Radio & TV Talk

By finally

January 15, 2009 6:16 AM | Link to this

Oh, that is so sad, I really liked that station and it was comforting to hear the local voices. The jocks were super nice and definately class acts. Atlanta is a diverse city and I am sure there are plenty of people who will be saddened that we have one less choice on the dial. How sad that the dollar is more important than the music, we don’t need another talk radio station at ALL. Good luck to all the DJ’s they deserve to have a station that supports them and gives a damn.

By TG

January 15, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this

That is too bad. I enjoyed 107.5, for the most part. But I think the station would have had better ratings if true jazz was played and not smooth jazz. Songs by artists like Mariah Carey, John Legend, Al Green, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Sade, et al that 107.5 played would fit in better at 102.5 or Kiss 104. I hope that the Wednesday Wind Down concerts at Centennial Olympic Park continue later this year, even though the station is going away.

By More junk radio - thanks

January 15, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this

Atlanta has the uncanny ability to take something that enriches our culture and put it in the trash - only to replace it with junk radio. Thanks ATL! Way to go. I have listened to this station for 5 years. The station’s format is perfect for my morning commute and Sunday afternoons. And it’s the only station that my out-of-state relatives will listen to when they’re in town. They love the station because they don’t have a station with this format in their city. Hmm, guess Atlanta will be added to the junk radio list.

By Agree with TG

January 15, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this

I stopped listening to Smooth Jazz b/c of the soft pop TG mentions. I can hear that on yucky B98.5. I now listen to 91.9 from Clark Atlanta. They do a great job and play good jazz. Wonderful to listen to on the drive home, at work or on a weekend morning when you don’t want to listen to the commercial garbage stations. Atlanta could use another good station with REAL jazz as the audience is there. No more teen or young adult stations, please.

By NONIABUSINESS

January 15, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this

I had a love hate relationship with 107.5. I hated when they constantly played old Sade over and over (even when he had newer material, Luther, Al Green over and over again and these was not true jazz material! When visiting Detroit, I would be suprised that Michigan more of an undiluted Jazz format than Atlanta! The Dj’s on 107.5 did a great job with the format they to work with and it was not their fault at all, they actually made listening to 107.5 more bearable.

The Atlanta format contained music that was not Jazz in any fashion! The Detroit format was more of a jazz format and even featured new Jazz artist and formats such as contemporary acid, new age and even house club type of jazz (such as the Verve Remix of legendary jazz artist..et Ella, Sarah, Nina…etc). It was 107.5 that pushed me to get XM/Sirius radio subscriptions for the home and car because the Atlanta format left a lot to be desired, so for me, I had to pay to hear undiluted Jazz. I agree with some of the other bloggers that the only thing Atlanta has to offer is hip-hop or talk formats which doesn’t cut it when your sitting in traffic jams and need something to calm your nerves. I too hope the Wednesday Wind Down continues otherwise I’ll have to wait till artist come to town in concert outside of my Sat Radio subscriptions.

By Phil

January 15, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this

Sorry to hear this news. I have been a fan of the Jazz format, back to Jazz Flavors when it was a Sunday night show only. Thankfully we have Clark to listen to good jazz. Only problem their is a weaker signal outside of the perimeter, which is home. Give us a jazz station, rally the listeners to support the sponsors, as we need this format. Young people need to hear this music, or it may die!!!!

By Phil

January 15, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

Sorry to hear this news. I have been a fan of the Jazz format, back to Jazz Flavors when it was a Sunday night show only. Thankfully we have Clark to listen to good jazz. Only problem their is a weaker signal outside of the perimeter, which is home. Give us a jazz station, rally the listeners to support the sponsors, as we need this format. Young people need to hear this music, or it may die!!!!

By GeneG

January 15, 2009 12:06 PM | Link to this

Here we go….another sabotage by Radio One. We have enough “soft” rock, country and that stupid hip-hop in this city, without ditching the one contemporary jazz station we have, and all for talk radio? Don’t we have enough talking heads? It’s not about the money, is it Radio One, or is it? You’ve just lost an entire family of listeners, from my 5 year old on up to me. Time to boycott Radio One.

By Tami

January 15, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this

I am really disappointed to learn this. I really loved the smooth jazz station and listened to it as often as I could. I hope we’ll get another jazz station soon.

