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.
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
- New Zealand (Nationwide) – Classic Hits FM [127] (The terms classic hits is used in New Zealand rather than adult hits)
Russia
Satellite Radio
See also
External links