Songwriting Advice
How to Write Contemporary Hit Radio Lyrics
If you want a song that radio DJs can hum on their way to work and teenagers will chant in group chats, this guide is your secret weapon. Contemporary Hit Radio sometimes called CHR is the format that plays the songs everyone seems to know. The trick is writing lyrics that are so immediate and singable that listeners can repeat them after one play and feel clever for doing it.
Quick Links to Useful Sections
- What is Contemporary Hit Radio or CHR
- Core principles for CHR lyrics
- How CHR lyrics differ from other styles
- Start with the central idea
- Structure that works on CHR
- Structure A: Fast hook
- Structure B: Hook up front
- Structure C: Story with a tag
- Crafting the chorus that radio remembers
- Verses for CHR: show cheaply but clearly
- Pre chorus as the engine
- Post chorus and earworming
- Prosody is your secret weapon
- Rhyme without sounding like a greeting card
- Language choices that radio loves
- Title placement and why it matters
- Write hooks that work for radio and social clips
- Melody basics for lyricists
- Topline process that keeps the lyrics alive
- Editing like your life depends on it
- Examples that show the change
- Common mistakes CHR writers make and how to fix them
- How to write in sessions that get results
- Bridge and the art of the surprise
- Finishing touches for radio and playlists
- How to pitch your song once the lyrics are locked
- Exercises to make your CHR writing faster and sharper
- The 10 minute chorus
- The object diary
- The voicemail test
- Lyric examples to model
- Common questions artists ask about CHR lyrics
- Do CHR lyrics need to be simple
- How many times should the chorus repeat in the song
- Can I use slang and still get played on radio
- What if my chorus is too long
- Action plan to write a CHR ready lyric today
- FAQ
This guide is written for millennial and Gen Z artists who want lyrics that perform like athletes. You will get concrete workflows, hilarious but honest examples, real life scenarios you can relate to, and a finish plan that makes your song ready for radio and playlists. We explain every term and acronym so you never need to pretend you already knew what we meant.
What is Contemporary Hit Radio or CHR
Contemporary Hit Radio is a radio format that plays current popular music that appeals to a broad audience. Think of it as the mainstream hits station. Its playlist favors songs with immediate hooks, clear emotional statements, and lyrics that are easy to sing along with. CHR tracks often aim for strong first 15 seconds and a chorus that is a repeatable statement of feeling or identity.
Real life scenario: You are in a coffee shop and your song plays on the Bluetooth speaker. Two people at the next table mouth a line from your chorus before the barista finishes making their drink. That is CHR success. That is what your lyrics are being judged for.
Core principles for CHR lyrics
- Clarity Always say one thing clearly. Do not try to be cryptic on first listen.
- Memorability A chorus line that a stranger can text to someone else after hearing once.
- Singability Lyrics that feel comfortable to sing in the shower or a group chat voice note.
- Emotion with an image Combine a clear emotion with a small concrete detail to make it feel real.
- Repeatability Use a ring phrase or a repeated chorus motif that becomes an earworm.
How CHR lyrics differ from other styles
Indie lyrics might reward mystery. Country lyrics often live in story detail. CHR lyrics trade sustained ambiguity for immediate catch. That does not mean dumb. It means precise. A CHR lyric tells the listener what to feel and gives them a short, repeatable phrase to agree with. The best CHR lines are simple but unexpected in image or phrasing.
Start with the central idea
Before you write a single line, write one sentence that states the emotional promise of the song. Keep it short. Imagine texting it to a friend at 2 a.m. Use that sentence as a test. If you can say it in five words the idea is probably fast enough for radio.
Examples of strong emotional promises
- I will show up even if you do not.
- Tonight I am more interesting than my ex.
- I miss you but I have a plan.
Turn this sentence into a working title. If the title sings in your head, you are on the right track. The title should be singable and easy to text.
Structure that works on CHR
Radio listeners do not want to work to get your message. Give the song identity quickly. Here are three reliable structures for CHR lyricists.
Structure A: Fast hook
Intro hook, verse, pre chorus, chorus, verse, pre chorus, chorus, bridge, chorus. Use a short hook at the top so DJs can cue the song by the first eight bars.
