| Adult alternative | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | 1980s |
| Other topics | |
Adult album alternative (alsotriple-A,AAA, oradult alternative) is aradio format.[2][3][4][5] Its roots trace to both the "classic album stations of the ’70s as well as thealternative rock format that developed in the ’80s."[6] AAA programming is carried on more than 150 broadcast outlets in the United States, with a roughly even split betweencommercial andpublic stations.[7][2]
The format covers a broader, more diverseplaylist than most other formats. Musical selection tends to be on the fringe of mainstreampop androck. It also includes many othermusic genres such asindie rock,Americana,pop rock,classic rock,alternative rock,new wave,alternative country,jazz,folk,world music,jam band andblues. The musical selections tend to avoidhard rock andrap music. Music selection also includes tracks from albums that are notsingles, which leads to the enhanced and larger playlist. Some AAA outlets focus more on classic rock artists, folk and blues while others focus on more contemporary artists and modern/indie rock.[2][8][9]
Some of the songs that first aired on the Triple-A format have later found additional popularity on theAdult Top 40,modern rock, oradult contemporary charts months after their initial Triple-A chart runs. The format is often seen as a "test market" for emerging artists.[2][10]
The format has gone off and on in the Los Angeles radio market. CurrentlyKCSN and simulcast partnerKSBR broadcast a Triple A format in the Los Angeles and Orange Country areas respectively. The format still exists in New York City (WFUV); Chicago (WXRT); Philadelphia (WXPN); Minneapolis (KCMP); Boston (WXRV,WERS, and Americana leaningWUMB-FM); Baltimore (WTMD); Aspen, Colorado (KSPN-FM); Ann Arbor, Michigan (WQKL); Boise, Idaho (KRVB); Denver (KBCO andKVOQ); Fort Collins (KJAC); Pittsburgh (WYEP); Astoria (KBGE); Bend (KLRR); Eugene (KRVM); Portland, Oregon (KINK); Portland, Maine (WCLZ); Indianapolis (WTTS); Nashville (WRLT,WNXP, and Americana leaningWMOT); Conway, New Hampshire (WMWV); Burlington, Vermont (WNCS); Seattle, Washington (KMIH); Spokane (KPND); Turners Falls-Northampton, Massachusetts (WRSI);Bozeman, Montana (KMMS-FM);Missoula, Montana (KDTR); Woodstock, New York (WDST); Austin (KGSR-HD2,KUTX, andKTSN); Columbia, Missouri (KBXR); and Dallas (KKXT).[10][11][12][13] The now-defunctKFOG was a legendary Triple A station in theSan Francisco Bay Area.[14][15][16]
On July 10, 2008Billboard began a Triple-A chart (using information from sister-publicationRadio and Records, a news magazine devoted to the radio and the music industries that has since ceased publication). RivalMediabase 24/7 also compiles a Triple A chart. As of mid-2009,Radio and Records publications and accompanying charts were discontinued. As of 2010,Billboard publishesTriple A charts in the magazine and for its premium members on its website. Mediabase also publishes Triple A charts on a daily basis.
Additional Triple-A charts are published byCMJ andFMQB. FMQB also produces the annual Triple A Conference inBoulder, Colorado, USA, an event that grew out of the Gavin Report's Triple A Summit, first held in 1993. FMQB took over production of the event, rebranding it as the Triple A Conference, after the closing ofRadio & Records in 2009.
At the end of 2019, FMQB closed and all Triple A services were absorbed by Jack Barton Entertainment, LLC (JBE), helmed by Jack Barton, former VP/Triple A at FMQB. JBE has rebranded the Boulder convention as the Triple A SummitFest and continues to publish weekly Triple A charts, including a Non-Commercial album chart, as well as a weekly newsletter (JBE Triple A Report) covering Triple A radio and the music it plays.
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