By Chestatee

January 15, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this

I used to listen to Smooth Jazz but then I installed a MP3 player in my car. I now download what I want to hear and play it on the road. Count me as one of the few who actually enjoys listening to music, not mindless talk and music geared to the demographics of consumers. I haven’t listened to the radio in a couple of years. At my house, it’s streamed music from Rhapsody on the computer. At least now we aren’t hostages to this one medium (there’s also satellite). Just another example of the extinction of OTA radio. The number one consideration is paying the bills. Radio has turned into “music for the masses.” We now have a radio dial full of stations playing to the same audience. The only exception are universities that broadcast. What a shame.

By Chestatee

January 15, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

I used to listen to Smooth Jazz but then I installed a MP3 player in my car. I now download what I want to hear and play it on the road. Count me as one of the few who actually enjoys listening to music, not mindless talk and music geared to the demographics of consumers. I haven’t listened to the radio in a couple of years. At my house, it’s streamed music from Rhapsody on the computer. At least now we aren’t hostages to this one medium (there’s also satellite). It’s just another example of the extinction of OTA radio. The number one consideration is paying the bills. Radio has turned into “music for the masses.” We now have a radio dial full of stations playing to the same audience. The only exception is universities that broadcast and some major markets. What a shame.

By Chestatee

January 15, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this

I used to listen to Smooth Jazz but then I installed a MP3 player in my car. I now download what I want to hear and play it on the road. Count me as one of the few who actually enjoys listening to music, not mindless talk and music geared to the demographics of consumers. I haven’t listened to the radio in a couple of years. At my house, it’s streamed music from Rhapsody on the computer. At least now we aren’t hostages to this one medium (there’s also satellite). It’s just another example of the extinction of OTA radio. The number one consideration is paying the bills. Radio has turned into “music for the masses.” We now have a radio dial full of stations playing to the same audience. The only exception is universities that broadcast and some major markets. What a shame.

By Andre Anthony

January 15, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

COME On!!!!!!!! How in the World can I get through my week& weekends without my SMOOTH JAZZ… This means we will not have a variety of GOOD JAZZ in HOTLANTA….COME ON GUYS U CANT LEAVE ME…. Hey, I enjoyed you guys and you will truly BE MISSED!!!!!!!!!!!! Dre’

By cbgb

January 15, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

Really bad news. I guess I too will be over at 91.9 more often. A jazz radio station of any kind is a thing of beauty.

By Ree

January 15, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this

It’s okay. They weren’t a real jazz station anyways. Listen to 91.9 FM Morris in the morning plays contemporary jazz, Nicole plays mainstream from 10-2 and Jamal plays it all from 3-6 p.m. Stream online on wclk.com!!! It’s been around for years.

By Chestatee

January 15, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

OTA radio is basically dead. People who want to listen to music not marketed to the masses to “pay the bills” either download or use satellite. It’s all about demographics now.

By AQ

January 15, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this

I agree with TG’s comments about how they were already playing so much R&B, you really couldn’t call it a true jazz station. I think true jazz fans are either downloading their collections onto their ipods or are listening to WCLK. The problem with Clark, as already mentioned, is the weak signal outside the perimeter. What I fear is that with no “jazz” station to promote jazz concerts, we may see less of those too. We need a true jazz station that goes deep into the cuts of good jazz cds and exposes the masses to a truly great art form. Until then…

By Electric

January 15, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this

This is disappointing. I’ve been a fan since moving to Atlanta three years ago. 107.5 is the only station I can listen to while I’m working that doesn’t act as a distraction. I will miss the soothing voices and great attitudes of Greg, Dave, and Rene.

However, this is an opportunity for Radio One to attract some true jazz heads. I believe the company should have a station devoted to traditional jazz, with maybe some fusion and acid thrown in. I agree with the others that there’s entirely too much hip hop played in this city. I get the fact that Atlanta is predominately African American, but not all of us want to listen to hip hop. The genre has become so unoriginal and cookie cutter. T-Pain is on everyone’s single. I’d rather listen to classical than contemporary hip hop.

By wow

January 15, 2009 1:17 PM | Link to this

I thought Rene Miller was on WSB for the lottery drawings. Atlanta is not as cultural as people make it out to be. It is a hip hop gangsta town.

