This is the first time in 7 weeks that Barrett Media isn’t releasing Top 20 results. The series is awesome and it captivates the entire media industry year after year but man am I glad to have a break. The widespread love and support for it again in 2026 was truly incredible. I could be wrong but I don’t think there’s anything else like it. Whether you made the list or not, I hope you enjoyed following along.
Be advised, it’s not over. This was just the Top 20 for radio shows and programmers. We have plans for additional projects this year focused on executives, advertising, betting, television and more. John Mamola and I addressed the Sports Top 20 in a video on the Barrett Media YouTube page. My thoughts on the Music Top 20 are available down below in a video. Garrett Searight and I will create a News Top 20 reaction video today or tomorrow.
As proud as I am to publish our Top 20 in Radio series, it’s an exhausting process. It involves gathering input from 300+ decision makers across music, news and sports media, creating lists, inviting 400-500 to vote, answering follow up questions, creating layouts, finding images, tallying votes, etc.. All of that has to be done in addition to consulting brands, writing content, publishing newsletters, promoting our work across social media, selling advertising, building conferences, traveling for client projects and more.
I wish there was an easier way to do it but there isn’t. However, I recognize how fortunate we are to have the responsibility of showcasing the power of this industry. If sleepless nights are needed to make sure it delivers, then that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. I especially appreciate Strategic Solutions Research and JJ Surma Voiceovers supporting it.
With the series in our rear view mirror, there are two things I want to remind you of that are important but far too often pushed aside.
Two Key Takeaways
First, recognition matters.
Stars want to make money and be successful, but they also want to hear that their work stands out. Creative people crave connection, making a mark, and hearing feedback from those they trust. They know they’re talented and in a prime spot for a reason, but that doesn’t mean they stop valuing feedback. Communication and support between talent and management should be ongoing.
It works this way for brand leaders too. They invest so much of themselves in the outlets they manage that the simplest ‘thank you’ or first-bump from an executive/GM, host or salesperson goes a long way. If your PD was recognized during the Top 20 series and you didn’t take time to say ‘congrats’, you may want to rethink your approach. I promise you, things like that matter to them.
Secondly, the media business remains exciting to those on the outside looking in. Unfortunately, many on the inside lose sight of that.
Have a candid conversation with someone in the business and within ten minutes they’ll tell you how screwed up things are inside their operation. Go even deeper and they’ll address the state of the industry, the issues with their employer, a lack of interest from young people, and so much more.
Now have the same conversation with someone who listens to your brand. It’s a night and day difference. People took to Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to react to the shows and hosts recognized. They were supportive, appreciative, and congratulatory of those they listen to. The audience sees our people as rock stars who they want to be friends with. They’re impressed by our content and brands, and excited to share in our success.
We need to remember this, value it and protect it.
Our stars, brands, content, and access matter to those who listen. Few care about our year-to-year revenue performance, ratings being up or down or the financial difficulties our parent companies are dealing with. They don’t view radio as a bad business, they see it as a friendly companion inside their home, office or car.
People enjoy spending time with us. They tell everyone they know about us and listen to us frequently, reciting our words in detail. Furthermore, they sink their dollars into the businesses associated with us because they understand how important it is to support those who support us.
Our on-air talent know this and so do many programmers. Folks on the sales and executive end need to remember it too.
Too often, the ones looking down on our industry are either inside our hallways or angling to invest less in us. All we can do to combat it is support each other, challenge each other, market ourselves, and take pride in our work. What we do matters to millions. It’s time to stop apologizing for that and lean in to what sets us apart.
That may sound like a rah-rah speech from someone who overdosed on positivity after seven weeks of celebrations. However, when you see the industry celebrate hundreds/thousands of shows and programmers for weeks, you’re reminded that there’s a lot of good happening. We just suck at remembering it.
The Top 20 series does one thing few can debate. It showcases the best of our business. Our industry looks much better when people lift it up rather than tear it down
Barrett Media Audio Summit Speaker Announcements
Now that the Top 20 of 2025 for on-air shows and program directors across sports, news and music radio is behind us, the attention turns to continuing to build the 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit presented by Point to Point Marketing. I want to thank Red Apple Audio Networks, Ramsey Solutions, Harker Bos Group, Quu, and Benztown Branding for signing on as conference partners. Opportunities for companies still remain but they are moving fast. Reach out to Stephanie Eads at Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com to learn which sponsorships are available.
By the time we arrive at the SVA Theatre in New York City, the lineup will be second to none. We’ve already announced a number of heavy hitters for the show, which you can see here. However, I am far from done.
This Wednesday, we will announce our next group of Music speakers for the show on July 2nd. I’ll then follow that up with an announcement on Friday regarding new additions to the sports and news shows. Making this year’s summit our best one yet is a personal goal. I hope you’ll buy a ticket and join us. You can do so by clicking the banner above or by visiting the Summit section up top. On the page you’ll find information on discounted hotel rooms courtesy of Hotel Hayden.
Quick Hits
- Dylan Barrett, Stephanie Eads and I will be in Nashville, TN for CRS 2026 March 17th-20th. RJ Curtis, his team and the entire Country Music Industry do an outstanding job with this show. For the full agenda, click here. If you’re attending and want to connect, reach out in advance to myself or Stephanie.
- We’ve produced six episodes of The 4-Cast and so far, so good. Subscribe to the Barrett Media YouTube page to avoid missing future episodes. It’s been fun featuring familiar industry pros alongside John Mamola and Garrett Searight. If you work in the industry and want to be a future guest, email John@BarrettMedia.com and/or Garrett@BarrettMedia.com. We’re planning to launch The Jason Barrett Podcast in the future too and are working on other projects as well. Stay tuned.
- I don’t talk much about our website traffic because we’re a B2B brand with a strategic and targeted approach but we started 2026 with our second and third best months ever. Only one month in 2022 out performed our past two. Thank you to all who continue to read, share, and engage with our content and crew. Corporations, investors and shareholders don’t fund us. There’s no large staff managing our workflow. We’re a small team of passionate people who love the industry and work hard to keep professionals honest and informed. Your support and promotion of our work matters a great deal. We greatly appreciate it.
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.
