Welcome to the first Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown of 2026, broadcasting from the KUNV studios on the campus of UNLV and heard coast to coast. Hosted by Pamela Black, this nationally syndicated countdown delivers the Top 20 smooth jazz songs in America, ranked by verified airplay data from stations across the country.

This week’s show sets the tone for a brand-new year with a mix of chart climbers, longtime favorites, and fresh releases shaping the sound of contemporary jazz right now. From guitar-driven grooves and soulful saxophone melodies to elegant keyboard work and modern jazz fusion, every song reflects the depth, diversity, and evolution of smooth jazz radio.

Listeners will hear standout tracks from genre icons and chart-topping artists including Boney James, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Wayman Tisdale, Roy Ayers, Mindy Abair, Paul Taylor, Marion Meadows, Nicholas Cole, and Ryan LaValette, who claims the #1 spot this week. The countdown also highlights rising voices and independent artists making waves on Smooth Jazz Radio, proving that the genre continues to grow and thrive in 2026.

In addition to the weekly Top 20, this episode features artist spotlights, engaging storytelling, and the signature pacing that makes the Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown a favorite for listeners, affiliates, and programmers alike. Whether you’re tuning in on the radio, streaming online, or catching up via podcast, this show delivers a polished, professional, and relaxing listening experience designed for smooth jazz fans everywhere.

Produced by Jason Beatty with chart data provided by Mediabase, the Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown remains your definitive guide to the biggest songs in smooth jazz—every week, all year long.

The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown continues its year-end celebration with The Number Ones of 2025, Part 2 — the high-stakes finale counting down the Top 20 songs of the year, including the longest-running #1 smooth jazz hits of 2025.

Broadcast from the KUNV studios on the UNLV campus, host Pamela Black takes listeners deeper into the countdown, ranking every chart-topping song by how long it held the number one spot. This second installment spotlights the tracks that didn’t just reach the summit — they stayed there, defining the sound of smooth jazz throughout the year.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Top 20 smooth jazz #1s of 2025, including multi-week chart champions
• Performances by genre leaders such as Najee, Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Mindi Abair, Marion Meadows, Adrian Crutchfield, and more
• The Top 5 “Not on the List” artists, honoring standout releases that made a major impact just outside the countdown
• Rich storytelling that ties each #1 song to the cultural moments, seasons, and moods of 2025

From high-energy festival anthems to soulful saxophone classics, Part 2 captures the music that ruled the charts and shaped the smooth jazz landscape in 2025 — culminating with the longest-running #1 song of the year.

If you missed it, be sure to catch Part 1, featuring songs #35–21, and experience the complete two-part journey through the year’s biggest smooth jazz moments.

Your playlist. Your countdown. Where smooth jazz pays out big.

The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown kicks off a special two-part year-end celebration with The Number Ones of 2025, Part 1 — a coast-to-coast journey through every song that reached #1 on the Smooth Jazz charts this year.

Broadcast from the KUNV studios on the UNLV campus, host Pamela Black begins the countdown at #35 and works up to #21, ranking each track by how long it held the top spot. This first installment focuses on the single-week chart toppers — the songs that defined moments, seasons, and moods throughout 2025.

Along the way, the show features:

• Chart-topping smooth jazz from artists like Norman Brown, Boney James, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Nicholas Cole, Special EFX, and more
• “Not on the List” spotlights honoring standout releases that made an impact just outside the countdown
• Pam’s Honorable Mentions, highlighting personal favorites and artists who stayed in the mix all year long
• Rich storytelling that connects each #1 song to the time of year it ruled the charts

From warm guitar grooves and soulful sax melodies to contemporary jazz collaborations, Part 1 sets the stage for the biggest smooth jazz moments of 2025.

Be sure to join us next week for Part 2, where we count down the Top 20, reveal the multi-week #1 champions, and spotlight the artists who truly dominated the year.

Your playlist. Your countdown. The smoothest journey in jazz.