Wikipedia

Adult album alternative

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Steve Quinn (talk | contribs) at 22:35, 4 September 2021 (copy edit). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Adult album alternative (also triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) is a radio format.[1][2] Its roots trace to both the "classic album stations of the ’70s as well as the alternative rock format that developed in the ’80s."[3]

Format

The format has a broader, more diverse playlist than most other formats. Musical selection tends to be on the fringe of mainstream pop and rock as well as many other music genres such as indie rock, Americana, pop rock, classic rock, alternative rock, alternative country, jazz, folk, world music, jam band and blues. The musical selections tend to avoid hard rock and rap music. Music selection also includes tracks from albums that are not singles, 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.[1][4]

Popularity

Some of the songs that first air on the Triple-A format have later found additional popularity on the Adult Top 40, modern rock, or adult contemporary charts months after their initial Triple-A chart runs. The format is often seen as a "test market" for emerging artists.[1]

The format has gone off and on in the Los Angeles radio market. Currently KCSN and simulcast partner KSBR broadcast a Triple A format in the Los Angeles and Orange Country areas respectfully. The format still exists in New York City (WFUV); Chicago (WXRT); Philadelphia (WXPN); Boston (WXRV, WERS, and Americana leaning WUMB-FM); Aspen, Colorado (KSPN-FM); Denver (KBCO and KVOQ); Fort Collins (KJAC); Portland, Oregon (KINK); Portland, Maine (WCLZ); Indianapolis (WTTS); Nashville (WRLT, WNXP, and Americana leaning WMOT); Conway, New Hampshire (WMUV); Burlington, Vermont (WNCS); Turners Falls-Northampton, Massachusetts (WRSI); Woodstock, New York (WDST); Austin (KGSR-HD2, KUTX, and KTSN); and Dallas (KKXT).[5][6][7]

On July 10, 2008 Billboard began a Triple-A chart (using information from sister-publication Radio and Records, a news magazine devoted to the radio and the music industries that has since ceased publication). Rival Mediabase 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 publishes Triple 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 by CMJ and FMQB. FMQB also produces the annual Triple A Conference in Boulder, 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 of Radio & 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.

Alternative Airplay

Main article: Alternative Airplay

"Alternative Airplay" (formerly known as Alternative Songs and Modern Rock Tracks) is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played songs on alternative and modern rock radio stations. Introduced as Modern Rock Tracks, the chart served as a companion to the Mainstream Rock chart (then called Album Rock Tracks), and its creation was prompted by the explosion of alternative music on American radio in the late 1980s. The chart is based solely on radio airplay ranked by a calculation of the total number of spins each song receives per week. As of 2012, approximately 80 alternative radio stations across the United States are electronically monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems[8] The chart had 30 positions when it was introduced in September 1988 and expanded to 40 positions on September 10, 1994.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "At 'Triple A' Radio Stations, A Blurred Line Between Discovery and Promotion".
  2. ^ Bachman, Katy (September 3, 2001). "Adult Album Alternative outlets balance acts" (Free PDF download). Mediaweek. 11 (32). New York City: 9–10. Retrieved September 3, 2021. See pages 9 and 10
  3. ^ https://artandseek.org/2009/06/10/what-is-adult-album-alternative-anyway/
  4. ^ "True Discovery: Triple A on noncommercial public radio".
  5. ^ "Adult Alternative Album Format Back on Dial". October 24, 1998.
  6. ^ "KCSN-KSBR FM merger aims to create new Southland public radio powerhouse". September 6, 2017.
  7. ^ "In from Indianapolis, Laura Duncan named program chief of WXRT - Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com.
  8. ^ "The charts" (fee required). The Sun Herald. August 25, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  9. ^ "Column, Chart Expand Coverage of Modern Rock". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 37. September 10, 1994. p. 6.

Radio-Locator's Format Definition: Adult Album Alternative

AllMusic

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adult_album_alternative&oldid=1042420786"