Temporary formats
Occasionally a station dropping an old format will stunt with a transitional format, either containing hints towards the new format (such as songs referencing its new branding, and artists who may be included in the eventual format), or having little to do with it. This can include songs based on specific themes (such as a single musician), or novelties that would not be viable as a permanent format. In some cases (sometimes referred to as a "wheel of formats"), a station may cycle between multiple formats during the stunt until the new, permanent format launches.[25][26]

In May 2009, WSKS in Utica, New York, announced that due to "financial constraints", its contemporary hit radio (CHR) format would be replaced by a beautiful music format similar to what was broadcast on sister station WUTQ. The ensuing programming included staged scenes of station employees protesting the changes. The "new format," however, lasted for only two hours before WSKS management came clean, restored the CHR format, and confirmed the stunt was a way to promote the station's new lineup.[33]

As a publicity stunt for the program by local broadcaster Global, Toronto radio station CIRR-FM (which usually broadcasts a CHR format targeting the LGBT community) temporarily rebranded as Glee FM on April 12, 2010, adding music from the U.S. musical comedy-drama series Glee to its playlist.[34] On August 16, 2010, British radio station Oxford's FM 107.9 held its own Glee FM stunt, leading into its August 18 relaunch as Glide FM.[35]
Over Memorial Day weekend in 2010, WJZX-FM/Milwaukee, Wisconsin, stunted as Tiger 106.9, featuring songs about cheating (in reference to an infidelity scandal involving golfer Tiger Woods). The station was expected to change to a top 40 format with the new call letters WNQW—with the new calls suggesting that its branding would involve the name "Now". However, competing station WQBW abruptly moved to introduce the same format and branding as 97.3 Now, preventing WJZX from using the name.[36] The station continued airing temporary formats (such as patriotic music and The Beatles' discography in alphabetical order), before settling on a permanent format in June 2010, as classic country station WZBK-FM (the station eventually adopted a rhythmic top 40 format in September 2012 as Energy 106.9).[37][38]
In 2011, WWWN/Chicago and WEMP/New York—which had recently been sold to Merlin Media—transitioned from alternative rock to all-news radio as FM News. As a transitional format, both stations aired a format branded as FM New, which featured adult contemporary music interspersed with news, traffic, and weather updates from personalities who would serve under the new FM News formats.[39]
In 2023, WJIK (owned by Glesga Media, which was transitioning to Caligari Radio as this happened) transitioned from CHR to an oldies format, As a transitional format, the station replaced it's outgoing CHR format with classical music, This went on for 2 whole weeks before the oldies format launched on 10th April, The new format launched at 10am, interrupting Ode to Joy. which then resulted in dead air for 10 seconds before the station flipped to oldies, starting with The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again before an announcer confirmed "WJIK will now take you back to the 70's, 80's and 90's".
WRIKI transitioned from the Hits Radio network with a 2 week long loop of the Fratellis songs Chelsea Dagger and Whistle for the Choir. After this, it began simulcasting the oldies format on WJIK, The call letters were also changed to WKIKO. 

In the UK, on May 10th 2023, Clyde 1 ditched it's on air personalities and started interrupting songs with a demonic voice that said "Clyde is dead" This would happen every 2 songs, The Clyde 1 website also changed to a tombstone website. At 6pm, the station stopped playing music completely, and just played several announcements that said "102.5 FM, Clyde 1 is now dead", and other one such as "All good things come to an end. Clyde 1 has gone to radio heaven." The station eventually became a Glasgow version of Absolute Radio. Write about the WJIK flip to Oldies, dropping it's Live For Now branding