Format Counts: Country And Religion Battle For The Top Spot.

A year ago, the top two radio formats in the U.S., according to Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s monthly counts — country and religion (the latter including stations featuring religious teaching, hymns and other related content) — were separated by a wide margin of 97 outlets. Not anymore.

Over the past 12 months, while country lost 27 stations, religion added 69, giving it a total 2,140 stations in January vs. country’s 2,141.

While on a year-over-year basis no other format has brought in more new stations than religion, two others, also in the top five, have also added in the double-digits: fourth-ranked contemporary Christian with 40, and fifth-place Spanish-language stations with 27. Contemporary Christian continues to be the only format in the top 10 to add stations every month for the past year.

The only other format in the top 10 to add new stations since January 2025 is eighth-ranked classic rock, with seven more in its total over the past 12 months. The remaining six formats have all shed stations, including third-place news/talk, losing 13.

Sixth-ranked variety — which includes stations having three or more distinct formats, either block-programmed or simultaneously — shed 15 year-over-year. Classic hits in seventh place lost 14, with a total that has steadily declined since August 2025.

Sports, ranked ninth, dropped 20 stations since January 2025, its total down steadily since September, while 10th-place top 40 shed 24 without a single month with any stations gained.

Just below the top 10, adult contemporary lost 16 year-over-year and hot AC eight, with no change for alternative rock.

The largest gain is in the stations-off-air category, with 135 going dark over the past 12 months — from 211 last January, to 346 for this one — a stunning 64% increase.