Its playlist is characterized by non-mainstream or underground artists of various music genres, such as electro, new wave, reggae, jazz, hip hop and world music.

Since its creation, the station has been owned by the Nova Press company, which also owns the record label Nova Records and the jazz-oriented radio station TSF Jazz.

Around 1991, Nova changed its musical programming again, to include acid jazz and French rap.

Throughout the station's history, several well-known Parisians have had shows on Radio Nova, including Ariel Wizman, Edouard Baer, Jamel Debbouze, Gilles Peterson, Ivan Smagghe, Laurent Garnier, David Guetta and Yassine Belattar.

[citation needed] In September 2011, Nova and TSF Jazz left the GIE Les Indés Radios to commercialize national advertising via their own Nova Régie.