Classic rock

Classic rock was originally conceived as a radio station broadcasting format which evolved from the album oriented rock (AOR) format in the mid-1980s. In the United States, this rock music format now features a limited playlist of songs ranging from late 1960s album tracks to current songs by artists associated with the loosely-defined "classic rock era."

Origins of classic rock radio

The origins of the classic rock radio format can be traced back to The Beatles' groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which would forever change several courses of the rock and roll format, especially with the slow rise of the FM radio format, even though a majority of people were still listening to AM radio. Since Sgt. Pepper did not originally spawn any singles, both AM and FM stations began to play select tracks from the album, thus creating what would eventually be called Album Oriented Rock (AOR), or "album rock", in an attempt to retain listeners.

Related Topics:
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Rock and roll - FM radio - AM radio - Album Oriented Rock

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AOR would continue to be popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, but by the end of the 1980s, as "albums" had been supplanted by compact discs and as station playlists largely stopped keeping up with developing musical trends (including new wave music), "album rock" evolved into "classic rock" on many of these FM radio stations.

Related Topics:
1970s - 1980s - Compact disc - New wave music - FM radio

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An early station to feature 100% older, established rock hits and album tracks together (as distinguished from other album-rock stations that also mixed in newly-released songs) was WYSP-FM in Philadelphia beginning in the spring of 1981. The actual descriptive phrase "classic rock radio" is credited to radio consultant Lee Abrams. The fledgling "Classic Rock, 94 YSP" took off quickly in Philadelphia and this musical approach next appeared on KQRS-FM in Minneapolis later in 1981. The format spread slowly but steadily, by 1983 some thirty FM stations in America were airing "classic rock".

Related Topics:
WYSP - Philadelphia - 1981 - KQRS-FM - Minneapolis - 1983

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Classic rock is similar to oldies radio in that the format is based upon music of the past, hence the playlist and artists featured are relatively stable in comparison to Top 40 or other contemporary formats which are based primarily on current releases. However, various bands and songs will come in and out of style on classic rock radio, and regional favorites may be featured in a particular market. Additionally, in the process of jockeying for position and listener share in competetive markets, stations will often add songs and artists only marginally associated with the classic rock era, and some stations combine the classic rock format with other formats, including modern rock in an attempt to increase popularity. The hybrid of classic rock and modern rock is also referred to as active rock.

Related Topics:
Oldies - Top 40 - Modern rock - Active rock

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