Radio
Groove Jazz Music
STATION IDENTIFICATION
Groove Jazz Music Station Panel
GROOVE JAZZ MUSIC EDITORIAL
WJZR/Rochester, NY
WQOX/Memphis, TN
Quite a lot has happened in our format since we launched the Groove Jazz Music Charts a year ago. The one thing that will come to most people’s minds is the fact that our format has lost many stations to format flips. We are not here to try to sugarcoat the many challenges our format faces, but to offer some perspective that might temper the anxiety, and help us not to repeat the same mistakes in the future.
We launched Groove Jazz a year ago this week because, R&R had decided to eliminate its Smooth Jazz section and chart, a move that many had feared meant the death of the format. We literally were up with our first chart, the Monday following R&R’s last chart. The format had zero down time, and wasn’t without a chart for even one week.
Furthermore, the Groove Jazz panel included almost all of the reporting stations that the R&R chart had and ALL were monitored, but that is where the similarities ended. We immediately sought to include ALL stations that we felt were committed to the format in any way shape or form…stations that we felt had been excluded from the mix for years…stations that had carried and run with this format for years, and had quietly carried on as loads of the big corporate and consulted stations had come and gone…We excluded many of the stations that we felt did little or nothing to introduce new music and new artists into the format, and didn’t do much in the way of helping the format grow and evolve. Yes, most of those stations are the ones that have flipped and are no longer part of the Smooth Jazz community. Frankly, some of those were precisely the stations that were part of the problem.
This same philosophy led to the birth of our second chart, the Groove Jazz Music Internet Top 30, and highlights another area commonly underrepresented in our format, the internet stations. Ignore them at your own peril, for these stations shall be just as influential as their terrestrial brethren in the next five years. And truly, with new technology, do artists and labels really care HOW people get to hear their music??
The long and the short of it is this: there are more outlets than there have EVER been for people to hear Smooth/Groove Jazz music. There are far fewer obstacles in the way of new and indie artists breaking through in this format. And there are more ways than ever, and it is easier than it has EVER been to buy music, not only from major labels and distributors, but from the smallest indie artist in the format.
There is no reason not to focus on some positive news for a change is there?
STATION CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Groove Jazz Music in celebrating its one year anniversary. As a member of the Smooth Jazz community, it helps knowing that my involvement and participation as a reporter makes an important contribution to Groove Jazz Music, as it moves forward in representing the future of Smooth Jazz.
Jackie Anderson
WJAB 90.9 FM
Music Director/Host - "Midday Jazz"
"Of all the many, many formats that are available to each of us in this digital... It's very important to point out that Jazz is truly an American Institution... Thank You and Happy Anniversary from all of our listeners here in the Great Northeast at WVCR-FM!!!
Darrin Scott Kibbey, GM
Host of "The Morning Wake-Up Call"
WVCR-FM 88.3
I have found that the chart serves as a bench mark for me to maintain a perspective as to who is climbing or declining, and breaking new music especially indie artists is a passion, because without them, our format and the industry in and of itself would cease to exist. They all had to start somewhere!.
Scott Larson
KUDL Entercom KC
Host Smooth Sunday Brunch
Congratulations on your anniversary.
Typical of what’s been happening around the country, for us here in Chicago it was a roller coaster ride of a year for Smooth Jazz. We lost 95.5 and gained 87.7. That’s why it’s more important than ever that people with a passion for the music continue to blaze the trail. We applaud you and the Groove Jazz Team for all you’ve done. May year #2 be smoother and even better for you.
Rick O'Dell
Program Director / Middays
WLFM 87.7 - Chicago's Smooth Jazz
