Format History
The first station to try this approach was WHBT/Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which lasted from 1987 to 1988, although it was more Hot AC in nature. But eight years later in 1996, another Milwaukee outlet, WAMG "Magic 103.7", would be the first to pioneer the "Official" rhythmic AC format, calling itself "Rhythm & Romance" which featured Mid-tempo Rhythmic R&B/Pop tracks. At the same time other stations, like WDRQ/Detroit and KIBB/Los Angeles, took it a bit further by adopting a "Rhythmic Hot AC" approach with Dance Pop tracks added to the mix. In 1999, CFGL-FM in Montreal, Quebec, Canada made its debut in the format by using the "Rythme FM" name. However, the Rythme FM network is now adult contemporary. Recently, there has been a trend of several stations in the United States switching to the rhythmic AC format using the brand Movin. However, Clear Channel Communications seems to have benefitted the most from this format, thanks to using one of its outlets, WKTU/New York City, as its basis for several of its stations.
Rhythmic AC stations also play "Classic Dance Flashbacks" of dance music ten years or older. Some radio stations usually play soft dance music on weeknights. News and weather announcements play a major part in this format unlike their younger counterparts. Also, many radio stations using this format often play a great deal of disco heavily on weekend nights.
During the mid-2000s, when the format started to gain popularity, many hot adult contemporary stations in Canada started to follow a Rhythmic AC approach, but still remain Hot AC because of pop-rock content still being played. This was first pioneered by CHUM-FM in Toronto, who had a significant ratings success after starting to lean rhythmic.
As of 2010, several Rhythmic AC outlets have shifted to a conventional Rhythmic Contemporary direction (KQMV, WDTW, WKTU, KPLV), while others have tweaked their approach by incorporating the music into either Top 40/CHR (KMVQ, KTFM) or Adult Top 40 (WISX), in part due to declining ratings and trying to adapt currents into this niche genre.
Read more about this topic: Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“As History stands, it is a sort of Chinese Play, without end and without lesson.”
—Henry Brooks Adams (1838–1918)