The airwaves are buzzing as we unveil the titans of Adult Contemporary and Hot Adult Contemporary radio for 2025! Get ready to discover who's topping the charts and captivating listeners across the nation. This isn't just a list; it's a testament to the power of personality, programming, and the enduring appeal of music radio. But here's where it gets interesting: how do we truly measure the 'best' in a landscape that's constantly evolving?
Barrett Media is thrilled to present our Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows of 2025, a comprehensive ranking brought to you with the support of Strategic Solutions Research. For two decades, Strategic Solutions Research has been a cornerstone of the industry, providing invaluable insights through strategic research, music testing, and personality content testing for clients worldwide. A special shout-out to Hal Rood and Kevin Cassidy for their unwavering commitment to supporting this series and the entire music radio ecosystem.
This marks day seven of our extensive exploration into the music radio industry's elite. You can find all the results from this series conveniently on our website. If you prefer your updates delivered directly, our Nooner newsletter brings the day's highlights to your inbox at 12 PM ET. And for those who love to stay connected visually, we're sharing these exciting announcements across all our social media platforms – find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and X to keep up with the latest.
But here's the part that truly matters: how are these rankings determined? This series is built on the collective voice of industry professionals. Barrett Media does not cast votes. Our role is to meticulously assemble a panel of experts, gather their feedback, and present the findings. The performance evaluated is specifically for 2025, meaning any shifts or changes in 2026 have no bearing on these results. Think of it like the Most Valuable Player award in sports – the accolades are for the previous season's achievements.
Navigating the vast ocean of music radio can be a challenge. Many talented shows and programmers shine across multiple formats and markets. Programmers often oversee stations in diverse locations and with varying formats, leading to behind-the-scenes adjustments that aren't always immediately visible. This complexity can make it difficult to pinpoint the exact individuals or brands deserving of credit. While we strive for absolute accuracy, we acknowledge that as humans, mistakes can occasionally occur. If you spot any discrepancies, please reach out to Jason@BarrettMedia.com so we can ensure everything is corrected.
It's crucial to understand the scope of this ranking. This series is dedicated exclusively to terrestrial music radio shows and programmers within the United States. This means that shows and brand leaders prominent on platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, SiriusXM, YouTube, or those with programming solely outside the US, are not included in this specific evaluation.
A note on visuals: We've included 320 images featuring radio shows and their program directors. These images are generally static, with changes made only to correct errors. We understand that everyone has their preferred angles, but we appreciate your understanding regarding photo selections – it's all part of the process!
The Engine Behind the Rankings: The Voting Process
This year, we've seen an unprecedented 192 program directors, corporate executives, and format consultants participate in the voting, surpassing last year's 173 voters. While a few individuals we would have loved to include couldn't cast their votes, the overall support was truly outstanding. A heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every one of them!
Our esteemed voters represent a broad spectrum of leading companies in the industry, 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-Shamrock Media, Stephens Media Group, Guaranty Media, Lotus Communications, Cromwell Media Group, Midwest Communications, One Putt Broadcasting, and Griffin Media, alongside numerous consultancies. This extensive network ensures that input is gathered from every corner of the country, preventing any single entity from disproportionately influencing the results.
While 192 individuals participated overall, the number of voters for each specific format is more focused. This is a deliberate approach, ensuring that experts in each genre are evaluating the shows they know best. Depending on their roles and expertise, some voters weigh in on all eight formats, while others concentrate on just one. For the AC/Hot AC category, a dedicated group of 51 programmers, consultants, and executives lent their expertise.
In total, 239 AC/Hot AC radio shows graced the ballots this year. Our evaluation employs a point system where a first-place vote garners 20 points, with each subsequent ranking from #2 to #10 receiving two fewer points. While no system is perfect, we are confident this method effectively highlights the industry's most accomplished.
And the Crown Jewel Goes To...
Karson & Kennedy of Mix 104.1 in Boston have clinched the top spot in this category for the second consecutive year! Our sincere congratulations to Karson, Kennedy, and the entire Mix 104.1 team for this well-deserved recognition.
We extend our gratitude to Dylan Barrett for crafting the captivating artwork and to every AC/Hot AC radio voter who dedicated their time and insight to this process. Now, without further ado, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows of 2025.
Digging Deeper into the Results:
- Karson & Kennedy secured their victory by a margin of 17 points over Ellen K. Interestingly, they shared the distinction of receiving the most first-place votes, with five each, alongside The KVJ Show.
- Rounding out the next tier, spots 21-25 are occupied by Mercedes in the Morning, Kramer & Jess, John Tesh, Wendy Wilde, and Miguel & Holly.
- The competition was fierce, with Bret Mega narrowly clinching 19th place by a single point over Sean Copeland.
- Out of the 239 AC/Hot AC radio shows that received votes, a remarkable 27 earned at least one first-place nod.
Barrett Media’s Music Radio – Top 20 of 2025: What's Next?
- Wednesday, March 4th: Prepare for our BM Top 20 CHR/Top 40 Radio Shows and Program Directors.
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A Glimpse at the Visionary Behind Barrett Media:
Jason Barrett, the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media, launched the company in September 2015. Since then, Barrett Media has become a go-to destination for media professionals, offering consulting services to top audio and video brands while providing daily coverage of the media industry on BarrettMedia.com. Jason's extensive background in radio includes building and programming renowned stations such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also instrumental as the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia (now 97.5 The Fanatic) and led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. His experience also extends to his time at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT, where he produced 'The Dan Patrick Show' and 'GameNight'. You can connect with Jason on Twitter at @SportsRadioPD or via email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
What are your thoughts on the dominance of Karson & Kennedy? Do you agree with the inclusion criteria for this list? Share your opinions in the comments below!
