Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show

Airing Saturdays on 1690 (WMLB-AM), THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT touts itself as “kids’ music for everyone.” But that tag undersells the product. Each DIY-ish broadcast is a joyous riff on a single theme (summer, bugs, ice cream, etc.) lovingly curated from a vast library that ranges from the Pogues to Emmylou Harris to Bo Diddley. You don’t need kids to appreciate its wit, indelible melodies and irresistible sing-alongs. www.1690wmlb.com/the-kids-are-alright less...

In Bill Campbell’s final months in office, with his policy of not talking to the “Atlanta Journal-Constitution” holding fast, it seemed like the only place to hear what Campbell was thinking was on Frank Ski’s morning show on V-103 FM. But now, out of office since January (but not out of the “AJC“‘s crosshairs), the former mayor has found a permanent home on the airwaves, as co-host of WAOK-AM 1380’s MORNING SHOW. For three hours every weekday, we hear more from Campbell than we ever did while he was in office. Listen for a few days, or even a few minutes, and a picture emerges of a man at once compassionate and contrarian, eloquent and embittered. With co-host Jean Ross, Campbell one minute educates his listeners on obscure ’60s soul groups. The next he launches into a three-minute primer on the history of black politics in the Reconstruction South. And always, always, there’s his abiding hatred of the “AJC”. Listen to his show and you’ll be reminded daily why you either love him or hate him. less...

99X 99.7 WNNX-FM 404-741-0997 www.99x.com We’ll confess, we still listen to 99X’s “The Morning X with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy. You think we’d be sick of that by now, but whether they’re making prank phone calls, talking to Bertha, having trivia contests or just chatting, we can’t stop listening. Weekdays 6-10 a.m. less...

Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy actually put together a coherent show each day, unlike the sometimes racist and sexist chatter from others that transition into news and traffic. The brand of music helps, and they deserve a nod for their intelligence quotient, which together has helped keep the station viable in this market. The show’s numbers grew to their highest level this year in the August ratings book. less...