Where art thou? Smooth Jazz

[David1960]

I prefer Scott's mix of humor and external observations over the condescension and snarkiness of some others here anytime. But it's possibly the combination of the two jabbing sides that keep this an interesting place. Maybe. But just...maybe.

 

[SRP]

This is why I sit on the sidelines and LAUGH with the many other folks here like Scott. It's more fun watching an industry implode outside of it than INSIDE...

We're laughing right along with ya, Larry. Or maybe it's at ya. Who knows. Either way it's a riot reading this board sometimes.

 

[bossbill]

I'm still upset that we had to ban Sweet Cream Ladies at a station I used to work at.

 

[scott salvatori]

I'm still upset that we had to ban Sweet Cream Ladies at a station I used to work at.

several years later young bill, went on to live the American dream, and become a very successful business man, and the hero of every arm chair station owner who posts here. he now has the freedom to play sweet cream ladies anytime he so desires.

regarding KBKW: hows bout dumping the medved repeat on sunday, and adding alex jones 2 hour live show from austin TX, which airs at noon pacific time? hows bout adding ex KVI, sunday night, bill cunningham show, which airs live nationally via WLW/cinci?

scott-arm chair programmer/night time gear jammer

 

[RockJazz]

I understand that smooth jazz over the air is dying out and that is the main message. But I'll ask for opinions on these possibilities:

1) Do you think it will attempt a return on a small in-market FM or AM station? Or a near neighbor say in the south sound?

2) Is there a way and a reason for the smooth jazz station in the Tri-Cities to get their signal carried in the Seattle market?

3) Would you expect any commercial station to try to add a specialty show on the weekends, not out of sympathy but out of self-interest to try to capture that listenership? Or on a public or community station?

 

[JakeMott]

I understand that smooth jazz over the air is dying out and that is the main message. But I'll ask for opinions on these possibilities:

1) Do you think it will attempt a return on a small in-market FM or AM station? Or a near neighbor say in the south sound?

2) Is there a way and a reason for the smooth jazz station in the Tri-Cities to get their signal carried in the Seattle market?

3) Would you expect any commercial station to try to add a specialty show on the weekends, not out of sympathy but out of self-interest to try to capture that listenership? Or on a public or community station?

Maybe KNBQ 102.9. Also, I noticed that KWJZ showed up on the latest ratings in Yakima. Can they pick up Seattle stations there on some hilltops? Or is it over the net. Or maybe someone took their ratings gizmo on a trip to the west side.

 

[Bongwater]

If you REALLY want to hear a GOOD Smooth Jazz station, try Q-FM 94.3 in Tenerife, The Canary Islands.

Let it take you on an aural vacation to the Spanish Riviera.......

http://www.qmusica.com/index_en.php

 

[RockJazz]

Thanks for the tip. I turned them on and they were into a soul program, something I wouldn't stay with, but there does appear to be other programs on their schedule that I would be much more interested in and will try to check out. I have sampled some of the other internet offerings out there and will probably rely on that distribution channel more.

 

[crainbebo]

The closest to Yakima I can get KWJZ is when you head north down the Manastash into Ellensburg on I-82. Past the viewpoint KWJZ comes in OK until you get off the ridge. Also anywhere west of Indian John Hill...

 

[mightymoose]

I am amused by the continued promotion of HD radio on this board. KWJZ's Smooth Jazz format (or any format) on an HD channel is a non-starter. HD Radio is just the followup to hype like quad FM and stereo AM. It's an Edsel.

 

[Jimmy128]

You have a real good jazz station in Seattle (OK not smooth jazz that much) but KPLU HD2 is a great station. I listen to it on line from Boston. (OK here come the bean jokes) Anyway, we don't have a full time jazz station. We have a very corporate sounding smooth jazz Clear Channel station WMJX HD2.

 

[Jimmy128]

Correction, WMJX is owned by Greater Media. (a.k.a. Greater Mediocrity).

 

[Goldilocks94941]

I think the reason the HD channels - OK, let's just call them digital radio, shall we - don't stand much of a chance of gaining an audience is because the FCC lacks the balls to use its power to regulate. If all AM radio receivers in the US must go up to 1700kHz now, since the expanded AM band was initiated (and hasn't that made such a difference?), then why in the world won't they mandate "HD" digital radio capability on all receivers from here on out?

Same thing happened with AM stereo. The only time I ever got to hear it was once in a rental car, years ago, and I was amazed by how much better the music station sounded from routine AM. Couldn't ever get it on the in-dash radio on the cars I bought, since few of them had it.