By Patrick

January 15, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this

I am so sad to see WJZZ 107.5 go out the air. I love listening to this station in my car during rush hour. It helps me chill out dealing with Atlanta’s stupid drivers.

By HP

January 15, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this

Um, Radio One, we have several “oldies” R&B stations. I didn’t like that they mixed in songs by Mariah Carey, etc., instead of playing just smooth jazz, but I listened anyway. I listen to all types of music, but sometimes, I just can’t take the constant white noise of V103, 107.9 and Q100. And I would get tired of the R&B oldies too.

Radio is dead.

By bjohn1202

January 15, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this

107.5 programming manager killed that station. They played the same songs and same artist over and over again. I am dying to hear a real jazz station that plays the gamut of contemporary, fusion, be-bop, and 70’s jazz. Play some Grover, Ramsey, Coltrane, Basie, and mix it up with modern artist like Joshua Redman. 107.5 got to the point where it was almost predictable. Typical song rotations used on modern radio stations just does not work for jazz enthusiast. They want to be surprised with something that takes them back to “I remember that cut. I was in college, my sophomore year…… or….that Redman cut reminds me of that Cannonball cut……” 107.5 never hit me like that. What a missed opportunity!

By jazz lover

January 15, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this

People that like jazz never listened to WJZZ 107. WCLK plays real jazz but their jive DJs aren’t even up to college student standards, plus their ABISMAL signal reaches only a small audience. Unfortunately Atlanta has never had a real jazz music standard bearer outside of a few clubs.

By posterchild

January 15, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this

Good bye, 107.5 WJZZeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :(

By posterchild

January 15, 2009 2:03 PM | Link to this

Good bye, 107.5 WJZZeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :(

By Deanna

January 15, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this

Well that’s a damned shame. Atlanta radio does a terrible job of reflecting the diversity of the city’s population. I’ll miss WJZZ! In the wake of this move, I wish there were a way for WCLK to strengthen their signal.

By kitty

January 15, 2009 2:10 PM | Link to this

Atlanta radio is so limited I now have XM radio. I can listen to what I want when I want and I save a fortune on CDs and downloads. How many country stations do you really need anyhow?

Plus a major city without a classical station? Atlanta has to be as backward as it goes.

By Denise

January 15, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this

Wow…I hate that. They will be missed. :-(

By Mixed Emotions

January 15, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this

I used to love this station. However, I got burned out on them when their morning DJ talked more than he played music- I honestly think he liked his own voice. Music-wise was great but too much Anita Baker!

By ALS

January 15, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this

I am so upset — I wake up to Smooth Jazz every morning!! Devastating!

By Julius

January 15, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

Program directors … please wake up!!! There is market for jazz music but you have to provide it. I love Sade and I think she borders on the “jazz” side. I love contemporary jazz artists like the Rippingtons and Spryo Gyra. But you’ve got to play and mix in the traditional artists like Coltrane, Monk, Horace Silver, etc. That will keep people listening. Luther Vandross and Al Green music isn’t going to cut it. Hopefully, the next manager who tries the jazz format will reference the posts.

By Gerald

January 15, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

I used to love this station as a venue to shop for new music. I’d hear a tune, search for it, and go save it to my Rhapsody library. Now my 6 disc CD player is all I listen to in my car. The station was too unpredictable i.e. 3 smooth tunes then some crap from the 80’s. At home, it’s Rhapsody all day!

By db

January 15, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this

Ultimately, they could run a jockless smooth jazz format.

Is that the same as going commando?

By vic

January 15, 2009 2:41 PM | Link to this

Another sad thing to happen in Atlanta… I totally agree with the person that posted as “more junk radio”. Oh and by the way, Sade is the Greatest Ever!!

By Corazon

January 15, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this

I enjoyed 107.5 but found all the commercials irritating. Now I just listen to my iPod through my car radio to get undiluted Jazz. Maybe I will roll the dial over to 91.9. I do hate to see the DJ’s go, there voices most often fit the music - soft and relaxing. Good Luck DJ’s! Thanks for the jos over the years!

By 91.9 FM

January 15, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this

It will be missed, sure; however,the true Jazz Station in Atlanta is (as others have mentioned) 91.9 FM WCLK. Great Jazz played continuously. Check it out. It won’t disappoint.

By Chuck

January 15, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this

I loved this station and the DJ’s were great. This is too bad. I can’t believe this city is not diverse enough not even to have a full time jazz/easy listening station.

