Folk Music Radio Airplay Chart
May 2026 (so far)

Compiled by Richard Gillmann
From Playlists Submitted to FOLKDJ-L

TOP ALBUMS of May 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 4853 plays from 167 playlists from 82 Folk DJs

  1: "Old No. 1 Revisited," Various Artists [Truly Handmade, 4/2026] (23)
        "Desperados Waiting For A Train," Andrew Combs (6)
        "Nickel for the Fiddler," Kelsey Waldon (4)
        "Like A Coat From The Cold," Logan Ledger (3)
        "La Freeway," Jade Bird (3)
  2: "Sing Me Alive," I'm With Her [Rounder, 5/2026] (21)
        "Crossing Muddy Waters" (4)
        "The Obvious Child" (4)
        "Rhododendron" (3)
        "Wild and Clear and Blue" (3)
  3: "Simple As," Johnsmith [Blue Pine, 5/2026] (20)
        "Simple As" (10)
  4: "The Great Irish Songbook, Vol. 2: Poets & Storytellers," Dervish [Down The Road, 4/2026] (18)
        "Jackie" (4)
        "Passage West" (3)
  4: "Low Country Wedding," Jefferson Ross [Self, 4/2026] (18)
        "Gideon" (5)
        "Red State Blues" (3)
  4: "Never Done," Annie & Rod Capps [Maynard, 4/2026] (18)
        "Thread" (7)
        "Pardon My Dust" (4)
        "Never Done" (3)
  7: "Dark on a Sunny Day," Maisy Owen [Tompkins Square, 5/2026] (17)
        "My Youth Is All For You" (5)
        "Dark On A Sunny Day" (4)
        "I Can Be Just Like You" (3)
  7: "Twilight Tales," The Heart Collectors [Spins The Gold, 4/2026] (17)
        "One Voice" (8)
        "Eagles And Horses" (4)
        "Beneath The Fall" (3)
  9: "Broken River," Hank Alrich [Walkinay, 5/2026] (16)
        "Blue Guru" (3)
        "Broken River" (3)
        "I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down" (2)
        "One of Your Lovers" (2)
        "Don't You Listen to That Man" (2)
 10: "Baggage Flies Free," Ed Snodderly [Majestic, 5/2026] (15)
        "Coming Down This Road" (8)
        "When Doc Watson Comes to Johnson City" (3)
        "High In The Rhyme" (2)
 10: "Lost Cause Lover Fool," The Milk Carton Kids [Thirty Tigers, 2/2026] (15)
        "I'll Go Home From Here" (4)
        "Young Love" (2)
        "Sad Song" (2)
        "Blue Water" (2)
        "My Place Among the Stones" (2)
 10: "Middle of Nowhere," Kacey Musgraves [Lost Highway, 5/2026] (15)
        "Everybody Wants to be a Cowboy" (4)
        "Uncertain, TX" (3)
        "Horses and Divorces" (3)
        "Middle of Nowhere" (2)
 10: "Raise Your Voice: Songs of Resistance from the Nation's Capital," Various Artists [Various Artists, 5/2026] (15)
        "Conman," John Vengrouskie (3)
        "Crimson," David Chambers (2)
        "Queen," Lynn Holyfield (2)
        "I Don't Want Your Billions Mister," David Scott Weaver (2)
 14: "Dream Chaser," Willie Nelson [Legacy, 4/2026] (14)
        "I Can't Read Your Mind" (3)
        "Dream Chaser" (2)
        "Fly Away" (2)
        "Love Overdue" (2)
 14: "Field Notes," Dave Gunning [Self, 2/2026] (14)
        "Raven's Glen" (3)
        "World of Make Believe" (3)
        "Angels' Share" (3)
        "Going Nowhere Tonight" (2)
 14: "Over Again," A Different Thread [Same Cloth] (14)
        "Over Again" (5)
        "Come On Home, Molly" (2)
        "Columbine" (2)
 14: "We Were Made For These Times," The Klezmatics [Shamus] (14)
        "We Were Made For These Times" (4)
        "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" (3)
        "Un Du Akerst" (2)
