Religion’s Station Total Now Ahead Of Country By Nearly 100.

The religion format — including stations featuring religious teaching, hymns and other related content — just keeps on growing, according to Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s station counts for October 2026.

A year ago, the format ranked second in total U.S. stations behind then-usual leader country, but what a difference a year makes. Over the past 12 months, religion went from being 28 stations behind country to, for October 2026, 98 ahead, with a year-over-year gain of 68 outlets while country lost 58. For 2026-to-date, religion has added 50 stations while country shed 49. Religion has led in total stations since February, adding 34 stations along the way vs. country’s loss of 42. 

A look at the top 10 stations based on U.S. total shows three formats having gained both year-over-year and year-to-date: top-ranked religion, fourth-place contemporary Christian and classic hits, which ranks sixth. The only other gainer either way is eighth-ranked classic rock, which added four outlets since January but none year-over-year.

*Data provided by PrecisionTrak.com. HD stations and translators are not included. Format counts are updated on the 28th of every month.

News/talk’s steady downtrend since February 2026 continued in October, as the third-ranked format has lost 25 stations over that time, while down 32 from last October and 24 from January. 

Four other formats in the top 10 continue to see their totals shrinking: 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, at ninth and 10th.

Just below the top 10, 11th-ranked adult contemporary has shed five stations year-over-year and year-to-date, while 12th-place alternative rock lost two and three over those same periods. Total stations off the air ranks 13th, up by 108 stations shuttered since last October and 66 from January.