Breaking News in the World of Sports Radio: The Top Shows of 2025 Revealed!
Every year, sports radio stations vie for recognition, and the stakes have never been higher. Barrett Media has just announced its highly anticipated list of the Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows for 2025, and the competition is fierce. But here's where it gets intriguing—who really stands out in this crowded field?
On Friday, program directors will receive their much-deserved accolades, followed by a shout-out to the top sports radio stations on Monday. For those eager to keep up with the full spectrum of Barrett Media's rankings for both major and mid-market sports radio, as well as updates on News/Talk radio, News TV, and Music Radio, make sure to check out their website (https://barrettmedia.com/category/barrett-media-top-20/), subscribe to their newsletters (https://barrettmedia.com/subscribe/), and follow them across various social media platforms, including X (https://x.com/BarrettMedia), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BarrettMedia), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/barrettmedia/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@barrettmedia), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/barrettmedia/). Once the entire Top 20 series wraps up, I’ll be sharing a video summarizing the most significant insights from this year’s results on the Barrett Media YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@barrettsportsnewsmedia), so don’t forget to subscribe to catch that as soon as it goes live.
As you dive into these results, keep in mind that they encapsulate the collective opinions of industry voters; Barrett Media itself does not cast votes. Our role focuses on gathering votes and presenting the findings transparently.
Key Points to Remember:
- Performance-Based Rankings: The results reflect the performance of shows in 2025, meaning any changes in 2026 won’t influence this year's voting process.
- Image Challenges: We encourage our voters to submit photos and logos to streamline the presentation, but compliance is not universal. This often leads to additional research time for us, which is why we typically only change images if there are errors. Thanks for your understanding!
- Diverse Executive Panel: Our panel comprises thirty-six executives from leading broadcasting companies, including Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, Bonneville, SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, and FOX Sports Radio, along with several independently operated stations. This wide-ranging group ensures that feedback represents various regions and perspectives, minimizing bias towards any specific media conglomerate.
- Voter Criteria: Voters considered multiple factors, such as originality, ratings success, and overall industry buzz. Given the diverse backgrounds and preferences of our voters, this system isn't flawless but provides a reasonable method for highlighting the best in the industry.
- Eligibility: A total of 34 shows were eligible for consideration in the Major Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows category this year.
### And the Winner Is…
98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger & Mazz! This marks their fifth win overall, making it the third consecutive year they've claimed the top spot. A heartfelt congratulations to Mike, Tony, Big Jim, James, and the entire crew for winning the continued support of the industry.
I also want to extend my gratitude to Dylan Barrett (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-barrett-2334a1125/) for his fantastic artwork and to each voter who took part in this process. Now, without further ado, here is the complete list of Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows for 2025.
### Additional Highlights: - Felger & Mazz finished with a solid lead of nineteen points ahead of The Valenti Show with Rico, tying with them for the highest number of first-place votes at eight.
- Positions 21-25 included shows like The Drive with Stoerner & Hughley, WEEI Afternoons, Chris & Gwynn, Dirty Work with Copes & D Pop, and Chuck & Chernoff.
- The closest competition was between D’Marco & Travis and Hoch & Crowder, who ended up separated by just one point.
- Out of the 34 shows featured on submitted ballots, nine received at least one first-place vote.
### Upcoming Schedule for BNM Top 20 of 2025: - February 6: BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2025
- February 9: BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2025
Barrett Media delivers daily insights on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A_barrettmedia.comsubscribe&d=DwMFAw&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5ACdpgnVfiiMM&r=4MLBr6iHQinVgOlazc2OjkXveRyhK22x-NakxcCXM&m=esp3qVo0yh3ATvU4uUVbYP6DXCGpx8bWNHirzqntTE5miRdcA0Kf1hkFmJNTB&s=ceXx7nV8jZQX7ERTlhKRpsjofV8w6lHSPNxKkrOQ8c&e=) for our newsletters to stay informed and receive the latest updates directly in your inbox.
Who do you think deserves recognition in the sports radio realm? Are there shows you believe should have made the cut? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Jason Barrett, the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media, launched the company in September 2015. Since then, it has provided consulting to some of the top audio and video brands in America while also covering the media landscape at BarrettMedia.com (https://barrettmedia.com/), which has become an essential resource for media professionals. Before establishing Barrett Media, Jason was instrumental in building 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis, among other notable broadcasts. He also played a crucial role in developing SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which eventually became 97.5 The Fanatic. With a rich history in radio, including producing for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT, Jason brings a wealth of experience to the table. Connect with him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or via email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
