A radio format or programming format (not to be confused with broadcast programming) describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and are subject to frequent change. Music radio, old time radio, all-news radio, sports radio, talk radio and weather radio describe the operation of different genres of radio format and each format can often be sub-divided into many specialty formats.
Formats constantly evolve and each format can often be sub-divided into many specialty formats. Some of the following formats are available only regionally or through specialized venues such as satellite radio or Internet radio.
Pop/Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC)
Classic hits
Contemporary hit radio (CHR), occasionally still informally known as top-40 / hot hits)
Hot adult contemporary (Hot AC)
Lite adult contemporary (Lite AC)
Modern adult contemporary (Modern AC)
Oldies – Primarily 1955-early 1980s pop music
Soft adult contemporary (soft AC)
Rock/Alternative/Indie
Active rock
Adult album alternative (or just adult alternative) (AAA or Triple-A)
Album rock / album-oriented rock (AOR)
Alternative rock
Classic alternative
Classic rock
Mainstream rock
Modern rock
Progressive rock
Psychedelic rock
Rock
Soft rock
Country
Americana
Bluegrass
Country music:
Classic country (exclusively older music)
New country/Young country/Hot country (top 40 country with some non-country pop and no older music)
Mainstream country (top 40 country with some older music)
Traditional country (mix of old and new music)
Urban/Rhythmic
Classic hip-hop
Quiet storm (most often a "day-part" format at Urban Stations, i.e. 7p-12 midnight,)
Rhythmic adult contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary (Rhythmic Top 40)
Rhythmic oldies
Urban:
Urban contemporary (mostly rap, hip hop, soul, and contemporary R&B artists)
Urban adult contemporary (Urban AC) – R&B (both newer and older), soul and sometimes gospel music, without rap
Urban oldies (sometimes called "classic soul", "R&B oldies", or "old school")
