Adult hits

Adult hits (sometimes also called variety hits or classic hits) is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist. Most adult hits station plays a mix of rock, alternative, pop, new wave and oldies hits.

Companies associated with the format in Canada include NewCap, Rogers and CTVglobemedia. Companies in the United States include Nassau Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, and Entercom.

Branding

The format is most famously associated with the Jack FM brand, although the format itself and the Bob FM brand both predate Jack. However, not all stations which implement the adult hits format use these brands — other brands associated with the format include "Frank", "Joe", "Mike", "Ed", "Max", "Dave", "Giant", "Simon", "Sam", "Charlie", "Ben", "Freedom", "Pirate" and "Big Daddy".

Adult hits stations often go under monikers that consist of "(Male Name) FM", with one notable exception being the feminine "Jill FM" in Los Angeles, but there are some that use another name such as "My FM" or call themselves "Adult Hits 92.7" after the format itself. Adult hits stations target adults 25-54, and more specifically at 35-44 year olds. They have a wide playlist consisting of over 1,000 songs consisting of popular hits from the mid-'50s through today. This is one of the reasons the format is currently so popular; it has a wide playlist similar to an MP3 player's capabilities, and radio companies are utilizing this format to compete against such technologies.

A variation of adult hits has made inroads into the country format, typified by the "Hank FM" stations. A Spanish-language version, "Jose FM", is syndicated by Entravision.

Formatting

While radio companies like to compare adult hits stations to MP3 players, the format is still very different as MP3 players are commercial-free and much more personalized to one's individual tastes. Adult hits stations are just that: only sticking to the hits. Another attribute of adult hits stations is that they have fewer disk jockeys, sometimes even none at all, which makes it even more appealing to radio companies as they won't have to pay as many (or any at all, in some cases) personalities. The stations are simply run by a computer, a playlist on shuffle, and a program director programming the list.

This aspect is debated by many. Some listeners believe that without jocks a station has no personality and therefore no draw, while others consider DJs a nuisance whose absence "increases" the station's appeal. Another common criticism of the DJ-less format is that song information, such as titles and artists, are not usually mentioned on-air, making it difficult for a listener to track down an unfamiliar song. Often, due to the strict playlist, no requests are taken.

Adult hits radio stations

Canada

* Brockville, Ontario – CJPT ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.bob.fm/]
* Calgary, Alberta – CKIS 96.9 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.jackfm.ca/]
* Cambridge, Ontario – CJDV ("Brand Name: "Dave FM") [http://www.davefm.com/]
* Edmonton, Alberta – CKNG 92.5 ("Brand Name: "Joe FM") [http://www.joefm.ca/]
* Espanola, Ontario – CJJM-FM ("Brand Name: "Joco Radio") [http://www.joco.ca] [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2007/db2007-238.htm]
* Kawartha Lakes, Ontario – CKLY 91.9 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.919bobfm.com/]
* London, Ontario – CHST 102.3 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.1023bob.com/]
* Montreal, Quebec – CKDG 105.1 ("Brand Name: "Mike FM") [http://www.mikefm.ca/mikefm.html]
* North Bay, Ontario – CFXN 106.3 ("Brand Name: "Moose FM")
* Ottawa, Ontario – CKKL 93.9 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.939bobfm.com/]
* Regina, Saskatchewan – CKCK 94.5 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.jackfmregina.com/]
* Smiths Falls, Ontario – CJET 92.3 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.923jackfm.com/]
* St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador – CKSJ 101.1 ("Brand Name: "101.1 Coast FM") [http://www.coast1011.com/]
* Sudbury, Ontario – CHNO 103.9 ("Brand Name: "Big Daddy 103.9") [http://www.bigdaddy1039.ca]
* Timmins, Ontario – CHMT 93.1 ("Brand Name: "Moose FM")
* Toronto, Ontario – CJAQ 92.5 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.925jackfm.com/]
* Vancouver, British Columbia – CKLG 96.9 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.jackfm.com/]
* Victoria, British Columbia – CHTT 103.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1031jackfm.ca/]
* Welland, Ontario – CIXL 91.7 ("Brand Name: "Giant FM") [http://www.giantfm.com]
* Winnipeg, Manitoba – CFWM 99.9 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.999bobfm.com/index.html]
* National: Sirius Satellite Radio – Sirius Super Shuffle ch 12 [http://www.sirius.com/supershuffle]

