New Age » Adult Alternative

Adult Alternative attracts a wide cross-section of listeners who are looking for something a little different without straying too far from the mainstream. It's actually hard to say whether new adult contemporary radio formats were created to play this music or whether the music was created for radio airplay. Adult alternative styles -- whether acoustic, electronic, or electro-acoustic -- are heavily influenced by pop, rock, and jazz fusion elements. (Some albums feature a few vocal selections with lyrics, although the main orientation remains instrumental.) The best artists have a flair for melodic invention, colorful instrumentation, and rhythmic vitality while retaining a strong level of accessibility. At worst, adult alternative releases sound like trite pop songs without words.