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87.7 Chicago goes Smooth AC?

C

ChrisInMI

Looking at the playlist on yes.com, it appears WLFM 87.7 Chicago has flipped to the Smooth AC network. The playlist seems to match up with that of WXJZ which as we all know just flipped Smooth AC. They don't stream so I have no way of knowing but even the dayparts which are listed on the website as local are using the Smooth AC playlist. MAJOR disappointment but I can't say I'm surprised. With Smooth Jazz Network affiliates continuing to drop like flies, looks like they will continue to promote the hell out of the Smooth AC network, or perhaps what has been speculated on this board is true and they'll just drop the network and flip all the remaining stations to Smooth AC.

The Smooth Jazz Network's website still lists both WLFM and WXJZ as affiliates. And the Smooth AC website makes no mention of WLFM.
 
ChrisInMI said:
Looking at the playlist on yes.com, it appears WLFM 87.7 Chicago has flipped to the Smooth AC network. The playlist seems to match up with that of WXJZ which as we all know just flipped Smooth AC. They don't stream so I have no way of knowing but even the dayparts which are listed on the website as local are using the Smooth AC playlist. MAJOR disappointment but I can't say I'm surprised. With Smooth Jazz Network affiliates continuing to drop like flies, looks like they will continue to promote the hell out of the Smooth AC network, or perhaps what has been speculated on this board is true and they'll just drop the network and flip all the remaining stations to Smooth AC.

The Smooth Jazz Network's website still lists both WLFM and WXJZ as affiliates. And the Smooth AC website makes no mention of WLFM.
Click to expand...

I see what you mean about WLFM, just looked at the playlist. They are going to try to stream sometime in the near future from what I heard.

KYOT in Phoenix is another station that may soon change to the Smooth AC Network. Their playlist is more leaning towards more AC than Smooth Jazz.
 
With the "Timeless Cool" format gone from AM 950 and moved to a signal which barely reaches the metro at all, Chicago fans of contemporary jazz now have two fewer options. I am going to be in the Chicago area for an overnight trip this weekend and am EXTREMELY disappointed in this. WLFM used to be the station I'd use to relax on my trips out there... looks like now it's going to be WFMT (not that I'm complaining about that, I love classical music too).

On the east side of the metro, though, there is WEFM 95.9 FM in Michigan City. Their nighttime and weekend programming is a mixture of smooth jazz and AC vocals, but it's not the mix of AC vocals you'd expect on a BA affiliate. Yes, there is Luther, Anita, Sade, but there is also the Carpenters, Streisand, Manilow, and "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian. It's really more of an Easy Listening format than SJ, but it is more SJ than WLFM is now.
 
Rick has a long time relationship with BA and LFM was basically using the BA smooth jazz playlist but for a noncommercial station
to flip raises some questions since they don't have to live by ratings. Was fund raising not successful. Were the ratings that they did get not doing well. Then change the approach and play a different instrumental music mix that is more up to date rather than going A/C-Urban A/C gold.
 
The list of affiliates for the smooth jazz network on Kepler's site is getting smaller and smaller. With a formerly very good local station like WXJZ and now WLFM (a tiny station, but one that when it signed on seemed very committed to the format) going with the smooth AC format, I predict Kepler is really pushing the switch to the smooth AC network. He probably sees stations dropping like flies, so he's trying to save his business by pushing stations onto this new network. Eventually, I predict, within 6 months to a year, the smooth jazz network will go away and it'll just be the smooth AC network.
 
Interstate 78 said:
The list of affiliates for the smooth jazz network on Kepler's site is getting smaller and smaller. With a formerly very good local station like WXJZ and now WLFM (a tiny station, but one that when it signed on seemed very committed to the format) going with the smooth AC format, I predict Kepler is really pushing the switch to the smooth AC network. He probably sees stations dropping like flies, so he's trying to save his business by pushing stations onto this new network. Eventually, I predict, within 6 months to a year, the smooth jazz network will go away and it'll just be the smooth AC network.
Click to expand...

I think Interstate 78's analysis is spot on here. In Kepler's mind, he probably believes he's the one who created the format, so he should be the one who closes the door on it. It can't happen soon enough.
 
AnotherCat: What non-commercial station are we talking about? I've only been to Chicago once since WLFM signed on (spring 2010), but it was not operated as a non-commercial station at that time.
 
