Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2009 > January > 14
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
1/15: First format change of the year: say goodbye to Smooth Jazz 107.5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Smooth Jazz 107.5 is a goner, news first broken Wednesday night by the Radio and Records trade publication.
Already, the station has dumped its two remaining jocks, Greg Fitzgerald and Dave Kosh.
Tim Davies, the market manager, confirmed the station is going jockless for now but he wouldn’t say when the format will flip.
“It’s a nationwide epidemic,” said Atlanta’s Bob Baldwin, a jazz keyboardist and had been doing a Saturday night show on Smooth Jazz 107.5. “In the last 12 months, New York, Philly, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Jacksonville, Memphis and Miami have flipped to different formats. The whole east coast, smooth jazz has become a dying art.”
“I don’t know if this means a new format is coming down the road that speaks to contemporary jazz listeners or going away totally,” Baldwin said. “I’m concerned. I’m doing what I can to keep it alive by doing the show I do, www.newurbanjazz.com.”
I expect at some point, Radio One will move Grown Folks 102.5 to 107.5, a much stronger signal. Already, Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden pull in huge numbers on a very weak signal at 102.5. Harvey is already competitive with Kiss 104.1’s Tom Joyner but on 107.5, he could potentially trounce the veteran Joyner. I have no clue what Radio One would put on 102.5. For a time, they’ll simulcast. Ultimately, they could run a jockless smooth jazz format there or simply make that R&B oldies and turn 107.5 into more of an all talk station.
The station has been around for more than seven years. Smooth Jazz had some good ratings at relatively low cost for a few years but its ratings (and revenues, presumably) had fallen off the past two years. This has been the case nationwide. Smooth jazz, as noted earlier by Baldwin, as a format has been dying in many cities. Under the new measurement system of people meters, smooth jazz has generally done worse than under the paper diary.
Locally, in the most recent Arbitron monthly numbers, Smooth Jazz ranked 13th overall. It was 15th in total listeners. It had the weakest numbers of the four Radio One stations. Among 25 to 54 year olds, it ranked 19th.
Smooth jazz is an interesting hybrid format. Sure, there is some jazz on it of the Kenny G variety but also includes plenty of R&B by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Sade. It’s considered the closest to “easy listening” of this generation and is often used as “background” music at offices. The downside: advertisers often prefer to be on stations where the listener is more “active.”
Rene MIller, a veteran smooth jazz jock let go by Smooth Jazz last year during a round of budget cutbacks, said she’s not surprised. She’s hoping another station will now at least run a specialty show featuring smooth jazz.
The only jazz alternative left is WCLK-FM at 91.9. “We are a public radio station that has been here for 35 years. We’re supported by a university. Very limited funds but look at what we’ve been able to do,” said general manager Wendy Williams. She anticipates Smooth Jazz’s impending departure should help WCLK get more listeners and more fundraising.
Permalink | Comments (99) | Post your comment |
1/14: Comments from departing WABE host Wanda Yang Temko, Sheree Whitfield’s latest gig
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wanda Yang Temko, afternoon host for WABE-FM’s classical music show from noon to 3 p.m., will be leaving once John Lemley takes over in early February.
Here’s what she told a local listserv:
*On November 4, 2008 I was told by my General Manager that due to
“restructuring” I was being laid off along with Robert Hubert, another classical host We were both encouraged to apply for a new position that would not entail hosting music M-F from Noon-3pm, as I have done very successfully over the last 3-plus years. Since I have nearly doubled our audience share over the last three years from Noon-3pm, this demotion did not sit well with me. So, I’ve decided to not “reapply,” and will be ending my tenure with WABE at the end of January. I’ll finally be able to finish my final doctoral document and lecture recital! This is a good thing since my time is up this September.*
She added to me in an email: “I am working on two great interviews and a Chinese New Year special that will air before the end of my tour of duty.”
And here’s bio info about her from her own Web site.
Tried new afternoon “All Things Considered” local host Denis O’Hayer again today but he was in crunch time editing a story for his soon-to-be-former employer of WXIA-TV and couldn’t talk. Hopefully I’ll get something from him directly tomorrow.
- If you want to meet Sheree Whitfield of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” here’s her latest gig. Hey—woman’s gotta make a living!
Foreplay Fridays With Sheree (of the Real Housewives of Atlanta). 10:30 p.m. Jan. 16. $10; $5 before 11 p.m. Vita, 2110 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-367-8482, www.girlsinthenight.com.
-Got this timely subject line from a local Christian station: “Happy Thanksgiving from J93.3!” Either they are really late — or extremely early. Actually, it appears the lowly intern probably sending out the mass email forgot to change the subject line. The lead item is related to Valentine’s Day, which is a month away.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: atlanta housewives
1/14: DeShawn Snow ousted from “Housewives”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are already rumors (from mediatakeout.com) that NeNe is about to get spun off on her own show.
Now DeShawn Snow confirmed with Essence magazine that she was booted from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” because she wasn’t enough of a “circus” drama queen relative speaking to the others. (Lisa, as we know, was the calm, dull one on the show but went nutso during the reunion show, cementing her place for season two.)
You can read Snow’s comments here at Essence.com
Here’s the key Q&A
ESSENCE.COM: What reason did they give for not inviting you back for the second season?
SNOW: [One of the producers] called and said that I was “too human for a circus show” and that because the show did so well, they are about to pump up the drama and they didn’t think that I would fit in. He gave me an example, saying that during the reunion when I found out what a few of the other ladies said about me, they were expecting me to say more, but I’m not the type to go “television” and start acting crazy because somebody’s talking about me. I’m fine with the decision. It wasn’t my decision. They let me go and there are no hard feelings. I am thankful for the opportunity.
I just left messages with her via email and voicemail. Will update this if I hear from her later today. More Housewives stuff here.
Good move or bad move? Will you miss her? Indeed, during the reunion show, she was a virtual nonpresence. She decided to stay classy. This show, alas, is not about classy.
Usher’s wife Tameka Raymond, in the meantime, nixed rumors to Essence that she was joining the show.. She was approached. She turned it down. The biggest rumor has been Julius Irving’s wife.
Permalink | Comments (151) | Post your comment | Categories: atlanta housewives
