Adult hits

Adult hits (sometimes also called variety hits or, erroneously, 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 stations play a mix of rock, alternative, pop, new wave and oldies hits.

Companies associated with the format in Canada include NewCap, Rogers, Bell Media and other various companies. Companies in the United States include Nassau Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, Newsweb radio, and Entercom.

Contents

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 "Moose FM". The Adult Hits format dates back to 1990 when 98.9 WMMO was launched in Orlando, Florida.

Adult hits stations often go under monikers that consist of "(Male Name) FM", but there are some that use another name such as "Playlist FM" in Los Angeles, "My FM", "Rewind," 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 (though such appeal would just as easily be interrupted by obligatory bumpers, station identification and advertising). 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

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

Canada

Location Call sign Frequency Brand Name Website
Belleville, Ontario CJOJ 95.5 FM "95-5 Hits FM" [1]
Brockville, Ontario CJPT 103.7 FM "Bob FM" [2]
Calgary, Alberta CJAQ 96.9 FM "Jack FM" [3]
Edmonton, Alberta CKNG 92.5 FM "Joe FM" [4]
Espanola, Ontario CJJM 99.3 FM "Moose FM" [5] [6]
Halifax, Nova Scotia CKUL 96.5 FM "Kool FM" [7]
Kawartha Lakes, Ontario CKLY 91.9 FM "Bob FM" [8]
Kelowna, British Columbia CJUI 103.9 FM "The Juice" [9]
London, Ontario CHST 102.3 FM "Bob FM" [10]
Montreal, Quebec CKDG 105.1 FM "Mike FM" [11]
North Bay, Ontario CFXN 106.3 FM "Moose FM" [12]
Ottawa, Ontario CKKL 93.9 FM "Bob FM" [13]
Parry Sound, Ontario CKLP 103.3 FM "Moose FM"

[14]

Regina, Saskatchewan CKCK 94.5 FM "Jack FM" [15]
Smiths Falls, Ontario CJET 92.3 FM "Jack FM" [16]
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador CKSJ 101.1 FM "101.1 Coast FM" [17]
Timmins, Ontario CHMT 93.1 FM "Moose FM" [18]
Toronto, Ontario CHBM 97.3 FM "boom 97-3" [19]
Vancouver, British Columbia CKLG 96.9 FM "Jack FM" [20]
Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec CJVD 100.1 FM "CJVD 100,1" [21]
Victoria, British Columbia CHTT 103.1 FM "Jack FM" [22]
Winnipeg, Manitoba CFWM 99.9 FM "Jack FM" [23]
Wainwright, Alberta CKWY 93.7 FM "Wayne FM" [24]

United States

Location Call sign Frequency Brand Name Website
Albuquerque, New Mexico KDRF 103.3 FM "Ed FM" [25]
Anchorage, Alaska KBBO-FM 92.1 FM "Bob FM" [26]
Auburn, Alabama WQNR 99.9 FM "Kate FM" [27]
Austin, Texas KBPA 103.5 FM "Bob FM" [28]
Bad Axe, Michigan WLEW-FM 102.1 FM "Cruise 102.1" [29]
Baltimore, Maryland WQSR 102.7 FM "Jack FM" [30]
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois WBBE 97.9 FM "Bob FM" [31]
Bismarck, North Dakota KKBO 105.9 FM "Bob FM" [32]
Boise, Idaho KSRV-FM 96.1 FM "Bob FM" [33]
Burdett, Kansas KKDT 93.5 FM '"Dave FM"' [34]
Bowling Green, Kentucky WKLX 100.7 FM "Sam FM" [35]
Buffalo, New York WBUF 92.9 FM "Jack FM" [36]
Burlington, Vermont WWMP/WXAL-FM 103.3 FM/93.7 FM "MP-103" [37]
Calabash, North Carolina WYNA 104.9 FM "Bob FM" [38]
Cambridge Springs-Meadville/Franklin-Oil City, Pennsylvania WXMJ/WHMJ 104.5 FM/99.3 FM "Majic" [39]
Cape Cod, Massachusetts WFQR 101.1 FM/93.5 FM "Frank FM" [40]
Champaign–Urbana, Illinois WCFF 92.5 FM "The Chief" [41]
Charleston, South Carolina WAVF 101.7 FM "Chuck FM" [42]
Chicago, Illinois WILV 100.3 FM "Rewind 100.3" [43]
Chicago, Illinois WJMK 104.3 FM "Jack FM" [44]
Chico, California KBQB 92.7 FM "Bob FM" [45]
Cincinnati/Ripley, Ohio WAOL 99.5 FM "Max FM" [46]
Cincinnati, Ohio WREW 94.9 FM "Rewind 94.9" [47]
Cleveland, Ohio WHLK 106.5 FM "106.5 The Lake" [48]
Clinton, Iowa KMCN 94.7 FM "Mac FM" [49]
Columbia, Missouri KWJK 93.1 FM/103.5 FM "93.1 103.5 Jack FM" [50]
Columbia, South Carolina WLTY 96.7 FM "96-7 Steve FM" [51]
Columbus, Ohio WNND 103.5 FM/104.3 FM "Rewind 103.5/104.3" [52]
Dallas, Texas KJKK 100.3 FM "Jack FM" [53]
Dayton, Ohio WGTZ 92.9 FM "Fly 92.9" [54]
Denver, Colorado KJAC 105.5 FM "Jack FM" [55]
Des Moines, Iowa KDRB 100.3 FM "100.3 The Bus" [56]
Detroit, Michigan WDRQ 93.1 FM "Doug FM" [57]
Eugene, Oregon KEUG 105.5 FM "Bob FM" [58]
Evansville, Indiana WEJK 107.1 FM "Jack FM" [59]
Fargo, North Dakota KMJO 104.7 FM "104.7 Popster FM" [60]
Fairbanks, Alaska KTDZ 103.9 FM "Ted FM" [61]
Fresno, California KKDG 105.9 FM "Jack FM" [62]
Glenwood Springs/Vail, Colorado KKCH Various
Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin WCHK-FM 104.3 FM "Chuck FM" [63]
Greensboro, North Carolina WSMW 98.7 FM "98.7 Simon" [64]
Greensburg, Pennsylvania WGSM 107.1 FM 107.1 "Sam FM" [65]
Hampton Roads-Norfolk, Virginia WNOB 93.7 FM "Bob FM" [66]
Harwich Port/Mashpee, Massachusetts WFRQ/WFQR 93.5 FM/101.1 FM "Frank FM" [67]
Jackson, Mississippi WWJK 94.7 FM "Jack FM" [68]
Joplin, Missouri KMXL 95.1 FM "Mike FM" [69]
Kansas City, Missouri KCJK 105.1 FM "Jack FM" [70]
Knoxville, Tennessee WQJK/WRJK 95.7 FM/106.7 FM "Jack FM" [71]
Lafayette, Indiana WBPE 95.3 FM "Bob FM"

