Mainstream rock

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Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.

Mainstream rock stations are between classic rock and active rock on the programming spectrum, in that they play more classic rock than active rock stations, but play more modern rock than classic rock stations. In many ways, mainstream rock is a successor to the widespread album-oriented rock (AOR) format created in the 1970s.

As of 2006, examples of mainstream rock stations in terrestrial radio include WLUP in Chicago, IL, KRXQ 98 Rock in Sacramento, CA WEBN in Cincinnati, OH, WAPL in Appleton, WI, KZRR in Albuquerque, NM, KEZO in Omaha, NE, WDVE in Pittsburgh PA, WHJY in Providence, RI, WAQY in Springfield, MA, KSHE in St. Louis, and KZOZ in San Luis Obispo, CA. Most have a very long heritage that dates back to the 1970s as AOR stations.

Mainstream rock success is reflected in Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.