That’s in terms of numbers of stations, from the latest Inside Radio/M Street Database research. 460 stations are doing classic rock - while the fast-growing classic hits category is up to 456. It was at just 262 stations in mid-2005.

Classic hits is a popular music radio format, a variation on the classic rock theme that provides most of the playlist of classic rock with an addition of contemporaneous R&B and pop hits as well, striking a balance between the mostly ’70s-focused classic rock genre and the more broad-based oldies format. The first station to be called “Classic Hits” was First Media Corporation’s WZLX/Boston MA, in October, 1985, under the programming eye of consultant Gary Guthrie and First Media VP, Dan Mason. In its original form, it drew from two pools of music: The hipper artists from the “Oldies” format (Creedence Clearwater Revival, for example) and the broader appeal artists from Album Rock radio (AOR) such as Led Zeppelin. Over the years, stations morphed into variants such as “Classic Rock” or “Oldies” and, more recently, the emergence of “Jack FM” (or its relatives) has regerminated the format’s original model. The term is also sometimes used to describe the format known within the radio industry as adult hits (or variety hits), though variety hits stations generally add contemporary music heard on hot adult contemporary (Hot AC) stations.