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Urban Adult Contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast Partners in 1988.
Summary
The format usually would play R&B hits ten years old or more. Classic soul music also have a great impact in this format. Disc jockeys use a more relaxed sound than their younger counterparts. News and current events have a major impact on the older audience. Around the evening Urban AC stations play smooth jazz and slow jams. Many of the Urban AC radio stations implement slogans such as "Today's R&B and Classic Soul," "Smooth R&B and Classic Ol Skool," "The Best Variety of R&B Hits and Oldies," and "(City/Region)'s R&B Leader." Some popular nicknames for Urban AC stations include "Magic" (borrowed from Soft AC) and "Kiss (borrowed from Clear Channel's Top 40 clone branding)."
Gospel music also have a great impact in the format. Some 18-to-34-year-olds would listen to gospel music with their older counterparts usually not heard on most Urban contemporary stations. In the past Urban stations (like WBLS and WRKS in New York, WUSL in Philadelphia) played gospel music early on Sunday mornings.
WBLS-FM in New York which is the flagship station of the urban contemporary format is one of the first stations to introduce the Urban AC format in 1994. WRKS-FM (also in New York) introduced the first 24-hour classic soul radio station in the country. Urban AC stations usually target the 25-54 age group. The format can also be described as Adult contemporary.
Hot Urban AC
Hot Urban AC stations play current R&B without any form of rap music which resembles an Adult Top 40 station. Many stations around the country are adapting this format due to the fact that it attracts a mainstream adult audience as well as younger audiences. Hot Urban AC stations also play a great deal of dance music.
Urban Oldies
Urban Oldies refers to R&B music dating back to the 1950's through the early 1970's. Radio stations playing this type of music mainly attracts Caucasian listeners because R&B traces its roots back to Rock and Roll. One of the first stations to play this type of music were WRKS-FM (98.7 Kiss FM) and WTJM-FM. In December of 1994 Emmis Broadcasting transformed Kiss FM as the first station to play classic soul music on a regular basis. The format was an instant hit with black and white listeners around the Greater New York area, reaching to number two on the Arbitron ratings.
See also
List of Urban AC stations
Alabama
Birmingham- WBHK, 98.7 Kiss FM - according to the recent Arbitron ratings, the highest-rated Urban AC station in the United States.
California
Los Angeles- KHHT, Hot 92 Jamz
- KJLH, 102.3 KJLH
- KKBT, 100.3 The Beat - an Urban contemporary turned Urban AC station as of May 2006.
Connecticut
Hartford- WKND AM 1230 "The all new 24 Hour Twice the Power AM 1230 WKND" (R&B Hits and Oldies) (Slogan is because WKND used to be a 500 watt daytime only station on 1480)
- WYBC-FM, 94.3 YBC
Florida
Miami- WHQT, Hot 105
Georgia
- WALR, Kiss 104.1
Illinois
Chicago- WVAZ-FM, V-103
Missouri
Kansas City- KMJK, Majik 107.3
New York
New York City- WBLS-FM, 107.5 WBLS - an Urban contemporary turned Urban AC station.
- WRKS-FM, 98.7 Kiss FM- a Mainstream Urban turned Urban AC station.
Pennsylvania
PhiladelphiaTennessee
Memphis- KJMS, V101.1
- WQQK, 92Q
Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth Houston- KMJQ, Majic 102.1
- KSJL, 810 KSJL
Washington, DC
- WHUR, 96.3 WHUR - based out of Howard University
- WMMJ, Majic 102.3
International radio station using this format
"Urban Adult Contemporary"