Adult standards - or "Nostalgia" - stations play hits of the '40s and '50s with non-rock popular songs up to the present (such as "Duets" with Frank Sinatra and various artists). In some ways, these stations have picked up where the old "middle of the road" stations left off, but they tend to be less "full service" and more music and nostalgia. Artists such as Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Barbara Streisand, Patty Page, Matt Monroe, Frankie Laine and Julie London are frequently played.

Big Band stations emphasize songs from the "big band era" (roughly the mid - '20's through the mid - '40's) such as Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman with adult standards usually included.