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September 2026: Five Things Hybrid & Teaching Listeners Would Rather Leave Outside

by Chuck Finney, President

Every format has its quirks. And when it comes to Hybrid and Teaching Radio, listeners have some pretty strong opinions about what belongs on the air—and what should stay firmly off the mic.

Our research consistently identifies five attitudes or topics listeners don’t want from their favorite Teaching or Hybrid stations.

At No. 5: Sarcasm. Apparently, snark doesn’t become spiritual just because you put a Bible verse after it. Who knew?

No. 4: Sports. Fans love their teams. But when listeners want the score, they know where to find it. They’re tuning in for something a little more eternal than the fourth quarter.

No. 3: Political Commentary. Red states, blue states, purple states…listeners would rather hear about the Kingdom than campaign season.

No. 2: Hollywood/Pop Culture. Celebrity gossip may generate clicks, but it doesn’t necessarily generate connection. Listeners aren’t looking for the latest Hollywood hot take.

And at a clear No. 1: A Judgmental Tone. This one matters. Listeners want truth—but they don’t want to feel like they’re being scolded, shamed, or guilt-tripped.

The takeaway? Teach them. Encourage them. Challenge them. Just don’t talk down to them.

Because listeners can handle conviction. They just don’t want condemnation with their morning coffee.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

by Chuck Finney, President

The 2025 Finney Media Why Listen® Survey gives broadcasters valuable insight into what causes Hybrid and Teaching listeners to tune out—and the results point to one overarching theme: the listening experience matters.

In this blog, we have averaged the responses from the two formats so you can more easily see the tuneouts to minimize.

The biggest tuneout is an announcer with a negative, angry, or judgmental tone, with 74 percent saying they are very or somewhat likely to tune out when they encounter it. For ministries built around hope, truth, and transformation, that’s an important reminder: voices and tone matter. And sometimes we’re annoying people with voices they think sound negative, angry or judgmental and we don’t even know it.

Other major tuneouts: Songs you don’t like are a major tuneout at 51 percent saying very or somewhat likely to leave. A topic you’re not interested in is at 50 percent and an announcer who talks too much at 44 percent. Commercials score at 43 percent.

Taken together, these findings challenge us to think beyond content alone. Listeners make quick decisions about whether an experience is worth continuing.

For Hybrid and Teaching formats, that means creating an environment that feels welcoming, relevant, and purposeful. Keep the tone encouraging. Make commercial interruptions worthwhile. Respect the listener’s time. And when you talk, have something meaningful to say.

The objective isn’t simply to prevent tuneout. It’s to give listeners more reasons to stay.

by Chuck Finney, President

Some Christian Radio listeners want more than a great playlist—and the 2025 Finney Media Why Listen Survey  shows Hybrid and Teaching listeners fit that description perfectly. They’re drawn to stations that combine uplifting music with meaningful conversations and biblical truth.

For these listeners, music creates the atmosphere, but teaching and engaging content keep them coming back. They value Bible teaching, practical life application, and discussions that help them grow in their faith while navigating everyday life.

They also appreciate variety. A thoughtful mix of encouraging songs, trusted personalities, and relevant topics creates a listening experience that feels both inspiring and useful. Rather than choosing between music ormessage, they want both working together.

The takeaway? Hybrid and Teaching listeners are looking for content that encourages their hearts and strengthens their faith. When stations successfully blend great music with authentic conversation and solid biblical teaching, they’re creating something listeners don’t just enjoy—they depend on.

By Chuck Finney, President

If you think Christian podcast listeners are flocking to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, the 2025 Finney Media Why Listen® Survey tells a different story.

Among listeners of Hybrid (Teaching & Music) stations who heard a Christian podcast online in the past week, their favorite destination is a station or ministry app (49%). YouTube follows closely at 43 percent, with station and ministry websites reaching 36 percent. Meanwhile, Apple Podcasts (14%) and Spotify (12%) are far behind.

For All-Teaching station listeners, YouTube takes the crown at 50 percent. Station and ministry apps (46%) and websites (46%) are close behind, creating a three-way race at the top. Spotify (12%) and Apple Podcasts (11%) remain secondary choices.

The big takeaway? Christian podcast listeners aren’t just looking for content—they’re connecting directly with trusted ministries and stations. Or they are connecting through YouTube. Whether through an app, a website, or YouTube, they’re choosing platforms that keep them close to the voices they know best.

