Here are the most popular radio stations in New York City, based on the latest Nielsen Audio ratings from March 2026 and additional market analysis.
New York's Top Radio Stations (March 2026)
The table below lists the highest-rated stations in the New York metro area, ranked by their audience share among all listeners aged 6 and older..
| Rank | Station (Dial) & Format | Signature Shows / Personalities | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WLTW (106.7 Lite FM) - Adult Contemporary | "Cubby & Christine" in the morning | Currently #1; known for switching to 24/7 Christmas music in November |
| 2 | WINS-FM (92.3 FM / 1010 AM) - All News | "You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world" | A historic all-news leader, with high morning drive listening |
| 3 | WHTZ (100.3 Z100) - Top 40 (CHR) | "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show" | A dominant pop station, especially strong with listeners under 50 |
| 4 | WCBS-FM (101.1) - Classic Hits | New York's go-to for nostalgic hits from past decades | |
| 5 | WNYC-FM (93.9) - Public Radio / News/Talk | The Brian Lehrer Show, Radiolab | The city's primary NPR affiliate, known for in-depth journalism |
Other Notable and Specialized Genres
Beyond the top five, New York's diverse radio market offers strong options for nearly every taste:
- For a wide variety of music: WNEW-FM (102.7) and WKTU-FM (103.5) are both strong Hot AC stations, while WAXQ (104.3 Q104.3) remains a favorite for classic rock.
- For Hip-Hop fans: WBLS (107.5) is a major station for Urban Adult Contemporary, and WQHT (97.1 HOT 97) is a legendary hip-hop station that has recently shown significant growth, especially during morning drive.
- For Spanish-language programming: WSKQ (97.9 Mega) broadcasts a Spanish Tropical format and consistently ranks among the market's top stations.
