October 22, 2026 (Menomonee Falls, WI) – Record Research Inc., the authority on music industry chart performance, presented their inaugural Joel Whitburn Chart Champion Award to music executive Mike Curb on Wednesday, October 21 at a reception at the Curb | Word Entertainment offices in Nashville.
Record Research CEO Vinnie Freda was in attendance to present the award to Curb, alongside members of the Curb | Word team. The annual award was designed by the Record Research team as part of the company’s mission to keep founder Joel Whitburn’s legacy alive and celebrate many of the important contributors in the music industry who have had a lasting impact on the music and charts documented throughout their books. Curb was selected in recognition of his extensive career supporting many of country music’s biggest artists and songwriters.
From left: Karin Freda, Vinnie Freda, Mike Curb, Linda Curb
Photo credit: Randall Powers
“This award is one of the many ways we continue to celebrate Joel Whitburn’s lasting impact on the music industry,” said Freda. “I couldn’t think of a better initial recipient than Mike Curb, who has worked extensively to bring us so many of the songs and artists on the charts that we honor throughout our books. I look forward to building on this inaugural award and recognizing more legendary contributors in the years to come.”
“I want to sincerely thank Vinnie Freda and the entire team at Record Research for the tremendous honor of being selected as the inaugural recipient of this award,” said Curb. “To be the first person recognized with this distinction is especially meaningful to me. I take great pride in seeing the legacies of so many of our artists preserved and celebrated through the charts and Joel Whitburn’s remarkable books. I knew Joel for many years and have always held him and his extraordinary contributions to music history in the highest regard. That personal connection makes this recognition even more special.”
Over Curb’s 60+ year career, he has worked with and developed artists including LeAnn Rimes, Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd, Hank Williams Jr., Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, and countless more as the founder of Curb Records, which he started in 1963 at the age of 18. Curb Records also owns Word Records, a top Contemporary Christian Music label with artists including For King & Country, Meredith Andrews, and We Are Messengers. He is a Billboard Producer of the Year and GRAMMY Award winner, and served as California’s lieutenant governor from 1979 to 1983. He also serves as Chairman of the Mike Curb Family Foundation and Chairman of Word Entertainment.
Record Research’s most recent book, Joel Whitburn’s History of Top Country Singles 1944-2025, was released in June 2026 and is available for purchase at recordresearch.com. Their upcoming new books, Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts: The 1970s, Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts: The 1980s, and Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts: The 1990sare available for preorder now at recordresearch.com.
About Record Research
Record Research Inc. is the authority on music industry chart performance with over 240 published reference books. The company was founded by author and music historian Joel Whitburn in 1970, publishing music reference books that are relied upon by music industry professionals and devoted music fans worldwide. Covering 1890 through the present day, Record Research documents the music charts for genres including Pop, Country, R&B, Rock, Adult Contemporary, and Dance, detailing the complete history of the singles and albums that have appeared on the charts of Billboard magazine, as well as the singles charts of other music industry periodicals such as Cash Box, Gavin Report, Radio & Records, and Record World/Music Vendor.
Following Whitburn’s passing in 2022, Vinnie Freda joined Record Research as CEO and majority owner in September 2025, working with Publisher Kim Bloxdorf and Head Researcher Paul Haney to preserve and expand upon Whitburn’s legacy. The company is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
For more information, visit recordresearch.com.
Record Research Media Contacts
Laurie Jakobsen, Jaybird Communications, laurie@jaybirdcom.com
Bill Greenwood, Jaybird Communications, bill@jaybirdcom.com