contemporary hit radio

radio format

Also known as: CHR

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR), also known as Top 40, is a radio format that emerged in the late 1950s. It focuses on playing a curated playlist of the most popular songs across various genres, with an emphasis on less talk and more music. This format was conceived by pioneers like Todd Storz and Gordon McLendon, who observed the success of jukebox hits and implemented a system where popular or frequently requested songs were played.1

CHR stations often feature contests, jingles, and brief news updates. While its staples include rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop, it has historically incorporated other genres. In recent decades, CHR has seen further specialization, with subformats like "hot adult contemporary" emerging, and has also been influenced by urban music, leading to hybrid formats.12

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radio
In the United States
These included “contemporary hit radio” (CHR), which emphasized less talk, more focused music playlists, more valuable promotional giveaways, and greater consideration of listeners’ lifestyles in advertising and feature presentations. Another splinter became the “urban” format (itself an outgrowth of the earlier disco music format), which began making…
Read More
These included “contemporary hit radio” (CHR), which emphasized less talk, more focused music playlists, more valuable promotional giveaways, and greater consideration of listeners’ lifestyles in advertising and feature presentations. Another splinter became the “urban” format (itself an outgrowth of the earlier disco music format), which began making…
Read More