If It Could Happen in LA, Could It Happen Here? (Part 1)

Real Smooth Jazz returns to Southern California.

Quietly, without promotion or fanfare, the country’s original Smooth Jazz formatted station, the Wave in Los Angeles (KTWV 94.7FM), moved a big step closer to its musical roots last week. The station restored a number of instrumental tracks to their mix.*  Many of these tracks had not been played on the Wave in several years.  

For those of us who like to keep an eye on the industry, the significance of this decision can’t be overstated.  By putting instrumentals back into the mix, it represents something of a concession by the owners of the station, CBS Radio.  Apparently, their strategy of pushing the Wave toward a mainstream soft adult contemporary format in 2010 by sharply reducing the instrumental tracks on their playlist (and totally changing the complexion of the station in the process) didn’t work.  It didn’t give them the sustained ratings boost they had hoped for.  Media companies seldom admit in this way to having made a mistake.  And they never acknowledge the possibility that old thinking might have been better than new thinking.  The brass at CBS in Los Angeles did both with their latest change.  They deserve a lot of credit for this.  

I traded emails last week with the Music Director at the station, Paul Ciliano.  He explained that a research project they commissioned last fall led them to conclude that, even in the world of Arbitron’s Portable People Meter, a station playing instrumentals could still perform favorably.  I was shocked to hear him say that, because that notion runs counter to what has been the prevailing attitude within the industry since the advent of PPM, even among programmers for whom Smooth Jazz is both a passion and specialty.  Paul concluded his email to me this way:  “We’re back to having a unique product, and we’re gonna give it our best shot!” 

For those of us who are fans of traditional Smooth Jazz, this is the most encouraging thing we have heard in quite some time.  A major media company, CBS Radio, in a major market, Los Angeles, sees ratings and sales potential once again for a format featuring a fair amount of instrumental music. 

Naturally, the artists who create the music of this genre are just as surprised and encouraged by the development.  Here’s what Dave Koz said to me in an email:

“Yes, the Wave went back to its old format—which is awesome.  They are doing a big concert next month [February 23, with Boney James, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, Vince Ingala and Spencer Day at the Nokia Theatre] to ingratiate themselves to the [super loyal] fans they abandoned over the last couple years of turning the Wave into a pop/adult contemporary station.  This is all good news.  Some very happy people here in Southern California.”  Very lucky people too, I might add. 

It was on February 14, 1987, that the Wave made its debut in Los Angeles.  Just six months later, on August 3, 1987, we saw the launch of WNUA 95.5 here in Chicago.  For the next 22 years the stations followed similar paths, overcoming growing pains and emerging as standard bearers for the Smooth Jazz format.  They led the way in terms of ratings, revenue, industry-wide respect and influence.  As we all know and painfully recall here in Chicago, 2009 was when the parallel trajectories of the two stations came to an end, when Clear Channel dropped Smooth Jazz in favor of Spanish on WNUA.

Now that we have seen a vote of confidence for Smooth Jazz in the second largest radio market in the country, can we assume there is a glimmer of hope for the format here in Chicago, the third largest radio market?  To my way of thinking, the key to the future of Smooth Jazz in Chicago lies in what Mr. Ciliano said.  I’ll share my thoughts about that in our next blog.  (Part 2 is here.)

~Rick O’Dell (FmAm1@aol.com)

*I’ve been listening to their stream and, as far as I can tell, they’ve gone from one instrumental to three per hour during the daytime and from one to five in the evening and overnight.

Our Smooth Video of the Day:  Marc Antoine takes us back to 1998, a time when KTWV and WNUA ruled the roost in Smooth Jazz.

 

Comments

[Art B.]

Rick, what an appropriate video to play to perhaps give us a" ray of hope ". All I can say is that as happy as we are to have Smooth Jazz back ( on the internet ), it would be Great to have it back where it belongs ( on radio ), we can hope that it may someday soon happen, after all as you say above " if it could happen in LA, it could happen here ", let's hope so, in the meantime, we are very grateful to have it back here Thanks to You and The Smooth Crew !!!

[RP]

To my way of thinking, a smooth jazz format should be predominantly instrumentals. But what do I know? I'm just a fan, I don't have to attract listeners in order to pay bills.

[Scampster]

The Wave / WNUA the "New Age of Jazz" were both rivals in Chicago a short time. Current formats came out of what was instrumentals and "New Age" which is a whole part lost to the present that survives only on CDs and Sirius-XM. Chill is the third of the three types of music that was WNUA at times. Mindy Abair's show on WNUA/WLFM had that version of a format. Only part heard in car today is Sirius-XM where each has their own station. Which on it's own is a bit strange as the types go together better than as separate formats. Picking the three stations I get a small fraction of what was best on WNUA - and not even sure which stations are the rest of the format. On the streaming side don't know if you get many car listeners as I hear some new cars include internet options - many are just a place to plug an external device - most common would be I-pod I assume.