[72]

Lansing, Michigan WHZZ 101.7 FM "Mike FM" [73]
Lakeland, Florida WWRZ 98.3 FM "Max FM" [74]
Lakeview, Oregon KWTR 93.5 FM "Sam 93.5"
Las Vegas, Nevada KKJJ 100.5 FM "Jack FM" [75]
Lompoc, California KBOX 104.1 FM "Pirate Radio" [76]
Los Angeles, California KCBS-FM 93.1 FM "Jack FM" [77]
Louisa, Virginia WOJL 105.5 FM "Sam FM"
Madison, Wisconsin WCHY 105.1 FM "Charlie FM" [78]
Meridianville/Huntsville, Alabama WQRV 100.3 FM "100.3 The River" [79]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin WLWK 94.5 FM "The Lake" [80]
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota KZJK 104.1 FM "Jack FM" [81]
Mobile, Alabama WYOK 104.1 FM "Jack FM" [82]
Muscatine, Iowa KMCS 93.1 FM "Mac FM"

[83]

Nashville, Tennessee WCJK 96.3 FM "Jack FM" [84]
Omaha, Nebraska KOOO 101.9 FM "The Big O" [85]
Orlando, Florida WMMO 98.9 FM "98.9 WMMO" [86]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WBEN-FM 95.7 FM "Ben FM" [87]
Phoenix, Arizona KPKX 98.7 FM "98.7 The Peak" [88]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania WRRK 96.9 FM "Bob FM" [89]
Portland, Oregon KYCH 97.1 FM "Charlie FM" [90]
Rainier, Oregon KPPK 98.3 FM "The Peak" [91]
Raleigh, North Carolina WBBB-FM 96.1 FM "Radio 96.1" [92]
Raleigh, North Carolina WRVA-FM 100.7 FM "100.7 The River" [93]
Rapid City, South Dakota KZLK 106.3 FM "Max FM" [94]
Redding, California KESR 107.1 FM "Jack FM" [95]
Reno, Nevada KZTQ 97.3 FM "Bob FM" [96]
Richmond, Virginia WWLB 98.9 FM "98.9 Liberty" [97]
Rochester, New York WFKL-FM 93.3 FM "Fickle 93.3" [98]
Rolla, Missouri KDAA 103.1 FM "Sam 103.1 (FM)" [99]
Sacramento, California KQJK 93.7 FM "Jack FM" [100]
Saginaw, Michigan WMJO 97.3 FM "Joe FM" [101]
Salt Lake City, Utah KJQN 103.1 FM "Jack FM" [102]
San Antonio, Texas KJXK-FM 102.7 FM "Jack FM" [103]
San Diego, California KFMB-FM 100.7 FM "Jack FM" [104]
Santa Maria, California KWSZ 105.1 FM "Mike FM" [105]
Santa Rosa, California KNOB 96.7 FM "Bob FM" [106]
Seattle, Washington KJAQ 96.5 FM "Jack FM" [107]
Sedalia, Missouri KSDL 92.3 FM "Bob FM" [108]
Sioux Falls, South Dakota KSQB-FM 95.7 FM "Q 95.7" [109]
Smyrna, Delaware WRDX 92.9 FM "Tom-FM" [110]
Spokane, Washington KBBD 103.9 "Bob FM" [111]
Springfield, Missouri KRVI 106.7 FM "The River" [112]
St. Louis, Missouri WARH 106.5 FM "The Arch" [113]
Texarkana, Texas KBYB 101.7 FM "Bob FM" [114]
Ft. Myers, Florida WJGO 102.9 FM "Bob FM" [115]
Tampa, Florida WPOI 101.5 FM "101-5 The Point" [116]
Tucson, Arizona KSZR 97.5 FM "Bob FM" [117]
Watertown, New York WBLH 92.5 FM "Tunes 92.5" [118]
West Plains, Missouri KSPQ 93.9 FM "Jack FM" [119]
Whitefield, New Hampshire WXRG 99.1 FM "Free 99.1" [120]
Wichita, Kansas KIBB 97.1 FM "Bob FM" [121]

Mexico

Location Call sign Frequency Brand Name Website
Mexico City XHDFM 106.5 FM "Mix 106.5" [122]

Other countries

Europe

New Zealand

Russia

Satellite Radio

See also

External links