United States

* Albuquerque, New Mexico – KDRF 103.3 ("Brand Name: "Ed FM") [http://www.ed.fm]
* Anchorage, Alaska – KBBO-FM ("Brand Name: "Bob FM")
* Appleton, Wisconsin - WROE 94.3 ("Brand Name: "The Bridge") [http://www.wroe.com]
* Auburn, Alabama - WQNR 99.9 ("Brand Name: "Kate FM") [http://www.wqnr.com]
* Austin, Texas – KBPA 103.5 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.hibob.fm]
* Bad Axe, Michigan: WLEW-FM (Brand Name: "Cruise 102.1") [http://www.wlew.net]
* Bakersfield, California – KKXX-FM 93.1 Brand Name: "Pirate Radio") [http://www.realrock931.com]
* Baltimore, Maryland – WQSR 102.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1027jackfm.com/]
* Baton Rouge, Louisiana – KRDJ 93.7 [http://www.red937.com/]
* Bloomington-Normal, Illinois – WBBE
* Boise, Idaho – KSRV-FM 96.1 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.961bobfm.com/]
* Boston, Massachusetts – WMKK 93.7 ("Brand Name: "Mike FM") [http://www.937mikefm.com]
* Bowling Green, Kentucky – WKLX 100.7 ("Brand Name: "Sam FM") [http://www.bowlinggreensam.com/]
* Buffalo, New York – WBUF 92.9 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.929jackfm.com/]
* Burlington, Vermont – WWMP, WXAL-FM 103.3 93.7 ("Brand Name: "MP-103") [http://www.mp103.com/]
* Cambridge Springs-Meadville, Pennsylvania – WXMJ 104.5 ("Brand Name: "Majic"), Simulcasted on WHMJ 99.3, Franklin-Oil City
* Cape Cod, Massachusetts – WFQR 101.1/93.5 ("Brand Name: "Frank FM") [http://www.frankplaysitall.com/]
* Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – WCFF 92.5 [http://www.925thechief.com]
* Chattanooga, Tennessee – WHJK 95.3 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM"") [http://www.953jackfm.com/]
* Chicago, Illinois – WJMK 104.3 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.iknowjack.com/]
* Chicago, Illinois – WRZA 99.9, WKIE 92.7, WDEK 92.5 [http://www.weplayanything.com]
* Chico, California – KBQB 92.7 ('Brand Name: "BoB FM")
* Cincinnati, Ohio – WOXY-FM, WAXZ, WAOL 97.7 97.7 99.5
* Columbia, Missouri – KWJK (93.1 103.5 Jack FM) [http://www.931jack.fm]
* Columbia, South Carolina – WLTY (96-7 Steve FM) [http://www.967stevefm.com]
* Dallas, Texas – KJKK 100.3 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.jackontheweb.com/]
* Dayton, Ohio – WGTZ 92.9 ("Brand Name: "Fly 92.9") [http://www.fly929.com/]
* Denver, Colorado – KJAC 105.5 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1055jackfm.com/]
* Des Moines, Iowa – KDRB 106.3 [http://www.bus1063.com]
* Detroit, Michigan – WDRQ 93.1 ("Brand Name: "Doug FM") [http://www.drqradio.com/]
* Duluth, Minnesota – KDAL-FM 95.7 ("Brand Name: "The Bridge") [http://www.957thebridge.com/]
* El Mirage, Arizona – [http://blast-radio.tripod.com (((Blast-Radio)))] The Big Variety Station
* Eugene, Oregon – KEUG 105.5 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM")
* Evansville, Indiana – WEJK 107.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1071jackfm.com/]
* Fairbanks, Alaska – KTDZ 103.9 ("Brand Name: "Ted FM") [http://www.nnbradio.com/]
* Fresno, California – KKDG 105.9 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1059jack.com/]
* Gainesville-Ocala, Florida – WKZY 106.9 ("Brand Name: "KZY"") [http://www.wkzy.net/]
* Glenwood Springs/Vail, Colorado – KKCH 100.1/92.7
