Smooth Jazz

[BJSteigner]

Does anyone know if Smooth Jazz will ever come back to New York City?

What will happen to WRXP FM in the coming weeks???

It is open to all who want to answer or comment on this.

 

[NoMoreLurking]

Now that you've re-opened the can of worms, maybe a certain former WQCD weekender turned rehirement coach, who posts on here under several names, will spew yet another sour grapes tirade (they're quite easy to spot) regarding the late CD1019 and WRXP. The quick answer about Smooth Jazz: It's highly unlikely that it'll return. It attracts a demo that advertisers simply don't feel is valuable. SJ stations are disappearing across the country, to the point that there are only a handful of them left.

 

[RadioMan203]

I actually use to listen to the former jazz station quite often when I needed a break from the traditional "stuff" heard on the dial.

NoMoreLurking: Do you have any info on the demo info that Smooth Jazz seems to attract? I'm not being a wise guy, I'm more curious on what makes this demo is so vastly different that advertisers aren't interested, be it their buying preferences, social makeup, etc. I know the Jazz station that was in Sounthern Connecticut lasted awhile but I thought QCD actually buried them.

 

[BruceS8852]

If you are one of the few people who have an HD radio, smooth jazz is available on 101.9 HD2. If you have Sirius/XM the Watercolors channel is smmoth jazz. I also like to listen to it as a change of pace.

Bruce

 

[radiojomo]

WRXP isn't going anywhere. RXP's still a new, growing station that has potential to hit the Top 20, sooner or later as they shift towards playing more alternative tracks. Smooth Jazz just doesn't pick up the successful demos anymore, stations even like KTWV in LA are rumored of flipping because the station attracts more 55+ listeners than any other demo, which advertisers don't want to attract

 

[neo11]

WRXP isn't going anywhere. RXP's still a new, growing station that has potential to hit the Top 20, sooner or later as they shift towards playing more alternative tracks. Smooth Jazz just doesn't pick up the successful demos anymore, stations even like KTWV in LA are rumored of flipping because the station attracts more 55+ listeners than any other demo, which advertisers don't want to attract

WOW, the top 20! That's runaway success right there...

You are right about the smooth jazz format and the demo problems though. It's average demo was rapidly aging, and that was leading to a decline in ad revenue, in New York and nationwide. That explains why so many of those stations have flipped in the past two years. And calling such stations "jazz" stations and comparing them to the likes of, say, WBGO, is totally wrong and inaccurate, unless you consider Elton John and Phil Collins "jazz."

 

[davideduardo]

I actually use to listen to the former jazz station quite often when I needed a break from the traditional "stuff" heard on the dial.

NoMoreLurking: Do you have any info on the demo info that Smooth Jazz seems to attract? I'm not being a wise guy, I'm more curious on what makes this demo is so vastly different that advertisers aren't interested, be it their buying preferences, social makeup, etc. I know the Jazz station that was in Sounthern Connecticut lasted awhile but I thought QCD actually buried them.

The audience is mostly 55+, where there is just about no radio ad buying.

 

[AlvaJr]

Please! No Smooth Jazz in NYC.
RXP is the Best! by playing Adult Rock.

So once again let's forget and considering Country, New Rock, Spanish Oldies, Hot/Urban Talk, Classic Dance and more... and I'm tired with repeating the same Smooth Jazz topic over again.

When K-Rock return on May 24, 2007 and they played just Rock music until on December 2008 when Rock switched to Classic Hard Rock format like based on WNEW with no The Moody Blues, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Genesis, Santana, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and more until on March 2009 K-Rock has now switched to Now 92.3 by playing Top 40 and we do not need another rock station, so Q104.3 by playing Classic Rock and 101.9 RXP by playing Adult Rock is the Best!

So think about it.

 

[radiojomo]

WRXP isn't going anywhere. RXP's still a new, growing station that has potential to hit the Top 20, sooner or later as they shift towards playing more alternative tracks. Smooth Jazz just doesn't pick up the successful demos anymore, stations even like KTWV in LA are rumored of flipping because the station attracts more 55+ listeners than any other demo, which advertisers don't want to attract

WOW, the top 20! That's runaway success right there...

