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'Contemporary hit radio', or 'CHR', is a radio format that is common in the United States and Canada that focuses on playing current and recent popular music as determined by the Top 40. There are several subcategories, dominantly focusing on rock, pop, or urban music. Used alone, "CHR" most often refers to the CHR/pop format. The term "Contemporary Hit Radio" was coined in the early 1980s by Radio & Records magazine to designate Top 40 stations which continued to play hits from all musical genres as pop music splintered into adult contemporary, urban contemporary and other formats. A list of subcategories of CHR includes:

★ 'CHR/dance' — playing dance remixes of popular songs with perhaps some current hits from the dance charts. Pure dance-music radio stations (as opposed to CHR/rhythmic and Rhythmic AC formats such as MOViN) are not very common but tend to have loyal audiences in the markets where they do exist. Examples include WDRE on Long Island, NY, KNRJ in Phoenix, AZ, KNGY in San Francisco, and WDVW in New Orleans. ''see also: Hot Dance Airplay''

★ 'CHR/urban' or 'CHR/rhythmic' — focusing on hip-hop and R&B. There are subtle differences between CHR/rhythmic and the urban contemporary format; urban stations will often play R&B and soul songs that CHR/rhythmic stations will not, and CHR/rhythmic stations, despite playlists heavy with urban product, sometimes have white disc jockeys and formatic elements resembling CHR/Pop, which includes R&B-influenced pop and/or dance tracks. WBBM-FM in Chicago, KYLD in San Francisco and KPWR in Los Angeles are among the most successful CHR/Rhythmic stations in the United States and among the pioneers of the format. ''see also: Rhythmic contemporary''

★ 'Adult CHR' - similar to the hot adult contemporary format although Adult CHR stations may play more rhythmic or dance product than typical Hot AC outlets, while still shying away from hardcore hip hop. Examples include WBMX in Boston and WKRQ in Cincinnati. WSTR-FM in Atlanta would fall into this category, but is listed in R&R and Mediabase as a CHR/Pop reporter. ''see also: Adult Top 40''

★ 'CHR/pop' — plays pop, urban, alternative and rock hits, and sometimes country crossover as well. Often referred as "Top 40"; in terms of incorporating a variety of genres of music, CHR/Pop is the closest thing today to the original concept of "Top 40" radio originated in the 1950s. WHTZ in New York City and KIIS in Los Angeles are two of the best-known and most-imitated CHR/Pop stations in the U.S. ''see also: Top 40 (radio format)''

★ 'CHR/rock' — Stations with this format incorporate charting Modern Rock and Modern AC titles in an upbeat presentation that often includes mainstream and even rhythmic hits. This format is heard on stations such as WIXX in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

★ 'CHR/'80s' — arguably now an "oldies" format, this was a popular format in some markets around the turn of the 21st century, but its popularity seems to have peaked, with some '80s stations evolving into Hot AC by adding '90s and later music to their playlists and others simply changing format. Two of the more popular '80s stations remaining include WPOI in Tampa, FL and WMXQ in Jacksonville, FL.
There are also ethnic variations, such as 'CHR/español' (Latin pop), and 'CHR/Tejano' (Tex-Mex and Tejano) which can be found in Texas.

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★ Contemporary hit music radio. TVRadioWorld.