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Christian radio countdown series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Weekend 22 (abbreviated as W22) is a Christian music countdown. It is a syndicated show that is broadcast nationwide in the United States and heard in over 150 cities across the country. The show is produced and syndicated worldwide by Amped Creative. Christian Care Ministry's Medi-Share is the main sponsor for the show.
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Other names | W22 |
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Genre | Christian CHR record chart |
Running time | 2 hrs. (including commercials) 1 hr. + 45 mins. (w/out commercials) |
Country of origin | United States |
Language(s) | English |
Syndicates | Amped Creative |
Hosted by | Josh Ashton (2005–present) Jeremy "JGonzo" Gonzalez (2002-2005) Stu Gray (substitute host) |
Starring | Josh Ashton |
Created by | Amped Creative |
Written by | Josh Peterson (200?–2011) Rachael Jamison (2011–2022) Brandon Rahbar (2022–present) |
Produced by | Jason Burrows |
Executive producer(s) | Ken Farley and Brandon Rahbar |
Original release | June 2002 – present |
Website | www.weekend22.com |
The countdown is based on the play lists found on Christian CHR radio stations across the U.S. It was based on the R&R charts until the magazine was folded into Billboard magazine in 2009. Jeremy "JGonzo" Gonzalez started out as the host in June 2002. Josh Ashton took over as host in August 2008. The current producer is Jason Burrows and the current executive producers are Ken Farley (owner of Amped Creative) and Brandon Rahbar. Research and script is provided by Rachael Jamison. JGonzo's wife Kathy "KJ" Gonzalez is the former announcer of the music news segments. The current music news contributor is Rachael James.
Amped Creative also created and produced a countdown show for Christian AC stations called The Weekend Top 20, which is also executively produced by Ken Farley and Brandon Rahbar. While Rachael Jamison handles music news on 20WT, Wes Shattler handles the research script. 20WT is hosted by Kurt Wallace.
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Weekend 22 is similar to 20 the Countdown, both counting down the most popular songs on Christian radio. However, while 20 the Countdown Magazine used the Billboard Christian Songs as its source, Weekend 22 used the weekly Christian CHR airplay-based survey produced by Radio & Records. It would eventually switch to the Billboard Christian pop songs chart in 2009 after R&R folded into that magazine.
These songs hit No. 1 on the Weekend 22 Year-End Countdown from 2002 to 2021.
In 2003, Amped Creative added a second countdown show. With Christian pop radio in decline, and many Weekend 22 affiliates having a Christian adult contemporary format, Amped Creative launched Weekend Top 25 in November 2003, as a two-hour, 25-song countdown (reduced to 20 in June 2006), using the Radio & Records Christian AC chart, eventually switched to the Billboard Christian AC chart after R&R folded into that magazine.
Lisa Williams started out as the host in November 2003. Scott Smith took over as host sometime in 2005. The current host, Kurt Wallace, took over sometime in 2007.
As on the parent program, Weekend Top 20 concludes its years with an annual special featuring the top hits of the year. It featured a twenty-five song countdown from 2003 to 2005, reduced to twenty beginning in 2006.
The songs that finished the year atop the charts are as follows: