Failures after dumping Smooth Jazz

[orange434]

with all the negative stuff about the state of smooth jazz right now (and rightfully so in many cases), one thing of note is the state of the stations in washington dc, baltimore, and new york that replaced smooth jazz. all absolutely tanked in the latest arbitron rating book with their new formats. 105.9 with true oldies in dc is down over 2 points from where they were as smooth jazz at this time last year, 104.3 with alternative in baltimore is down over a point and a half from their last book as smooth jazz, and 101.9 RXP in ny is a laughingstock right now ratings-wise. so while smooth jazz certainly in its current incarnation is not setting the world on fire, the grass isn't always greener either.

 

[Jay F]

I noticed in both NY and DC that Urban AC gains big when Smooth Jazz goes away.

 

[WTUX]

The current music mix used by Smooth Jazz makes it an alternative for Urban AC. That was not how the format started out at The Wave, but it how it morphed during the late 90's. Thus, when it leaves the air, Urban AC should normally be expected to pick up the listeners.

That leaves the former SJ station with virtually no audience for its new rock, oldies, or whatever format. You are starting from scratch. Thus several down books can be expected until (or even if) the new format catches on.

One might expect an oldies format to pick up some of the SJ audience, but most likely it will go to either Urban AC or regular AC.

 

[AnotherCat]

The stations in Jacksonville have been either sold or LMA'ed. 105.3 is going sports talk, simulcasting a (really fabulous) AM sports station. Good move right before football season kicks in. 105.5 is going True Oldies but the signal is mostly south of Jacksonville.