{"id":2108,"date":"2026-08-14T22:03:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funkynubianrepublic.com\/convo\/2026\/08\/14\/praise-102-5-named-top-market-of-the-year-at-the-2026-stellar-awards\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T22:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:03:23","slug":"praise-102-5-named-top-market-of-the-year-at-the-2026-stellar-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funkynubianrepublic.com\/convo\/2026\/08\/14\/praise-102-5-named-top-market-of-the-year-at-the-2026-stellar-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Praise 102.5 Named Top Market of the Year at the 2026 Stellar Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Source: R1 Digital \/ R1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Praise 102.5<\/strong>, Atlanta\u2019s home for gospel music, won Top Market of the Year at the 2026 Stellar Awards <\/a><\/strong>in Charlotte, NC. The award\u2014voted on by listeners\u2014celebrates the station\u2019s 25 years on air, its commitment to local talent, and a team that shows up every single day.<\/p>\n

Atlanta, you did that. At the 2026 Stellar Awards pre-show in Charlotte, NC, Praise 102.5 walked away with one of the night\u2019s most meaningful honors: Top Market of the Year<\/strong>. This one wasn\u2019t handed down by industry executives or a panel of judges. The listeners voted\u2014and they made their voices heard loud and clear.<\/p>\n

What Neiko Flowers Said When He Took the Stage<\/h3>\n
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Praise 102.5 Program Director Neiko Flowers didn\u2019t waste a second at the podium. He came prepared\u2014notes in hand, gratitude in his heart, and plenty of names to call out.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst and foremost, thank you, Jesus,\u201d<\/em> he said, setting the tone immediately. He went on to acknowledge the people who make the station what it is every single day\u2014from founder Kathy Hughes<\/strong> and CEO Alfred Liggins<\/strong>, to Co-Presidents Eddie Harrell<\/strong> and Deon Livingston<\/strong>, VP\/GM Pam McKay<\/strong>, and Operations Manager Derek Harper<\/strong>, who Flowers credited personally: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be in this position without him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

But one of the most powerful moments came when Flowers spoke directly to the culture of the station: \u201cI think syndication has really taken over, but I really wanted to give homage to our local talent.\u201d<\/em> That commitment to community\u2014real people, real voices, rooted in Atlanta\u2014is exactly what sets Praise 102.5 apart.<\/p>\n

And before he stepped off that stage, he made one thing crystal clear: \u201cThis is a listener-voted category, so we wouldn\u2019t be up here if it weren\u2019t for the listeners who voted. So this is for y\u2019all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

25 Years of Praise in Atlanta<\/h3>\n

Praise 102.5 has been a cornerstone of Atlanta\u2019s gospel radio landscape for 25 years<\/strong>. Founded under the vision of radio pioneer Kathy Hughes<\/strong> and Radio One, the station has grown from a local signal into one of the most respected gospel platforms in the country\u2014while never losing its connection to the community that built it.<\/p>\n

A quarter century is no small thing. It\u2019s 25 years of Sunday morning inspiration, of voices that showed up during hard seasons, of music that moved people through grief, celebration, and everything in between. Atlanta has grown with Praise 102.5, and Praise 102.5 has grown with Atlanta.<\/p>\n

The Shows That Keep Atlanta Tuned In<\/h3>\n

The station\u2019s lineup reads like a who\u2019s who of gospel radio\u2014and every show brings something different to the table.<\/p>\n