Format Counts: Religion Takes An 80-Station Lead Over Country.

It’s been eight months since religion — which includes stations featuring religious teaching, hymns and other related content — became America’s most-programmed format, dethroning country’s 11-year run at the top of Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s monthly station counts by format.

Since February, religion’s lead over country has increased significantly, from 22 stations during its first month on top to 40 in March, 65 for June, 70 in August, and now a new high, 81 outlets ahead of country.

Religion has added 71 stations since September 2025 and 45 during 2026-to-date, while country has lost 50 and 37, respectively, over those same periods. Religion is one of three formats to gain both ways, along with fourth-ranked contemporary Christian and eighth-place classic rock.

*Data provided by M Street Corp. U.S. station counts. No Canadian or Mexican stations are included. Format counts are reported at the end of each month.

News/talk, which ranks a distant third, has steadily shed stations since February, down by 31 year-over-year and 22 for this year. Aside from country and news/talk, four other formats in the top 10 have lost stations by both measures: fifth-ranked Spanish, seventh-place variety (including stations with three or more distinct formats, either block-programmed or simultaneously), and both sports and top 40, which come in ninth and 10th.

Classic hits, ranked sixth, is the only format in the top 10 with mixed results in terms of total stations, adding 15 year-to-date and losing just two year-over-year.

Just below the top 10, 11th-ranked adult contemporary’s total is off by seven stations both year-over-year and year-to-date, while 12th-place alternative rock is down by three and five stations by those measures.