While reading about the history of radio, I've noticed mentions of "top 40" dying off in the late 70s. Instead, the term "CHR" started being used more often, and sometimes treated as an all-new format. But what's the difference? They're both tightly playlisted formats with wide range of genres aimed at the teen/young adult market. Is there any difference between the two formats, and if not why the name change?
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Difference between top 40 and CHR?
- Thread starter installLSC
- Start date
Radio & Records coined the name and lots of people picked it up but many continue to call it Top 40. I think "CHR" better describes the format. The old Top 40 stations were truly "all over the board". Today's CHRs are more targeted.
The name "CHR" or Contemporary Hit Radio was a fabrication of Radio & Records (Later, simply, R&R) Magazine. They wanted to distinguish their chart from the Billboard Hot 100 and the charts in Gavin and other trades like Hamilton and FMQB. So they gave their chart and the accompanying column the name we now use and it stuck.
Interestingly, when R&R started in 1973, they had 3 charts: the Rock chart and ones for Country and Pop/MOR. The "Rock" chart was Top 40, with songs like "Midnight Train to Georgia" being on an October list. They later called the chart and the format Top 40, with the term CHR taking over in 1980.
None of the other trades adopted the term within the next few decades.
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