Structure B: Hook up front
Intro, chorus, verse, chorus, post chorus, bridge, chorus. This places the chorus early and rewards short attention spans. Great for streaming era and TikTok clips.
Structure C: Story with a tag
Verse, pre chorus, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge that flips perspective, final chorus with a small lyric change. Use this when your verses bring important details and you want the chorus to resolve them.
Crafting the chorus that radio remembers
The chorus is the machine. It must be short enough to sing and big enough to claim the song. Use these rules as a checklist while you write.
- State the emotional promise in one clean sentence.
- Place the title in a prominent position where listeners can latch onto it.
- Use one vivid image or one strong consequence in the last line to reward attention.
- Keep syllable counts even across repeats so the chorus feels like a chant.
- Design a ring phrase that books the chorus. Ring phrase is a short line that opens and closes the chorus. It gives the chorus a shape your ear can remember.
Real life example
Core promise: I am done waiting for you to decide.
Working chorus
I am not waiting anymore. I put my keys in the bowl and walk out the door. I am not waiting anymore.
It is plain. It has an object. It repeats. It is easy to sing. That is CHR gold.
Verses for CHR: show cheaply but clearly
Verses should provide specifics that make the chorus feel earned. Use one or two objects, a time or place mention, and one small action per verse. Do not tell the whole story. Give the listener two or three frames that the chorus then resolves.
Before and after example
Before: I feel lonely in this apartment.
After: Noon and the apartment still smells like last night. Your sweater sits on the couch like a fossil of touch.
Verses are your chance to give color without slowing the song. Short images work for radio because they land quickly and leave room for the chorus to breathe.
Pre chorus as the engine
The pre chorus is where you increase energy and point to the chorus without giving it away. Use either a melodic climb, a rhythmic change, or a lyrical narrowing toward the chorus idea.
Tips
- Make the pre chorus shorter than the verse. It needs to feel like a buildup.
- Use shorter words and faster syllables so the chorus lands like a reward.
- Place one line that rhymes with the chorus title to make the release feel inevitable.
Post chorus and earworming
A post chorus is optional. It can be a single word or chant repeated with a melody that is easier to sing than the full chorus. Use it when your chorus has too much content and you want a simpler memory hook. Think of it like a logo. A one or two line chant that the crowd can shout back to the radio.
Prosody is your secret weapon
Prosody means the relationship between how words are stressed and where the music places the stress. Bad prosody makes songs feel awkward even when the words are smart. Good prosody makes the listener not think about the mechanics and instead feel the lyric.
How to check prosody in practice
- Speak the line naturally as if texting a friend.
- Mark the stressed syllables when you speak it.
- Align those stressed syllables with strong musical beats or held notes in your melody.
Real life test
If you feel a mismatch while singing the line then the lyric will feel off on the radio. Change the words or alter the melody until the stress aligns with the beat. This is a small fix that yields huge results.
Rhyme without sounding like a greeting card
Perfect rhyme every line and you feel like you are writing a nursery rhyme. Avoid awkward rhymes by using mixed rhyme strategies. Use internal rhymes, near rhymes, and family rhymes. Family rhymes are words that share similar vowel or consonant shapes without matching perfectly.
Examples of rhyme choices
- Perfect rhyme for impact: night and light
- Family rhyme for flow: late, make, say
- Internal rhyme to add movement: I stay awake and play the tape again
Place your strongest rhyme at the emotional turn of the chorus. That makes the impact feel earned rather than decorative.
Language choices that radio loves
Use modern, conversational language but include one or two slightly unexpected words that elevate the line. Keep slang but avoid dating yourself with hyper specific fads that will sound old in a year. Use verbs that carry action. Replace being verbs with action where possible.
Real life scenario
You are writing about a breakup. Instead of I am sad, write I fold your shirts into neat accusations. It is funnier to the ear and easier to picture.
Title placement and why it matters
Your title is a GPS for listeners. Place it where it can be heard and repeated. The most powerful place is on a long note in the chorus or as the last line of the chorus that closes the loop. Repeat it twice in the chorus if you can do it without sounding repetitive. Consider sprinkling it lightly in the pre chorus as a tease.
Write hooks that work for radio and social clips
Contemporary hit songs live on playlists and in 15 to 30 second clips. Write at least one line in the chorus or post chorus that can stand alone for a short video sound bite. This line should be emotional, clear, and easy to text. If your hook becomes a meme, your song gets a second life.
