Is Smooth Jazz Radio Confused?

[radioduck]

I was listening to CD 101.9/WQCD the Smooth Jazz station in New York and I heard It Keeps You Running by the Dubee Brothers. That is a good song but does that belong on a smooth jazz station?

Sometimes it seems that smooth jazz stations are confused as far as playing vocals.

What is being played on some smooth jazz stations that might cause confusion or possible tuneout in your opinion? Or is this the right way to go when programming the format?

 

[cklw800]

> I was listening to CD 101.9/WQCD the Smooth Jazz station in
> New York and I heard It Keeps You Running by the Dubee
> Brothers. That is a good song but does that belong on a
> smooth jazz station?
>
> Sometimes it seems that smooth jazz stations are confused as
> far as playing vocals.
>
> What is being played on some smooth jazz stations that might
> cause confusion or possible tuneout in your opinion? Or is
> this the right way to go when programming the format?

Hey, Radioduck!

That's been in the format for awhile, so has their You Belong To Me and What A Fool Believes. They do it on purpose. They're not confused at all. Maybe with HD now and an inevitable (but hopefuly saleable) splinter format will give you what I think you're hinting at. A format with mostly instrumentals and no reliance on songs from other formats to draw people in. Maybe we can hear Ronnie Laws, Lonnie Liston Smith, early Hancock and the Crusaders again alongside Peter White, Boney James and Paul Brown. But the current Smooth Jazz format having to operate in this tight economic climate will have to play it safe for Wall Street. So until things change, like satellite or HD radio having influential success, expect over-the-air Smooth Jazz to target Wall Street with its programming. It will always have to look for a "mood"---a "feel"---the reason for the seemingly weird song choices. Even artists in the studio---after having recorded a song---have to ponder "will this work for Wall Street?" Because that's the only way they'll have a chance to reap any financial benefit from their recorded works.


>

 

[alq60]

> > I was listening to CD 101.9/WQCD the Smooth Jazz station
> in
> > New York and I heard It Keeps You Running by the Dubee
> > Brothers. That is a good song but does that belong on a
> > smooth jazz station?
> >
> > Sometimes it seems that smooth jazz stations are confused
> as
> > far as playing vocals.
> >
> > What is being played on some smooth jazz stations that
> might
> > cause confusion or possible tuneout in your opinion? Or
> is
> > this the right way to go when programming the format?
>
> Hey, Radioduck!
>
> That's been in the format for awhile, so has their You
> Belong To Me and What A Fool Believes. They do it on
> purpose. They're not confused at all. Maybe with HD now
> and an inevitable (but hopefuly saleable) splinter format
> will give you what I think you're hinting at. A format with
> mostly instrumentals and no reliance on songs from other
> formats to draw people in. Maybe we can hear Ronnie Laws,
> Lonnie Liston Smith, early Hancock and the Crusaders again
> alongside Peter White, Boney James and Paul Brown. But the
> current Smooth Jazz format having to operate in this tight
> economic climate will have to play it safe for Wall Street.
> So until things change, like satellite or HD radio having
> influential success, expect over-the-air Smooth Jazz to
> target Wall Street with its programming. It will always
> have to look for a "mood"---a "feel"---the reason for the
> seemingly weird song choices. Even artists in the
> studio---after having recorded a song---have to ponder "will
> this work for Wall Street?" Because that's the only way
> they'll have a chance to reap any financial benefit from
> their recorded works.
>
>
> >I agree. The Smooth Jazz format is definitely a "mood" or "feel" format. It's all about the tempo, structure and mood. One thing that is cool, many of the artists smooth jazz plays were rockers at one time. So it also hits the right demographic.
>

 

[crushtl]