These new technologies can help address the shortcomings of the radio industry, but not if its a "no, you first" Seattle-style four-way stop kind of thing. (see Pemco commercial for that reference, if you don't experience it yourself on a daily basis around here.) Consumer demand does not happen 'organically' when the technology isn't there in the first place, and there are scant few stores where you can find educated staff to sell you the kind of radio you really want anymore.

The irony is, the country-club republicans at the NAB who decry any kind of "regulation" on the part of the FCC (again, see where that's gotten us all today) are too blind to see how having a few more government-mandated rules, at least for the technology, sets the stage to benefit everyone, by creating a level playing field.

 

[TVradioguru]

The problem with your analysis is that unlike back in the early 80's, or whenever the AM band was expanded, people were still buying radios. Now the only radios being sold are ones that already come in cars. Listeners use the radios they already own.

Unlike AM or FM, HD radio is a licensed technology from Ibquity. Manufacturers have to purchase the license from Ibquity and special chip from the few manufacturers of the chips. The FCC isn't willing to force radio makers to provide what amounts to proprietary technology into a radio because of the cost.

My BMW has HD radio and the new Toyotas and Lexus brands with higher-end entertainment systems will have it too. The price of the HD technology is baked into the $2,000+ upgrade to the high-end system.

 

[scott salvatori]

seems to me i recall HD radio was the knee jerk reaction answer to the industry scare that satellite radio was gonna steal all the listeners away from conventional AM/FM radio.

one way to gain HD listenership is through private industry, not expensive gov't dictated regulations.

hows bout starbux buying/trading/leasing/aquiring the rights to an HD channel, such as KMTT HD? they can program it to include SBX advertising, and starbux coffee house music, and featured artists on rotation. maybe even a live starbux air talent. this could also be piped into all starbux stores. HD radios could also be sold there, for those who wish to listen at home, or car.

ironically, starbux had their own satellite channel at XM(STARBUX CAFE), before the merger.

okay, so bring this up at the next SBX corporate meeting. you can even take the credit for it!

 

[semoochie]

American broadcasting has been looking for a digital solution since 1990. When it was made clear that the government wouldn't relinquish the L-Band, they were offered what now belongs to Sirius/XM but it required too many repeaters, so they went searching for an in-band solution. It was not a knee-jerk reaction to satellite, which wasn't even a twinkle in its father's eye!

 

[Jimmy128]

I read on the internet that there is a proposal to expand the FM band to begin at 76.1. mhz. Anybody know anything about this?

 

[bossbill]

We have enough analog radio stations on the air to offer programming diversity, even in the smaller markets. There is no established need for a tripling of the number of outlets. The statement that "nobody is buying radios" may be an exaggeration, but it's true that they're not selling like hotcakes. It also appears that the public is not excited about buying HD radios. Set penetration remains low and time marches on. The major market broadcasters have invested heavily in the equipment, but without a significant audience it's difficult to jusify programming expense. In smaller markets, only a few have even considered HD. I figure that if the metro broadcasters can't pony up more than a few HD listeners, I sure as hell won't find any down here in my little corner of the world.

 

[semoochie]

There is a proposal to give TV channels 5 and 6 to radio broadcasters, extending the existing FM band. It has some support and time will tell whether or not anything comes of it. There is thought of relocating at least some of the AM band there, possibly getting rid of enough interference that clear channel stations can again serve their original purpose. There has also been talk of moving LPFMs to part of the new spectrum. Most of the talk involves everything being fully digital.

 

[TVradioguru]

From what I gather via talk in D.C., none of the proposed scenarios will occur in our lifetimes, unless of course broadcasters speak as one voice or pony-up for lobbyists to become top of mind with Congress. Given those circumstances, broadcasters have no shot unless they're willing to pay for that part of the spectrum at auction and be willing to discontinue using an AM channel at the point of turning on an FM.

As I pointed out in an earlier thread; the sales of radios at the local retailers are nill. If one takes the time to look at electronics sales figures from CEA, or simply speak with your local Best Buy manager, you can confirm the claim. Other than in new cars, people use the radios they purchased years ago.

Assuming a broadcaster were to receive a new FM channel as you propose, how long do you think it would take for listeners to go there, considering the majority of new radios with the expanded FM would be mainly distributed in new cars? Ten years? As a broadcaster, you could be in the position of being on what amounts to an HD radio channel for a very long time having spent a lot of capital and given up your AM station to move. Even with AM on life support, I'm not sure that I'd be willing to take that gamble.