Melody basics for lyricists
You do not need conservatory training to write a melody that supports lyrics. Focus on contour that helps the words. A simple rule for CHR is to keep the chorus slightly higher in range than the verse and to use a small leap into the chorus title followed by stepwise motion. This makes the title feel triumphant without being vocally exhausting.
Topline process that keeps the lyrics alive
- Vowel improv Pass. Sing vowels over a loop and record. Pick the gestures that repeat naturally.
- Phrase mapping. Clap the rhythm and count syllables of the best gestures. This becomes your lyric grid.
- Title anchoring. Put the title on the most singable gesture in the chorus.
- Prosody check. Speak the lyric to confirm stressed syllables match the melody.
Editing like your life depends on it
Editing is where good songs become great songs. Use a ruthless pass called the Tighten pass. Your job is to remove anything that does not pull the listener forward. If a line repeats information already given without adding an image or a consequence then cut it.
Tighten pass checklist
- Replace abstract words with concrete images.
- Delete any line longer than twelve syllables if it does not sing easily.
- Remove extra adjectives. One vivid verb beats three sleepy modifiers.
- Make sure the chorus contains the song title or the emotional promise.
Examples that show the change
Theme: I choose myself tonight.
Before
I am choosing to go out and have fun tonight. I think I will be okay.
After
I paint on lipstick like an apology I do not need. I leave my house with the light still on.
Why the after works
It has a concrete action. It includes a small object. It implies emotion rather than announcing it. It is easier to sing and easier to picture while driving.
Common mistakes CHR writers make and how to fix them
- Too clever for clarity If listeners have to work to understand the chorus you lost them. Fix by rephrasing the chorus in plain speech and test it on five strangers.
- Overstuffed choruses If your chorus has too many ideas pick one and save the rest for a bridge or a verse. Fix by asking which line can be removed without changing the promise.
- Bad prosody If singing the line feels awkward then redo the line or move the stressed syllable. Fix by speaking each line naturally and aligning those stresses with strong beats.
- Forgetting the title If the title is hidden the song will not stick. Fix by placing the title on the chorus downbeat or a held note. Repeat it.
How to write in sessions that get results
Sessions often implode because people argue taste and lose momentum. Use a session template to keep the work moving and to keep the ego out of the chorus.
Two hour lyric session template
- 20 minutes: Discuss the core promise and test the title options.
- 30 minutes: Vowel pass and melody improv over a loop. Record everything.
- 30 minutes: Draft two chorus options. Pick one quickly. Do not overthink.
- 20 minutes: Write verse one with two images and a time or place crumb.
- 20 minutes: Pre chorus and first edit pass. Mark lines that feel weak.
Real world tip
Bring your phone and record rough voice memos. Many CHR ideas start as a quick memo from the grocery store. If it sounds good in your bathroom voicemail it can be a hit on the radio.
Bridge and the art of the surprise
The bridge is where you can flip perspective or add a new detail that reframes the song. Keep it short and make it count. The best bridges sound different in texture and melody so the return to the chorus feels like a homecoming.
Bridge recipe
- Introduce one new image or one consequence.
- Change the vocal rhythm so the chorus return feels larger.
- Keep it under eight lines and use a vocal delivery that contrasts with the chorus.
Finishing touches for radio and playlists
Once the lyrics, melody, and arrangement sit well, do small things to make the song work in the real world of radio and streaming.
- First hook by the first 30 seconds. Radio DJs and playlist curators expect identity early.
- Keep intros short. Long intros make a song harder to place on radio or in short clips.
- Make the chorus easy to clip for 15 seconds. If someone can use it under a voice over your song will travel.
- Have a clean version if your lyrics include explicit words. Radio friendly versions matter.
How to pitch your song once the lyrics are locked
Lyrics matter to programmers because they shape how DJs and listeners talk about a track. Prepare a short pitch that highlights the chorus line and the image that makes the song different. Send a one paragraph pitch and a 60 second clip that opens with the chorus or an intro hook.
Pitch template
One sentence about the vibe. One sentence with the chorus line quoted. One sentence that explains why it matters now.