> > > I was listening to CD 101.9/WQCD the Smooth Jazz station
>
> > in
> > > New York and I heard It Keeps You Running by the Dubee
> > > Brothers. That is a good song but does that belong on a
>
> > > smooth jazz station?
> > >
> > > Sometimes it seems that smooth jazz stations are
> confused
> > as
> > > far as playing vocals.
> > >
> > > What is being played on some smooth jazz stations that
> > might
> > > cause confusion or possible tuneout in your opinion? Or
>
> > is
> > > this the right way to go when programming the format?
> >
> > Hey, Radioduck!
> >
> > That's been in the format for awhile, so has their You
> > Belong To Me and What A Fool Believes. They do it on
> > purpose. They're not confused at all. Maybe with HD now
> > and an inevitable (but hopefuly saleable) splinter format
> > will give you what I think you're hinting at. A format
> with
> > mostly instrumentals and no reliance on songs from other
> > formats to draw people in. Maybe we can hear Ronnie Laws,
>
> > Lonnie Liston Smith, early Hancock and the Crusaders again
>
> > alongside Peter White, Boney James and Paul Brown. But
> the
> > current Smooth Jazz format having to operate in this tight
>
> > economic climate will have to play it safe for Wall
> Street.
> > So until things change, like satellite or HD radio having
> > influential success, expect over-the-air Smooth Jazz to
> > target Wall Street with its programming. It will always
> > have to look for a "mood"---a "feel"---the reason for the
> > seemingly weird song choices. Even artists in the
> > studio---after having recorded a song---have to ponder
> "will
> > this work for Wall Street?" Because that's the only way
> > they'll have a chance to reap any financial benefit from
> > their recorded works.
> >
> >
> > >I agree. The Smooth Jazz format is definitely a "mood" or
> "feel" format. It's all about the tempo, structure and mood.
> One thing that is cool, many of the artists smooth jazz
> plays were rockers at one time. So it also hits the right
> demographic.
> >
>
It’s for reasons like this that terrestrial radio lost me. Some of us don’t want to hear The Doobies while listening to contemporary jazz. I think Smooth Jazz radio is confused and that’s why I gave up on it. I get what I want to hear as a contemporary jazz fan on XM’s Watercolors and am happy to pay for it. I won’t listen to Smooth Jazz radio anymore. I love the Doobies, Steely Dan, and Motown, I just don’t want to hear them when I want to listen to Boney James and Paul Brown.

 

[Nock]

> It’s > for reasons like this that terrestrial radio lost me.
> Some of us don’t want to hear The Doobies while listening to
> contemporary jazz. I think Smooth Jazz radio is confused
> and that’s why I gave up on it. I get what I want to hear
> as a contemporary jazz fan on XM’s Watercolors and am happy
> to pay for it. I won’t listen to Smooth Jazz radio anymore.
> I love the Doobies, Steely Dan, and Motown, I just don’t
> want to hear them when I want to listen to Boney James and
> Paul Brown.
>

Couldn't agree any more with you. I pay for Watercolors and have no problem with it knowing that it is going to be around for a long time and not survive the suits of corporate radio. Here is a challenge for commercial smooth jazz radio. Just received the new Pieces Of A Dream cd (which is pretty darn good) How long before it gets added? 1 month? 2 months? Longer? And 9 - 12 months from now will you still be calling it "something new from the new Pieces of A Dream cd Pillow talk?" I am sure XM will have it on before long.

Nock

 

[cklw800]

> > It’s > for reasons like this that terrestrial radio lost
> me.
> > Some of us don’t want to hear The Doobies while listening
> to
> > contemporary jazz. I think Smooth Jazz radio is confused
> > and that’s why I gave up on it. I get what I want to hear
>
> > as a contemporary jazz fan on XM’s Watercolors and am
> happy
> > to pay for it. I won’t listen to Smooth Jazz radio
> anymore.
> > I love the Doobies, Steely Dan, and Motown, I just don’t
> > want to hear them when I want to listen to Boney James and
>
> > Paul Brown.
> >
>
> Couldn't agree any more with you. I pay for Watercolors and
> have no problem with it knowing that it is going to be
> around for a long time and not survive the suits of
> corporate radio. Here is a challenge for commercial smooth
> jazz radio. Just received the new Pieces Of A Dream cd
> (which is pretty darn good) How long before it gets added?
> 1 month? 2 months? Longer? And 9 - 12 months from now will
> you still be calling it "something new from the new Pieces
> of A Dream cd Pillow talk?" I am sure XM will have it on
> before long.
>
> Nock

I hear you, Nock. I have that CD too and I've selected tracks from several categories:

1. Favorite tracks that may not be selected for airplay: "House Arrest". Sounds like a heavier Bona Fide and Down To The Bone. "Teresa"...perfect fit for SJ but I like it too much. Has a wow factor that seems to be taboo in SJ.

