Hot adult album alternative

Hot adult album alternative (also known as hot AAA, hot triple-A and album pop) is a radio format. Hot AAA stations play a wide range of both popular and alternative music that appeals towards the 18–54 age group, it serves as a middle ground between the adult album alternative format and more "mainstream" formats such as the contemporary hit radio (CHR) format and the adult contemporary format.

History
In 1998, the station formerly known as KILA-FM began a new concept in radio. KQAR-FM, which named itself Air 107.3, was described in trade papers as "music without borders" and "something different for LA." KQAR-FM's owners Interstate Broadcasting, Inc., along with Air 107.3 consultant Thomas Van Damme, used the re-launch of the station to launch other "album pop" stations, branded as the Air format. KQAR-FM's slogan "It's Something Different" was commercially successful, and the station instantly skyrocketed to #1 in the Los Angeles Arbitron ratings in the next book. The "album pop" format KQAR-FM used included both Top 40/CHR currents and more uptempo selections of AAA and alternative rock fare, while rarely delving into hip hop or current hard rock.