Folk Music Radio Airplay Chart
October 2026 (so far)

Compiled by Richard Gillmann
From Playlists Submitted to FOLKDJ-L

TOP ALBUMS of October 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 3500 plays from 128 playlists from 78 Folk DJs

  1: "Songs From the Knoxville Project," Angela Easterling [De L'est, 9/2026] (22)
        "Count All the Stars" (7)
        "Look for Red" (3)
        "Trouble" (3)
  2: "Reckoning," Mary Gauthier [Thirty Tigers, 9/2026] (21)
        "Alcohol and Adderall" (5)
        "Judgement Day" (5)
        "Reckoning" (3)
  3: "The Answer," Caroline Cotter [Self, 10/2026] (20)
        "Good News" (4)
        "I Am The Light" (3)
        "Grounded In Love" (3)
        "1000 Years Ago" (3)
  3: "Undo the Damage," Rod MacDonald [Blue Flute, 10/2026] (20)
        "Undo The Damage" (8)
        "Star of Wonder" (3)
  5: "Sunday Afternoon," Kate Prascher [FCA, 10/2026] (19)
        "Jubilee" (5)
        "Sing Again" (3)
        "Retrograde" (3)
        "Memphis to Mobile" (3)
  6: "So Much for Goodbyes," Billy Strings [Reprise, 7/2026] (18)
        "Light the way" (4)
        "I Like Train Songs" (3)
        "10,000 Miles from a Friend" (3)
  7: "Hope Is the Thing," Rhiannon Giddens [Nonesuch, 7/2026] (17)
        "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers" (5)
        "Step Away Blues" (3)
        "High on a Mountain" (3)
  8: "Seven North," Phil Henry [Board By Board, 10/2026] (16)
        "Make Good Trouble Again" (4)
        "Hey There Gilligan" (4)
        "Mona Lisa" (2)
        "Ticonderoga #2" (2)
  9: "Reunion," Mama's Broke [Free Dirt, 5/2026] (13)
        "Heaven" (3)
        "Build It Up" (2)
        "Wildflowers" (2)
        "The Nameless" (2)
        "Bridges" (2)
  9: "Smoketree," The Kennedys [Self, 8/2026] (13)
        "Smoketree" (4)
        "Girl On A Motorcycle" (3)
        "Like An Angel" (2)
        "Without Us" (2)
  9: "Under My Canopy," Rachael Sage & The Sequins [MPress] (13)
        "Live It Up" (4)
        "Just Enough" (4)
        "Everyday" (2)
 12: "Requiem for a Sleepless Night," Kelly Hunt [Compass, 8/2026] (12)
        "All the King's Horses" (4)
        "Dreamer" (2)
        "I Rise" (2)
 12: "Tamarack," Kalos [Self, 9/2026] (12)
        "The Open Door" (4)
        "'Neath the Gloamin' Star at E'en / Cosen Cole's Delight" (2)
 14: "Bluegrass Women," Lindsay Lou [Son Of Bart, 9/2026] (11)
        "All I Ever Loved Was You" (5)
        "Won't You Come and Sing For Me" (2)
        "Jubilee" (2)
 14: "Hope Is Restless," Nicole Mish [Whole Sky] (11)
        "Tell Me Something Good" (5)
        "How to Dream" (2)
        "Let Them Shine" (2)
        "Wild Song" (2)
 14: "Troubadourly Yours," Scott Cook [Release Guru, 8/2026] (11)
        "Keeping Good Company" (3)
        "From Here on the Curve" (2)
        "The Wolf That Wins" (2)
        "Troubadourly Yours" (2)
 14: "Williams Branch Is Hard to Find," Carla Gover & Friends [Legacy, 9/2026] (11)
        "Queen of the Kitchen, King of the Road" (3)
        "Williams Branch is Hard to Find" (3)
 18: "Blue Water," David Coller [Self] (10)
        "Captain, My Captain" (2)
        "Nova Scotia Bound" (2)
        "Just Another Day" (2)
 18: "Gulf Coast Duets," Libby Koch & Michael O'Connor [Coastal Bend] (10)
        "Boats To Build" (4)
        "In Another Time and Place" (2)
        "Gulf Coast Highway" (2)
 18: "Two Crows," Louise Grasmere [LEG, 9/2026] (10)
        "Two Crows" (2)
        "In My Life" (2)
        "Tillys Song" (2)
 21: "Second Song," Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts [Reprise] (9)
        "Casting Me Away From You" (3)
        "Day After Day" (2)
        "Soon I Might Be Going" (2)
 21: "The Big Bang," Dala [Self] (9)
        "The Big Bang" (3)
        "Scarborough Fair" (2)
        "Love With A Broken Heart" (2)
 21: "A Bird on the Wing," Paula Fong [Self] (9)
        "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (3)
        "Up and Out" (2)
 21: "In the Snug," Tulua [Self] (9)
        "The Cliffs of Cullenstown" (1)
 21: "Lucky Water," Laura Cortese [Compass, 9/2026] (9)
        "Calling Across the Lake" (3)
        "Lucky Water" (3)
 26: "Odds...and Even So," Jon Shain [Flyin', 9/2026] (8)
        "Morning Song" (4)
        "There's No Saying No to Nora" (2)
 26: "Shooter of Truth," Lyal Strickland [Shedding Dog] (8)
        "Birds" (4)
        "Shooter of Truth" (2)
 28: "The Blood of Others," Bruce Cockburn [Sunset Blvd] (7)
        "Yellow Dog Blues" (6)
 28: "Break & Mend," The Heists [Muskeg Collective, 8/2026] (7)
        "Farewell Old Treadwell" (3)
        "In The Meantime" (2)
 28: "Canyon Falls Trailer Band," Ian Noe [Thirty Tigers] (7)
        "Canyon Falls Trailer Band" (2)
        "Whiskey to Work" (2)
 28: "Cover to Cover," AJ Lee & Blue Summit [Signature Sounds, 9/2026] (7)
        "Drivin Nails In My Coffin" (2)
        "Glendale Train" (2)
 28: "Hippies, Thugs and Heroes," Richard Thompson [New West] (7)
        "Sorcerer's Apprentice" (7)
 28: "If You Love Somebody, Tell Them," The Pinkerton Raid [Self] (7)
        "How Does The Story End" (2)
 28: "The Morning Dark," Hayden Stern [Adhyâropa, 9/2026] (7)
        "Susie's" (2)
 28: "The Oracle," Zera Starchild [Self] (7)
        "North Country Fair" (3)
        "If you Don't Get Right Then You Gone Get Left" (2)
 28: "Over the Horizon," Giselle & Erik [Self, 9/2026] (7)
        "Feel Like Me" (2)
        "Right Road" (2)
 28: "Trade My Troubles," Rising Appalachia [Self, 8/2026] (7)
        "Red Prairie Dawn / Red Rocking Chair" (1)

