radio formats
Broadcast programming categories
Radio formats are the programming styles that define a station's content and target audience—country, talk radio, classic rock, adult contemporary, and so on.
The format determines everything from song selection to DJ personality to advertising demographics.
They switched from an oldies format to sports talk.
In the industry, format changes often signal shifting listener trends or ownership priorities.
- bluesMournful American music genre
- countrySovereign state or territory
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- weather reportsAtmospheric condition summaries
- breaking newsNewly unfolding events reported
pop · smooth jazz · electronic · folk · freeform · rock · hip-hop · holiday music · cultural commentary · celebrity interviews · reggae · news talk · investigative journalism · jazz · panel discussions · public affairs · late night · call-in shows
- radiocrystal set, AM, FM, news broadcast, AM/FM
standardized programming vs. freeform content
radio formatscollege radio
Student-operated broadcast outlet