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Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

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NZ Top 10

The NZ Top 10 for 1/30/2026

It’s the last NZ Top 10 countdown for the month of January! Here is this week’s countdown:

10. Leanna Crawford – Honest

09. Anne Wilson – God Story

08. For KING & COUNTRY ft. Taylor Hill – World On Fire

07. Chris Tomlin – How Good It Is

06. Crowder – STILL

05. TobyMac – Heaven On My Mind

04. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

03. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

02. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors (7th week at #2)

01. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River (9th week at #1)

New Music This Week:

Matthew West – Good

We The Kingdom – Rescue Me

Don’t forget! Starting this Monday on The Morning Thing, we are starting our Spread the Love Valentine’s Giveaway!

Each day of the contest, our DJs will select Valentine’s gifts to put in the WNZR Valentine’s box.  
During The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive, the DJs will give a cue to call 740-397-WNZR (9697).  

Caller #5 gets the chance to answer a Valentine’s question to win a prize.

You can learn more about this contest on our website HERE!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

The NZ Top 10 for 1/23/2026

On this week’s top 10 list, we saw songs shift up and down, with a new song entering the chart! Here is this week’s countdown:

10. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God (former #1 for 12 weeks)

09. For KING & COUNTRY ft. Taylor Hill – World On Fire

08. Chris Tomlin – How Good It Is

07. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy (former #1 for 4 weeks)

06. Crowder – STILL

05. TobyMac – Heaven On My Mind

04. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

03. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

02. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors (6th week at #2)

01. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River (8th week at #1)

New Artist On WNZR:

Peter Burton

Peter Burton is from California, and seeks to write songs to lead people to hope. When overcoming mental illness, Peter would experience the beauty of how blessing and suffering can go hand in hand, and how faith can transcend feelings. The message of hope he brings is solely through Jesus Christ the foundation of his life and music.

Peter’s solo career may have just begun, but he is well-versed in the industry, having written for and toured with Lincoln Brewster, and joining Matthew West on his Don’t Stop Praying Tour. He also helped start Thrive Worship, contributing to their first album which charted at #1 on Billboard charts.

Read more about Peter Burton HERE!

New Music This Week:

Peter Burton – Where Would I Be

BREAKING NEWS: WinterJam 2026 will be postponing the Columbus, OH show to Monday, February 16 to avoid safety concerns regarding the winter storm warning this weekend. Stay warm. Stay safe.

Stay updated with cancellations on 90.9FM WNZR, and our Facebook page!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

The NZ Top 10 for 1/16/2026

We’re already halfway through January! With another Friday, comes a fresh NZ Top 10 list on WNZR! Here is this week’s countdown:

10. Leanna Crawford – Honest

09. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus

08. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God (former #1 for 12 weeks)

07. TobyMac – Heaven On My Mind (peaked at #2 for 1 week)

06. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

05. Crowder – Still

04. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

03. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy (former #1 for 4 weeks)

02. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors

01. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River (7th week at #1)

New Music This Week:

MercyMe – Make It Well

MercyMe’s new song is tied to their upcoming movie, I Can Only Imagine 2, which is coming to theatres February 20th! This sequel is a follow-up to the story of the first I Can Only Imagine movie, and we’ll see how Bart Millard takes on the father role this time!

You can learn more about I Can Only Imagine 2 HERE!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

The First NZ Top 10 of 2026!

With the new year settling in, we’re bringing you four brand new songs to WNZR, one of which features a brand new artist! Before we get to that, here is this week’s top 10 countdown:

10. Leanna Crawford – Honest

09. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God (former #1 for 12 weeks)

08. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus

07. TobyMac – Heaven On My Mind (peaked at #2 for 1 week)

06. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

05. Crowder – Still

04. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

03. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy (former #1 for 4 weeks)

02. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors

01. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River (6th week at #1)

New Music This Week:

Sons of Sunday – GOD DID!

A new artist on WNZR, consisting of Pastor Steven Furtick from Elevation Church, Chris Brown from Elevation Worship, Brandon Lake, Leeland, Chandler Moore, and Pat Barrett! We are excited to see this new band on WNZR!

Forrest Frank – THANKFUL

ELEVATION RHYTHM WASHED

Caleb & John Finished

If you’re looking for a fun family event this weekend, Mohican, in Loudonville, Ohio is hosting WinterFest this weekend!

If the weather permits, you can enjoy sponsored ice sculptures all around Main Street around 5PM on Friday evening! These sculptures will stay throughout the weekend. Time schedules are subject to change if it becomes to warm on Friday.

More information can be found on Discover Mohican’s website here!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

WNZR’s Top 10 Songs of 2025!

What a year we have had! On this year’s list, we have songs from some classic WNZR artists, and some artists with their first ever #1 hit!

Without further ado, here is your Top 10 WNZR Songs of 2025!

10. Colton Dixon – Up + Up | Music Video

09. Leanna Crawford – Still Waters (Psalm 23) | Music Video

08. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy | Lyric Video

07. TobyMac – a lil’ Church | Music Video

06. MercyMe – Oh Death | Music Video

05. Seph Schlueter – Running Back To You | Music Video

04. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate | Lyric Video

03. Crowder – Somebody Prayed | Music Video

02. Jon Reddick – No Fear | Music Video

01. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God | Music Video

Here is a special music video for Phil Wickham’s song “What An Awesome God”, a sunset walk with Phil Wickham!