You are right about the smooth jazz format and the demo problems though. It's average demo was rapidly aging, and that was leading to a decline in ad revenue, in New York and nationwide. That explains why so many of those stations have flipped in the past two years. And calling such stations "jazz" stations and comparing them to the likes of, say, WBGO, is totally wrong and inaccurate, unless you consider Elton John and Phil Collins "jazz."

I don't know what you're laughing at by saying that WRXP is successful when it hits the Top 20. AAA never gets much love in the PPMs. Most AAA stations around the country being measured in the PPMs are not in the Top 10, their most likely in the 20+, maybe in the 25-49 demos they might do a little better, but AAA isn't a very impressive format.

 

[neo11]

WRXP isn't going anywhere. RXP's still a new, growing station that has potential to hit the Top 20, sooner or later as they shift towards playing more alternative tracks. Smooth Jazz just doesn't pick up the successful demos anymore, stations even like KTWV in LA are rumored of flipping because the station attracts more 55+ listeners than any other demo, which advertisers don't want to attract

WOW, the top 20! That's runaway success right there...

You are right about the smooth jazz format and the demo problems though. It's average demo was rapidly aging, and that was leading to a decline in ad revenue, in New York and nationwide. That explains why so many of those stations have flipped in the past two years. And calling such stations "jazz" stations and comparing them to the likes of, say, WBGO, is totally wrong and inaccurate, unless you consider Elton John and Phil Collins "jazz."

I don't know what you're laughing at by saying that WRXP is successful when it hits the Top 20. AAA never gets much love in the PPMs. Most AAA stations around the country being measured in the PPMs are not in the Top 10, their most likely in the 20+, maybe in the 25-49 demos they might do a little better, but AAA isn't a very impressive format.

Who said RXP is AAA? I certainly wouldn't classify it as one with the music it's playing. 107.1 The Peak and 92.9 'EHM are Triple-A stations in this area, not RXP when it plays the likes of Linkin Park, Elton John and AC/DC.

And yes, merely making it into the top 20 in market #1 on a full-powered signal is bad, no matter how you spin it.

 

[radiojomo]

RXP is STILL a AAA, no matter what you say about it playing Linkin Park and Elton John. AAA can have any spin to it to feed what the listeners want, AAA stations can sound different in the artists they play region by region. RXP might have a more commercial flare to it because it is operating on a full market signal. If RXP wasn't AAA, what would it be? Alternative Rock? It doesn't have the alternative imaging and the alternative style. RXP is being run as a AAA (although it plays a good amount of alternative tracks). They still have the low key, mellow imaging of a AAA, the AAA style personalities and the boy-girl morning show of Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram.

 

[neo11]

RXP is STILL a AAA, no matter what you say about it playing Linkin Park and Elton John. AAA can have any spin to it to feed what the listeners want, AAA stations can sound different in the artists they play region by region. RXP might have a more commercial flare to it because it is operating on a full market signal. If RXP wasn't AAA, what would it be? Alternative Rock? It doesn't have the alternative imaging and the alternative style. RXP is being run as a AAA (although it plays a good amount of alternative tracks). They still have the low key, mellow imaging of a AAA, the AAA style personalities and the boy-girl morning show of Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram.

Umm, maybe it's none of the above? Maybe it's just "rock"? I've seen stations merely listed as "rock" on the ratings page of the late R&R for instance. Just because it has AAA imaging doesn't make it an actual AAA, especially when what matters (the music) isn't AAA.

As for what listeners want, it's obvious that not many listeners want to hear what RXP is airing, judging by its continued abysmal numbers, even in its target demos. It's obvious that so-called "commercial flare" isn't working for them either...it's pretty obvious that playing 47 flavors of rock music isn't doing much for them, no matter how well known the artists may be, because it's just too far all over the place....far more scattered than any AAA I've ever heard.

 

[RadioMan203]

I actually use to listen to the former jazz station quite often when I needed a break from the traditional "stuff" heard on the dial.

NoMoreLurking: Do you have any info on the demo info that Smooth Jazz seems to attract? I'm not being a wise guy, I'm more curious on what makes this demo is so vastly different that advertisers aren't interested, be it their buying preferences, social makeup, etc. I know the Jazz station that was in Sounthern Connecticut lasted awhile but I thought QCD actually buried them.