TOP SONGS of October 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 3500 plays from 128 playlists from 78 Folk DJs

1. "I Gotta Do Somethin'" (12)
     from "I Gotta Do Somethin' - single" (The Twangtown Paramours)
2. "Undo The Damage" (8)
     from "Undo the Damage" (Rod MacDonald)
3. "Count All the Stars" (7)
     from "Songs From the Knoxville Project" (Angela Easterling)
3. "Sorcerer's Apprentice" (7)
     from "Hippies, Thugs and Heroes" (Richard Thompson)
5. "Yellow Dog Blues" (6)
     from "The Blood of Others" (Bruce Cockburn)
6. "Alcohol and Adderall" (5)
     from "Reckoning" (Mary Gauthier)
6. "All I Ever Loved Was You" (5)
     from "Bluegrass Women" (Lindsay Lou)
6. "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers" (5)
     from "Hope Is the Thing" (Rhiannon Giddens)
6. "Jubilee" (5)
     from "Sunday Afternoon" (Kate Prascher)
6. "Judgement Day" (5)
     from "Reckoning" (Mary Gauthier)
6. "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" (5)
     from "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos - single" (Amy Speace)
6. "Scapegoat" (5)
     from "Scapegoat - single" (Skinner & T'witch)
6. "Smoketree" (5)
     from "Smoketree" (The Kennedys)
6. "Tell Me Something Good" (5)
     from "Hope Is Restless" (Nicole Mish)
15. "All the King's Horses" (4)
     from "Requiem for a Sleepless Night" (Kelly Hunt)

TOP ARTISTS of October 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 3500 plays from 128 playlists from 78 Folk DJs

1. John Prine (28)
        "The Tree Of Forgiveness" (5)
        "Found Dogs" (4)
2. Angela Easterling (22)
        "Songs From the Knoxville Project" (22)
3. Caroline Cotter (21)
        "The Answer" (20)
3. Mary Gauthier (21)
        "Reckoning" (20)
3. Rod MacDonald (21)
        "Undo the Damage" (20)
6. Billy Strings (20)
        "So Much for Goodbyes" (18)
7. Dolly Parton (19/22)
        "Dolly" (4)
        "Little Sparrow" (4)
        "Jolene" (3)
7. Jake Blount (19)
        "Shady Grove - single" (3)
        "Stackolee - single" (3)
7. Kate Prascher (19)
        "Sunday Afternoon" (19)
7. Rhiannon Giddens (19)
        "Hope Is the Thing" (17)
11. The Kennedys (18)
        "Smoketree" (13)
        "Headwinds" (3)
12. Bob Dylan (17)
        "Love and Theft" (3)
13. Kalos (16)
        "Tamarack" (12)
13. Phil Henry (16)
        "Seven North" (15)
15. Richard Thompson (15)
        "Hippies, Thugs and Heroes" (7)
        "Acoustic Classics II" (3)
16. Mama's Broke (13)
        "Reunion" (13)
17. Kelly Hunt (12)
        "Requiem for a Sleepless Night" (12)
17. Lindsay Lou (12)
        "Bluegrass Women" (11)
17. Nicole Mish (12)
        "Hope Is Restless" (11)
17. The Twangtown Paramours (12)
        "I Gotta Do Somethin' - single" (12)
21. Joni Mitchell (11)
        "Blue" (3)
        "Hits" (3)
21. Rachael Sage & The Sequins (11)
        "Under My Canopy" (11)
21. Scott Cook (11)
        "Troubadourly Yours" (11)
24. Carla Gover & Friends (10)
        "Williams Branch Is Hard to Find" (9)
24. David Coller (10)
        "Blue Water" (10)
24. Laura Cortese (10)
        "Lucky Water" (9)
24. Libby Koch & Michael O'Connor (10)
        "Gulf Coast Duets" (10)
24. Louise Grasmere (10)
        "Two Crows" (10)
24. Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts (10)
        "Second Song" (9)
24. Tulua (10)
        "In the Snug" (9)