* Green Bay, Wisconsin – WZBY 99.7 ("Brand Name: "The Bay") [http://www.997thebay.com/]
* Greensboro, North Carolina – WSMW ("Brand Name: "98.7 Simon") [http://www.987thezone.com/]
* Greensburg, Pennsylvania – WGSM ("Brand Name: 107.1 "Sam FM")
* Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina – WGVC ("Brand Name: "106.3 Charlie FM") [http://www.1063charliefm.com]
* Hampton Roads-Norfolk, Virginia – WPYA
* Harwich Port and Mashpee, Massachusetts – WFRQ 93.5 and WFQR 101.1 ("Brand Name: "Frank FM")
* Haven, Kansas – KIBB 97.1 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.971bobfm.com]
* Hogansville, Georgia – WMGP 98.1 ("Brand Name: "Magic 98.1 FM") [http://www.magic981.com/]
* Houston, Texas – KHJK 103.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1037jackfm.com/]
* Jackson, Mississippi – WWJK 94.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.947jackfm.com/]
* Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tennessee – WKOS 104.9 ("Brand Name: "The Peak"") [http://www.wkos.com/]
* Kalamazoo, Michigan – WVFM 106.5 ("Brand Name: "WVFM") [http://www.wvfm.fm/]
* Kansas City, Missouri – KCJK 105.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1051jackfm.com/]
* Knoxville, TN – WQJK/WRJK 95.7 and 106.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM"") [http://www.jackfmknoxville.com/]
* Lafayette, IN: [http://www.wlff.com/ WLFF 95.3] ("Brand Name: "Bob FM")
* Lansing, Michigan: [http://www.1017mikefm.com/ WHZZ-FM 101.7] ("Brand Name: "Mike FM")
* Lakeland, Florida: [http://www.max983fm.com/ WWRZ-FM 98.3] ("Brand Name: "Max FM")
* Lakeview, Oregon: – KQIK 93.5 ("Brand Name: "Sam 93.5")
* Las Vegas, Nevada – KKJJ 100.5 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.jackbaby.com/]
* Los Angeles, California – KCBS-FM 93.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.931jackfm.com/]
* Los Angeles Area, California – KJLL-FM (Fountain Valley), KHJL (Thousand Oaks), KAJL (Adelanto) 92.7 ("Brand Name: "Jill FM") [http://www.927jillfm.com]
* Louisa, Virginia – WOJL ("Brand Name: "Sam FM")
* Madison, Wisconsin – WCHY 105.1 [http://www.1051charliefm.com]
* Meridianville/Huntsville, Alabama – WQRV 100.3 ("Brand name: "100.3 The River") [http://www.wqrv.com]
* Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota – KZJK 104.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1041jackfm.com/]
* Mobile, Alabama – WAVH 106.5 ("Brand Name: "The Pirate"") [http://www.1065thepirate.com/]
* Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – WAVF 101.7 ("Brand Name: "Chuck FM") [http://www.1017chuckfm.com/]
* Nashville, Tennessee – WCJK 96.3 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.963jackfm.com/]
* New York City, New York – WCBS-FM HD2 (101.1 HD-2/WCBS-FM- HD2) [http://www.ilikejack.com]
* Norridge, Illinois – WRHS-FM 89.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.ridgenet.org/page.php?page=wrhs-jack-fm]
* Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – KQOB
* Omaha, Nebraska – KOOO
* Orlando, Florida – WMMO
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – WBEN-FM 95.7 [http://www.957benfm.com] ("Brand Name: "Ben FM")
* Phoenix, Arizona – KPKX 98.7 [http://www.987thepeak.com]
