adult contemporary
Easy listening radio
Adult contemporary is a radio format and music category featuring melodic, soft-edged pop songs aimed at listeners roughly 25 to 54 years old.
The format emphasizes accessibility over edge—ballads, light rock, and smooth vocals dominate.
Artists like Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, and Adele are staples.
The term often carries a faint suggestion of blandness: The playlist was heavy on adult contemporary hits.
Low-durability sedimentary formation
- easy listeningUndemanding melodic audio
- pop balladSlow sentimental mainstream song
- middle of the roadUncontroversially mainstream stance
- mellowSoft, ripe, relaxed
love songs · crossover · mainstream · smooth jazz · quiet storm · yacht rock · power ballad · radio-friendly
Musically pleasing to hear
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- acousticRelating to sound
- balladNarrative poem or song
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
mellow · polished · lush · orchestral · string arrangement · saxophone · piano · smooth vocals
- Kenny GCurly-haired instrumentalist
- Air SupplyAvailable breathable atmosphere
- ChicagoMajor Illinois metropolis
- AdeleBritish singer, one name
Whitney Houston · Michael Bolton · Mariah Carey · Phil Collins · Lionel Richie · Barry Manilow · Anita Baker · Luther Vandross
Radio or TV broadcast
- FM stationBroadcast frequency for audio
- playlistArranged media collection
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- disc jockeyPlays recorded music professionally
DJ · syndication · hitmaker · rotation · request line · dedication · listener · format
soft rock
Low-durability sedimentary formation
- easy listeningUndemanding melodic audio
- pop balladSlow sentimental mainstream song
- middle of the roadUncontroversially mainstream stance
mellow · love songs · crossover · mainstream · smooth jazz · quiet storm · yacht rock · power ballad · radio-friendly · chart music
melodic
Musically pleasing to hear
soothing · mellow · polished · lush · orchestral · string arrangement · saxophone · piano · smooth vocals · crooning
Celine Dion
- Kenny GCurly-haired instrumentalist
- Air SupplyAvailable breathable atmosphere
- ChicagoMajor Illinois metropolis
Whitney Houston · Michael Bolton · Mariah Carey · Phil Collins · Lionel Richie · Barry Manilow · Anita Baker · Luther Vandross · Adele
airplay
Radio or TV broadcast
- FM stationBroadcast frequency for audio
- playlistArranged media collection
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
disc jockey · DJ · syndication · hitmaker · rotation · request line · dedication · listener · format · drive time
- music genresblues, pop, jazz, rock, classical
- Pop Musicpop, pop rock, pop star, indie pop, Taylor Swift
- radio formatspop, rock, country, jazz, classical
- radio stationsradio station, AM station, FM station, local station, news station
- soft rockAir Supply, Barry Manilow, Carole King, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac
- elevator musicsmooth jazz, soft rock, lounge music, hold music, waiting room music
adult contemporaryheavy metal
Aggressive amplified rock genre
death metal · hardcore punk · thrash metal · industrial · punk rock
adult contemporaryavant-garde
Innovative cultural pioneers
experimental · underground · noise music · free jazz · musique concrète
adult, contemporary, adults, adulthood, adulting, tempo, temporal, temporarily, temporary