By Ex- smoothjazzfan

January 15, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this

It’s so sad to see a half-way decent station go under. From what I hear Dave Kosh killed that station as program manager. His music selection and lack of talent made me sick. Why was he on the air anyway? Obviously, he liked the sound of his own voice. I knew trouble was brewing when Renee Miller was let go last year. She was Smooth Jazz in Atlanta and she was nice and down to earth. Where is she? I use to see her at her concerts in Centennial Olympic Park. Best free thing going in Atlanta in the summertime. Greg was cool in the mornings and I’m sure he will land on his feet. He was good. I guess we’ll see Dave as a Wal-mart greeter in the next few months. ha ha.

By johnny t-bone

January 15, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this

Terrible station. Old Sade and Kenny G crap. Way too much soft pop. Later!

CLK is definitely the only place to catch Jazz on the dial in Atlanta, but their lineup could be much improved as well. The are way too pigeon holed. Here are a few things they need to do to be a real jazz station.

First and foremost, get rid of that lame jamaican/regae crap on Saturday afternoons/evenings. Everytime I am driving around on Saturday afternoons and turn to CLK I cringe. It’s like wanting to go to Chik-fil-a on Sunday and remembering they are closed. Doh!

Start to play more than just bebop. When was the last time you heard any Standards on CLK with singers like Sinatra, Mel Torme, or Rosemary Clooney outside of the brief Vocal Hour program?

God forbid they venture into something like bigband music, along the lines of Buddy Rich, or Mel Lewis/Thad Jones, or something really modern such as the amazing Maria Schneider Orchestra. She has been writing the greatest bigband music for the last 15 years and hardly ever has her music been played on WCLK. CLK should be embarrassed to not showcase such a genius artist.

How about more music from other modern greats, like Pat Metheny, Chich Corea, Toots Theilmans, Micheal Brecker, or Micheal Bublee.
Anybody see a pattern here?

I will give them credit, over the last 1-2 years there have been a couple of monsters in jazz who have passed, and on those nights they played many tunes in tribute to their contributions to the great art form. The two who stand out are Maynard Ferguson and Michael Brecker. Sadly, their music was almost never heard before, or since. Shame on CLK for being so exclusive.

By Dawne

January 15, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this

I will miss Smooth Jazz very much. Especially Greg Fitzgerald in the morning. I guess I’ll be playing CD’s in the car for my jazz/easy listening fix!

By Jazz

January 15, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Like everyone else it is a sad day and we are losing a great genre of music.I like so many other jazz fans wished they had took the hint to broaden there jazz that they played. WCLK we will continue to appreciate and enjoy you.Rest in Peace WJZZ oh well folks load of the mp3’s and load up the Cd’s in the ride.

By Reign

January 15, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this

Wow!!! I can’t believe what I’m reading. I LOVE Jazz and I can’t imagine life without a jazz station. I use to listen to 91.9 years ago and not sure why I stopped, but I’ll definitely place them on my speed dial now. I especially liked 107.5’s Sunday morning quiet music. I’m going to miss that very badly because it was a part of my Sunday morning routine. And it’s the only place I could hear some of the Latin or classical sounds like Andreas Vollenweider. Although, I did get a little tired of hearing the same Kenny G’ish type jazz tunes. There are so many jazz artists out there and the same songs were being played over and over. But then they do that on every station (play the same artists over and over). I’m really going to miss 107.5 though. I guess I’ll have to go to satellite at some point.

By Jazz

January 15, 2009 3:10 PM | Link to this

Like everyone else it is a sad day and we are losing a great genre of music.I like so many other jazz fans wished they had took the hint to broaden there jazz that they played. WCLK we will continue to appreciate and enjoy you.Rest in Peace WJZZ oh well folks load of the mp3’s and load up the Cd’s in the ride.

By FM Radio = The Way of the PAST

January 15, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this

FYI:

Sirius-XM has every type of Jazz you could ever want, and it is all commerical-free, too!

By RUKiddin?

January 15, 2009 3:15 PM | Link to this

I used to like WJZZ a lot. What tired me out was too much R&B and related advertising and not enough jazz. There were countless jazz artists that we never ever heard on 107.5. It seems that all radio programmers get tunnel-vision after a while.

