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HELP BRING BACK SMOOTH JAZZ WJJZ BACK

Am I the only one who noticed that the thread initiator got so worked up, he put the word "back" in the thread title twice?

Anyway, two words tells you all you need to know about why smooth jazz is dying out on terrestrial radio:

Broadcast Architecture Dilapidation.
 
DToTheJ said:
Am I the only one who noticed that the thread initiator got so worked up, he put the word "back" in the thread title twice?


He didn't actually write it himself. It was written for him by the Department of Redundancy Department!
 
Juse.....I hope you're still following the thread you started in spite of the abuse you feel has been heaped upon you.

If you want to listen to Smooth Jazz, go to your computer and log onto WWW.smoothjazz927.com. It's a Smooth Jazz station out of York/Lancaster PA which had a huge presence at the Berks Jazz Fest this spring. They are still doing the SJ format.

BTW, while I'm sorry you've lost your favorite radio station, please understand that Greater Media is a business like all broadcast companies. And the folks that work in this business are just like you, they have families to feed and bills to pay. If the company isn't making money, the employees (at the very least) don't get raises to keep up with today's economy or (at the worst) don't have jobs. Smooth Jazz is a niche format and a tough sell to many advertisers.
 
sprtschick said:
Juse.....I hope you're still following the thread you started in spite of the abuse you feel has been heaped upon you.

If you want to listen to Smooth Jazz, go to your computer and log onto WWW.smoothjazz927.com. It's a Smooth Jazz station out of York/Lancaster PA which had a huge presence at the Berks Jazz Fest this spring. They are still doing the SJ format.

BTW, while I'm sorry you've lost your favorite radio station, please understand that Greater Media is a business like all broadcast companies. And the folks that work in this business are just like you, they have families to feed and bills to pay. If the company isn't making money, the employees (at the very least) don't get raises to keep up with today's economy or (at the worst) don't have jobs. Smooth Jazz is a niche format and a tough sell to many advertisers.

Couldn't have put it any better/clearer myself. THANKS!
 
In addition to the above, allow me to use a newsworthy analogy to bring the point home:

Clear Channel slaughtered the pig. Greater Media put lipstick on the pig.
 
juse33 said:
Hey everybody. They took Philly's smooth jazz again. I know tons of people who love smooth jazz on the radio and now they are pissed just like me that its gone. Please send letters to the new station letting them know how much you hate the new format and want smooth jazz back. Contact RADIO ONE to ask if they can bring it back. They own a couple stations in the Philly area. http://www.radio-one.com/about/contact.asp

C'mon lets get our music back. Screw what everyone else thinks. BRING BACK WJJZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bulletin: it's not smooth jazz anymore. They changed it to "Smooth AC" (whatever the hell that is). That's when your protest should have started. 97.5 simply took out the "smooth" part.

Tons of people = 4,000 pounds. At 200 pounds a person, 97.5 had about 20 listeners (which was practically what WJJZ was getting in cume). :)

And putting a dead format (sorry, it is!) on 107.9 - one of the smallest FM signals in the city - will NOT be a success. I'm not dissing your taste in music, but smooth jazz is being added to the all-70s, all-80s (which might actually be workable with the PPM), jammin' oldies, "oldies" stations, and standards pile.

You love that type of music and that's great. But it was on a (directional) 50,000 watt signal right in the middle of the dial (right between two stations that cume over a million people - 96.5 and 98.1) from right in the middle of the market, and it couldn't crack a 2 share. It ain't comin' back - don't waste your time writing letters.
 
I understand what some of you are saying. I did notice that the playlist could have been just a lil better i guess. But the one they had didn't bother me really. However I don't care what kind of low signal it had or if it was smack dab in between to good stations. I still liked it and it really didn't deserve to go no matter what anybody says. People talk about business when it more about greed. I felt the same about that startrek enterprise lol. They said the ratings (something like 2.3 million viewers) were low so it got canceled. Well there were those 2 million people who lost there show who deserved to get to see it to the end. Businesses don't care about customers. They are all about greed.

Everybody sits here and says smooth jazz is dead and that it is a niche style. So. Arent all styles really a niche. It just depends on if you like it or not. Its strange though so you mean to tell me I can hear every other type of music but the one i luv? Everybody here has their favorite styles of music that they can listen to here in Philly except smooth jazz lovers. Don't seem right to me.
 
OK Juse, you say that businesses don't care about customers and it's all about greed. Unless we're talking about NPR (national public radio) or non-commercial stations like the one at Temple Univ, the only way a radio station stays on the air is by selling advertising. Here's how it works.

