Only one radio format ranked in the top 10 of Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s monthly counts can boast that it has welcomed new stations into the format every month since September 2024.
That format? Contemporary Christian, ranked fourth overall, which over the past 12 months has added an even 50 stations for a 3.5% year-over-year increase, leading all other formats in the top 10.
While contemporary Christian has made its steady gains from a year ago in dramatic fashion, second-ranked religion-formatted stations (including religious teaching, hymns, and other related content) basically achieved the same goal, even while losing a few outlets along the way, adding 58 year-over-year, more than any other top 10-listed format, for a 2.7% boost.
Spanish-language formats, which place fifth, have also seen significant growth, adding 30 stations since last September, up 2.3%. Three other formats have brought in new stations from a year ago: third-ranked news/talk (+12), sixth-ranked classic hits (+3), and eighth-ranked classic rock (+2), with the latter two also up in total stations year-to-date.
While contemporary Christian added stations every month for the past year, the 10th-ranked top 40 has trimmed its roster, down 23 stations without a gain during any of the past 12 months, with its total off by 4.2% year-over-year and 3.1% for 2025-to-date.
Two other formats have experienced double-digit losses, including the format with the most stations, country, shedding 18 from a year ago and 14 since January. Seventh-ranked variety (including stations with three or more distinct formats, either block-programmed or simultaneously) has lost 13 from last September and 10 so far this year.
This leaves ninth-ranked sports, which has shed just a few stations either way, but there’s good news for the format, as it’s added seven stations since May.