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Jones Smooth Jazz Programming Is The Best!!

D

Double D

Guest
I've chronicled my opinions and observations regarding the quality of the programming broadcast by Jones Smooth Jazz at the following...

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,47318.0.html

My latest observations, vis-a-vis my last post to the thread, only reinforced my opinion that Jones Smooth Jazz offers the best SJ programming among ALL SJ stations (both commercial and pay).
 
I agree with that title, 100%. I don't know why so many stations use the new BA network, the quality is horrible and having Dave Koz hosting doesn't make it better. What will it take to get through the big corporate radio bubble heads at the top, that quality does matter and we don't really care about "big names" hosting stuff.

I use to love driving through Jacksonville and being able to listen to WJSJ 105.3/105.5 which used the JRN.
 
JRN is miles ahead of BA and I'm sure the SJN marketers are slithering around telling stations they are trying to steal that JRN plays too much "unfamiliar" music. That being said over the last few years JRN has changed too. Theyve started playing a lot more nondescript riffy music by obscure artists, this seemed to start when Cherie Marquart left the SJ side to program another JRN station and the MD position was taken over by someone a lot older. Their PD very strongly believes that mood is more important than song and that's the direction they have been going to. If you're coming from A/C, Rock or CHR and like songs with structured melodies it's hard to listen to songs that sound like a 4 minute intro with no song attached. That being said they do a much better job than SmoothJazz Network.

WJSJ in Jax only uses Jones middays and weekends now. Their AM guy plays a lot of 80s old school (I swear I head Shalimar in there one day), the PM guy plays a list very similar to Jones but the evening guy is an old timer who doesn't like anything that came after Roy Ayers and Norman Connors. Its quite a hodgepodge..not to quote ARB due to legalities but lets just say that the few listeners he has are males over 45. I don't know what other JRN affiliates are streaming.... Gainesvilles JRN affiliat is only on the network evenings and weekends and they are using Bob and Sheri (???) in the morning!

I've liked all the Koz CDs up until this one, which is more B/EZ than SJ...let's face it, it's Ferrante and Teischer with
sax instead of piano...but the real issue is that there is a point where focusing on celebrity will eclipse artistry and Koz is standing right at that point. If Hollywood becomes more important than writing, playing and touring we've lost him.
 
I have to agree with the fact that Jones is doing something right. They're selling Smooth Jazz. B.A has blown it. Too many covers are coming out, and it's all due to someone at B.A (who'll remain nameless) telling artists that covers test well. Say's who? Really, who says this is true. They do some music tests, and they decide this is what the listener really wants? I don't agree. Why would they want to turn the format into easy listening? That's what it sounds like lately.

Jones is doing something very well and staying true to the sound(the only gripe I have about Jones, is how spot placement is handled with their network feed. It's poorly done). B.A is jumping on the bandwagon a few years too late, and saying they're doing it right. I don't agree with that either. Jones is sounding fresh, while B.A is shilling a network that really has no where to go. And using Smooth Jazz artists as air talent? Um, not a great idea. Sure, it's fun the first couple of times you hear it, but not impressive. Dave Koz is okay, but he needs to stick to what he does best. Playing sax and being a great entertainer. He's not a radio personality. Yes, he does sound bright on air, but it's not all him. He has his show written out for him, he comes in and records and goes on his way. Nice work if you can get it.

And true, Dave's latest cd is not great. I don't care how much money his label threw at it. The cd isn't Dave at all. But apparently, promotion and money do talk. The guy is getting a lot of attention. But it should have been for The Dance or Saxophonic. Those, are great cd's. There's no accounting for taste. Dave is on his way to becoming the next Kenny G. Hope he enjoys the ride.
 
SiriusJazz said:
I have to agree with the fact that Jones is doing something right. They're selling Smooth Jazz. B.A has blown it. Too many covers are coming out, and it's all due to someone at B.A (who'll remain nameless) telling artists that covers test well. Say's who? Really, who says this is true. They do some music tests, and they decide this is what the listener really wants? I don't agree. Why would they want to turn the format into easy listening? That's what it sounds like lately.

Jones is doing something very well and staying true to the sound(the only gripe I have about Jones, is how spot placement is handled with their network feed. It's poorly done). B.A is jumping on the bandwagon a few years too late, and saying they're doing it right. I don't agree with that either. Jones is sounding fresh, while B.A is shilling a network that really has no where to go. And using Smooth Jazz artists as air talent? Um, not a great idea. Sure, it's fun the first couple of times you hear it, but not impressive. Dave Koz is okay, but he needs to stick to what he does best. Playing sax and being a great entertainer. He's not a radio personality. Yes, he does sound bright on air, but it's not all him. He has his show written out for him, he comes in and records and goes on his way. Nice work if you can get it.