 18: "Appalachia," Emily Scott Robinson [Oh Boy, 1/2026] (13)
        "Appalachia" (4)
        "The Time for Flowers" (2)
        "Time Traveler" (2)
        "The Fairest View" (2)
 18: "Time," Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band [Thirty Tigers, 5/2026] (13)
        "Crazy About a Jukebox" (2)
        "Life Of Love" (2)
        "Wild About My Lovin'" (2)
 20: "Fortune Teller," Bobby Dove [New Motor] (12)
        "Dreamt I Met John Prine" (4)
        "Fortune Teller" (2)
        "Did I Speak Too Soon" (2)
 20: "Live at the Rock House," Sky Smeed [Self, 4/2026] (12)
        "Good Luck" (2)
        "Keep Rolling On" (2)
        "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" (2)
 20: "Reunion," Various Artists [Red House, 2021] (12)
        "Heaven," Mama's Broke (7)
        "Mother's Day," Lucy Kaplansky (4)
 20: "Veranda," Veranda [Big In The Garden] (12)
        "Sans Ardillon" (3)
        "Comme le temps" (2)
 20: "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard," Andy Cohen + Eleanor Ellis + William Lee Ellis [Riverlark, 4/2026] (12)
        "Memphis Minnie and Me" (3)
        "I'm goin' home" (2)
        "Mr. Furry's Blues" (2)
 25: "Earl Jam," Tony Trischka [Down The Road, 2024] (11)
        "Wish We Had Our Time Again" (2)
        "I Still Miss Someone" (2)
 25: "Love & Labour," Hannah & Nathan [Self, 4/2026] (11)
        "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" (3)
        "Love & Labour" (3)
        "Little Baby James" (2)
        "Little Bird" (2)
 25: "Mountains on the Moon," Paper Wings [Self, 3/2026] (11)
        "Fumblin'" (4)
        "Goodness" (2)
 28: "Blessing on the Wing," Newberry & Verch [Slab Town, 4/2026] (10)
        "Blessing On The Wing" (3)
        "Turtle Dove" (2)
        "Neighbors" (2)
 28: "Business Unusual," Goodnight Moonshine [Self, 2/2026] (10)
        "Good News" (3)
        "Welcome Home" (2)
 28: "Overdue for a Revolution," Martin Kerr [Nettwerk, 3/2026] (10)
        "Overdue for a Revolution" (3)
 28: "Path of Totality," The Montvales [Free Dirt, 3/2026] (10)
        "Carolina" (2)
 28: "Rainy Nights & Rearview Windows," Sue Horowitz [Self, 3/2026] (10)
        "Mystic" (4)
        "Burn" (2)
 28: "Saturday Night Sermon," Yarn [Ardsley] (10)
        "Let The Universe" (4)
        "A Welcome New Home" (2)
 28: "Thread The Light," The McDades [Free Radio] (10)
        "Lily of the West" (2)
        "Dance Around the Spinning Wheel" (2)
 35: "Long Long Road," Ringo Starr [UMe, 4/2026] (9)
        "Returning Without Tears" (3)
 35: "Sumatra," Paula Boggs Band [Boggs, 4/2026] (9)
        "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round" (4)
        "Route 66" (2)
 35: "Wake Me Up Martha," Andy Revkin [Self] (9)
        "Wake Me Up Martha" (3)
        "Good News from 2044" (2)
        "Long Short Story" (2)
 35: "When Summer Comes," David Coller [Upstart Yankee, 4/2026] (9)
        "Let Nothing Come Between Us" (3)
        "When Summer Comes" (2)
 39: "If I Had A Hammer," Pete Seeger [Smithsonian/Folkways] (8)
        "Well May the World Go" (1)
 39: "The Matter Of The Heart," Matthew Alexander [Caravan] (8)
        "Equinox" (2)
        "The Matter of the Heart" (2)
 39: "This One's For You," Rachel Brooke [MAL] (8)
        "The Real Pretender" (2)
        "Currently the Fool" (2)
 39: "The Trouble with Desire," Frank Viele [Bigger Beast] (8)
        "Trying to Raise a Man" (2)

