Will Smooth Jazz Exit Columbus?

[xmusicmatt]

With the posts about 104.3 flipping to "Classic Hits" Tomorrow sometime...

Will SAGA nix the smooth jazz format in Columbus? It would be silly to do so honestly, 103.5/104.3 has a higher rating than Big Hits ever did...

Will they keep BA Smooth Jazz on 103.5? or link up 103.5 with 107.9 for better coverage for the HotAC?

I was listening to 104.3 this afternoon and noticed its very canned... BA does not apperently (or SAGA does not utilize if its there) hardly any liners.. songs would end, the annoucer would say what was coming up and they id'ed as "your smoothest spot on the dial"

 

[radiogeek07]

Good question. Thing is, Smooth Jazz would probably do well in the burbs, most of which north and west will be cut off when 104.3 goes "Big Hits." I don't think 103.5 would be able to cover enough of Columbus to where the format would be viable. Just ask the owners of WHOK how well they can be picked up in Columbus.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Good question. Thing is, Smooth Jazz would probably do well in the burbs, most of which north and west will be cut off when 104.3 goes "Big Hits." I don't think 103.5 would be able to cover enough of Columbus to where the format would be viable. Just ask the owners of WHOK how well they can be picked up in Columbus.

My only guess is that they MAY keep it on 103.5... because why otherwise wait a whole weekend to flip 104.3 to Big Hits? My only feeling is maybe Saga had to get a seperate automation setup for big hits (since the one it ran off prior is throwing out the hot ac tunes now)... otherwise you would think they would flipped it last week like they did with the switch to hot ac... they already got the music library on their network there.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

I doubt they flip 103.5. It'd be nice though. It's just satellite anyway.

 

[xmusicmatt]

I doubt they flip 103.5. It'd be nice though. It's just satellite anyway.

True, throw an Audio Vault in the closet at Sunny and be done with it.. the BA format sounds very canned, they don't even try to sound 'local' on it.

Though I think Fritz on Sunday night is 'live and local'

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Right now, Saga owns all AC in this market: Mainstream (Sunny), Hot (Mix) and Smooth (Smooth Jazz).

While it wouldn't surprise me if Saga tweaked the format to sound more AC and less jazz...if that were possible...Saga is not about to drop its newly formed AC monopoly, especially if it appeals to current and potential advertisers.

Lest anyone forget...When the Scantlands started Smooth Jazz in 1995, years after the loss of WBBY, the station wasn't the smoothest spot on the dial. It was actually more upbeat than 107.9, which was Easy 108--a yawner from the old days of beautiful music until it went soft vocals in 1996 (briefly).

The loss of Smooth Jazz would mean there will no longer be a radio station in Columbus where the music mix is dominated by instrumentals. And, as was mentioned earlier in the thread, the ratings (their best in the last year) are not a reason to drop the format off both frequencies. The 103.5 signal out of Pickerington should still get the bulk of the listeners.

Big Hits got only half the listeners Smooth Jazz got in the last book.

 

[xmusicmatt]

I think what you say Sean sounds logical.

Btw, listening tonight to 104.3, I really like Fritz's show, its live, local, and enteraining..

btw the format change of 104.3 will mark its first format change, 104.3 has been Smooth Jazz since the beginning when Scantland signed it on many years ago before selling it to SAGA.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Right now, Saga owns all AC in this market:  Mainstream (Sunny), Hot (Mix) and Smooth (Smooth Jazz).

While it wouldn't surprise me if Saga tweaked the format to sound more AC and less jazz...if that were possible...Saga is not about to drop its newly formed AC monopoly, especially if it appeals to current and potential advertisers.

You forgot WLZT 93.3.  Which makes sense, given how thoroughly forgettable and regrettable it is. 

The loss of Smooth Jazz would mean there will no longer be a radio station in Columbus where the music mix is dominated by instrumentals.  And, as was mentioned earlier in the thread, the ratings (their best in the last year) are not a reason to drop the format off both frequencies.  The 103.5 signal out of Pickerington should still get the bulk of the listeners.

Big Hits got only half the listeners Smooth Jazz got in the last book.

Big Hits was only on one signal unlike the Smooth Jazz simulcast.  But more importantly, consider:
-- Classic Hits is on a major upswing nationally.
-- Smooth Jazz is on a major downslide nationally, with once-major outlets dropping like flies (though more than a few big successes remain).
-- People on this board don't seem very interested in the PPM.  But it will be in Columbus before you know it.  And it's been proving VERY friendly to Classic Hits and other cume-driven formats;  and very unfriendly to TSL-driven formats like Smooth Jazz. 

 

[alans613]

'LZT is a complete and utter joke. Sad, considering it has that huge signal that's getting wasted. They might as well flip it to a simulcast of 'TVN and be done with it.
By the way, WDSJ in Dayton runs the same exact programming as 103.5/104.3 does, but they do say every now and then throw in a local liner that says "Dayton's Smooth Jazz 106.5". I'm surprised that Saga didn't throw something in there to sound more local as well.
I'm surprised no one in Columbus has tried to put Adult Hits on a big signal again. It has done quite well in Dayton(See WGTZ/Fly 92.9). It's also a PPM-friendly format, and really isn't too far from Classic Hits anyhow. It's also cheap to run. Isn't that broadcast management's wet dream these days anyhow? ;D

 

[xmusicmatt]

By the way, WDSJ in Dayton runs the same exact programming as 103.5/104.3 does, but they do say every now and then throw in a local liner that says "Dayton's Smooth Jazz 106.5". I'm surprised that Saga didn't throw something in there to sound more local as well.

