Smooth Jazz (LOL).
They mean *on this board*, David. Apparently your sarcasm detector needs a refresh.
It was just a trendier version of B/EZ.
Why would you say it is debated? It's a simple case of a format that came out of the late 80's, and declined going into the 00's due to audience aging. Fairly clear trajectory.
That being said, no format has risen to such popularity to virtually nothing in as short of a time.
For smooth jazz, it seemed to have reached its peak by the mid-late 90’s and was pretty much gone from everywhere within a few years (with a few exceptions, of course)
That being said, no format has risen to such popularity to virtually nothing in as short of a time. They said big band as a format was dead in the 70’s, yet there were still numerous stations running the format into the early 2000’s.
Heck, even adult hits has found a fairly good and stable position after being considered the greatest thing since sliced bread by the industry about 10 years ago.
For smooth jazz, it seemed to have reached its peak by the mid-late 90’s and was pretty much gone from everywhere within a few years (with a few exceptions, of course)
The fact that there is still a satellite-delivered format available to radio stations for smooth jazz is kinda shocking to me. There cannot be more than a half dozen clients (including our 102.9, I believe)
Anyway...on to more pressing radio issues, like KRKO not playing Kokomo. I’m disappointed...
How about the short-lived Jamming Oldies format that in my market seemed to lean heavily on crossover urban hits and disco? It seemed to take off like wildfire to fizzle almost as quickly as it began...at least here.
How about the short-lived Jamming Oldies format that in my market seemed to lean heavily on crossover urban hits and disco? It seemed to take off like wildfire to fizzle almost as quickly as it began...at least here.
Still here on a translator on 103.7 in Albuquerque (plus translators in Santa Fe and Tijeras). Very professional and well done.
Throwback Hip Hop did not feel as if it had as good of a launch as the “format de jour” as say Adult Hits 8 years prior had...or even Jammin’ Oldies 8 years before that! That being said, classic hip hop as a format has proven itself as a good niche format in select large markets...that’s about it.
That being said, I think David’s answer of Disco may be a contender as the whole thing went from start, to peak, to finish in about 30 months. And I don’t think anybody was running an all-disco format after, let’s say, 1983...so Smooth Jazz has far more staying power!
Disco was likely the shortest. I only heard one station that opted for that format, KDNT FM in Denton, Texas with their 100 kw signal reaching Dallas/Fort Worth. It was automated and seemed to opt for the album length versions. I wasn't a fan but I'd listen for a while when in the area. I understand they showed up in the ratings for the first time with that format. I'm sure the playlist was a short one and very few tunes that weren't currents.I doubt the format lasted long. I'm curious what a playlist looked like.
I found an October 1978 WKTU playlist, right after the launch and when they got about an 11 share.
http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?sv=42310&ix=5&it=6&ic=30&s1=-1&q=wktu
(So many forgettable songs)
That is a cool site with thousands of music charts and lists.