By Gem

January 15, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

Well, at least I won a trip in the trip-a-day give away contest. That’s my consolation prize.

By joe b.

January 15, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this

Come on people! You gotta be kidding me! You are going to miss “WHAT JAZZ”? This station was crapola and far removed from any vestiges of what jazz is/was. Kenny G, along with the rest of these “smoothies are not considered “Jazz artists”. Call their music “easy listening” but definitely not jazz —smooth or rough. I’ve heard EWF on this station in passing and I know they do not consider themselves “jazz artists”. GOOD BYE, and I’m smiling at you!

By reebok

January 15, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this

WJZZ was fair but it wasn’t a jazz staion. The Commodores? Hall & Oates? Give me a break. Clark’s station is pretty good, but it’s got a crap signal. XM has commercial-free jazz of many formats, my personal favorite is Watercolors.

By joe b.

January 15, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this

Come on people! You gotta be kidding me! You are going to miss “WHAT JAZZ”? This station was crapola and far removed from any vestiges of what jazz is/was. Kenny G, along with the rest of these “smoothies are not considered “Jazz artists”. Call their music “easy listening” but definitely not jazz —smooth or rough. I’ve heard EWF on this station in passing and I know they do not consider themselves “jazz artists”. GOOD BYE, and I’m smiling at you!

By JM

January 15, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this

A few things: First, sad to hear 107.5 is going of the air. Second, like jazz, hip-hop music has many forms (I’ll admit most of what you hear on the radio is garbage, but as a whole it is not) so please stop general statements dismissing the music if you know nothing about it. Fianlly, as graduate of CAU and supporter of WCLK, it’s great to see the love from the posters. Even when I moved away to go to law school, I still listen online. Check it out.

www.wclk.com

By bob

January 15, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this

I saw this coming 2 years ago, from my circle of friends who are all ‘smooth Jazz’ aficionados if there is such a thing, 107.5 played top 40 jazz and R&B over and over again along with at least 20 minutes of commercials after each and every song, the commercial part may be an exaggeration but that’s what it sounded like. Most of us have moved on to satellite radio (and we have issues with them as well) or as much music as you can store on your MP3 devices; in my case I won’t hear the same song for at least 2 months. A different format is needed here, just because it’s the title track on the CD doesn’t mean it’s the best track on the CD.

By bob

January 15, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

I saw this coming 2 years ago, from my circle of friends who are all ‘smooth Jazz’ aficionados if there is such a thing, 107.5 played top 40 jazz and R&B over and over again along with at least 20 minutes of commercials after each and every song, the commercial part may be an exaggeration but that’s what it sounded like. Most of us have moved on to satellite radio (and we have issues with them as well) or as much music as you can store on your MP3 devices; in my case I won’t hear the same song for at least 2 months. A different format is needed here, just because it’s the title track on the CD doesn’t mean it’s the best track on the CD.

By mdm

January 15, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this

This is terrible!!!

By Steve

January 15, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this

WCLK-FM is not a viable alternative due to poor signal strength. Even their web broadcast is poor at best. They have consistently offered great programming, but lack the means to deliver the goods.

By monique

January 15, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this

This is very sad to hear , what are we going to listen to now! God Bless you 107.5 I still have love for you. I will be truly missed.

By Randall Bloomquist - WGST PD

January 15, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this

Maybe I can help. There’s a good chance I’m going to be out of a job next week. The Boss Lady is going to a big meeting in San Antonio and job cuts are expected in the Building of Death.

By Rolltide23

January 15, 2009 4:55 PM | Link to this

Atlanta Radio just got worse by 107.5 leaving the airwaves.

By baddog

January 15, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this

it really wasn’t a jazz station but DAYUM DAYUM DAYUM Atl can’t keep nothing I’m really gonna miss them

By Iris

January 15, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

Smooth Jazz is not jazz, it’s music to sleep by and that’s why businesses loved playing it in their offices and stores. It was unobtrusive. Jazz is an improvisational art form that engages the listener and brings him/her along for the ride. It’s uplifting, exciting and shouldn’t put anyone to sleep. Listen to Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Hank Jones, and I could go on and on. The art form, unless injected with young talent who understand that you must play from the heart and not from the head, will die completely. Want to hear a young teen who ‘gets it’? She’s 16 and can play a vibraphone like Milt Jackson. www.mouzza.com is the spot. She, and others like her, can bring jazz back to prominence if the audience demands it of radio. Let’s make radio a ground-up thing instead of a top-down thing.

