Adult hits

Adult hits (sometimes also called variety hits) is a radio format drawing from popular music from the late 1960s to the present. The format typically focuses on adult contemporary, pop, and rock hits from the 1970s through at least the 1990s, and is synonymous with franchised brands such as Jack FM and Bob FM.

History

Forerunners of the adult hits format appeared on radio during the 1970s. At the time, enough of a backlog of popular music from the rock and roll era had developed to support a format based on them; oldies stations, however, were still very rare, and instead, stations that did not want to bind themselves to the current top 40 playlist would mix in current hits with the hits of the past two decades. This hybrid format began to fall out of favor in the 1980s as self-contained oldies stations rose to prominence. The Adult Hits format dates back to 1990 when 98.9 WMMO was launched in Orlando, Florida. Another predecessor was the short-lived "rhythm and rock" format run by KYOT in Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1990s.[1][2] Adult hits stations target adults 25-54, and more specifically at 35- to 44-year-olds. Freeform could also be seen as another forerunner due to the freedom of music choice the DJ's had, very similar to what makes up the core basis of the adult hits format.

A large number of adult hits stations utilize male names as their branding. The practice was popularized by the franchised Jack FM and Bob FM brands, and has been widely imitated with other common male names.

  • "Traditional country" is a type of country music format that focuses primarily on neotraditional and country pop hits from the late-1980s to the 2000s, as well as current material that suits this sound (including songs by artists who were active during the era, as opposed to the more pop-leaning "bro-country" sound).
  • A Spanish-language variation of the format, "Jose FM", is syndicated by Entravision.

Formatting

The adult hits format draws from a wide playlist of broad appeal, consisting primarily of adult contemporary, pop, and rock hits from the late 1960s through at least the 1990s—including but not limited to classic rock (including pop rock and hair metal), power ballads, dance pop, and new wave among others. The size of their music library and their focus on older music provide a contrast to other stations, which may heavily play certain popular songs throughout the day.

Due to its broad nature, the adult hits format can be easily automated. This means that the station can be run with little to no on-air personalities (a trait that, in some cases, may be openly promoted by the station), leaving only staff involved in station operations, advertising sales, and promotional presences.

Radio stations

Note: the below listing of radio stations is subject to change.

Canada

Bell Media and Rogers Media operate chains of adult hits stations under the Bounce Radio and Jack FM brands respectively.

LocationCall signFrequencyBrand Name
Belleville, OntarioCJOJ95.5 FM"95-5 Hits FM"
Brockville, OntarioCJPT103.7 FM"Bounce Radio 103.7"
Calgary, AlbertaCJAQ96.9 FM"Jack 96.9"
Chatham/Windsor, OntarioCKUE95.1 and 100.7 FM"Cool FM"
Edmonton, AlbertaCKNG92.5 FM"92.5 The Chuck"
Espanola, OntarioCJJM99.3 FM"Moose FM"
Halifax, Nova ScotiaCFLT92.9 FM"Jack 92.9"
Kawartha Lakes, OntarioCKLY91.9 FM"Bounce Radio 91.9"
Kelowna, British ColumbiaCJUI103.9 FM"Juice FM"
London, OntarioCHST102.3 FM"Jack 102.3"
Stratford, Ontario CJCS 107.1 FM "107.1 Juice FM"
Montreal, QuebecCKDG*105.1 FM"Mike FM"
North Bay, OntarioCFXN106.3 FM"Moose FM"
Parry Sound, OntarioCKLP103.3 FM"Moose FM"
Grande Prairie, AlbertaCIKT98.9 FM"Q99"
Red Deer, AlbertaCKRI100.7 FM"100.7 Cruz FM"
Regina, SaskatchewanCKCK94.5 FM"Jack 94.5"
Saskatoon, SaskatchewanCFWD96.3 FM"96.3 Cruz FM"
Smiths Falls, OntarioCJET92.3 FM"Jack 92.3"
St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorCKSJ101.1 FM"Coast 101.1"
Sudbury, OntarioCHNO103.9 FM"Rewind 103.9
Timmins, OntarioCHMT93.1 FM"Moose FM"
Vancouver, British ColumbiaCJAX96.9 FM"Jack 96.9"
Vaudreuil-Dorion, QuebecCJVD100.1 FM"CJVD 100,1"
Victoria, British ColumbiaCHTT103.1 FM"Jack 103.1"
Wainwright, AlbertaCKWY93.7 FM"Wayne FM"
Winnipeg, ManitobaCFWM99.9 FM"Bounce Radio 99.9"
  • CKDG: Adult hits only during drive times. All other times station serves as a multicultural station.