TOP SONGS of May 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 4853 plays from 167 playlists from 82 Folk DJs

1. "Simple As" (10)
     from "Simple As" (Johnsmith)
2. "One Voice" (8)
     from "Twilight Tales" (The Heart Collectors)
2. "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" (8)
     from "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream - single" (Crys Matthews)
4. "Desperados Waiting For A Train" (7)
     from "Old No. 1 Revisited" (Andrew Combs)
4. "Heaven" (7)
     from "Reunion" (Mama's Broke)
4. "Thread" (7)
     from "Never Done" (Annie & Rod Capps)
7. "Citizen" (6)
     from "Citizen - single" (Crys Matthews)
7. "Coming Down This Road" (6)
     from "Baggage Flies Free" (Ed Snodderly)
7. "Dance Around The Spinning Wheel" (6)
     from "Dance Around the Spinning Wheel - single" (The McDades)
7. "The Mother" (6)
     from "By The Way, I Forgive You" (Brandi Carlile)
11. "American Dissident" (5)
     from "American Dissident - single" (John Flynn)
11. "Crying Babies" (5)
     from "Mostly Fine" (Susan Kane)
11. "Deportee" (5)
     from "Deportee" (Eilen Jewell)
11. "Gideon" (5)
     from "Low Country Wedding" (Jefferson Ross)
11. "Julia Ward Howe" (5)
     from "Threads" (Tom Chapin)
11. "Let The Universe" (5)
     from "Saturday Night Sermon" (Yarn)
11. "Mama" (5)
     from "Mama - single" (Mad Agnes)
11. "My Youth Is All For You" (5)
     from "Dark on a Sunny Day" (Maisy Owen)
11. "The Obvious Child" (5)
     from "Sing Me Alive" (I'm With Her)
11. "Over Again" (5)
     from "Over Again" (A Different Thread)
11. "Song Without Fear" (5)
     from "Song Without Fear - single" (Colleen Kattau)
22. "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round" (4)
     from "Sumatra" (Paula Boggs Band)
22. "Appalachia" (4)
     from "Appalachia" (Emily Scott Robinson)
22. "Crossing Muddy Waters" (4)
     from "Sing Me Alive" (I'm With Her)

TOP ARTISTS of May 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 4853 plays from 167 playlists from 82 Folk DJs

