Modern rock

For Mod music, see Mod (subculture).

For the music genre associated with this format, see Alternative rock. For the album by The Clean, see Modern Rock (album).

Modern rock (also known as alternative rock, or just alternative) is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre.^[1] Generally beginning with late 1970s punk but referring especially to rock music since the 1980s, the phrase "modern rock" is used to differentiate the music from Classic rock, which focuses on music recorded in the 1960s through the early 1980s. A few modern rock radio stations existed during the 1980s, such as WLIR-FM on Long Island and WFNX in Boston.^[1] Modern rock was solidified as a radio format in 1988 with Billboard's creation of the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The 1988 episode of the VH1 show I Love the '80s discussed INXS, The Cure, Morrissey, Depeche Mode, and Erasure as modern rock artists representative of that year. But it was the breakthrough success of the grunge band Nirvana in 1991 that resulted in a large number of American radio stations switching to the format.^[1] Modern rock is considered by some to be a specific genre of alternative rock.^[2]

See also

• Alternative rock (genre)
• Campus radio
• Active rock - a mix of classic rock and modern rock, but trending closer to modern rock.
• Mainstream rock - a mix of classic rock and modern rock, but trending closer to classic rock.

References and Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Simon, Clea (2000-08-21). "MEDIA; Is Modern Rock Radio Getting Old?". NYTimes.com. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE2D8103EF932A1575BC0A9669C8B63. Retrieved 2007-09-27. "Modern, also called alternative..." 
2. ^ DeRogatis, Jim. Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the 90's. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2003. Pg. 357, ISBN 0-306-81271-1 Pg. 287 The author criticizing the music of Third Eye Blind during an interview with the band's frontman.

External links

• Billboard's Top 20 Modern Rock Tracks

• KQAK - The Quake - first day on the air