When people get upset about SJ stations that flip formats I often wonder if they had listened closely to these stations recently. Most of them were playing very little real SJ. Most of the instrumentals they were playing are covers and these covers sound like the artists recorded a familiar song so they could get airplay rather than because they loved the song and wanted to create their own interpretation of it. This is not to criticize the artists, a rote recycling of the song is what is necessary to get on the air, an original take might not be "familiar" enough.
Add to that the amount of oldie vocals - songs often over 20 years old - and current vocals that are neither jazzy, adult alternative, or original. Most recent vocals on the counsuted playlist have been rather generic adult R&B songs that were promoted SJ as a last ditch effort after they got no traction at A/C or Urban A/C. So we have a mix of old pop/R&B vocals, easy listening covers, songs rejected by other formats, and an occasional orginal instrumental by an artist whose label has a promotional budget or who is in the "in-group" - that small cluster of artists who do get airplay and usually voicetrack radio shows.
Meanwhile those of us who get CDs in the mail were mostly overwhelmed by the amount of strong new music that did come out this year. If you listened to smooth jazz radio you heard about 5% of it at most.
So what was really lost? A secondary outlet for old Phil Collins and James Ingram songs? Time to be creative and move on to places where this fabulous new music can be exposed and let the the "Smooth A/C format" goes the way of B/EZ. There is really no need for it anymore.
Add to that the amount of oldie vocals - songs often over 20 years old - and current vocals that are neither jazzy, adult alternative, or original. Most recent vocals on the counsuted playlist have been rather generic adult R&B songs that were promoted SJ as a last ditch effort after they got no traction at A/C or Urban A/C. So we have a mix of old pop/R&B vocals, easy listening covers, songs rejected by other formats, and an occasional orginal instrumental by an artist whose label has a promotional budget or who is in the "in-group" - that small cluster of artists who do get airplay and usually voicetrack radio shows.
Meanwhile those of us who get CDs in the mail were mostly overwhelmed by the amount of strong new music that did come out this year. If you listened to smooth jazz radio you heard about 5% of it at most.
So what was really lost? A secondary outlet for old Phil Collins and James Ingram songs? Time to be creative and move on to places where this fabulous new music can be exposed and let the the "Smooth A/C format" goes the way of B/EZ. There is really no need for it anymore.