1. Pete Seeger (66)
        "If I Had A Hammer" (8)
2. Dervish (25)
        "The Great Irish Songbook, Vol. 2: Poets & Storytellers" (18)
        "The Great Irish Songbook" (5)
3. Willie Nelson (24)
        "Dream Chaser" (14)
4. I'm With Her (23)
        "Sing Me Alive" (21)
4. Johnsmith (23)
        "Simple As" (20)
6. Crys Matthews (21)
        "Citizen - single" (7)
        "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream - single" (6)
        "Citizen Feat. Resistance Revival Chorus" (3)
7. The Heart Collectors (19)
        "Twilight Tales" (17)
7. Maisy Owen (19)
        "Dark on a Sunny Day" (17)
9. Annie & Rod Capps (18)
        "Never Done" (18)
9. Jefferson Ross (18)
        "Low Country Wedding" (18)
11. Yarn (17)
        "Saturday Night Sermon" (10)
12. The Klezmatics (16)
        "We Were Made For These Times" (14)
13. Judy Collins (15/22)
        "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" (4)
        "Whales & Nightingales" (3)
        "Wildflowers" (3)
13. Bob Dylan (15)
        "The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 1961-1991" (3)
13. Dave Gunning (15)
        "Field Notes" (14)
13. Hank Alrich (15)
        "Broken River" (15)
17. A Different Thread (14)
        "Over Again" (14)
17. Ed Snodderly (14)
        "Baggage Flies Free" (8)
        "Es Pearl Presents Ed Snodderly Baggage Flies Free" (3)
17. Emily Scott Robinson (14)
        "Appalachia" (13)
17. The McDades (14)
        "Thread The Light" (10)
        "Dance Around The Spinning Wheel - single" (4)
17. The Milk Carton Kids (14)
        "Lost Cause Lover Fool" (14)
17. Tony Trischka (14)
        "Earl Jam" (11)
23. John McCutcheon (13)
        "Joe Hill's Last Will" (8)
23. Paper Wings (13)
        "Mountains on the Moon" (11)
25. Bobby Dove (12)
        "Fortune Teller" (12)
25. Lucy Kaplansky (12)
        "Reunion" (5)
        "Last Days of Summer" (4)
25. Sky Smeed (12)
        "Live at the Rock House" (12)
25. Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band (12)
        "Time" (8)
        "Time" (3)
25. Tom Chapin (12)
        "Threads" (3)
        "The Turning of the Tide" (3)
25. Utah Phillips (12)
        "Good Though!" (4)
        "The Long Memory" (3)
25. Veranda (12)
        "Veranda" (12)
32. Andy Revkin (11)
        "Wake Me Up Martha" (9)
32. John Gorka (11)
        "unentitled" (3)
32. John Prine (11)
        "Sweet Revenge" (3)
32. Kacey Musgraves (11)
        "Middle of Nowhere" (11)
36. David Coller (10)
        "When Summer Comes" (9)
36. Goodnight Moonshine (10)
        "Business Unusual" (10)
36. Martin Kerr (10)
        "Overdue for a Revolution" (10)
36. The Montvales (10)
        "Path of Totality" (10)
36. Phil Kennelty (10)
        "A Line In The Sand" (7)
36. Sue Horowitz (10)
        "Rainy Nights & Rearview Windows" (10)

TOP LABELS of May 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 4853 plays from 167 playlists from 82 Folk DJs

1. Rounder (85)
2. Smithsonian/Folkways (72)
3. Columbia (49)
4. Red House (44)
5. Thirty Tigers (39)
6. Elektra (31)
7. Compass (30)
7. Warner (30)
9. Down The Road (28)
10. Legacy (26)
10. Shamus (26)
12. Appleseed (23)
12. Signature Sounds (23)
14. Truly Handmade (21)
15. Oh Boy (20)
16. Free Dirt (19)
16. Sugar Hill (19)
18. Reprise (17/19)
18. Blue Pine (17)
20. Lost Highway (16)
21. Sony (15)
21. Spins The Gold (15)
21. Tompkins Square (15)
21. Walkinay (15)
25. Philo (14)
26. Atlantic (13)
26. Majestic (13)
26. Nettwerk (13)
26. Riverlark (13)
30. Appalsongs (12)
30. Nonesuch (12)
30. Rhino (12)
33. Borealis (11)
33. Capitol (11)
33. Maynard (11)
33. Pinecastle (11)
33. Topic (11)
33. Vanguard (11)
39. Bigger Beast (10)
39. Craft (10)
39. New West (10)
39. Same Cloth (10)

FOLK DJs - May 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 4853 plays from 167 playlists from 82 Folk DJs