Sales people go to area businesses and ask them to advertise on their radio station. When a business says "yes", then the sales person brings the signed contract back to the radio station building (which is has heat and electricity at the very least) and has the traffic person enter the contract into the computer which schedules the commercials onto the commercial log. The commercial is written by a person who is creative with words/music/sound effects and then it is recorded by another person. The commercial then gets played on the air.

Let's say that businesses aren't interested in advertising on this station because their product doesn't match the demographic (target listeners), they don't have enough money to advertise because of the economy today, or one of any number of other reasons. This means that the radio station does not have money coming in to pay all the people I just listed above, as well as pay the electric bill.

So what's worse...putting people out of work because you like a specific music format, or asking you to find another way to listen to your music (such as online, on HD radio, or on satellite radio) Put simply....it's not always about greed. Sometimes it's about doing the right thing for your employees.

I'm sorry you've lost your favorite format. But you're going to lose your argument on this site. And unless you like to be abused and made fun of, you might want to consider taking your outrage and campaign somewhere else. I would recommend starting a letter writing campaign to other radio/broadcast companies in your area, asking them to consider picking up the format. But unless you can back up your claim of thousands/tons of people listened to this format with real numbers (ie, thousands of people join you in your letter writing campaign), I don't think it will help much.
 
"Every" style? Hardly. To be sure there are multiple takes on some genres, but "every" genre is hardly represented on the dial, nor can they be (for both simple business and capacity reasons). There are some people who want standards, who want 'classic' country, who want all '50s and '60s oldies, who want full-time classical...on and on the list goes. I had WJJZ as a preset on my radio and liked having it around, and I wasn't among those who was particularly worked up about the word "jazz" in their name even when they mixed in a fair share of "regular" vocals. However, I completely understand the decision to call it a day and move on.

Whether one likes the format or not is not the factor that determines if it is a niche. I liked it, you liked it, and to be fair there were probably a fair number of other people who liked it, but it was not a mass-appeal station...thus it is a niche. Niche stations can survive, even thrive, but WJJZ simply didn't.
 
juse33 said:
Everybody sits here and says smooth jazz is dead and that it is a niche style. So. Arent all styles really a niche. It just depends on if you like it or not. Its strange though so you mean to tell me I can hear every other type of music but the one i luv? Everybody here has their favorite styles of music that they can listen to here in Philly except smooth jazz lovers. Don't seem right to me.

Every style of music, even country and western?

I can say definitively that I don't have my musical tastes represented and I haven't for years, mmk?

Would you like me to name some acts? I bet I can name several Light Jazz artists you would know, but I bet you that If I name the acts I would like played on the radio, you would have to google them. I know acts that have aired maybe once on these airwaves, and not again. Do I cry? No. I have the records and other media.

The interenets are a wonderful thing. Go get whatever you need there, and put a sock over your digits so we don't have to read you.
 
Every style of music, even country and western?

I can say definitively that I don't have my musical tastes represented and I haven't for years, mmk?

Would you like me to name some acts? I bet I can name several Light Jazz artists you would know, but I bet you that If I name the acts I would like played on the radio, you would have to google them. I know acts that have aired maybe once on these airwaves, and not again. Do I cry? No. I have the records and other media.

The interenets are a wonderful thing. Go get whatever you need there, and put a sock over your digits so we don't have to read you.

Yea pretty much every type.

87.7 WPVI / Philadelphia / TV Simulcast
88.5 WXPN / Philadelphia / Eclectic
90.1 WRTI / Philadelphia / Jazz-Classical
90.9 WHYY / Philadelphia / NPR
92.5 WXTU / Philadelphia / Country
93.3 WMMR / Philadelphia / Album Rock
94.1 WYSP / Philadelphia / Active Rock
95.7 WEJM "Ben 95.7" / Philadelphia / Mix
96.5 WRDW/ Philadelphia / Urban Contemporary
97.5 Sigh!!
98.1 WOGL / Philadelphia / Oldies 60's 70's 80's
98.9 WUSL / Philadelphia / Urban Contemporary
101.5 WXKW / Trenton, NJ / Talk-Oldies
103.9 - WPPZ-FM/ Philadelphia / Gospel
106.1 Sigh!! lol
106.9 WKDN / Camden, NJ / Religious
104.5 WRFF-FM Philadelphia/Rock
105.3 WDAS / Philadelphia / Urban Adult Contemporary

I think I'm missing some but that's what i came up with. That's a good variety i think. I even heard reggae not long ago. Surely you can have smooth jazz in there. I heard that christian station for old people (106.9)has like hardly any ratings at all yet they are still going. How??
 
juse33 said:
Every style of music, even country and western?

I can say definitively that I don't have my musical tastes represented and I haven't for years, mmk?