By Anita

January 15, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this

I am so sorry to hear this. I listen to it all of the time. I think that they surveyed the wrong individuals. Arbitron is wrong.

By ninety9

January 15, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this

My alarm clock has been set to smooth jazz 107.5 for several years. These, after running the gamut of radio stations. I can’t take James Brown or Soulja Boy first thing in the morning. Radio One, Thanks.

By jbean3

January 15, 2009 5:21 PM | Link to this

Sorry to hear that. This station wakes me up in the morning - can’t listen to anything else upon waking. Hope I can find another station that can wake me gently.

By Joan Clayton

January 15, 2009 5:21 PM | Link to this

It breaks my heart to hear that this is happening. I have loved your station for many years and have been a loyal listener. I have always enjoyed the concerts that you have promoted and the staff have become part of our family. We are sadden by this lost.

By HockeyDawg

January 15, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this

I don’t know what their listeners’ racial breakdown was for 107.5, but I am white and I really enjoyed listening to the station. While it’s not the station I listen to the most, I will often flip over to it for extended periods of time, and usually enjoy all of what I hear. Plus, as many others have said, their jocks had a real good sound and didn’t get in the way of the music.

And for all you jazz afficienados out there, no, they weren’t a straight up jazz station. But “smooth jazz” by definition is somewhat of a hybrid format, with some jazz, some R&B, and some soulful pop/soft rock. I, for one, will be very sad to see 107.5 go away, and I’m hopeful someone is able to revive the format on some other station soon. But folks, we’ve got to realize that these station owners are not in business to just play what we want to hear - they are in business to make money. And if the numbers show that listeners are leaving this format, I guess I understand their decision. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it!

By Slt

January 15, 2009 6:42 PM | Link to this

I really hate to see the radio station go, it’s the best one in the city. The DJ’s were fantastic and made the ride in heavy traffic easier to deal with. It’s always the good ones that go first.

By Slt

January 15, 2009 6:43 PM | Link to this

I really hate to see the radio station go, it’s the best one in the city. The DJ’s were fantastic and made the ride in heavy traffic easier to deal with. It’s always the good ones that go first.

By veronica

January 15, 2009 6:56 PM | Link to this

I guess I got XM radio just in time. I got it in November and listen to water colors. Also, go to pandora.com, fm.com. You set your own format.

By lb

January 15, 2009 7:23 PM | Link to this

XM radio is looking better and better. Before long Atlanta radio will be talk, latin and hip hop.

By sheila

January 15, 2009 7:59 PM | Link to this

I am very dissapointed but not surprised. Atlanta radio comes and goes. If your not into country your pretty much out of luck. I am a very frustrated customer of sirus radio.

By AntMan007

January 15, 2009 8:15 PM | Link to this

Always hate to something good fall to the wayside!!!! I guess we wll see an increase in road rage when the station switches.

By DJ

January 15, 2009 8:39 PM | Link to this

I am truly heart broken.My almost perfect moment was WJZZ on my Boston Acoustic clock radio(which sounds fantastic btw) in the kitchen cooking some good grub.They will be truly missed. Time to get out my home fm transmitter and connect it to my DMX music service(no commercials or talk) or channel 929(smjzz)on comcast. RIP Wjzz

By Bud

January 15, 2009 8:41 PM | Link to this

It’s good to see W.B.L.A.N.D. go out of business. How many Kenny G and John Tesh tunes can one person endure? Now, if WJZZ was a station that played actual jazz, (Coltrane, Davis, Brubeck, etc.) then its passing would be sad.

With pandora.com and portable mp3 players, $att Radio is obsolete. SiriusXM had three huge debt repayments due this year. Everyone who has invested in their hardware will be left high and dry.

By dre

January 15, 2009 8:46 PM | Link to this

Figures. XM fans, enjoy it while you can.

By Ken

January 15, 2009 8:57 PM | Link to this

The only station I get at work…darn!

By larry

January 15, 2009 9:16 PM | Link to this

WJZZ played way to much Anita Baker,Hall and Oates.That’s not contemporary jazz,that’s R & B. If you go to southern Cali and listen to smooth jazz out there,the stations are very aggressive and innovative.This market is uneducated,that’s why they tried to blend R & B in their format.Another weakness was strictly appealing to african americans,decreasing their advertising revenue by not having a more diverse marketing approach.Nice try though here in the dirty south,bow wow !