United States

LocationCall signFrequencyBrand Name
Abilene, TexasKTJK106.3 FM"The Raider"
Albuquerque, New MexicoKDRF103.3 FM"Ed FM"
Altoona, PennsylvaniaWYUP107.1 FM / 1400 AM"Jack FM"
Anchorage, AlaskaKBBO-FM92.1 FM"BOB FM"
Appleton, WisconsinWYDR94.3 FM"Jack FM"
Auburn, AlabamaWQNR99.9 FM"Kate FM"
Austin, TexasKBPA103.5 FM"Bob FM"
Bad Axe, MichiganWLEW-FM102.1 FM"Cruise 102.1"
Baltimore, MarylandWQSR102.7 FM"Jack FM"
Bloomington-Normal, IllinoisWBBE97.9 FM"Bob FM"
Boise, IdahoKSRV-FM96.1 FM"Bob FM"
Bonham, TexasKFYN103.9 FM / 1420 AM"Rewind 103.9"
Boston, MassachusettsWBGB103.3 FM"Big 103"
Bowling Green, KentuckyWKLX100.7 FM"Sam FM"
Buffalo, New YorkWBUF92.9 FM"Jack FM"
Calabash, North CarolinaWYNA104.9 FM"Bob FM"
Cambria, CaliforniaKCJZ105.3 FM"Bob FM"
Cape Cod, MassachusettsWFRQ93.5 FM"Frank FM"
Casper, WyomingKRVK107.9 FM"Jack FM"
Charleston, South CarolinaWAVF101.7 FM"Chuck FM"
Charlotte, North CarolinaWLKO102.9 FM"The Lake"
Chico, CaliforniaKBQB92.7 FM"Bob FM"
Clarksburg, West VirginiaWHTI105.7 FM"Jack FM"
Cleveland, OhioWHLK106.5 FM"The Lake"
Clinton, IowaKMCN94.7 FM"Mac FM"
Columbia, MissouriKWJK93.1 FM"Jack FM"
Columbia, South CarolinaWLTY96.7 FM"Steve FM"
Columbus, OhioWODC93.3 FM"The Bus"
Dallas, TexasKJKK100.3 FM"Jack FM"
Dayton, OhioWGTZ92.9 FM"Jack FM"
Decatur, IllinoisWEJT105.1 FM"Jack FM"
Des Moines, IowaKDRB100.3 FM"The Bus"
Dyersburg, TennesseeWASL"Jack FM"
Edwards, CaliforniaKGBB103.9 FM"Bob FM"
Emporia, KansasKANS96.1 FM"Bob FM"
Elko, NevadaKLKO93.7 FM"Jack FM"
Erie, PennsylvaniaWXBB94.7 FM"Bob FM"
Eugene, OregonKEUG105.5 FM"Bob FM"
Fairbanks, AlaskaKTDZ103.9 FM"Ted FM"
Fargo, North DakotaKRWK101.9 FM"Jack FM"
Fayetteville, North CarolinaWFLB96.5 FM"Bob FM"
Fort Myers, FloridaWJGO102.9 FM"Bob FM"
Fort Wayne, IndianaWWFW103.9 FM"Wayne FM"
Grand Forks, North DakotaKGFK95.7 FM/1590 AM"The Forks"
Greensboro, North CarolinaWSMW98.7 FM"98.7 Simon"
Hampton Roads-Norfolk, VirginiaWNOB93.7 FM"Bob FM"
Hartford, ConnecticutWHCN105.9 FM"The River"
Hendersonville, North CarolinaWMYI102.5 FM"The Lake"
Houston, TexasKKHH95.7 FM"The Spot"
Hudson, WyomingKTUG105.1 FM"Jack FM"
Johnstown, PennsylvaniaWKGE101.3 FM / 850 AM"Jack FM"
Jonesboro, ArkansasKDRS-FM92.7 FM "Jack FM"
Joplin, MissouriKMXL95.1 FM"Mike FM"
Kalamazoo, MichiganWVFM106.5 FM"Jack FM"
Knoxville, TennesseeWNFZ94.3 FM"Jack FM"
Lafayette, IndianaWBPE95.3 FM"Bob FM"
Lansing, MichiganWHZZ101.7 FM"Mike FM"
Lakeland, FloridaWWRZ98.3 FM"Max FM"
Las Vegas, NevadaKYMT93.1 FM"The Mountain"
Lexington, KentuckyWLXX101.5 FM"Jack FM"
Little Rock, ArkansasKCON92.7 FM"Jack FM"
Lompoc, CaliforniaKBOX104.1 FM"Pirate Radio"
Los Angeles, CaliforniaKCBS-FM93.1 FM"Jack FM"
Loudonville, New YorkWVCR88.3 FM"The Saint"
Louisa, VirginiaWOJL105.5 FM"Sam FM"
Madison, WisconsinWXXM92.1 FM"Rewind 92.1"
Milwaukee, WisconsinWRIT-FM95.7 FM"BIG FM"
