New York’s Cubby And Christine Lead AC Morning Drive’s Top 10.

For the most successful AM drive shows on adult contemporary radio, there are three clear keys to success — the three L’s — live, local, and longevity.

That’s the key takeaway from Inside Radio’s TOP 10 AC morning shows, based on persons 6+ weekly cume delivery Mon-Fri 6-10am during Nielsen’s spring 2026 wave (April-June three-month average).

Topping the list with a cume north of 900,000 is iHeartMedia “106.7 Lite FM” WLTW New York’s Cubby Bryant and Christine Nagy, both 30-year New York morning radio veterans, Nagy having spent two decades in mornings on Lite FM. 

iHeartMedia claims six of AC’s top 10 AM drive shows, including all of the top four. Coming in second is KOST Los Angeles’ (103.5) Ellen K, an NAB Marconi Award winner for Major Market Personality of the Year who has been part of three L.A. morning shows over the past 36 years. Placing third is “Sunny 99.1” KODA Houston’s Dana Tyson, who has hosted mornings at the station since 1991, while “Star 102.1” KDGE Dallas’ Leigh Ann Adam, a more than 20-year radio veteran in Big D, takes fourth.

Rounding out AC morning drive’s top five is Audacy “B101” WBEB Philadelphia’s Kathy Romano, who while relatively new to the station has spent 23 years on Philly morning radio, with two decades as part of Beasley Media Group rocker WMMR’s “Preston & Steve” show.

iHeartMedia’s other top 10 entries are, at sixth, “99.9 KEZ” KESZ Phoenix’s “Beth & Friends” — which Beth McDonald has hosted for 36 of her 40 years on Phoenix radio — and 10th-ranked WASH Washington, DC’s (97.1) “Toby + Chilli Mornings” featuring Toby Knapp and Chilli Amar, who have been part of DC radio since 1998 and 1996, respectively.

Audacy lands two more in AC morning drive’s top 10, at seventh and eighth: “Magic 106.7” WMJX Boston’s “Morning Magic” with Sue Tabb, first heard on Boston morning radio in 1995, and 20-year Boston radio veteran Kendra Petrone; and “101.5 Lite FM” WLYF Miami’s Julie Guy and Tamara G., with 35 and 25 years on Miami radio, respectively.

Placing ninth is Connoisseur Media KOIT San Francisco’s (96.5) Billy Vidal, a Bay Area radio mainstay since 1987.