The FM band from 88.1-91.9 is allocated to noncommercial broadcasters. This is why NPR stations, college stations, and church operated stations are at the lower end of the dial. There are stations that sound very professional and commercial there but you'll notice they don't play :30 and :60 commercials. The FCC isn't as stringent as it used to be when it comes to stations generating revenue. They can not sell advertising and run commercials but they can allow clients to "underwrite" a time slot of a show and get a certain amount of mentions, or you will hear a list of businesses read and credited as donors. These "mentions" can include the name of the business and an allegedly short slogan (short being a really vague concept - I've heard some stations spend 15 seconds thanking an underwriter).

Arbitron handles noncoms differently. Also noncoms usually are more innovative and diverse because they don't sell commercials so they don't live or die by ratings. They do live or die by listener donations and businesses who underwrite or donate. Seems like since Chicago is passionate about their soft jazz and there are monied people there they would have been able to raise funds to support a unique product that had a heritage in the market more easily than they will be able to get donations to support a station that sounds like all the other "Lite FM" stations.
 
Whenever I see stations on 87.75MHz two questions come to mind.

1) Is it 25kHz (tv sound standard) or 75kHz (FM standard) deviation?

2) Is it in stereo? And if so is it FM stereo or MTS stereo?

Also, how many FM radios can't tune below 88.1? My car stereo can't and I'm sure I'm far from alone.
 
AnotherCat said:
Rick has a long time relationship with BA and LFM was basically using the BA smooth jazz playlist but for a noncommercial station
Click to expand...

The 87.7 FMs are not non-coms. They are commercial stations using the Channel 6 audio.
 
AnotherCat said:
Arbitron handles noncoms differently.
Click to expand...

No they don't. They are handled just the same as any other AM or FM.

In the PPM world, even the data given to the press contains the ratings for non-coms, but in the diary the long tradition of not including them in the press 12+ rankers continues, although the data is readily available in the software every subscribed station uses to view ratings.

Also noncoms usually are more innovative and diverse because they don't sell commercials so they don't live or die by ratings.
Click to expand...

I don't see the diversity since such a high percentage are religious. But in any case, the larger ones use ratings extensively to evaluate programming and insure that they are doing a good job vs. their expectations.

Chicago is passionate about their soft jazz and there are monied people there they would have been able to raise funds to support a unique product that had a heritage in the market more easily than they will be able to get donations to support a station that sounds like all the other "Lite FM" stations.
Click to expand...

87.7 does not take donations... it is a commercial station.
 
Listened while stranded in Chicago after flight delayed for 11 hours to Europe. The vocals were tired, worn out and to much. I was hearing 4 vocals to 1 instrumental. Nothing fresh or exciting.

Nock
 
So glad D.E. is around to clarify things. I've worked at several noncommercial stations but never below 88.1 so I was not familiar with the lowest end of the band being different. Of course this was before PPM. There is no original content on any of the college stations or NPR affiliates? Whoulda thought!

87.7 is still calling themselves Smooth Jazz. How's that for reimaging the music - here's some smooth jazz from Phil Collins and Michael Jackson ???
 
AC Tones said:
Interstate 78 said:
The list of affiliates for the smooth jazz network on Kepler's site is getting smaller and smaller. With a formerly very good local station like WXJZ and now WLFM (a tiny station, but one that when it signed on seemed very committed to the format) going with the smooth AC format, I predict Kepler is really pushing the switch to the smooth AC network. He probably sees stations dropping like flies, so he's trying to save his business by pushing stations onto this new network. Eventually, I predict, within 6 months to a year, the smooth jazz network will go away and it'll just be the smooth AC network.
Click to expand...

I think Interstate 78's analysis is spot on here. In Kepler's mind, he probably believes he's the one who created the format, so he should be the one who closes the door on it. It can't happen soon enough.
Click to expand...

A better idea would be for all SJ stations to "close the door" on Kepler. Fire him. How this guy continues to make a living is something I will never understand.
 
stereolane said:
A better idea would be for all SJ stations to "close the door" on Kepler. Fire him. How this guy continues to make a living is something I will never understand.
Click to expand...

AGREE 100%.

It's still a great format ..unfortunately run into the ground by corporate mucky-mucks who f*cked it up into something it truly wasn't.

AND AT THIS JUNCTURE IT'S ABOUT TIME THE ARTISTS STOOD UP AND MADE THEMSELVES HEARD AS WELL!!
 
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