Al Kniola (WVPE-FM, IN)
Allen Larman (KPFK-FM, CA)
Angela Page (WJFF-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, NY)
Art Menius (WHUP-LP, NC)
Artie Martello (folkmusicnotebook.com, NY)
Bill "Rusty" Crowell & Jan Alba (WPPM-FM & mixcloud.com, PA)
Bill Revill (WESU-FM, CT)
Bob Weiser (WOMR-FM & WFMR-FM, MA)
Bruce Cameron (2MCE-FM, Australia)
Bruce Swan (WSFM-LP, NC)
Carolyn VandeWiele (WFHB-FM, IN)
Charlie Backfish (WUSB-FM, NY)
Chris Kocher (WHRW-FM, NY)
Colin Fielding (3INR-FM, Australia)
Craig Huegel (WMNF-FM, FL)
Dan Alloway (KTEP-FM, TX)
Dan Shramek (KBOO-FM, OR)
Daryana Antipova (WFHB-FM)
David John (KAXE/KBXE-FM, MN)
David Sears (WBGU-FM & syndicated, OH)
Denis McGilvray (KWGS-FM, OK)
Diane Hunt (KBOO-FM, OR)
Dick Hermans (WKZE-FM, NY)
Ed Mellnick (KBOO-FM, OR)
Eureka Mike (WFCF-FM & thesonicplanet.com, FL)
Gerry Goodfriend (CKUT-FM, QC)
Graham Dean & Barbara Dean (WBCR-LP, MA)
Helen Leicht (folkmusicnotebook.com)
Jack Dugan (WIOX-FM, NY)
Jan Vanderhorst (justusfolk.com, ON)
Jayoungr (WEFT-FM)
Jean Geiger (mixcloud.com)
Jenny Flux (2BBB-FM, Australia)
Jim Gilliland (WRUW-FM, OH)
Jim Marino (CFMU-FM, ON)
Joe Pszonek (folkmusicnotebook.com, SC)
Johnny Bazzano (KRCB-FM, CA)
Jon Stein (WTBQ-FM, NY)
Justin Helmer (KVSC-FM, MN)
Karen Rakos (KEUL-FM, AK)
Katrina Knight (mixcloud.com & folkmusicnotebook.com)
Kejo Buchanan (CJTM-AM & soundcloud.com, ON)
Ken Batista (WRCT-FM, PA)
Kevin Elliott (WEFT-FM, IL)
Kevin Vance (KALW-FM & KPFA-FM, CA)
Laurie DesJardins (KVMR-FM, CA)
Len Holton (KUAR-FM & mixcloud.com, AR)
Lilli Kuzma (WDCB-FM, IL)
Marc Albert (KMUZ-FM & mixcloud.com, OR)
Marilyn Rea Beyer (WFMT-FM, IL)
Mark Michaelis (WGDR/WGDH-FM, VT)
Menachem Vinegrad (Radio Upper Galilee & folkmusicnotebook.com, OH)
Michael Alzo (WSLU-FM, NY)
Michael Benson (WESU-FM, CT)
Michael Kane (WBRS-FM, MA)
Michael Park (mixcloud.com, PRX)
Mike Regenstreif (CKCU-FM, ON)
Mitch Park (Radio Hawke's Bay & newfolkrecords.com, New Zealand)
Nick Noble (WICN-FM, MA)
Norm Mast (WVPE-FM, IN)
Paul Hartman (WTMD-FM, MD)
Paul Porzio (Cox Cable, VA)
Pete Thomas (WAER-FM, NY)
Peter Kernast (WTSR-FM, NJ)
Richard Gillmann (KBCS-FM & mixcloud.com, WA)
Richard Gordon (WRCT-FM & mixcloud.com, PA)
Richard Howard (KZMU-FM, UT)
Ron Cooke (KTAL-LP, NM)
Ron Olesko (WFDU-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, NJ)
Steve Brockway (KRFC-FM, CO)
Steve Edge (CiTR-FM & syndicated, BC)
Stu Weaver (WFCF-FM, FL)
Susan Forbes Hansen (WWUH-FM & WHUS-FM, CT)
Taylor Caffery (WRKF-FM, LA)
Terry B. Moses & Naomi Soule (KCLC-FM, MO)
Tom Coxworth (CKUA-FM, AB)
Tom Druckenmiller (WDIY-FM & podcast, PA)
Tom Funk (KGLP-FM, NM)
Wally Bowen (KOCF-LP, OR)
Wanda Fischer (WAMC-FM & mixcloud.com, NY)
Wayne Greene (KEOS-FM, TX)
Zeke Duckworthy & Andy Rogovin (WZBC-FM, MA)