We have a station here that is actually labeled as a Rock Adult Contemporary station. But between it and the triple A format, I'm not really seeing the difference.
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What's the difference between AAA and Rock AC?
- Thread starter livingfruitvirus
- Start date
Rock AC borrows from many AAA's in presentation...DJs that don't talk over the songs, not a lot of contesting or usual radio hype, etc. The original thought was to produce a radio station for people who grew up with album rock in the 70s, but were abandoned when AOR became more targeted to only young males in the early 80s. Musically, though, they tend to be more based in older library songs, while AAA is more focused on current/recent music (although some Rock AC's do play a short list of current songs that fit the sound). Over the past five years, some stations that call themselves "rock AC" have rolled out (remember "Alice" in Detroit?) that really sounded nothing like the originators of the format (WMMO Orlando, KRVK Kansas City). Today, the best example of Rock AC that I know of is WRHQ in Savannah, Ga. (I should point out that I am biased in that I work for this station 
. WMMO is still doing well with the format some 17 years later. WRVV Harrisburg is also a long time leader in the format.
. WMMO is still doing well with the format some 17 years later. WRVV Harrisburg is also a long time leader in the format.
AAA stations focus on alot more current music from artists like Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists, Fiona Apple, Ben Folds, Beth Orton, Tori Amos, Ben Folds, Snow Patrol, Aqualung, Radiohead, KT Tunstall, just to name several or so and less gold. On a Rock AC station you're more likely to hear songs by America, James Taylor, The Who, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Elton John and more '60s and '70s artists than you would on a AAA station. So essentially AAA = more current based; Rock AC = gold based with currents mixed in.
Another way to put it is what the core sound of the station is. If it's a core centered around Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Clapton, etc., the station is more likely a Rock AC or a real older skewing AAA. If you listen and your impression is that it is an "alternative" station, then its more likely a AAA. The nice thing is that the format can slide around so much and be tailored to a specific market and competitive situation.
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