2. Least favorite track but mostly likely will make it on SJ..Christopher Cross' "Sailing."

3. An OK song...will likely make it on SJ "Sincere."

The CD might get ingnored altogehter (Kinda like the new Bonda Fide "SOUL LOUNGE" which I also have)but if House Arrest or Teresa makes it...please let me (us) know. I don't have satellite and can only pick up the local SJ when in my car...and that's only two or three songs worth.

None of this is the fault of the people who work at those stations I'm sure. I don't really know how it's done, but I'm sure they're told by higher ups or maybe the parent company or consultant firm what can make it on. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a person or two who actually runs the music on these stations that has this and other CDs in their own collection and just dying to play it but can't.

 

[darksoldier]

> > > It’s > for reasons like this that terrestrial radio lost
>
> > me.
> > > Some of us don’t want to hear The Doobies while
> listening
> > to
> > > contemporary jazz. I think Smooth Jazz radio is
> confused
> > > and that’s why I gave up on it. I get what I want to
> hear
> >
> > > as a contemporary jazz fan on XM’s Watercolors and am
> > happy
> > > to pay for it. I won’t listen to Smooth Jazz radio
> > anymore.
> > > I love the Doobies, Steely Dan, and Motown, I just
> don’t
> > > want to hear them when I want to listen to Boney James
> and
> >
> > > Paul Brown.
> > >
> >
> > Couldn't agree any more with you. I pay for Watercolors
> and
> > have no problem with it knowing that it is going to be
> > around for a long time and not survive the suits of
> > corporate radio. Here is a challenge for commercial
> smooth
> > jazz radio. Just received the new Pieces Of A Dream cd
> > (which is pretty darn good) How long before it gets
> added?
> > 1 month? 2 months? Longer? And 9 - 12 months from now will
>
> > you still be calling it "something new from the new Pieces
>
> > of A Dream cd Pillow talk?" I am sure XM will have it on
> > before long.
> >
> > Nock
>
> I hear you, Nock. I have that CD too and I've selected
> tracks from several categories:
>
> 1. Favorite tracks that may not be selected for airplay:
> "House Arrest". Sounds like a heavier Bona Fide and Down To
> The Bone. "Teresa"...perfect fit for SJ but I like it too
> much. Has a wow factor that seems to be taboo in SJ.
>
> 2. Least favorite track but mostly likely will make it on
> SJ..Christopher Cross' "Sailing."
>
> 3. An OK song...will likely make it on SJ "Sincere."
>
> The CD might get ingnored altogehter (Kinda like the new
> Bonda Fide "SOUL LOUNGE" which I also have)but if House
> Arrest or Teresa makes it...please let me (us) know. I
> don't have satellite and can only pick up the local SJ when
> in my car...and that's only two or three songs worth.
>
> None of this is the fault of the people who work at those
> stations I'm sure. I don't really know how it's done, but
> I'm sure they're told by higher ups or maybe the parent
> company or consultant firm what can make it on. I wouldn't
> be surprised if there is a person or two who actually runs
> the music on these stations that has this and other CDs in
> their own collection and just dying to play it but can't.
>

Everyone here has a great point.
There is a confusion, but it is not really with the music. The disconnect is between what is truly a part of the format, and what a suit can sell.

No doubt SJ is a mood, but the only reason Motown fits, is because it sells. You belong to me or Keep Forgettin maybe..., What about artists that are now categorized as Neo Soul?...Kem, Will Downing (already in the format) etc. I see a possible fit regarding mood with them as well.