And true, Dave's latest cd is not great. I don't care how much money his label threw at it. The cd isn't Dave at all. But apparently, promotion and money do talk. The guy is getting a lot of attention. But it should have been for The Dance or Saxophonic. Those, are great cd's. There's no accounting for taste. Dave is on his way to becoming the next Kenny G. Hope he enjoys the ride.
Click to expand...

Where oh where is cklw800 and his BA bandwagon?

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,47234.0.html

Didn't we already have this discussion but no one supported my thoughts on Jones back then?

Y'all are saying exactly what I was saying. I tried jjz out of Philly streaming in my office and was lulled to sleep. Back on Jones (WJZT Tallahassee)

Nock
 
Evidently Jones shuffled their weekday lineup.

6-10 am...John Evans
10 am-3 pm...Lynn Hughes
3-7 pm...Keith Ricker
7-10 pm...Loni Taylor
10 pm-3 am...David Washington
3-6 am...Steve Michaels

No more Al Vincent...anybody know if Mike Garrett and Kenny Cortes are still on weekends.

And why bury a decent talent like Steve Michaels 3-6 am?
 
The station I'm currently with gets UAC/smooth jazz programming from Jones and it is a great service. They offer a fresh, up-to-date selection and choose cover songs..Non-traditional SJ listeners are more likely to listen to the format if it's a familiar tune, performed correctly and Jones is usually on point 95% of the time.
 
Hey Nock! I'm here! I saw my monicker in your post and I said wow...someone cares about ol' 800. Well, I think I was right about BA on those posts. Air talent did get blown out and stations went on the cheap and plugged in the network. It still sounds pretty awkward. Maybe it's just the fancy talk of the air hosts. Their raps end on an awkward note (usually they're trying to be funny) then it dumps into a commercial. You only hear one song backsold and nothing about what's coming up. It's totally depending on the talent to draw in listeners. It can be very tedious to listen to at times. I hope you don't think my posts were pro-BA...I was just trying to be realisitc. What happened is EXACTLY what I didn't want to happen, but just knew it would and it did. I've never heard a Jones station but it sure sounds like a better deal. At least their hosts are "regular" guys who actually do radio for a living. Not voice artists and musicians. What radio is going to depend on more and more to save themselves is the use of people from other media to bring attention. I see this happening in Urban AC to an extent and I wouln't be surprised if Hot AC or maybe even alternative jumps on this if it's cheaper and brings in listeners. If this all tanks then we'll see them slowly bring radio folk back in the mix. If they can't depend on the musicians to make it work, it's over. With the exception of the great KIFM, KTWV and others, maybe even the new WJJZ, they show that good programming and real radio folks can get the job done. WAY too much laziness in this format. They'll bring imported talent first before they go through the trouble to really research new music or bring fresh gold to the table. Problem: no decision-makers left in the format who have the balanced combo of guts and brains. It's all safe sure research and gloss (the musician hosts). Therefore, the same drivel with new voices. No extra work for the programmers. I have to listen to some of the Jones stuff. Maybe after some 2007 radio sales some real radio folk will jump on this format and do it right and get listeners at the same time. I love Ramsey, Koz and Co. but when an over-the-air station IS the network and has NO personality of its own, I can't hang. Even the weekends are networked with BA musician hosts. Terrible. Kenny G even has his kid introduce his dad's tunes so he won't have to. I had a dream involving a scandal uncovered that having musicians on the air and paying them while they play their own music is a form of payola. It was just a dream...almost like I was forecasting headlines of the future. Hmmm.
 
i think the phrase "utter disaster" isn't a terrible choice to describe the broadcast architecture SJ network so far...a grand total of zero none-clear channel stations have picked up more than ramsey or koz, and it has led to a grand total of one station period signing on SJ as a result of the network, and its a station that was SJ just a few years ago! where are the waves of markets kepler and his people claimed would be latching on to this? or could it be that companies realize this is just the same blend of music BA has been trying to sell over the past few years that nobody has touched with a ten foot pole, just that it has some SJ artists talking 3 times an hour instead of in-market talent?
 