TOP LABELS of October 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 3500 plays from 128 playlists from 78 Folk DJs

1. Rounder (48)
2. Compass (45)
3. Columbia (43)
4. Reprise (40)
5. Thirty Tigers (37)
6. Nonesuch (36)
7. Sugar Hill (33)
8. Oh Boy (31)
8. Smithsonian/Folkways (31)
10. Free Dirt (29)
11. Warner (23)
12. Borealis (20)
12. Legacy (20)
14. New West (19)
15. Blue Flute (18)
15. Signature Sounds (18)
17. De L'est (17/19)
18. Red House (16)
19. Philo (15)
20. MPress (14)

FOLK DJs - October 2026
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 3500 plays from 128 playlists from 78 Folk DJs

Al Kniola (WVPE-FM, IN)
Angela Page (WJFF-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, NY)
Annie Keville (WVBR-FM, NY)
Art Menius (WHQR-FM & 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)
Dan Alloway (KTEP-FM, TX)
Dan Shramek (KBOO-FM, OR)
David John (KAXE/KBXE-FM, MN)
David Sears (WBGU-FM, OH)
Denis McGilvray (KWGS-FM, OK)
Diane Hunt (KBOO-FM, OR)
Dick Hermans (WKZE-FM, NY)
Dusty James & Abalone Pearl (therootsfm.org, MO)
Ed Mellnick (KBOO-FM, OR)
Eureka Mike (WFCF-FM & thesonicplanet.com, FL)
Gerry Goodfriend (CKUT-FM, QC)
Gordon Nash (folkmusicnotebook.com)
Graham Dean & Barbara Dean (WBCR-LP, MA)
Harlon Joye (WRFG-FM, GA)
Helen Leicht (folkmusicnotebook.com)
JB Nuttle (WSDL-FM, MD)
Jack Dugan (WIOX-FM & thesonicplanet.com, NY)
James Sereda (WUSB-FM, NY)
Jan Vanderhorst (justusfolk.com, ON)
Jenny Flux (2BBB-FM, Australia)
Jim Fisher (WGCS-FM, IN)
Jim Gilliland (WRUW-FM, OH)
Jim Marino (CFMU-FM, ON)
Joe Pszonek (folkmusicnotebook.com, SC)
John Weingart (WPRB-FM, NJ)
Johnny Bazzano (KRCB-FM, CA)
Jon Stein (WTBQ-FM, NY)
Juliet Youngren (WEFT-FM, IL)
Justin Helmer (KVSC-FM, MN)
Karen Rakos (KEUL-FM, AK)
Katrina Knight (mixcloud.com & folkmusicnotebook.com)
Ken Batista (WRCT-FM, PA)
Kevin Elliott (WEFT-FM, IL)
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, Israel)
Michael Benson (WESU-FM, CT)
Michael Kane (WBRS-FM, MA)
Michael Park (mixcloud.com)
Michael Stock (WLRN-FM, FL)
Mike Regenstreif (CKCU-FM, ON)
Mitch Park (Radio Kidnappers & Radio Hawke's Bay, New Zealand)
Nick Noble (WICN-FM, MA)
Norm Mast (WVPE-FM, IN)
Paul Hartman (WTMD-FM, MD)
Pete Thomas (WAER-FM, NY)
Peter Fraissinet (WVBR-FM, NY)
Peter Kernast (WTSR-FM, NJ)
Richard Gordon (WRCT-FM & mixcloud.com, PA)
Richard Howard (KZMU-FM, UT)
Ron Olesko (WFDU-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, NJ)
Sarah LaDuke (folkalley.com, NY)
Sherre Birenbaum (therootsfm.org, MO)
Steve Edge (CiTR-FM & syndicated, BC)
Taylor Caffery (WRKF-FM, LA)
Terry B. Moses & Naomi Soule (KCLC-FM, MO)
Tom Druckenmiller (WDIY-FM & podcast, PA)
Tom Funk (KGLP-FM, NM)
Wally Bowen (KOCF-LP, OR)
Wanda Fischer (WAMC-FM & mixcloud.com, NY)
Zeke Duckworthy & Andy Rogovin (WZBC-FM, MA)


Releases new to the chart in October:

Caroline Cotter: "The Answer" (Self)
Kate Prascher: "Sunday Afternoon" (FCA)
Phil Henry: "Seven North" (Board By Board)
Rod MacDonald: "Undo the Damage" (Blue Flute)