hot AC radio in 2025 have been crowned! But how did we get here, and what does it truly mean for the landscape of music radio? Get ready to dive deep into the results of Barrett Media’s highly anticipated Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows of 2025, a comprehensive ranking that reflects the pulse of the industry.
This exciting series, brought to you by Strategic Solutions Research, marks their 20th anniversary of providing invaluable strategic research, music testing, and personality content testing to clients across the US and in 22 countries. A special shout-out and heartfelt thanks go to Hal Rood and Kevin Cassidy for their unwavering support of this Top 20 series and the entire music radio industry. Their dedication truly makes a difference!
But here's where it gets interesting... This isn't just a popularity contest. The results we're about to unveil are the culmination of a rigorous voting process, meticulously compiled by Barrett Media. We don't cast any votes ourselves; our role is to assemble the esteemed panel, gather their expert opinions, and present the findings. Think of it like an MVP race in sports – the accolades are based on performance during the 2025 season, with no influence from future changes.
The Voting Engine: This year, a record-breaking 192 program directors, corporate executives, and format consultants lent their voices to the process, surpassing last year's 173 voters. This impressive turnout represents a broad spectrum of industry giants, including 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-Shamron Media, Stephens Media Group, Guaranty Media, Lotus Communications, Cromwell Media Group, Midwest Communications, One Putt Broadcasting, and Griffin Media, along with numerous consultancies. This diverse group ensures that input is gathered from all corners of the country, preventing any single entity from dominating the outcome.
A Focused Approach: It's important to note that while 192 individuals participated overall, the number of voters for each specific format is intentionally smaller. This ensures that experts within each genre are evaluating the shows they know best. For the AC/Hot AC category, a dedicated group of 51 programmers, consultants, and executives cast their votes. This focused expertise is crucial for delivering accurate and meaningful results.
The Numbers Game: A staggering 239 AC/Hot AC radio shows graced the ballots this year! To determine the rankings, a point system was employed: a 1st place vote earned 20 points, with each subsequent ranking from #2 to #10 receiving two fewer points. While no system is perfect, we believe this method effectively highlights the industry's finest.
And the Winner Is...
Claiming the top spot and their second consecutive victory in this prestigious series are Karson & Kennedy of Mix 104.1 in Boston! A massive congratulations to Karson, Kennedy, and the entire Mix 104.1 team for this well-deserved recognition. Their consistent performance has clearly resonated with industry professionals.
And this is the part most people miss... While Karson & Kennedy secured the win, the competition was fierce! They triumphed by a mere 17 points over the formidable Ellen K. In a testament to their popularity, Karson & Kennedy, Ellen K, and The KVJ Show all tied for the most first-place votes, each securing five (5). This highlights the close race and the high regard for multiple shows.
Rounding out the top performers: The shows that secured spots 21-25 were Mercedes in the Morning, Kramer & Jess, John Tesh, Wendy Wilde, and Miguel & Holly. It's always fascinating to see who's just on the cusp of breaking into the top tier!
The tightest race of the competition saw Bret Mega narrowly edge out Sean Copeland by a single point for 19th place. This razor-thin margin underscores the passion and dedication of the individuals vying for recognition.
Did you know? Out of the 239 radio shows that received votes, an impressive 27 managed to snag at least one first-place vote. This speaks volumes about the depth of talent and the diverse range of highly-rated shows within the AC/Hot AC format.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Do you agree with the top picks, or do you have a different show that you believe deserved more recognition? Share your opinions in the comments below – we’d love to hear your take!
Looking Ahead: Don't miss the next installment in Barrett Media’s Music Radio – Top 20 of 2025 series! On Wednesday, March 4th, we'll be unveiling the Top 20 CHR/Top 40 Radio Shows and Program Directors. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletters to get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox at 12 PM ET.
Barrett Media is dedicated to providing daily insights into the music, news, and sports media industries. For those interested in the journey behind these rankings and a deeper dive into the media landscape, be sure to check out the Barrett Media YouTube page where videos discussing the entire process will be posted soon. Subscribe to be notified!
A Note on the Process: It's important to remember that this series specifically focuses on United States terrestrial music radio shows and programmers. This means that shows and brand leaders on platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, SiriusXM, YouTube, and podcasts, as well as programming outside the US, are not included in this particular ranking. We also understand that photos are a sensitive topic, and while we strive for accuracy, we will only make changes to images if there's a genuine mistake. We appreciate your understanding in advance!
About the Founder: Jason Barrett, the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Since launching Barrett Media in September 2015, he has consulted for top audio and video brands while simultaneously building BarrettMedia.com into a daily destination for media professionals. His background includes building and programming prominent radio stations like 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis, as well as significant roles at ESPN Radio. You can connect with Jason on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or via email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