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MinnesotaKZJK104.1 FM"Jack FM"
Missoula, MontanaKYJK105.9 FM"Jack FM"
Morgantown, West VirginiaWZST100.9 FM"Jack FM"
Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaWYNA104.9 FM"Bob FM"
Nashville, TennesseeWCJK96.3 FM"Jack FM"
Norwalk/Sandusky/Port Clinton, OhioWLKR-FM95.3 FM"95-3 WLKR"
Ottawa, IllinoisWRKX95.3 FM"Jack FM"
Owensboro, KentuckyWTCJ98.7 FM / 106.7 FM / 1230 AM"Jack FM"
Panama City, FloridaWASJ105.1 FM"Bob FM"
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWBEN-FM95.7 FM"Ben FM"
Phoenix, ArizonaKYOT95.5 FM"The Mountain"
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaWRRK96.9 FM"Bob FM"
Portland, OregonKYCH97.1 FM"Charlie FM"
Pueblo, ColoradoKTSC-FM89.5 FM"Rev89"
Rainier, OregonKPPK98.3 FM"The Peak"
Raleigh, North CarolinaWBBB-FM96.1 FM"Radio 96.1"
Redding, CaliforniaKESR107.1 FM"Bob FM"
Redwood Falls, MinnesotaKLGR-FM97.7 FM"Jack FM"
Rhinelander, WisconsinWRHN100.1 FM"Jack FM"
Rochester, New YorkWFKL-FM93.3 FM"Fickle 93.3"
Rock Springs, WyomingKSIT99.7 FM"Jack FM"
Rolla, MissouriKDAA103.1 FM"Sam 103.1 (FM)"
Russellville, ArkansasKCAB97.1 FM / 980 AM"Bob FM"
Saginaw, MichiganWMJO97.3 FM"Joe FM"
Sag Harbor, New YorkWLNG92.1 FM"92.1 WLNG"
San Antonio, TexasKJXK-FM102.7 FM"Jack FM"
San Diego, CaliforniaKFBG100.7 FM"Big FM"
Seattle, WashingtonKJAQ96.5 FM"Jack FM"
Sedalia, MissouriKSDL92.3 FM"Bob FM"
Sisseton, South DakotaKJKQ99.5 FM"Jack FM"
Smyrna, DelawareWRDX92.9 FM"Tom-FM"
Spokane, WashingtonKBBD103.9"Bob FM"
Springfield, IllinoisWCVS-FM96.7 FM"Bob FM"
Springfield, MissouriKRZD107.5 FM / 1550 AM"Bob FM"
St. Louis, MissouriWARH106.5 FM"The Arch"
Sterling, ColoradoKSRX97.5 FM"Bob FM"
Susanville, CaliforniaKAJK96.3 FM"Jack FM"
Topeka, KansasKSAJ-FM98.5 FM"Jack FM"
Traverse City, MichiganWZTC104.5 FM"Bob FM"
Twin Falls, IdahoKIKX104.7 FM"Bob FM"
Tyler, TexasKOOI106.5 FM"Jack FM"
Vero Beach, FloridaWJKD99.7 FM"Jack FM"
Victoria, TexasKTXN-FM98.7 FM"Jack FM"
Watertown, New YorkWBLH92.5 FM"Tunes 92.5"
Wausau, WisconsinWOZZ94.7 FM / 102.9 FM"Jack FM"
West Plains, MissouriKSPQ93.9 FM"Jack FM"
Wichita, KansasKBOB-FM97.1 FM"Bob FM"
Wichita Falls, TexasKWFB100.9 FM"Jack FM"
Williston, North DakotaKDSR101.1 FM"Jack FM"
Winfield, KansasKSOK-FM95.9 FM"Bob FM"

Mexico

LocationCall signFrequencyBrand Name
Mexico CityXHDFM-FM106.5 FM"Mix 106.5"

Philippines

LocationCall signFrequencyBrand Name
PasigDZRJ-FM100.3 FM"100.3 RJFM"
Quezon CityDWNU107.5 FM"Wish 107.5"
Parañaque DWLA 105.9 FM "Neo Retro 105.9"

Europe

New Zealand

Russia

Satellite radio

See also

References

  1. "The Industry's Newspaper" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1009. 10 September 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2023.
  2. "Forum posts". Radio Discussions. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
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