SJ concerts & SJ music sales

[Tim]

Got into a discussion with our company's VP of programming recently. He told me..."despite few on-air radio stations in the format, smooth jazz concerts and music sells well".

We have NAC-SJ experts here, I'm a just a fan. Is what our VP said actually true? Anybody read any artist interviews or articles on-line re: this subject?

Would appreciate your comments and opinions. Thank heavens for my MP3 player when I'm not near a computer so I can enjoy this music.


P.S.: Yes, I love all kinds of music from 60's top 40/rock to music of today...AND smooth jazz. Does that make me a rare consumer, or are there millions and millions of us the research firms just can't seem to "find"???? I'm told there is demand in many major markets for smooth jazz, but it's by folks who are "too old", and not enough weekly cume to justify an on-air radio station (not enough listeners for adequate advertisers support). True? Untrue?

 

[AC Tones]

Got into a discussion with our company's VP of programming recently. He told me..."despite few on-air radio stations in the format, smooth jazz concerts and music sells well".

We have NAC-SJ experts here, I'm a just a fan. Is what our VP said actually true? Anybody read any artist interviews or articles on-line re: this subject?

Would appreciate your comments and opinions. Thank heavens for my MP3 player when I'm not near a computer so I can enjoy this music.


P.S.: Yes, I love all kinds of music from 60's top 40/rock to music of today...AND smooth jazz. Does that make me a rare consumer, or are there millions and millions of us the research firms just can't seem to "find"???? I'm told there is demand in many major markets for smooth jazz, but it's by folks who are "too old", and not enough weekly cume to justify an on-air radio station (not enough listeners for adequate advertisers support). True? Untrue?

Hey Tim. Can't speak for CD sales. They are hurting across the board, so I have to assume this genre has been hit particularly hard since it is becoming more and more difficult to find on the FM dial. As for the shows, the one thing I have noticed is that the bigger names are playing at smaller venues, venues that they would not have taken a look at back in the heyday of this format. That said, people are still coming out. But the problem is, speaking as a small Internet broadcaster and hobbyist, it is hard enough just to keep the station operational and tight with a full time job and family obligations. I just don't have the time to pound the pavement to organize and promo shows, and that's where these guys need to make their money these days. That's where not having this format on terrestrial radio has really hurt. Guys like me can give you the music and introduce you to new artists, but you and the artists have to work harder find venues for their music.

The aging demo argument has been used by consultants for years. While there may be some truth to it, mostly I think it's a cop out. This format can appeal to a broad demo, and it always has. It may be small, but passionate. The good thing about running a station like mine is minimal overhead. It's me, myself, and I, and a couple diehard listeners. So I am not leveraged by having to generate a lot of revenue. All I want is my operational costs covered each month, and I am happy with that. Hence, as long as I can juggle the rigors of life with keeping the station afloat, there will be one less station flipping to another format.