We also think Phil’s next new single, “Homesick For Heaven” will be his next hit on The NZ Top 10 in 2026! Listen to his song here:

If you love Phil Wickham’s hits from 2025, you’ll get to here some of them on his next headline tour, the Song Of The Saints Tour, with Tauren Wells and Jamie MacDonald, in Spring of 2026!

You can join Phil on Friday, April 17, at the Schottenstein Center, in Columbus, Ohio. Ticket information can be found on the Concerts page on our website! Or, you can find tickets here!

We can’t wait for another year of incredible new music from your favorite WNZR artists, and potential new artists to come! Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

New Year – Better Values!!

What has God been teaching you in 2025? Where is He calling you to grow in the year ahead? How might He be inviting you to participate more fully in His kingdom work?

Reflecting is about pausing long enough to hear God’s voice, to realign our hearts with His purposes, and to step forward with renewed faith and intentionality. why does biblical reflection matter? Unlike secular goal-setting that focuses on self-improvement, Christian reflection centers on God’s work in us and through us. When we reflect through the lens of Scripture, we’re not just looking backward or forward—we’re looking upward, asking God to reveal His perspective on our lives and His plans for us. Have a healthy reflection on the year that is past, and consideration of the opportunities he has for us in the year ahead.

Read Bible stories with your family, memorize verses with actions, pray daily, help others, be kind peacemakers, and serve at church, turning faith into exciting, tangible goals using crafts, games, and family time to make it stick! Memory Verse Challenge: Learn a new, short Bible verse each month using hand motions or songs, displaying it on a family board. Bible Story Time: Pick a children’s Bible and read a story together weekly, discussing what was learned about God. Daily Prayer Jar: Write down prayer requests (for self, family, friends, the world) and draw one to pray for each day. Pray with Your Family: Start with the Lord’s Prayer or grace before meals, showing kids prayer is normal and accessible. For more resolutions click HERE!

  1. Start your day with a life-giving Bible verse. 
  2. Delete one hurtful word or phrase from your vocabulary, then replace it with something more constructive. Tip: Don’t forget to remove it from your thoughts about yourself, too.
  3. take five minutes to rest and reflect every day. 
  4. Be more generous with your smiles. They look good on you!
  5. Permit yourself to take a break. Find time to take a vacation (or staycation)
  6. Set a daily alarm on your phone to remind you to take a moment to pray for someone
  7. Call a family member every week.
  8. Find a new way to compliment someone you care about each day
  9. Test the boundaries of your comfort zone by trying something new. Baby steps are okay
  10. As you leave the house each day, ask God to guide your thoughts, your words, and your steps
    • For more resolutions click HERE!

20 the Countdown is celebrating the Top Christian Songs of 2025 this weekend on the show! They will bring you their list of the Top 20 Songs of this past year, plus share some special memories as celebrate 2025 and look forward to 2026! 

Join us for a special Morning Thing on Wednesday, December 31st. We will celebrate the New Year by counting down the TOP 30 songs of 2025. Join special host, Traven Griffith, WNZR’s Music Director for this special show. Visit  www.wnzr.fm for more information!

Name something people do at exactly 12:00 AM on New Year’s Eve. 

  1. Kiss your partner
  1. Shout “Happy New Year!” 
  1. Make a toast  
  1. Blow noisemakers
  1. Throw confetti

Congratulations to Isabella of Mount Vernon for guessing our top two answers correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Gametime Tuesday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella Stanley 🙂

NZ Top 10 for 11/21/2025

What a week! We have a few new placements on the Top 10! Here is this week’s countdown:

10. Leanna Crawford – Honest

09. Elevation Worship & Brandon Lake – I Know A Name

08. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

07. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

06. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus

05. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God

04. Crowder – STILL

03. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors

02. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River

01. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy (4th week at #1)

New Music This Week:

Danny Gokey – The Moment The Whole World Changed

Sanctus Real & Sarah Kroger – Hope Begins

Jason Gray & Point of Grace – Comfort and Joy

Jason and Point of Grace are coming to Ohio with this song as the headline for their tour! They will be at the Sinclair Community College, on Centerville Campus, in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday, December 14th!

Ticket information for their Comfort & Joy Tour can be found here!

This is the last regular NZ Top 10 of the year! The Holly ’25 starts December 1st when WNZR goes to full Christmas music until the December 25th!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

NZ Top 10 for 11/7/25

Here is your top 10 countdown for the first full week of November!

10. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

09. Elevation Worship & Brandon Lake – I Know A Name

08. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

07. Emerson Day – Get Behind Me

06. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River

05. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus

04. Crowder – STILL

03. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors

02. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God

01. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy (2nd week @ #1)

New Music This Week:

Hope Darst – Be Born In Me

Natalie Grant – God’s Gift To Us

We are adding FIVE Thanksgiving/November themed songs to our rotation which will remain until the 28th.

Matthew West – Gobble Gobble (2020)

Crowder – Thanks Giver (2022)

Brandon Heath – The Day After Thanksgiving (2013)

Ben Rector – The Thanksgiving Song (2020)

JJ Heller – Thanksgiving Song (2023)

Thank you for listening!

– Gabriella

NZ Top 10 for 10/31/2025

Here is your top 10 countdown for this final week of October!

10. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah
9. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now
8. Elevation Worship f/Brandon Lake – I Know A Name
7. Emerson Day – Get Behind Me
6. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors
5. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus
4. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River
3. Crowder – STILL
2. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God (previously #1 for 12 weeks)
1. Josiah Queen f/Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy

New Music This Week:

Phil Wickham Homesick For Heaven

Brook Abella & Citizen Way – Zion

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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