Adult hits (sometimes also calledvariety hits) is aradio format drawing frompopular music from the late 1960s to the present. The format typically focuses onclassic hits, but blended withadult contemporary,pop, androck hits from the 1970s through at least the 2000s, and is synonymous withfranchised brands such asJack FM andBob FM.

Forerunners of the adult hits format appeared on radio during the 1970s. At the time, enough of a backlog of popular music from the rock and roll era had developed to support a format based on them;oldies stations, however, were still very rare, and instead, stations that did not want to bind themselves to the current top 40 playlist would mix in current hits with the hits of the past two decades. This hybrid format began to fall out of favor in the 1980s as self-contained oldies stations rose to prominence. The Adult Hits format dates back to 1990 when 98.9WMMO was launched inOrlando, Florida.^{[citation needed]} Another predecessor was the short-lived "rhythm and rock" format run byKYOT inPhoenix, Arizona in the early 1990s.^[1][2] Adult hits stations target adults 25–54, and more specifically at 35- to 44-year-olds. Freeform could also be seen as another forerunner due to the freedom of music choice the DJ's had, very similar to what makes up the core basis of the adult hits format.

A large number of adult hits stations utilize male names as their branding. The practice was popularized by the franchisedJack FM andBob FM brands, and has been widely imitated with other common male names.

• "Traditional country" is a format ofcountry music that focuses primarily onneotraditional,country pop, andcountry rock hits from the 1980s through the 2000s, as well as contemporary songs that fit within these styles (including newer songs by artists who were prominent during that era). The format generally avoidsBluegrass music, as well as more youthfulbro-country songs.
• ASpanish-language variation of the format, "Jose FM", issyndicated byEntravision.

The adult hits format draws from a wide playlist of broad appeal, consisting primarily ofadult contemporary,pop, androck hits from the late 1960s through at least the 1990s—including but not limited toclassic rock (includingpop rock andhair metal),power ballads,dance pop, andnew wave among others. The size of their music library and their focus on older music provide a contrast to other stations, which mayheavily play certain popular songs throughout the day.

Due to its broad nature, the adult hits format can be easilyautomated. This means that the station can be run with little to no on-air personalities (a trait that, in some cases, may be openly promoted by the station), leaving only staff involved in station operations, advertising sales, and promotional presences. However, some adult hits stations may still maintain a full airstaff.

Bell Media and Rogers Media operate chains of adult hits stations under theBounce Radio and Jack FM brands respectively.

• CKDG: Adult hits only during drive times. All other times station serves as a multicultural station.

• Oxfordshire,England – Jack FM
• Cambridgeshire,England – Affinity
• WestLeicestershire,England –Oak FM
• North Yorkshire,England –Coast & County Radio
• The Netherlands – Jack FM
• Gdynia,Poland – Jack FM
• Berlin,Germany – Jack FM
• Vienna,Austria – Radio 88.6

• New Zealand (Nationwide) – Classic Hits FM

• Moscow,Russia – KEKC 89.9
• Saint Petersburg,Russia – KEKC 91.1

• Sirius Satellite Radio –Sirius Super Shuffle channel 12
• XM Satellite Radio – Pink channel 24

• Adult album alternative
• Adult contemporary music
• Classic hits
• Freeform (radio format)
• Jack FM
• Oldies

• Billy Anderson's Jack & Bob FM Guide - A comprehensive listing of all U.S. stations that currently use the adult hits format (Archived 2009-10-24)
• VarietyHits.com - Information about the adult hits format and the stations that carry it
• List of adult hits radio stations from radio-locator.com

• 20th century in music
• 21st century in music
• Radio formats
• Classic hits radio stations

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