It must be something with BA's weekend programming because the ramsey show this morning on 104.3 sounded more local. Smooth Jazz fans are right though, BA's format is very vocal. Personally I would like to hear more of the Jazz stuff like Fritz plays on Sunday night.. I enjoyed his show last night. He also made it very apperent he was 'live and local' and not canned recorded stuff.

 

[kentuckymedia]

I said on another post that while its not a top notch ratings machine, it bills and thats the most important thing. Plus while it not only bills, it costs barely anything to run!

Big Hits on 104.3, Mix on 107.9, Jazz on 103.5 and Sunny at 94.7 is a great sales combo!

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

'LZT is a complete and utter joke. Sad, considering it has that huge signal that's getting wasted. They might as well flip it to a simulcast of 'TVN and be done with it.
By the way, WDSJ in Dayton runs the same exact programming as 103.5/104.3 does, but they do say every now and then throw in a local liner that says "Dayton's Smooth Jazz 106.5". I'm surprised that Saga didn't throw something in there to sound more local as well.
I'm surprised no one in Columbus has tried to put Adult Hits on a big signal again. It has done quite well in Dayton(See WGTZ/Fly 92.9). It's also a PPM-friendly format, and really isn't too far from Classic Hits anyhow. It's also cheap to run. Isn't that broadcast management's wet dream these days anyhow? ;D

And that "someone" who should try Adult Hits again, but on a big-signal and better-programmed, is of course the same station that you called a "complete and utter joke" at the beginning of your post -- 93.3 WLZT. Of course, missing that kind of opportunity is exactly one example of why it is a complete and utter joke. They could easily work around issues like stepping on cluster-mates such as the Brew, if that's an issue.

 

[kentuckymedia]

I agree on 933 going some form of Adult Hits. It makes complete and total sense minus the fact that The Brew is basically that without the bigger variety scope.

93-3 should be the flanker for WNCI.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I agree on 933 going some form of Adult Hits.  It makes complete and total sense minus the fact that The Brew is basically that without the bigger variety scope. 

I'd say the Brew "flirts" with the "typical" Adult Hits approach.  That's why some minor tweaking might be necessary if 93.3 went Adult Hits.  I emphasize "minor," because the Brew is already very rock-focused and imaged (hardly typical for an Adult Hits), and often very low on the pop-rock side.

One way to characterize a current snapshot of the Brew sound is by taking one of the previously-broad Jacks that has lacked the success its also-broad format-mates and sounds as if its in the process of evolving to full-blown 70's/80's Classic Rock. (Or maybe they just didn't think they could stray too far from rock credentials with recently-departed morning man Steve Dahl of "disco demolition" fame...just a thought.)

Rick Springfield, etc. aside, the current BREW is still in a very different realm -- overall much-harder and straight-ahead-rock-focused-- than super-successful and very-broad Adult Hits like WARH (the Arch) St. Louis, or even CC's own numerous true Adult Hits stations like WLUE Louisville.  The Brew sure isn't in the same universe as Dayton's WGTZ, musically-speaking.  And quite often the Brew pop-rock spice such as Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark, Prince, Eddy Grant & Nickelback seem to take LOOONNGG sabbaticals, leaving you with 95% Triumph, Rush, Great White, Journey, Skynyrd, Thorogood, Great White, Alice In Chains, rockiest AC/DC, etc., instead of the usual 75%.

In short, the Brew is a Rock hits station with pop-rock spice...that sometimes virtually disappears.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

One way to characterize a current snapshot of the Brew sound is by taking one of the previously-broad Jacks that has lacked the success its also-broad format-mates and sounds as if its in the process of evolving to full-blown 70's/80's Classic Rock. (Or maybe they just didn't think they could stray too far from rock credentials with recently-departed morning man Steve Dahl of "disco demolition" fame...just a thought.)

Too late to edit again.

The possibly-transitioning-to-Classic-Rock example I was referring to is WJMK Chicago. And the statement in parentheses should read: "Maybe they thought they needed stronger rock credentials when they brought in recently-departed morning man Steve Dahl of 'disco demolition' fame...just a thought."

 

[LouP]

CC's own numerous true Adult Hits stations like WLUE Louisville.

Interesting topic. One clarification: Clear Channel only has a handful of Adult Hits stations: WLUE/Louisville, KY, WLTY/Columbia, SC, and KTOZ-FM/Springfield, MO are the only ones that come to mind. Clear Channel put the format on in a few markets (Chattanooga and Grand Rapids) where it has since disappeared, and it briefly had a Jack FM station in Amarillo, TX (on a station that was en route to being sold).

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

CC's own numerous true Adult Hits stations like WLUE Louisville.

Interesting topic.  One clarification: Clear Channel only has a handful of Adult Hits stations: WLUE/Louisville, KY, WLTY/Columbia, SC, and KTOZ-FM/Springfield, MO are the only ones that come to mind.  Clear Channel put the format on in a few markets (Chattanooga and Grand Rapids) where it has since disappeared, and it briefly had a Jack FM station in Amarillo, TX (on a station that was en route to being sold).

Some of CC's stations that are classified as other formats are actually Adult Hits, or darn close.  E.g., on their "Hot AC" WMVX in Cleveland you can hear Bohemian Rhapsody next to Cruel Summer next to Rockin' Into The Night next to I Will Remember You next to Black Horse & Cherry Tree next to Your Love next to Closing Time.  Low on rhythmic, otherwise extremely broad (FAR broader than the Brew, which Kentuckymedia said might be considered Adult Hits).