By dtzulu

January 15, 2009 9:22 PM | Link to this

another sad day for music, 107.5 was like a breath of fresh air. one gets tired of all the other r&b, hip-hop stations, and when it became overbearing smooth jazz was a great replacement. well, at least there’s still wclk! but 107.5 will be missed and i wish all the dj’s the best.

By grant parker

January 15, 2009 10:52 PM | Link to this

People still listen to the radio in their cars? Hmmm. Interesting.

By General Sherman

January 15, 2009 11:06 PM | Link to this

Atlanta, a one horse town in big city pants. Unbelievable.

By BC

January 16, 2009 12:29 AM | Link to this

Bummer. Russ Davis, where are you when we need you? (NYC - still doing Jazz Flavors)

By Stephen

January 16, 2009 12:42 AM | Link to this

When Peach 94.9 died WJZZ’s death warrant was issued. I’m sorry to see them go - but there was waaaayyyy to much adult contemporary stuff on their. Glad to see so many folks shared my sentiment on that matter. Ms. Miller’s departure was a sign of things to come, but so I also thought all of those crazy “Do you have $10,000 in credit card debt” commercials were an indication they were in bad shape. Looks like I’ll be headed to 947thewave-dot-com.

By KB

January 16, 2009 12:52 AM | Link to this

I hate to see WJZZ 107.5 go. I believe that the programing was a problem. There’s too much good Jazz out there that’s not be played. Sometimes I thought I was listening to 104.1 and other time “WANNA BE JAZZ MUSICIANS”.I love “Smooth Jazz” but sometimes I just couldn’t listen to some of the stuff that was being played. If you want quality programing, stay closer to the shows like “Dave Koz”.

By Spice-of-Life

January 16, 2009 12:57 AM | Link to this

All commercial radio is market driven. Boring and staid. They play the same music over and over so when anyone tunes in at any time they will be forced fed the same music. Like being brain washed. There have been thousands of records pressed in the last 50 years. I would love to have all that music at my fingertips and put it on random selection. It would take years before you would hear the same song twice. Sheeple, try something different you may enjoy the change. Life is too damn short to restrict yourself to the same old crap! Even smooth jazz, day in and day out, is enough to turn one crazy. Expand your horizons!

By JazzSeeker

January 16, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this

Jazz has never been a maintream style of music. (okay maybe in the 1930’s and 1940’s). To get it here in Atlanta, we have to search for it and put our ears,voice and financial support behind it. Atlanta has a strong history of NOT doing this and then complaining that there is no good jazz music in our city (radio or live).

All parts are connected, radio support leads to sponsorships of live events, etc. If you want more live jazz, go to the performances, support the establishments that offer it and tell the restaurant/ club owners and sponsors to keep it going. Bring a friend and introduce him/her to the live jazz experience.

In the meantime, I have found two sites to get my recorded fix on-line. www.pandora.com and www.radioio.com. check it out.

Hey Atlantas, Find some live jazz and “get in the room” with it.

Check out Twain’s in Decatur on Tuesday evenings for their Jazz Jam. It is straight ahead and it is becoming quite the rave for the Jazz lover.

By End Of Your Dial

January 16, 2009 6:06 PM | Link to this

Find a GE SUPERRADIO III. Flip the AM circuit into “Wide” mode, and tune up to WMLB/AM 1690. You’ll thank me later.

By db

January 16, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this

confirmed the station is going jockless

Is this the same as going commando?

By Mike

January 18, 2009 12:54 AM | Link to this

I will miss the online WJZZ as I listened often. If you liked the station and would like to continue listening at work Monday - Friday from 6am - 10am then tune into my show at wcwa.com from Toledo. I have been doing my smooth jazz program for twenty years and I must say my music has always been way better than any station programmed music. I introduce alot of new artists that never got play because Broadcast Arch programmed most of the stations and they all sounded alike with nothing original. I program my own show as I buy the airtime from the station and sell my own advertising. LISTEN MON - FRI 6 a m to 10 a m and let me know your listening. I have a saxy hour from 8 - 9 and you can send me an e-mail and pic my featured artist of the day. If you like Peter White and I haven’t featured him in a year then I will play him in the order I receive your request. I will let you know each day if your next. Hope to hear from you on the phone at the station or by e-mail here at mrjazy@aol.com Mike Scott Jazz Show