Would you like me to name some acts? I bet I can name several Light Jazz artists you would know, but I bet you that If I name the acts I would like played on the radio, you would have to google them. I know acts that have aired maybe once on these airwaves, and not again. Do I cry? No. I have the records and other media.

The interenets are a wonderful thing. Go get whatever you need there, and put a sock over your digits so we don't have to read you.

Yea pretty much every type.

87.7 WPVI / Philadelphia / TV Simulcast
88.5 WXPN / Philadelphia / Eclectic
90.1 WRTI / Philadelphia / Jazz-Classical
90.9 WHYY / Philadelphia / NPR
92.5 WXTU / Philadelphia / Country
93.3 WMMR / Philadelphia / Album Rock
94.1 WYSP / Philadelphia / Active Rock
95.7 WEJM "Ben 95.7" / Philadelphia / Mix
96.5 WRDW/ Philadelphia / Urban Contemporary
97.5 Sigh!!
98.1 WOGL / Philadelphia / Oldies 60's 70's 80's
98.9 WUSL / Philadelphia / Urban Contemporary
101.5 WXKW / Trenton, NJ / Talk-Oldies
103.9 - WPPZ-FM/ Philadelphia / Gospel
106.1 Sigh!! lol
106.9 WKDN / Camden, NJ / Religious
104.5 WRFF-FM Philadelphia/Rock
105.3 WDAS / Philadelphia / Urban Adult Contemporary

I think I'm missing some but that's what i came up with. That's a good variety i think. I even heard reggae not long ago. Surely you can have smooth jazz in there. I heard that christian station for old people (106.9)has like hardly any ratings at all yet they are still going. How??

Well wherever you copie...I mean "came up with" that list, they happen to forget that Ben is WBEN for starters, and the audio of channel 6 has no bearing on a discussion of music. Never mind that it goes away in under six months. It also seemed to skip over 100.3, 101.1, 102.9 and 107.9 at a quick glance.

As for WKDN, you have to be able to understand that you're not just talking apples and oranges, you're talking apples and aligators, there's simply no comparison. They are in business for an entirely different purpose, and it's not ratings. Whether they ever decide to take some money for the frequency and turn it over to someone on the commercial side remains to be seen, but trying to compare WKDN to the commercial stations is laughable.

You've also failed to address other extremely well written points about the fact the station didn't get the listeners it needed. How, exactly, do you propose to pay the bills with nothing of note to sell? No company is under some obligation to make sure Juse has his taste's served, losing money be damned.
 
juse33 said:
Every style of music, even country and western?

I can say definitively that I don't have my musical tastes represented and I haven't for years, mmk?

Would you like me to name some acts? I bet I can name several Light Jazz artists you would know, but I bet you that If I name the acts I would like played on the radio, you would have to google them. I know acts that have aired maybe once on these airwaves, and not again. Do I cry? No. I have the records and other media.

The interenets are a wonderful thing. Go get whatever you need there, and put a sock over your digits so we don't have to read you.

Yea pretty much every type.

87.7 WPVI / Philadelphia / TV Simulcast
88.5 WXPN / Philadelphia / Eclectic
90.1 WRTI / Philadelphia / Jazz-Classical
90.9 WHYY / Philadelphia / NPR
92.5 WXTU / Philadelphia / Country
93.3 WMMR / Philadelphia / Album Rock
94.1 WYSP / Philadelphia / Active Rock
95.7 WEJM "Ben 95.7" / Philadelphia / Mix
96.5 WRDW/ Philadelphia / Urban Contemporary
97.5 Sigh!!
98.1 WOGL / Philadelphia / Oldies 60's 70's 80's
98.9 WUSL / Philadelphia / Urban Contemporary
101.5 WXKW / Trenton, NJ / Talk-Oldies
103.9 - WPPZ-FM/ Philadelphia / Gospel
106.1 Sigh!! lol
106.9 WKDN / Camden, NJ / Religious
104.5 WRFF-FM Philadelphia/Rock
105.3 WDAS / Philadelphia / Urban Adult Contemporary

I think I'm missing some but that's what i came up with. That's a good variety i think. I even heard reggae not long ago. Surely you can have smooth jazz in there. I heard that christian station for old people (106.9)has like hardly any ratings at all yet they are still going. How??


You have to....like...give him points for persistence.
 
Re: HELP BRING BACK SMOOTH JAZZ WJJZ

I didn't copy anything. I actually went through all the channels that came up. The point of the thread was not to ask why there were "no" listeners. It was asking people who loved the format to speak out. Instead there was a bunch of people who don't really care much for smooth jazz giving their 2 cents. Why would you comment on something you don't care for? Just to piss people off or to put others down to make you feel good?

