At the end of each year, we tally the numbers to see what albums and songs were played the most. Through this annual exercise, we’re able to see what really hit with our volunteers and staff, how we’re doing with equitable playlists, and generally, what we heard on people-powered radio, KAXE.
And every year, this list makes me grateful for our volunteers for going above and beyond in creating great music programming. It also makes me so incredibly grateful for our listeners who willingly (most of the time) come on this musical journey with us.
No algorithms involved, our staff and volunteer pick what they play every single day. Here’s what they picked the most.
Top 25 Albums
25. Geese – Getting Killed
24. Say She She – Cut & Rewind
23. Various Artists – Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 1
22. Natalie Bergman – My Home Is Not In This World
21. Adrian Quesada – Boleros Psicodélicos II
20. Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
19. The Wood Brothers – Puff of Smoke
18. Little Simz – Lotus
17. Deep Sea Diver – Billboard Heart
16. Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
15. Sunny War – Armageddon in a Summer Dress
14. Larkin Poe – Bloom
13. Samantha Crain – Gumshoe
12. Samantha Fish – Paper Doll
11. Galactic & Irma Thomas – Audience With the Queen
10. Charley Crockett – Lonesome Drifter
9. Wet Leg – moisturizer
8. S.G. Goodman – Planting by the Signs
7. Big Thief – Double Infinity
6. Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
5. Sharon Van Etten – Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory
4. Jeremie Albino – Our Time in the Sun
3. Valerie June – Owls, Omens and Oracles
2. Alan Sparhawk – Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles
1. Southern Avenue – Family
Our 2025 Riverfest performers found themselves toward the top of our list as our volunteers and staff geared up to see them live in person, with Alan Sparhawk taking the top spot for Minnesota artists as well. Memphis blues and soul band, Southern Avenue, took the lead at number one overall by a fair amount with their infectious songs like “Upside,” “So Much Love,” and “Rum Boogie”!
Top 25 Songs
25. Sunny War – “Cry Baby ft. Valerie June”
24. Courtney Barnett – “Lotta Love”
23. Southern Avenue – “Rum Boogie”
22. Panda Bear – “Ferry Lady”
21. Margo Price – “Don’t Wake Me Up ft. Jesse Welles”
20. Jeremie Albino – “Dinner Bell”
19. Deep Sea Diver – “What Do I Know”
18. The Wood Brothers – “Witness”
17. Obongjayar – “Sweet Danger”
16. Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles – “Not Broken”
15. Wet Leg – “catch these fists”
14. Samantha Fish – “Sweet Southern Sounds”
13. Margo Price – “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down”
12. Samantha Crain – “Ridin’ Out the Storm”
11. Wednesday – “Elderberry Wine”
10. Samantha Crain – “Dragonfly”
9. Patty Griffin – “Back at the Start”
8. Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles – “Stranger”
7. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – “Afterlife”
6. S.G. Goodman – “Fire Sign”
5. Jeremie Albino – “Rolling Down the 405”
4. David Byrne – “Everybody Laughs”
3. Julien Baker & TORRES – “Sugar in the Tank”
2. Charley Crockett – “Lonesome Drifter”
1. Valerie June – “Joy, Joy!”
As mentioned in the year-end edition of Spin that Ish, Valerie June’s “Joy, Joy!” takes the cake as our most played song thanks to Volunteer Coordinator, Dan Gannon! All jokes aside, something about that song really connected with our DJs and listeners. The gripping fuzzed out guitar paired with June’s incredible tone and her determination to take and live her joy in spite of the state of the world.
Margo Price, Jeremie Albino and Samantha Crain all had multiple hits with our DJs, each appearing twice on the list.
KAXE’s weekly list of concerts near you features Corey Medina & Brothers, The Imports, Sam Miltich & Friends, and Charley Wagner with Mama Wags.