Example
Bright modern pop with a late night confidence vibe. Chorus quote: I put my keys in the bowl and walk out the door. Timely because people are looking for songs about self worth and moving forward after hard years.
Exercises to make your CHR writing faster and sharper
The 10 minute chorus
- Set a timer for 10 minutes.
- Play a two chord loop.
- Sing nonsense vowels until a hook appears.
- Pick one repeatable line and write a two line chorus around it.
The object diary
Spend five minutes writing five sentences about one object in your room. Give it a verb each time. Use one sentence as a chorus image. This builds specificity quickly.
The voicemail test
Record the chorus as if you are leaving it as a voicemail for a friend. If the phrase works in that format it will work in radio spots and short clips.
Lyric examples to model
Theme: Ghosting a memory
Verse: I close the door on your shadow at midnight. The kettle clicks like it remembers your voice.
Pre: I fold the notes you left into a shape I can put in a drawer.
Chorus: I do not answer when your name lights up my phone. I learn to breathe with the volume down. I do not answer anymore.
Theme: New confidence
Verse: My jeans fit like a new sentence. I walk past your window and the city does not care.
Pre: The elevator knows my hair and stops early.
Chorus: I show up like I already own the room. Say my name like a chorus. I am walking in, I am walking in.
Common questions artists ask about CHR lyrics
Do CHR lyrics need to be simple
Yes and no. Simplicity in structure and clarity is essential. Yet you can be original with fresh imagery and an unusual turn of phrase. Simplicity is about economy not about being boring. A single strong line of imagery will make a simple chorus unforgettable.
How many times should the chorus repeat in the song
Most hits repeat the chorus two to four times. The number is less important than the timing. Aim to get the chorus in by bar 32 at the latest. Repeat enough so it lands in memory but not so often that it wears out its welcome. A third chorus can be your final payoff with added harmony or a small lyric change.
Can I use slang and still get played on radio
Yes. Use slang that feels natural to your audience and that you can sing honestly. Avoid extremely niche slang that will age badly. If your slang is core to the character of the song then own it and make sure the hook still reads clearly to someone who does not know the slang.
What if my chorus is too long
Trim it. A chorus that contains too many ideas is hard to clip for streaming and hard to remember. Keep the core promise in one line and use another line as a short consequence or image. You can use a post chorus for repeated earworm material.
Action plan to write a CHR ready lyric today
- Write one sentence that states the emotional promise. Make it short enough to text.
- Turn that sentence into a working title and sing it on vowels for two minutes over a loop.
- Draft two chorus options using the title. Keep each chorus to three lines or less.
- Pick the best chorus. Write one verse that adds two concrete images and a time or place.
- Write a pre chorus that points to the chorus without saying it. Use shorter words and a melodic climb.
- Do a prosody check by speaking the lines and aligning stresses to beats.
- Run the Tighten pass to remove anything not moving the song forward.
- Record a 60 second clip that opens with your chorus or an intro hook. Use it for pitching and social clips.
FAQ
What is the ideal chorus length for radio
Keep the chorus short and focused. A strong radio chorus is often one to three lines with a clear title line. The goal is instant recognition and repeatability. If the chorus can be clipped into a 15 second snippet and still convey the song idea you are in the right zone.
How do I make a chorus singable
Use comfortable vowel sounds on long notes. Avoid crowded consonant clusters on held notes. Place the title on a singable vowel like ah or oh. Keep the melody range safe for most singers to increase the chance listeners will sing along.
Can I write CHR lyrics alone or do I need co writers
Both options work. Co writing brings extra ideas and can help shape hook lines quickly. Writing alone gives you full control over the voice. Many hit writers alternate between both depending on the project. The key is being honest about where your strengths are and inviting collaborators who cover what you miss.
How do I test if a lyric works for CHR
Play the chorus for ten people who do not know you. Ask them to text back the line they remember. If they get the chorus title or the ring phrase you are on track. Also test the chorus in a 15 second clip and watch how people react. Does it loop in their head? Do they hum it later? Those are strong signals.
What makes a chorus go viral on social platforms
Short, emotionally clear lines that are easy to mimic and that can be used by creators in multiple contexts. Tropes like empowerment, breakup recovery, and party vibes travel well when the chorus is textable and singable. A small twist in imagery or a memorable verb makes creators want to use your line.