The audience is mostly 55+, where there is just about no radio ad buying.

Good point. I suppose it's more difficult to sell Depends and Ensure on the radio anyways

 

[radiojomo]

RXP is STILL a AAA, no matter what you say about it playing Linkin Park and Elton John. AAA can have any spin to it to feed what the listeners want, AAA stations can sound different in the artists they play region by region. RXP might have a more commercial flare to it because it is operating on a full market signal. If RXP wasn't AAA, what would it be? Alternative Rock? It doesn't have the alternative imaging and the alternative style. RXP is being run as a AAA (although it plays a good amount of alternative tracks). They still have the low key, mellow imaging of a AAA, the AAA style personalities and the boy-girl morning show of Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram.

Umm, maybe it's none of the above? Maybe it's just "rock"? I've seen stations merely listed as "rock" on the ratings page of the late R&R for instance. Just because it has AAA imaging doesn't make it an actual AAA, especially when what matters (the music) isn't AAA.

As for what listeners want, it's obvious that not many listeners want to hear what RXP is airing, judging by its continued abysmal numbers, even in its target demos. It's obvious that so-called "commercial flare" isn't working for them either...it's pretty obvious that playing 47 flavors of rock music isn't doing much for them, no matter how well known the artists may be, because it's just too far all over the place....far more scattered than any AAA I've ever heard.

The station's top artists include Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Wilco, Silversun Pickups, Gomez, Elvis Costello, Pete Yorn, Bell X1 and Death Cab. All these artists are also charting in AAA chart. Usually stations labeled as rock are more into harder edged and classic rock. RXP isn't into that. AAA is more of a regional flare format, think of it as a hot dog. State by state the style the way the hot dog is served is different, but its still the same hot dog. Same with AAA. For example, KINK in Portland is focused more on adult pop currents, KPRI in San Diego plays more music '90s Alternative and Pop, KSWD (if you still define that as a AAA, your call) in LA is focused on Classic Rock, all AAA stations are different and that's the reason why they're AAA stations. AAA stations are unique to every region. Just ask anyone in the AAA Boards.

 

[neo11]

RXP is STILL a AAA, no matter what you say about it playing Linkin Park and Elton John. AAA can have any spin to it to feed what the listeners want, AAA stations can sound different in the artists they play region by region. RXP might have a more commercial flare to it because it is operating on a full market signal. If RXP wasn't AAA, what would it be? Alternative Rock? It doesn't have the alternative imaging and the alternative style. RXP is being run as a AAA (although it plays a good amount of alternative tracks). They still have the low key, mellow imaging of a AAA, the AAA style personalities and the boy-girl morning show of Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram.

Umm, maybe it's none of the above? Maybe it's just "rock"? I've seen stations merely listed as "rock" on the ratings page of the late R&R for instance. Just because it has AAA imaging doesn't make it an actual AAA, especially when what matters (the music) isn't AAA.

As for what listeners want, it's obvious that not many listeners want to hear what RXP is airing, judging by its continued abysmal numbers, even in its target demos. It's obvious that so-called "commercial flare" isn't working for them either...it's pretty obvious that playing 47 flavors of rock music isn't doing much for them, no matter how well known the artists may be, because it's just too far all over the place....far more scattered than any AAA I've ever heard.

The station's top artists include Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Wilco, Silversun Pickups, Gomez, Elvis Costello, Pete Yorn, Bell X1 and Death Cab. All these artists are also charting in AAA chart. Usually stations labeled as rock are more into harder edged and classic rock. RXP isn't into that. AAA is more of a regional flare format, think of it as a hot dog. State by state the style the way the hot dog is served is different, but its still the same hot dog. Same with AAA. For example, KINK in Portland is focused more on adult pop currents, KPRI in San Diego plays more music '90s Alternative and Pop, KSWD (if you still define that as a AAA, your call) in LA is focused on Classic Rock, all AAA stations are different and that's the reason why they're AAA stations. AAA stations are unique to every region. Just ask anyone in the AAA Boards.

Yes, and in *this* region, there's AAA stations 107.1 The Peak and 92.9 'EHM, which sound pretty similar to each other but not at all similar to RXP.