And what about Google Play, iHeart, and TuneIn? They’re all under 10 percent, making them bit players in a podcast landscape dominated by ministry-owned platforms and YouTube.

Coming in July: The heart of the Finney Media Why Listen® Survey. We compare the Top Main Reasons Hybrid and Teaching listeners listen. It’s very much about Biblical reasons.

by Chuck Finney, President

The 2025 Finney Media Why Listen® Survey shows Christian podcast listening isn’t one-size-fits-all—it grows as Christian radio content gets deeper.

Among CCM listeners, 35 percent tuned into a Christian podcast during the last week, treating podcasts like a side dish to their music-driven routine.

Hybrid (Music & Teaching) listeners jump to 56 percent, happily mixing songs with substance and using podcasts to go a little deeper on their own time.

Teaching listeners lead the pack at 68 percent, where podcasts aren’t extra—they’re essential. For them, it’s all about digging in, learning more, and staying engaged.

In short: the more teaching-focused the listener, the more podcasts become part of their daily spiritual rhythm.

Coming in June: We dive deep into where Christian radio listeners access podcasts. Sneak Peak: It’s a YouTube world.

The 2025 Finney Media Why Listen® Survey gives us a peek behind the curtain of what actually inspires Christian radio listeners to give—and the results are both encouraging and a little surprising.

First, the big picture: Hybrid listeners (Teaching + Music) and Teaching-only listeners are almost perfectly in sync on the “why.” A full 85 percent of both groups say believing in the ministry’s mission is very important. And nearly as many feel personally called by God to give (84% Hybrid, 83% Teaching). In other words, generosity starts in the heart, not the wallet.

But here’s where things get interesting: Hybrid listeners seem a bit more stirred by emotion and momentum. They’re more likely to be moved by powerful, life-changing stories (32% vs. 27%) and are notably more responsive when there’s an urgent need (36% vs. 27%). Add a ticking clock or a clear goal, and Hybrid listeners lean in just a bit more.

They also slightly edge out Teaching listeners in valuing biblical encouragement to give (67% vs. 63%). Meanwhile, flashy extras—like free gifts or public recognition—barely move the needle for either group.

The takeaway? Faith fuels the decision, but for Hybrid listeners, a great story and a little urgency can help turn inspiration into action.

Coming in May: An inside look at how Hybrid and Teaching listeners hear Christian podcasts. Need more tips to take your next fundraising campaign to the next level? Our Fundraising Consultant Jon Hull has a few more insights to help you out in a special BONUS ARTICLE.

What makes someone reach for the preset button on Christian radio? The latest 2025 Why Listen  Surveyfrom Finney Media gives us a pretty clear answer—and some of the results might make programmers smile (and maybe sweat a little). We asked listeners when they’re “Very” or “Somewhat Likely” to turn the station off.

The biggest tune-out trigger for everyone? Easy. A negative, angry, or judgmental tone. A whopping 78 percent of Hybrid (Music + Teaching) listeners and 71 percent of all-Teaching listeners say that’s their cue to exit. In other words, if the vibe gets cranky, the audience gets gone. Listeners want encouragement, not a scolding.

After that, the paths start to split a bit.

Hybrid listeners show their music-first instincts. Commercials (47%) and songs they don’t like (47%) tie for second place. They’ll also drift away if the topic isn’t interesting (46%) or if the announcer talks too much (42%). Translation: keep the flow moving and the music strong.

Teaching listeners, on the other hand, are more content-focused. Their next triggers are songs they don’t like (56%) – interesting given that Teaching stations don’t play songs: topics they’re not interested in (53%), announcers talking too much (46%), and songs they’re tired of (41%).

The takeaway? Keep the tone hopeful, pick great songs, and remember: sometimes the best thing a host can say… is less.

Coming in April: Why do Hybrid and Teaching Listeners give? How are they the same or different?

The heart of the Finney Media Why Listen® Survey is understanding listeners’ reasons for tuning in. While Top Reasons are often similar by formats, they’re not exactly the same. Today we’ll take a closer look at how Hybrid and Teaching listeners differ, and how that might affect the way you program your station or program.