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – WRRK 96.9 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM")
* Portland, Oregon – KYCH 97.1 ("Brand Name: "Charlie FM") [http://www.charliefm.com]
* Rainier, Oregon – KPPK 98.3 ("Brand Name: "The Peak") [http://www.bicoastalmedia.com/l_longview.shtml]
* Raleigh, North Carolina – WRVA-FM 100.7 ("Brand Name: "100.7 The River") [http://www.river1007.com]
* Rapid City, South Dakota – KZLK ("Brand Name: "Max FM") [http://www.1063maxfm.com/]
* Redding, California – KESR 107.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1071jack.com]
* Reno, Nevada – KBOB
* Richmond, Virginia – WWLB 98.9 [http://www.989liberty.com]
* Rochester, New York – WFKL-FM 93.3 [http://www.ifickle.com] ,
* Sacramento, California – KQJK 93.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.937jackfm.com]
* Saginaw, Michigan – WMJO 97.3 [http://www.973joefm.com/]
* Salt Lake City, Utah – KJQN 103.1 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.1031jack.com/]
* San Antonio, Texas – KJXK-FM 102.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.hellojack.com/]
* San Diego, California – KFMB-FM 100.7 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.sandiegojack.com/]
* Santa Maria, California – KWSZ 105.1 ("Brand Name: "Mike FM") [http://www.1051mikefm.com]
* Santa Rosa, California – KNOB
* Savannah, Georgia – WSGA-FM 92.3 ("Brand Name: "Freedom 92.3") [http://www.freedom923.com]
* Seattle, Washington – KJAQ 96.5 ("Brand Name: "Jack FM") [http://www.965jackfm.com/]
* Sioux Falls, South Dakota – KSQB-FM 95.7 [http://www.q957.com/]
* Spokane, Washington – KBBD 103.9 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.1039bobfm.com/]
* St. Louis, Missouri – WARH 106.5 [http://www.1065thearch.com]
* Stevens Point, Wisconsin WSPT-FM 97.9
* Texarkana, Texas – KBYB
* Tice, Florida – WJGO 102.9 ("Brand Name: "Bob FM") [http://www.1029bobfm.com]
* Tucson, Arizona – KSZR
* Watertown, New York – WBLH 92.5 ("Brand Name: "Tunes 92.5")
* Wausau, Wisconsin – WOFM 94.7 ("Brand Name: "The Peak") [http://www.wofm.com]
* West Chester, Pennsylvania – WCOJ 1420 (12 Midnight & 5:15 AM and afternoons and evenings on weekends) [http://www.wcoj.com]
* Whitefield, New Hampshire – WXRG 99.1 ("Brand Name: "Free 99.1")
* National: Sirius Satellite Radio – Sirius Super Shuffle ch. 12 [http://www.sirius.com/supershuffle]
* National: XM Satellite Radio – Pink ch. 24 [http://xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=24]

Europe

*Radio 30 Plus, Radio 30 Plus
*Jack FM Oxfordshire
*Jack FM The Netherlands
*Jack FM Berlin,Germany
*88.6, Wien, Austria

ee also

*Adult album alternative
*Adult contemporary music
*Classic hits
*Freeform (radio format)
*Variety hits

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/billyjanderson2005 Billy Anderson's Jack & Bob FM Guide - A comprehensive listing of all U.S. stations that currently use the adult hits format]
* [http://www.Mix105Online.com Mix 105 - Internet Radio Station Playing The Best Mix Of The 80s 90s & Today]
* [http://www.varietyhits.com/variety/ VarietyHits.com - Information about the adult hits format and the stations that carry it]
* [http://majikradio.com MajikRadio.com Online music radio featuring soft rock, lite pop, classic oldies, motown and love songs from the sixties through today]