Here's a sampling of what has aired on 101.9 today:

Queen
Collective Soul
Jimi Hendrix
Nirvana
RHCP
Foo Fighters
Aerosmith
Green Day
The Who
Guns N' Roses
Van Halen
Led Zeppelin
Cheap Trick
ZZ Top
The Doors
The Ramones
Pink Floyd
Eric Clapton
Billy Idol
Linkin Park
Blink 182
Devo
Lenny Kravitz
Nine Inch Nails

That is absolutely *not* AAA, and cannot be accounted for by "regional" differences. In fact, there doesn't seem to be much of a focus at all, unlike the stations you cited. There's some "hipster" rock, some classic rock, some active rock, some nu-metal, some hair metal, some new wave. Nothing stands out, and that seems to be one of the major problems for the station: no focus.

Sure, you'll hear Coldplay and Dave Matthews and Gomez and Elvis Costello, using the examples you cited, but with the exception of Gomez, you'll also hear those artists elsewhere on the dial as well. They are hardly exclusive to AAA formats and cannot be cited in support of 101.9 being AAA.

 

[radiojomo]

Mediabase is still reporting WRXP as a AAA...And just because WRXP plays Alternative artists makes them NOT AAA? Most AAA stations play those artists! AAA is basically a hybrid between Alternative and Hot AC mixed in with a little AOR.

 

[neo11]

Almost none of those artists are ever heard on The Peak or EHM and certainly not at the frequency they are heard on RXP. AAA is probably the closest approximation to what their format is, which is why they are listed as such, but I think what RXP is doing defies any conventional format definitions, as you stated yourself by characterizing the station as a alternative-Hot AC-AOR hybrid.

 

[Brooklyndon]

Is WRXP a case where Emmis New York sales team needs Rock as part of a product bundling effort meant to attract non-niche mass media buyers to its core stations?

 

[orange434]

Please! No Smooth Jazz in NYC.
RXP is the Best! by playing Adult Rock.

So once again let's forget and considering Country, New Rock, Spanish Oldies, Hot/Urban Talk, Classic Dance and more... and I'm tired with repeating the same Smooth Jazz topic over again.

When K-Rock return on May 24, 2007 and they played just Rock music until on December 2008 when Rock switched to Classic Hard Rock format like based on WNEW with no The Moody Blues, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Genesis, Santana, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and more until on March 2009 K-Rock has now switched to Now 92.3 by playing Top 40 and we do not need another rock station, so Q104.3 by playing Classic Rock and 101.9 RXP by playing Adult Rock is the Best!

So think about it.

WRXP has consistently rated in the low to mid 1 shares +12, PPM, diary, you name it. if that's the best i guess the definition of the best has changed. WQCD obviously did not bill well, but drew in a 3 share book after book after book. the ratings for RXP have been pretty much an unmitigated disaster so far.

 

[neo11]

Please! No Smooth Jazz in NYC.
RXP is the Best! by playing Adult Rock.

So once again let's forget and considering Country, New Rock, Spanish Oldies, Hot/Urban Talk, Classic Dance and more... and I'm tired with repeating the same Smooth Jazz topic over again.

When K-Rock return on May 24, 2007 and they played just Rock music until on December 2008 when Rock switched to Classic Hard Rock format like based on WNEW with no The Moody Blues, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Genesis, Santana, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and more until on March 2009 K-Rock has now switched to Now 92.3 by playing Top 40 and we do not need another rock station, so Q104.3 by playing Classic Rock and 101.9 RXP by playing Adult Rock is the Best!

So think about it.

WRXP has consistently rated in the low to mid 1 shares +12, PPM, diary, you name it. if that's the best i guess the definition of the best has changed. WQCD obviously did not bill well, but drew in a 3 share book after book after book. the ratings for RXP have been pretty much an unmitigated disaster so far.

Again, the failure of the format which replaced smooth jazz doesn't suddenly turn the smooth jazz format from a bad performer into a good performer. Yes, it was in the low 3's 12+ (though everyone will tell you that 12+ numbers do not matter), but who among that 12+ were the listeners? In WQCD's case, it was not a desirable demo for advertisers, nor was it a growing audience. Emmis was smart to pull the plug on smooth jazz, but what they've decided to replace it with has been a disaster (of their own mis-doing).