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The "Smooth Jazz" format on 106.7 HD-2

J

JustinT

Just got my HD Receptor Radio today. I've been listening to the new "smooth jazz" station that Greater Media has put on the HD-2 frequency of WMJX. The station's imaging is actually pretty good considering the 10 listeners or so out there. The station uses smooth-jazz style jingles "Smooth Jazz... Magic 106.7, HD 2...", and is voiced by Dan Justin and the woman that voices WMJX's main channel.

But even if the production is good, the music variety is questionable at best. There is a lot of Simply Red and Smokey Robinson in rotation, but that's acceptable for a station designed to mirror WMJX's main channel. But at one time, Dan Justin introduced a "Smooth Jazz Legend", which would presumably be an artist with hits in the Smooth Jazz field. So who could this artist be? Al Jarreau? Kenny G? Not even close. It's the Glenn Miller Orchestra, with "String of Pearls". Since when is Glenn Miller smooth jazz, let alone a "legend" in the field?

Later on, around 9:31PM, 106.7 HD-2 plays Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together". Now, even if Glenn Miller is an odd choice for a "Smooth Jazz" station, how does this specific Mariah Carey song, which got airplay on WXKS and WJMN for a while last year, appear on a smooth jazz station? There's nothing smooth or jazz about it.

The sound quality with HD Radio is great, but hopefully Greater Media can tighten up the station's playlist, and add some more real jazz tracks.
 
> Just got my HD Receptor Radio today. I've been listening to
> the new "smooth jazz" station that Greater Media has put on
> the HD-2 frequency of WMJX. The station's imaging is
> actually pretty good considering the 10 listeners or so out
> there. The station uses smooth-jazz style jingles "Smooth
> Jazz... Magic 106.7, HD 2...", and is voiced by Dan Justin
> and the woman that voices WMJX's main channel.
>
> But even if the production is good, the music variety is
> questionable at best. There is a lot of Simply Red and
> Smokey Robinson in rotation, but that's acceptable for a
> station designed to mirror WMJX's main channel. But at one
> time, Dan Justin introduced a "Smooth Jazz Legend", which
> would presumably be an artist with hits in the Smooth Jazz
> field. So who could this artist be? Al Jarreau? Kenny G? Not
> even close. It's the Glenn Miller Orchestra, with "String of
> Pearls". Since when is Glenn Miller smooth jazz, let alone a
> "legend" in the field?
>
> Later on, around 9:31PM, 106.7 HD-2 plays Mariah Carey's "We
> Belong Together". Now, even if Glenn Miller is an odd choice
> for a "Smooth Jazz" station, how does this specific Mariah
> Carey song, which got airplay on WXKS and WJMN for a while
> last year, appear on a smooth jazz station? There's nothing
> smooth or jazz about it.
>
> The sound quality with HD Radio is great, but hopefully
> Greater Media can tighten up the station's playlist, and add
> some more real jazz tracks.

That's if they even know what real jazz is! The definition is a relative one among some programmers.
 
Reading the above posts doesn't surprise me at all as Greater Media has had no idea of how to programm smooth jazz for years. I have been a fan for almost 20 years with an extensive collection that of smooth jazz cds. The format is listenable but has never been done right in the Northeast corridor. One only needs to listen to WNUA, KKSF or KTWV to hear fmers that know and respect the format doing it right. Try listening to Watercolors on XM to get proper programming of the genre.
 
> > Just got my HD Receptor Radio today. I've been listening
> to
> > the new "smooth jazz" station that Greater Media has put
> on
> > the HD-2 frequency of WMJX. The station's imaging is
> > actually pretty good considering the 10 listeners or so
> out
> > there.
[snip]
> > The sound quality with HD Radio is great, but hopefully
> > Greater Media can tighten up the station's playlist, and
> add
> > some more real jazz tracks.
>
> That's if they even know what real jazz is! The definition
> is a relative one among some programmers.


The definition is a relative one to listeners as well!
 
> Reading the above posts doesn't surprise me at all as
> Greater Media has had no idea of how to programm smooth jazz
> for years. I have been a fan for almost 20 years with an
> extensive collection that of smooth jazz cds. The format is
> listenable but has never been done right in the Northeast
> corridor. One only needs to listen to WNUA, KKSF or KTWV to
> hear fmers that know and respect the format doing it right.
> Try listening to Watercolors on XM to get proper programming
> of the genre.

I'm reminded of the line....

"Would a Rose by any other name still smell the same?"

Radio geeks are hung up on names and their technical parameters.

Listeners are not.

So a "MIX" station can be oldies based, AC, Hot AC...or anything else, the public only knows what it sounds like.

Their is no "proper programming".....it's only a question of getting enough people to listen....and get them to listen for as long as you can.

And ratings show if we suceed or not....not the names we give formats.

You are a self-professed Jazz geek (with an extensive CD collection).

I'm sure you know that the Jazz formats are not aimed at you.

BTW...My father has always considered Glenn Miller "Jazz".
 
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