All i ask for is that if you really want to see it back then speak out and do what im doing now. If you don't then ignore this thread and move on. Don't sit there and insult me by calling my fav music "elevator music" because we all know you don't mean anything good when you say that.
 
Re: HELP BRING BACK SMOOTH JAZZ WJJZ

juse33 said:
I didn't copy anything. I actually went through all the channels that came up. The point of the thread was not to ask why there were "no" listeners. It was asking people who loved the format to speak out. Instead there was a bunch of people who don't really care much for smooth jazz giving their 2 cents. Why would you comment on something you don't care for? Just to piss people off or to put others down to make you feel good?

All i ask for is that if you really want to see it back then speak out and do what im doing now. If you don't then ignore this thread and move on. Don't sit there and insult me by calling my fav music "elevator music" because we all know you don't mean anything good when you say that.

Doesn't the fact that nobody is "speaking out" tell you something about the format though? Oobviously not too many people are as outraged or dedicated as you are. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, I'm just saying that judging by the lack of positive response you were looking for, smooth jazz isn't going to be missed all that much.
 
Re: HELP BRING BACK SMOOTH JAZZ WJJZ

Doesn't the fact that nobody is "speaking out" tell you something about the format though? Oobviously not too many people are as outraged or dedicated as you are. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, I'm just saying that judging by the lack of positive response you were looking for, smooth jazz isn't going to be missed all that much.

Yea smooth jazz isnt gonna be missed by YOU so why say anything if your not gonna support.
Again all i ask for is that if you really want to see it back then speak out and do what im doing now. If you don't then ignore this thread and move on.
 
Re: HELP BRING BACK SMOOTH JAZZ WJJZ

juse33 said:
Doesn't the fact that nobody is "speaking out" tell you something about the format though? Oobviously not too many people are as outraged or dedicated as you are. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, I'm just saying that judging by the lack of positive response you were looking for, smooth jazz isn't going to be missed all that much.

Yea smooth jazz isnt gonna be missed by YOU so why say anything if your not gonna support.
Again all i ask for is that if you really want to see it back then speak out and do what im doing now. If you don't then ignore this thread and move on.

Uhmm, I think you COMPLETELY missed my point.
 
Other suggestions:

Slamming fingers in a door jamb, car door, etc, inserting hand into meat grinder-all while listening to the soft sounds of Kenny G over the internet.
 
juse33 said:
If you dont care then dont comment. Dont you put me down for liking my music and insult me by calling it dentist music or elevator music like it something bad. If you dont like then you have no reason to comment then. I was lookin for supporters not negative stupid comments that do nothing to help this thread. I know some of the readers here like smooth jazz. What do yall think (the people who like smooth jazz)?

juse, take it from someone who knows. ive been on RI for 3 years now. i joined when i heard about 97.5 The Hawk going away, just like you did for JJZ. it sucks losing your favorite station, trust me, i know. it took me a few months to get over it, but i did. i found a clone of my favorite called 105.7 The Hawk than comes in great. however, you may not be as lucky.

my point is, as much as i protested the demise of WTHK, it never came back and never will. all it did was piss the other RI members off. now everything is cool, and i can post here without being insulted. however it is a message board and debates are suppose to happen here. anyway, the same exact thing applies to you and JJZ.
 
eyg2181 said:
juse33 said:
If you dont care then dont comment. Dont you put me down for liking my music and insult me by calling it dentist music or elevator music like it something bad. If you dont like then you have no reason to comment then. I was lookin for supporters not negative stupid comments that do nothing to help this thread. I know some of the readers here like smooth jazz. What do yall think (the people who like smooth jazz)?

juse, take it from someone who knows. ive been on RI for 3 years now. i joined when i heard about 97.5 The Hawk going away, just like you did for JJZ. it sucks losing your favorite station, trust me, i know. it took me a few months to get over it, but i did. i found a clone of my favorite called 105.7 The Hawk than comes in great. however, you may not be as lucky.

my point is, as much as i protested the demise of WTHK, it never came back and never will. all it did was piss the other RI members off. now everything is cool, and i can post here without being insulted. however it is a message board and debates are suppose to happen here. anyway, the same exact thing applies to you and JJZ.

Thats cool i understand all that. I didnt really start a debate though lol. I just dont get why i gotta get insulted though. It amazes me that people keep commenting and they have nothing good to say. Maybe i dont type clear enough lol. If you dont like smooth jazz and you are reading this, what is the use putting me down. I dont comment on stuff i dont give a crap about. Since nobody cares about it then i would expect this thread to be just the one post that i did. If you dont think it will come back great. Nobody asked that question. Thats not what this thread is about. It is meant for people who like it not hate it. If you hate it then keep on steppin. No need to say a word because im not asking questions lol.
 
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