[Dannyrigoni]

Wow, what a nice surprise and a step in the right direction for smooth jazz radio. If I recall correctly, WAUN and the other "Smooth Bays" stations in northeastern Wisconsin have reverted back to the traditional smooth jazz format after operating as smooth AC stations for quite some time as well. Clear Channel, of all people, resurrected WLOQ, the smooth jazz station in Orlando and recently brought long time smooth jazz DJ Greg Cozzo back on the morning at KMYT in Temecula, CA, after airing no locally produced content for over a year. 103.7 The Oasis, while a very modest operation, brought smooth jazz back to the Albuquerque, NM market last year after close to a decade long hiatus. There is also 107.3 The Wave in Cleveland, which has some great on-air talent but unfortunately was brought back as a smooth AC station rather than as a true smooth jazz station. I'm a firm believer the genre still has a lot of potential. As Bill Cochran has told me, "People, including the younger generations, need music to relax to." I like to think that radio is at a stalemate due to the economic instability of the past few years and will recover in terms of the diversity of its product offerings. If that doesn't happen with terrestrial radio, it will indeed happen with internet radio. For the most part, aside from accessibility, the product on SmoothJazzChicago.net is truly closer to what listeners want, rather than what might have the potential to appease PPM. Of the corporate players, CBS does does an excellent job with many of their stations, including a few here in Chicago. Their on-air talent is generally given the chance to connect with the listers and be themselves, compared to so many stations today where a DJ simply reads off song titles on a playlist. However, I guess we need wait until the corporate radio execs think that brings smooth jazz radio back is their idea.

[Super Dave]

I know CBS has a few stations in Chicago. If they're willing to concede in LA, is/are there any FM frequencies (with a strong signal) in the CBS stable stable that isn't producing adequate numbers & would be viable to convert to Smooth Jazz? I believe THAT would be the #1 question that would need to be answered. The Wave IS, after all, an existing station. Chicago has nothing!

[Cyn Cooper]

Lots to mull over, and to be encouraged by in this new action and info. If it comes down to "choosing" format & delivery, I'm with the Smooth Crew in whatever direction comes...and is chosen. If they ever go "terra" radio again, fine by me. However, if we are here, due to WHATEVER gets stirred into SJ pot, I've already settled in and hung my curtains!!!

[Cyn Cooper]

To clarify, we've been through an excruciating process, particularly in 2012. SJ crew kept us going, Rick made big decisions and.... WE ARE LIVE again with a phenomenal Holiday season just behind us! Granted, I'm looking from the outside (ie. a listener enjoying essential music in a fairly simple manner) ~ I don't know how easy or difficult it is for the Crew to get this to us. It's fine if the Big Chairs say "We were wrong" (I can also accept a silent version of this). Yet, after immeasurable leg work (even when the legs were actually fingers dialing phone nbrs, typing emails, buying a working lunch or dinner).... the Smooth Crew is too valuable to kneel or enter some back door JUST to be On Air! Rick & Smooth Team ARE UP ~ and to that Victory should go any of our Listener Support (in terms of Revenue/Recognition).

[Dannyrigoni]

SD, CBS is simulcasting WBBM 780AM on WCFS 105.9 FM. That is essentially an unused frequency that I do feel is truly bringing in much revenue. I don't know how permanent that choice is, but I know that there are also rumors that they may also simulcast WSCR 670 AM on 104.3 WJMK. We'll see what's in store for the future. For the time being, smooth jazz in Chicago has made its triumphant return online, and as technology improves over the next few years, so will the accessibility of internet radio.

[Super Dave]

Danny & Cyn, I read all of your comments, and a lot of them were on point!! To a degree, I kind of like where we are at, in our own little corner of the universe, enjoying the music that we love, with no restrictions or limitations.

Danny, after I posted about CBS Radio & what they have available, I remembered that WBBM - Am simulcasts on 105.9. Both Rick & I talked about it being a waste of a good frequency, since 780 AM carries the greater number of listeners towards their ratings. However, I have heard that they may switch WSCR to the 105.7 frequency vs. going to WJMK 104.3. I honestly don't think ANYONE has ANY IDEA what the hell they want to do. Radio is in such a state of disrepair that they're trying to hold it together either with Band-aids, bubble gum or the occasional roll of Duct Tape. WGN Radio is a prime example.

Personally, I'm comfortable with on-line streaming. In the Smooth Jazz format alone, there are a multitude of listening options. However, I DO MISS not getting it on the car radio. But, then again, "50% of SOMETHING sure beats 100% of NOTHING!" (Ocean's 11).

[Cyn Cooper]

SD: With Danny & Scott's guidance and discussion on the new tech means to facilitate our listening, and you testing and connecting that info, the rest of us SJers will find our way through this new Internet Radio world. Heck.. we can't even keep you at the computer much to chat LOL! Our little island is bright with pioneering opportunities ~~ gotta love it!!

[Super Dave]

Yes, you do, Cyn. And who said you can't teach old dogs NEW tricks!! We'll figure it all out & get to the "Promised SJ Land". LOL

[Cyn Cooper]

@ SD: Here's a cyber High Five, and a curtsy as we learn fast & furiously !!!

[Matt]

Exactly what I have been thinking all along--which station, let alone who would be the bold individual(s) that will take that gigantic leap and make it feel like 1987 all over again?

At least, it is one step in the right direction.
Way to go, L.A.