Advertisers, however, are looking for foreground formats to make buys with. SJ has been considered as background for a while, and that is why the format, in spite of good ratings, is disappearing in many markets. Motown, Doobie Bros., etc. bring the perception of foreground to the agencies. As always, it ain't about the format, the ratings, or the listener....ITS ABOUT THE REVENUE. This is why so many are willing to pay for XM or Sirius, and why those outlets are more true to the formats....they are not beholding to the advertiser, but rather the listener. When in doubt, follow the money trail.

 

[X-Man]

I got a couple of songs that I've heard on Smooth Jazz:What about Let's Groove by Earth Wind & Fire, Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye, and My Kinda Girl by Babyace. Since when are those songs consider Smooth Jazz? I agree that format is confused and they're scrambling trying to fix the format by picking out old songs from the 70's like Ooh Baby Baby by Linda Ronstadt and How Long by Ace. There's a whole lot of Jazz that's not being exposed on Smooth Jazz that could be played, but what do we know

 

[nativeangelino]

Hello,Out here in Southern California we have a station called "94.7 The Wave". Four or five years ago, this station could be found in the top 5 of the local ratings. At that time, probably 95% of The Waves music was "instrumental only". In recent years, the station has been losing points. Now, it's around #12 or #15 in the ratings. I hear it's because people are "losing interest" in smooth jazz as we have come to know it. Lately, "94.7 The Wave" has been playing more R & B and their ratings have since stabilzed (Gladys Knight, Temps, Earth W & F; Smoky, etc.). Tastes in music continually change as the years go by. "94.7 The Wave" is trying to cope with the changes.

 

[Nock]

By stepping back? I hope our musical tastes change for the better?Nock

 

[News1360]

I'm give you comparisions of 2 Smooth Jazz Stations:

WSSJ-FM 92.3 From my ex-home of Savannah, GA.

WJZZ-FM 107.3 Here in Atlanta.

WSSJ plays satellite-feed jazz from a network Called "Smooth Jazz" and is owned by
Tamera Broadcasting based somewhere in Florida (They have two other smotth jazz stations in Jacksonville and St Augustine).

WJZZ (A Radio One station) plays a mixture of smooth jazz (like Dave Kozz), light rock (like Phil Collins' "Hold On") and soft R&B (like Earth, Wind, and Fire's "The Reason Why"). The DJ's On WJZZ are all local (automated after midnight). Also, this station often plays the same song a few days later.

Both stations use the familiar "30 minute set of music" format (an ID is heard behind every song on WJZZ in their music set).

WSSJ main ID is heard at top of the hour.
WJZZ main ID follows the last song that's played.

WSSJ carries news updates (and sports) from GNN here in Atlanta.
WJZZ carries only two local newscasts and that's at 6 and 7:30 a.m.

There's your comparision.

 

[DougD]

> > > I was listening to CD 101.9/WQCD the Smooth Jazz station
>
> > in
> > > New York and I heard It Keeps You Running by the Dubee
> > > Brothers. That is a good song but does that belong on a
>
> > > smooth jazz station?
>
>
It’s for reasons like this that terrestrial radio lost me. Some of us don’t want to hear The Doobies while listening to contemporary jazz. I think Smooth Jazz radio is confused and that’s why I gave up on it. I get what I want to hear as a contemporary jazz fan on XM’s Watercolors and am happy to pay for it. I won’t listen to Smooth Jazz radio anymore. I love the Doobies, Steely Dan, and Motown, I just don’t want to hear them when I want to listen to Boney James and Paul Brown.

This is why I can't stand to listen to so-called "oldies" radio anymore.
Buddy Holly? Who's he? Four Seasons? Never heard of 'em.
Instead, you get endless Santana, Andy Kim, etc., that passes for oldies.

One supposed oldies station in LA area recently played "another forgotten oldie". Was it some lost song rarely heard on the radio?
Nope. MONY MONY, a song played nearly every hour in the format.

THe boobs running the joint haven't a clue.