Smooth Jazz in Charlotte

[Mike Sheridan]

If you are a fan of Smooth Jazz I must report there is a station that does a good job of it. WBAV 101.9 HD2. The selection of music and the audio quality are both very good.

Some of the ofther HD stations also seem to be doing a good job but there are a couple of problem children in the mix. The Country Classsics format on WKKT 96.9 HD-2 is very well done...but the station keeps droping out and back to the main channel. I'll have to see if it's still doing that but I've had trouble with it in the past even though I have a strong signal.

The Oldies format on WKQC 104.7 HD2 is interesting but sometimes is a little too close to the standard A/C fare that cane be heard on the main channel, I'd like to hear them do something a bit more daring. If they are going to play some '70's oldies then play some that are not played to death everywhere else! The HD 2 channels should be a place to stretch a little. The sound quality is also a problem. There is often some really annoying ringing distorton on the high end. I'm not sure why. The same engineers that set up WBAV also set up WKQC.

Mike in the HD2 listening room

 

[JoshB]

How's the playlist? Is it more along the line of their Sunday Jazz Brunch (where they play a lot of deep album tracks) or more like the BA type, with the normal smooth jazz music thrown in with some R&B/AC style music, or in between?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I'd say somewhere between the two. I hear an occasional R&B-A/c song and most times it fits. I've heard a few that in my opinion that don't fit but that's okay. Their liners always say "Smooth Jazz and Slow Jams" so I guess that's how they get around it.

I did hear them play "90 Degrees In The Shade" by Heavyshift a favorite of mine that you don't hear very often.

I only get to listen when I'm around the house and in the computer area. That's where the HD tuner is. I have a feeling that if I listened long enough I could probably learn most of the playlist. I don't think they are going too deep. Not a complaint, it's more than anyone else is doing.

I was really pushing for WFAE to do the format on their HD2 instead of carrying the AAA format from the Phadelphia NPR station. So much for that idea!

Mike

 

[fortmill]

I'm thinking WQNC/92.7 could go back to smooth jazz. Radio One has had success with their SJ station in Atlanta and, I think, a few other markets. Unfortunately, the current urban AC format on 92.7 doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

 

[wncc]

I never understood it when they flipped to the urban oldies format. A lot of people listened to Smooth Jazz 92.7

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I never understood it when they flipped to the urban oldies format. A lot of people listened to Smooth Jazz 92.7

You know how that goes somebody had a "better" idea. To their defense I seem to remember after the change to Urban 92.7 did well for a little while. I seem to remember V-101.9 trending downward at the time. Then they took Tom Joyner away from V and things started to turn around for V. I'm not sure what caused it but something changed, that's for sure!

 

[DJTEKLYVE]

The station used to be hip hop/R&B station WCHH Hot 92.7. It did not do well in the ratings, so it was flipped to Urban AC under its current name in 2003. And Its now Q92.7 Fm WQNC.

 

[fortmill]

The station used to be hip hop/R&B station WCHH Hot 92.7. It did not do well in the ratings, so it was flipped to Urban AC under its current name in 2003. And Its now Q92.7 Fm WQNC.

92.7 was hip hop after smooth jazz and before urban AC. Actually, WCHH did ok in the ratings at first. They had gotten two of power 98's better personalities which helped, but that didn't last long. Also, WQNC/92.7 did very well against V101.9 at first. They had stolen Tom Joyner from V (pre Steve Harvey): besides, V was very vulnerable at that time, in my opinion they didn't sound all that good. CBS had never put the resources into 101.9 they had in 97.9. They had to shape up after Q took about half V's audience when they first went UAC. Then Steve Harvey and Micheal Baisden came along, and the rest is history. Of course, the biggest problem in that competition is Q's 6Kw class A signal---up against V's 100Kw which rocks the entire market---when the Charlotte market was expanded, it made this problem much worse. In order to be successful, Q will have to find a niche format, especially one popular in Mecklenburg.

 

[DJTEKLYVE]

the biggest problem in that competition is Q's 6Kw class A signal---up against V's 100Kw which rocks the entire market---when the Charlotte market was expanded, it made this problem much worse.

For real Radio One need put more money in WQNC/Q92.7 need to booter up there signal 6kw to 100Kw to expanded in the Charlotte market it mike do better. ;D

 

[surfdude]

Actually 92.7 went from Smooth jazz to Jammin' Oldies as 92.7 The Jam.
I was the Program Director. The ratings went up quickly. But more importantly,
the billings tripled for it's first 12 months versus the Smooth Jazz format.
Car dealers loved that station. Greg Davis, the owner, was a great operator.
Then, Radio One offrered tons of money for it. He sold to RO, and they changed it to Hip Hop
within a few months. Jammin' Oldies lasted about 18 months.

I do believe Smooth Jazz would work well in Charlotte on a full signal stick. You've got top have
the at work listening to get good ratings, though. A Class A isn't strong enough.

Bill Campbell
www.asapaudio.com

 

[wncc]

I remember Jammin' Oldies. It was a great station and a niche format for a signal such as 92.7

 

[The danimal]

As much as I have become a smooth jazz fan and seem to listen to Watercolors often on my XM, the format is dying everywhere. Even CD101.9 up in New York just switched to something else just a couple weeks ago. The best hope for terrestrial radio in Charlotte is for HD2 radio to gather more listeners and catch WBAV's sub-carrier. Hey, I'd like to see Charlotte have a station like this again, but if even the more leading edge markets are abandoning the format, it's a lost cause here.