10 years ago, smooth jazz was the format to be. then around 2000, it started to slip a bit. instead of responding, however, by adding more experimental acid jazz type instrumentals, the fine "consultants" said "oh we need to play soft pop to bring in the people." ratings dropped. more soft pop added. ratings dropped more. soft pop added. and the cycle went on to the sad state of smooth jazz radio today. we can thank the consultants for not responding correctly to the first ratings slips of smooth jazz back in the early 2000s. if they had responded correctly, we may still have a viable format today. but instead, smooth jazz on fm is dead. i do feel however, that no matter what the ppm says, there is room for some sort of ambient format on fm. beautiful music died. smooth jazz took over. smooth jazz is dying. what is next? chill didn't work in new york. perhaps some format like Muzak's "NuJazz" that you can hear if you have dish network. mixture of acid jazz, fusion jazz, chill, laid back dance music like you hear in a fashion store, etc.
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the problem with fm smooth jazz
- Thread starter Interstate 78
- Start date
I don't think we need to shed or abandon our own artists and install some trendy flashy fix that is getting its 15 minutes of fame (like chill or neo-soul). Our own artists are putting out wonderful music, it's just deep in the CDs, not the "singles" that were created to fit the format specifications. Plus, they could do more of that music and less format fill music if they thought they could get airplay.
One reason we have this problem is that instead of buidling an identity for and around the artists that people originally came to the format for back when everyone was interested, those artists were phased out in favor of out-of-genre playlist fill (pop vocals, 60s and 70s oldies, teenage chick singers etc). That's not to say a little trendy flavor cant spice up the mix but this is a case where if we had "danced with the one who brung ya" we would be dancing in a crowded room instead of an empty one.
One reason we have this problem is that instead of buidling an identity for and around the artists that people originally came to the format for back when everyone was interested, those artists were phased out in favor of out-of-genre playlist fill (pop vocals, 60s and 70s oldies, teenage chick singers etc). That's not to say a little trendy flavor cant spice up the mix but this is a case where if we had "danced with the one who brung ya" we would be dancing in a crowded room instead of an empty one.
Another problem is other people and I just don't hear songs we want to hear on smooth jazz radio. A lot of the songs are very bland and very few are ones that sound spectacular. One internet only station called "Sunset Jazz" played the best smooth jazz ever. Hardly any of these special songs were played on regular radio. For example, an artist called Chieli Minucci and "Endless Summer" I never heard on any smooth jazz stations. Paul Hardcastle's "Summer Rain" and other songs like that are not played either. WJZI 93.3 in Milwaukee when evolving quickly to AC mixed with like 75% vocals sounded HORRIBLE! Programmers of smooth jazz stations need to know that soft pop vocals belong on regular AC stations and the like. There's an AC station in almost every market - leave it up to them for vocals really.
The answer is right here: http://www.despair.com/consulting.html
Two weeks ago I was listening to an aircheck of a SJ station from another market. This was, by far, the dullest radio I had ever heard. And no, it was not a BA station. It was an automated FM with one tired, overplayed song after another, interspersed with the occasional liner.
My best friend and I argue about music and politics, and have done so for 30 years. But he said something that I thought was just plain brilliant.
He said "Smooth Jazz radio is music for people who don't like music."
I don't throw this statement out there to hack off others on this board--I have enjoyed this kind of music for 20+ years. But I can agree with my friend on this now. This format, at least as it is presented today, is the dullest kind of radio I have heard. And for those who remember the early 1980's AOR and AC formatted radio, that's saying something.
My best friend and I argue about music and politics, and have done so for 30 years. But he said something that I thought was just plain brilliant.
He said "Smooth Jazz radio is music for people who don't like music."
I don't throw this statement out there to hack off others on this board--I have enjoyed this kind of music for 20+ years. But I can agree with my friend on this now. This format, at least as it is presented today, is the dullest kind of radio I have heard. And for those who remember the early 1980's AOR and AC formatted radio, that's saying something.
It didn't start out that way but was in fact one of the most uplifting and adventurous formats to come along in some time. The plague that is now knocking off stations one after another only came after the research geeks phased out the heart and soul. I'm all for research but not when it squeezes the life out of something that was so vibrant. Everyone now needs to be looking for the opportunities to bring back the passion that allowed this music to come to life in the first place.
Let's not forget that folks like Clear Channel will not get adventuresome but will gravitate to what is safe. If they own a smooth jazz station, they will add some kind of soft pop in the mix. I live in Chicago and I'm not sure what format WNUA is anymore. Maybe it the reliance of more syndicated fair that is also making the station sound homogenious.
I was MD/APD at a hot A/C in the late 90s when we had a live SJ station that was not BA but did fit the forumla of nondescript music with overly familiar A/C crossover vocals. We were observing a focus group and this one woman says that people in her store used to argue about which station to play on the sound system so they solved it this way: "We play the smooth jazz station at work because nobody notices that it's on"
At that point in time it wasn't half as watered down as it is now.
C
cklw800
Guest
I've always been fascinated how SJ radio ignores what people are buying in this genre. Pat Metheny's new "Day Trip" CD is excellent and is one of the top selling jazz leaning releases right now. There are two nice tracks, "At Last You're Here" and "The Red One" that SJ radio could embrace. Martin Medeski & Wood's "Let's Go Everywhere" has "Far East Sweets" and "Cat Creeps" to offer to the format. Marcus Johnson's "The Phoenix" has "Side-Steppin'", "Potomac Ridge" and lots more to offer. Phillip Martin has at least been given some limited airplay with "American Garden" from his latest "Pride & Joy." "Rock The Boat" and "Lullabye" are great tunes from that CD. My new iPod is filling up with these great tunes. I have an iPod jack in my car now so I really have a nice smooth ride to work and to appointments throughout the day! Be glad when Internet radio hits the cars. My XM is pretty cool but my fear is it may be less adventurous after the XM-Sirius merger. When you look at the charts vs. what SJ radio is playing it makes me play a nice game. I take a chance and buy the stuff I see on the chart that's not on the radio. I come home with absolute gold! All these CDs are great and none were on over the air radio when I bought them!
cklw800 said:
Thats what the format did in the early days. They just played songs off the albums, and not follow a set playlist. I don't see why SJ has a play list.
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