2026 Heavy Hundred to Be Published on June 3
TALKERS editors are announcing that its 2026 list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America – known colloquially as the Heavy Hundred – will be published at 12:00 noon ET on Wednesday, June 3. This annual feature is created by the editors of TALKERS with input from industry leaders and ranks, from one to 100, the most important talk radio hosts in America based of several factors including (in alphabetical order): courage, effort, impact, longevity, potential, ratings, recognition, revenue, service, talent, and uniqueness. To be considered for inclusion on the Heavy Hundred, talk hosts must be working at the time of publication and have a regularly scheduled professional show on the air at a minimum of one terrestrial station or satellite radio station.
from industry leaders, and is based on a combination of hard and soft factors including courage, effort, impact, longevity, potential, ratings, recognition, revenue, service, talent, and uniqueness. Candidates for the Heavy Hundred must be working a regularly scheduled professional show on the air at a minimum of one terrestrial or satellite radio station at the time of publication. TALKERS magazine executive editor Kevin Casey says, “This feature remains one of the most challenging undertakings for the editors. There are so many quality talk radio hosts working at stations in major markets all the way down to the smallest outlets serving intimate communities. Winnowing that field to the ‘100 most important’ is very difficult, but it is a challenge we take very seriously. We’re excited to publish this year’s Heavy Hundred and to congratulate those fine hosts who’ve made the list.”