I was surprised last winter when I received a ballot to vote on the Barrett Media lists for Hot AC and AC.
After being in the same building as WFAN for many years, I knew the relationship between Jason Barrett, Barrett Media, and sports. But music? A tough hill to tackle. When I was number two on the 2024 list behind iHeart’s Chris Conley, I thought “credible” and subscribed.
The Top 20 Music Radio Program Directors
I made a cameo appearance on the 4-Cast a few weeks ago as this year’s Barrett Media lists came out. Unfortunately, my appearance was only after the first two music formats were released. If you watched, you saw me dispute the top of the alternative PD list. The world loves Lisa Worden — as do I — but I strongly felt Kevin Weatherly should have been on top of the list based on the incredible turnaround at KROQ. There’s nothing more difficult than bringing a dead radio station back to life, let alone back to number one in the adult demographic.
Adult/Classic hits saw everyone’s favorite wine collector, Todd Cavanah, and Chris Ebbott on top. In the Urban/Hip Hop formats, Thea Mitchem and Reggie Rouse get the nod — yes! Format heads at iHeart and Audacy, John Peake and Steve Salhany, led AC and Hot AC — who couldn’t agree with that? Rock‘s ratings giants Ryan Castle and Chuck Damico are undeniable.
And who could dispute the success of Keith Hastings and Eric Wellman on the Classic Rock side? Tim Roberts and Mike Preston were Country radio’s favorites. You couldn’t find more respected programmers to lead in that format. Beata Murphy may have been a surprise in CHR, but how exciting to see a young woman at number one in a female-targeted format. Her success should be applauded — and was, by the Barrett Media Top 20.
The voting for programmers can sometimes be political, where the voting for radio shows is not. This is where the Barrett Media voters showed that they were paying attention to content and performance.
The Top 20 Music Radio Shows
I don’t know of a more successful rock show than Preston and Steve. This male-targeted rock show even wins with women in Philly. Elliott got the nod in Alternative. I’m guessing Klein/Ally and The Woody Show divided the voting, as both of those LA-based shows are smoking hot. A syndicated Bobby Bones Show wins Country, but there is no show with a bigger impact on that format.
The Breakfast Club from Power in New York is much more than a radio show. It has become a political force in America and a no-brainer to top the Urban category. Just across the hall from Charlamagne tha God is the non-controversial Jim Kerr as the top show in Classic Rock. Nobody has put in more hours on the New York airwaves than Jim.
Broadway Bill Lee got the most votes in Adult/Classic Hits. That’s a nod to someone who truly stands out in the format. I was lucky enough to work with Broadway and be in the room when he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
When it came to CHR, certainly New York or LA would win. It had to be between Elvis Duran and Ryan Seacrest. And then — boom! It was not one of the two shows that are household names, but instead the guy who is still working his ass off every day in a much smaller market. The coveted number one show award goes to Mojo in the Morning in Detroit.
I cheered that win from my tiny Florida office — just as much as I did the day before when Karson and Kennedy took first place in the AC/Hot AC category from Mix in Boston. Yes, Karen Carson in New York as well as Valentine and Ellen K in LA do great work. But Karson and Kennedy check all the boxes. They started at Mix in 2009, took direction, and never got discouraged during the tough times. They’ve become a part of the fabric of Boston. They are the morning show in that market.
The Barrett Media Top 20 lists impressed me. Where else would you find national shows winning in some formats and great local talent in Philly, Detroit, and Boston winning in others? Congratulations to all who made the lists. Nice work, Jason.
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