Hybrid

Reason Percentage
1. It Helps You Worship God Throughout the Day 88%
2. You Like Worshipful Christian Music 87%
3. It Helps You Grow Spiritually 82%
4. You Want to Be Encouraged 77%
5. You Want to Help Spread Truth 62%

Teaching

Reason Percentage
1. It Helps You Grow Spiritually 91%
2. It Helps You Understand the Bible Better 84%
3. It Helps You Worship God Throughout the Day 83%
4. You Want to Hear Sermons 77%
5. You Want To Be Encouraged 71%

The 2025 Finney Media Why Listen® Survey includes almost 12,000 Christian radio listeners nationwide—2,953 from Teaching and Music (Hybrid) Stations and 3,087 from Teaching Stations and Programs.

Hybrid and Teaching listeners give similar reasons for listening. “Helps you worship God”, “Grow spiritually,” “To be encouraged” are common to the two formats. As we look at the differences in rank, however, we notice two things:

  1. Hybrid listeners are more heart first, head second (Worship at no. 1 and no. 2). Teaching listeners are more head first, heart second (Understand the Bible, Hear sermons).
  2. Hybrid listeners want it simpler. Teaching listeners want more in depth.

As you piece together your programming, lean more into heart or head depending on which one you are. Lean more into simple, concise, snack-sized or more in-depth depending on which one you are.

Coming in March: We compare and analyze the Top Main Reasons for Leaving. Why do listeners tune out or turn off? How are Hybrid and Teaching listeners different?

 

Hybrid

Rank/Marital Status % of Hybrid Respondents
1. Married first time 46%
2. Remarried 18%
3. Divorced 13%
4. Widowed 12%
5. Single/Never Married 10%

Teaching

Rank/Marital Status % of Teaching Respondents
1. Married first time 44%
2. Remarried 19%
3. Divorced 14%
4. Widowed 12%
5. Single/Never Married 9%

The 2025 Finney Media Why Listen® Survey includes almost 12,000 Christian radio listeners nationwide—2,953 from Teaching and Music (Hybrid) Stations and 3,087 from Teaching Stations and Programs

Check out the numbers on marital status. Less than half married the first time. About a third divorced or re-married. Over one in ten widowed. About one in ten never married.

It helps explain why, when we ask about airing Christian marriage advice on the radio we get mixed results. Almost as if the married folks are saying “I could use some of that!” And the non-married folks – about a third – are saying “Not Interested.” It makes planning for Valentine’s Day interesting. It’s not necessarily a happy day.

Coming in February: We compare and analyze the Top Main Reasons for listening. How are Hybrid and Teaching listeners different in why they listen?

Hybrid

Rank/Denomination % of Hybrid Respondents
1. Baptist 35%
2. Non-denominational/Bible/Community Church 30%
3. Pentecostal 7%
4. Presbyterian 7%
5. Reformed 6%

Teaching

Rank/Denomination % of Teaching Respondents
1. Baptist 45%
2. Non-denominational/Bible/Community Church 33%
3. Pentecostal 7%
4. Methodist 4%
5. Lutheran 4%

The 2025 Finney Media Why Listen®  Survey includes almost 12,000 Christian radio listeners nationwide—almost 3,000 each from Teaching & Music (Hybrid) stations and 3,000 from Teaching stations and programs. And I’ll bet the denominations they identify with don’t surprise you. The top Five are dominated with Evangelical Protestant denominations (both formats show about 80% from Evangelical Protestant respondents).

What might surprise you is how different this top Five is from the actual denominational composition of the United States. According to the PEW RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE STUDY from 2023-2024, 62 percent of Americans identify as Christian. Of that 62 percent, here are the Top Five Denominations:

Rank/Denomination % of the US Population
1. Evangelical Protestant 37%
2. Catholic 31%
3. Mainline Protestant 18%
4. Historically Black Protestant 8%
5. Latter Day Saint (Mormon) 3%

Geography makes a huge difference in these nationwide population numbers (for example, Christians in Dallas-Fort Worth are 44 percent Evangelical Protestant vs. Chicago’s 17 percent), but it appears that there could be opportunity to help our stations and programs reach beyond the Evangelical Protestant core.

What are the ways, without compromising the bold Biblical message, that we might attract listeners from other Christian denominations to worship God through our stations the other six days of the week?

Coming in January: From the 2025 Why Listen Survey , The Top Five Marital Statuses represented among the respondents. Hint: Not all of your listeners are married!

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