AOR / Melodic Rock

AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) or arena rock is a radio-friendly rock music genre that emerged in the 1970s, characterized by polished production, melodic hooks, and powerful, anthemic choruses. It was designed for mainstream appeal and often featured soaring guitar solos, prominent keyboards, and emotionally charged vocals, making it ideal for large-scale arena performances. Bands like Journey, Foreigner, and Boston epitomized the genre, blending hard rock energy with pop sensibility to create enduring, crowd-pleasing hits.