Urban contemporary facts for kids

Urban contemporary, also known as urban music, is a style of music often heard on the radio. It first became popular in cities. A New York DJ named Frankie Crocker was the first to use the term "urban contemporary" in the mid-1970s.

Urban contemporary radio stations usually play hip hop/rap music, contemporary R&B, and pop music with an urban feel. Sometimes, they also play music from the Caribbean, like reggae and reggaeton. This type of music grew out of R&B and Soul music.

Most urban contemporary radio stations are found in cities where many African-American people live. Some cities with these stations include Los Angeles, California, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Charlotte, and Norfolk, Virginia.

When people hear "urban contemporary," they often think of music popular with African Americans, like R&B. For Latino people, this music might sound more like music from Latin neighborhoods, such as Reggaeton, hip hop from South America, or bachata.

Who Listens to Urban Contemporary Music?

These radio stations mainly try to reach African-American listeners between 18 and 34 years old. Their music lists mostly feature popular songs by hip hop and R&B artists. Sometimes, an urban contemporary station will play older soul music songs from the 1970s and early 1980s.

Music on Sundays

Some radio stations in cities, like KJLH, KMEL, KDAY, and WVEE, play gospel and Christian R&B/hip-hop music on Sundays.

See also

In Spanish: Urban para niños