The Format, an American indie rock band formed in 2002, is known for its unique blend of indie, alternative, punk, and folk music with influences of 1960s and 1970s pop music. The duo of Nate Ruess and Sam Means, childhood friends, formed the band after playing together in the band Nevergonnascore. The band's name, The Format, was chosen as a tongue-in-cheek jab at the music industry's preference for a standardized "format" for a hit.

Their debut studio album, Interventions + Lullabies, was released in 2003 and became locally popular on Phoenix radio station KEDJ, leading to the band's signing with Elektra Records. The album sold over 100,000 copies in the US, and their fan base grew rapidly due to extensive touring and word of mouth. The band's second EP, Snails, was released with Atlantic Records in 2005. But the label's executives were not impressed with their demos, which were heavily influenced by 1970s pop music, and the band was subsequently released from their contract.

Undeterred, The Format decided to release their second album, Dog Problems, themselves through their newly established imprint label, The Vanity Label. The album was leaked two months before its release, so the band decided to release it immediately via the Nettwerk Music Store for $7.99, which led to the sale of over 2,000 digital copies before the album's official release. Dog Problems received critical acclaim, and The Format gained more attention, touring consistently and supporting The All American Rejects in the UK.

In 2007, the band offered Dog Problems for free on their official website for a limited time, and it was downloaded by 36,000 people. The band played shows in Tokyo, Japan, and was featured on Last Call with Carson Daly twice. They also co-headlined with Guster on their Campus Consciousness tour and toured with various other bands.

After releasing several albums and EPs, the band announced a hiatus in 2008. However, in 2020, The Format announced a return from their hiatu.

How to hire The Format for an event