orange434 said:
i think the phrase "utter disaster" isn't a terrible choice to describe the broadcast architecture SJ network so far...a grand total of zero none-clear channel stations have picked up more than ramsey or koz, and it has led to a grand total of one station period signing on SJ as a result of the network, and its a station that was SJ just a few years ago! where are the waves of markets kepler and his people claimed would be latching on to this? or could it be that companies realize this is just the same blend of music BA has been trying to sell over the past few years that nobody has touched with a ten foot pole, just that it has some SJ artists talking 3 times an hour instead of in-market talent?
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that they have an interest in these artists as they are a major part of their label, (Rendezvous)

Nock
 
Finally heard from Jones stuff. Very nice. One thing about their competitor BA though. I know for a fact that CDs on their network by Dave Koz, Kenny G, Norman Brown, Paul Hardcastle, Ramsey Lewis and Brian Culbertson will never, ever, ever suck. Wonder if their appearances as air personalities on the competition will affect the Jones playlists at all? Will there really be objective airplay of the artists' work or will things just be "politically correct" on both sides? With market exclusivity for Smooth Jazz around the country it may not matter much. But with Internet streaming they're all in the same "market." It will be interesting to watch how these artists' work will be promoted going forward on BA and Jones. Will these artists stay on board of their stuff doesn't get played on BA? Or is it in the contract that their music will get a certain percentage of play for pay (their labor)? With payola still making news and the ever changing radio landscape/satellite news and now the Web casting royalty-payment issue, it will be an interesting year to be watching these events.
 
I can't imagine the above mentioned artists' voicetracking gigs at the SJ Network having any impact on airplay on other SJ stations, especially Jones, which is staffed by good, ethical people. RnR, which has been heavily covering the BA Network (and running full page ads for them), also did a full page feature on Steve Hibbard and Jones Network. Nobody outside of the few markets that are running these musicians-turned-DJs knows these guys are even working for a radio network, so why would anyone deprive their listeners of strong music based on such a non-issue.

Reading the coverage of the network since it started doing feeds late last year it seemed like BA was just really power-hungry, they want the world and they want it now. But if you are a lite A/C you risk losing your listeners back to the other lite A/C s in the market.

And why bury a decent talent like Steve Michaels 3-6 am?
Click to expand...
Steve Michaels is the program director so he must have decided to put someone else on the shift and move himself to overnights.
 
Good points, Cat. I'm not familiar enough with Jones to know how they would react to BA musician-personalities' recorded works. It would seem petty to restrict their airplay because they are hosts on another network, but I've seen these kinds of attitudes in other formats. What you said makes perfect sense. I guess not many people would know about the BA network hosts outside of the BA arena. But I'm still sure all of those artists' CDs will be hits on the BA Network.
 
Holy craaaaap! We'd better shut up then. Maybe Smooth Jazz administrators are reading the board, and figuring dishoveled, jaded posters like we must not know what we're talking about---that we're speaking from emotion from not having an active role in programming jazz, and they figure they must do the opposite of what we post. So if we keep saying Jones is the best, they say "if those posters are saying Jones is it, BA must be the thing that will get us RATINGS. We need Koz, Lewis and the voice artists."

So! BA is the best! They're the KINGS! Come on, say it with me!
 
WJJZ: New and Old

The old WJJZ had the Loni Taylor evening shift from Jones. I thought it was fine, but before that station was blown up, I just took the music for granted and never payed much attention. I just listened. I also never thought about the fact that she would be voicetracked, and this is just what they want you to think. The music was good, but there was so much more Motown style stuff than there is during the Dave Koz afternoon shift on the new WJJZ.

The new WJJZ only has the Dave Koz shift, and I don't notice much difference in the programming than what I hear during the local shifts from WJJZ. They could definately do better, and add much more variety. I also notice how infrequently you actually hear Dave. There's pretty much no point to having any voice on there at all, because he talks so rarely that by the time the song comes on, you've forgotten about it. For the average listener, though, they don't think much about who is talking. They probably wouldn't care whether it was Loni Tayor or Dave Koz, because the point of listening is the music. If that's not good, than there's no point.
 
I so agree...people listen for the music, not who is talking between the songs. The original purpose of the jock talking between songs was to provide a human and emotional connection between the listener and the music, which requires spontaniety, something you can't get by doing your voice tracks via FTP, which appears to be how they are doing it. The jocks don't talk about the music...they read little lifestyle blurbs. Today I heard Norman Brown back announce Tisdale's "Get Down On It" as "Way Up"
 
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