If the type of modulation you are talking about is FM, then the spectral content depends on its modulation index (M or $\beta$). The full equation for the output is (for a sinusoidal input only): ![FM modulation with tones][1] The term inside the cosine is not easy to isolate. With some algebra it can be separated out using bessel functions: ![enter image description here][2] ![enter image description here][3] ![enter image description here][4] So you can see that this signal has frequency components at $f_c + n*f_m$. Where n is $-\infty$ to $+\infty$. **Shocking isn't it?** The Bessel Function $J_n\{\beta\}$ tends to approach zero at large values of n, but it is counter-intuitive to see all this frequency content. So a simple sine wave modulation at frequency Fm can produce a variety of spectra depending on its modulation index (M or $\beta$) which is a ratio of the change in frequency deviation ($\Delta$f) to the maximum frequency of the modulated signal ($f_{m(max)}$). See the plots for different values of M for the same modulating tone at frequency $f_m$ where $M=\frac{\Delta f}{f_m}$ ![FM spectra][5] In reality, [Carson's Rule][6] is applied to limit the spectral content to about 98% of all the energy. This bandwidth is double the frequency deviation plus the maximum frequency of the input modulation content. ![equation][7] So to answer your question the spectral content is not necessarily directly related to the modulated signal spectra with FM. It's periodic, sure, but there is a lot of content. If you knew the exact modulation parameters you could try to work backwards and estimate the modulated input based on relative amplitudes and spectral frequencies. [1]: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/RadCom/part12/Images/page1/Eqn31.gif [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/k6gS3.gif [3]: https://i.sstatic.net/wLNy2.gif [4]: https://i.sstatic.net/lTNZa.gif [5]: https://i.sstatic.net/hACMV.gif [6]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_bandwidth_rule [7]: https://i.sstatic.net/sRA7V.png