Adult contemporary is a radio format and marketing category originally created by Billboard magazine. It has encompassed many genres, starting with easy listening in the 1960s. What could be considered adult contemporary changed over the decades as genres like rock and roll and electronic music grew older, and older listeners found their sounds more palatable. But what does “adult contemporary” mean, and why do the songs that get grouped into the category appeal to adults so much?

This week’s episode of Silent Generation focuses on adult contemporary music in the 1990s and 2000s. Joseph and Nathan begin by outlining the history of the radio format before discussing the common features of adult contemporary songs. They then review the music of U2, Vanessa Carlton, The Verve, Zero 7, Ivy, and After. The episode concludes with a discussion of what happened to adult contemporary, focusing on why the radio format no longer has a distinct sound. 

Links:

Adult Contemporary Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/…

Adult Contemporary Music Guide: What Is Adult Contemporary? 

The Adult Contemporary Billboard Chart

When Rock Bands Become Adult Contemporary (part 1)  by Eduard Banulescu

90s Adult Contemporary - Totally 80s and 90s Recall

Clocks by Coldplay

Beautiful Day by U2

A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton 

Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve

Destiny by Zero 7

Disappointed by Ivy

Deep Diving by After

Most craziest American Idol contestant ever, Mary Roach

U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere

The Story of 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton

White Chicks (2004) - A Thousand Miles Terry Crews Scene

The greatest songwriting theft of all time - David Hartly

Ivy Talks Making the Seminal Y2K Dreampop LP ‘Long Distance’ by Myke Dodge Weiskopf

Meet After, the L.A. Duo Making Y2k-Inspired Pop That Feels Like Right Now by Jeff Ihaza

You’re deep diving - @aftertheband

Gen X Soft Club - CARI page

List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2025

Adult Contemporary 100 week of 11/09/2025

Where Have All the Adult Contemporary Artists Gone? - Daniel Montoya Jr. 

Artwork:

U2 at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, Summer 2000

Recorded on 11/12/2025