By Mike

January 18, 2009 12:55 AM | Link to this

I will miss the online WJZZ as I listened often. If you liked the station and would like to continue listening at work Monday - Friday from 6am - 10am then tune into my show at wcwa.com from Toledo. I have been doing my smooth jazz program for twenty years and I must say my music has always been way better than any station programmed music. I introduce alot of new artists that never got play because Broadcast Arch programmed most of the stations and they all sounded alike with nothing original. I program my own show as I buy the airtime from the station and sell my own advertising. LISTEN MON - FRI 6 a m to 10 a m and let me know your listening. I have a saxy hour from 8 - 9 and you can send me an e-mail and pic my featured artist of the day. If you like Peter White and I haven’t featured him in a year then I will play him in the order I receive your request. I will let you know each day if your next. Hope to hear from you on the phone at the station or by e-mail here at mrjazy@aol.com Mike Scott Jazz Show

By Doug Jensen

January 19, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe what I read…. That 107.5 is changing formats. Someone told me about the station three years ago, and I converted from Classic Rock, to Smooth Jazz, and have been an all day listener, ever since. I am truly saddened from hearing this news!

By Richard Parrilla

January 22, 2009 9:40 PM | Link to this

It’s Thursday night, and the smooth jazz format is still running. They just got rid of all the jocks. So when the big flip? Anyone know?

By Rick B

January 23, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this

Like most commenters here, I am saddened at the loss of WJZZ 107.5, but I am not surprised. It has been a great run since June of 2001 when it started as a replacement for the old WJZF 104.1.

If you compared WJZZ at the time it started with when it ended you would immediately notice how stale and boring it had become, not because of the jocks, but because of the music they were playing. It seems that music radio stations have a life cycle. (The old Fox 97 oldies station is a great example of that!) The biggest problem is tight playlists. As the playlist includes fewer and fewer different songs as time goes by, the station becomes boring and stale. To compound this, the PD at WJZZ stretched the meaning of the word “jazz” to the point that WJZZ was just another R&B station.

Compounding this vicious cycle was what to me was a fundamental weakness of the whole “smooth jazz” format and concept, its total exclusion of traditional jazz. There is far more to jazz than the jazz flavored elevator music we often hear on “smooth jazz” stations! I am lucky that I can get WCLK, but its signal is weak out here in the suburbs. I can receive XM’s “Watercolors” on my satellite TV dish, and it is better that WJZZ was in that it played a far greater variety of music and doesn’t exclude contemporary jazz artists like Diana Krall whose music is more traditional.

Despite the weakness, the smooth jazz format survives in California and in some places in Florida. Unfortunately in too many cases in Atlanta and other cities, the smooth jazz station became tired and stale and over the air music radio in general has become homogenous and very boring with its tight playlists and sound alike formats. Perhaps HD radio will provide a new jazz station. In the meantime, I can listen to music on the Internet and the satellite dish. I have completely given up on terrestrial FM stations in Atlanta.

By So Long

January 25, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this

Good Ridance.

Like a few comments before me WJZZ “smooth jazz” was nothing more than a glorified urban adult contemporary station. “Smooth jazz” is nothing more than instrumental pop music anyway so I guess it fit.

Yes WCLK needs to boost their signal for all of us living in no-culture-and-sprawl-land and I believe they have a spot on their website to donate for that.

Hell, truth be told Atlanta, we get the radio we deserve. No one clammers for good radio here so what you get is brain-dead crap like WJZZ, V103 and their ghetto-azz morning show and milqtoast-bland Star 94.

Like has been already said, real heads that love jazz don’t listen to WJZZ. If you don’t have an opinion about music and own maybe 20 pieces of music in any format, congratulations, Atlanta radio is a paradise for you.

By Kay

January 28, 2009 7:55 AM | Link to this

This is terrible. My husband and I love smooth jazz. We listen to 102.5 and 104.1 as well. We need variety and this channel is more of the same.

By Sad but hardly surprising

January 29, 2009 4:11 AM | Link to this

I moved to Atlanta not long before WJZZ went on the air in 2001, and like another commenter said, you wouldn’t even know it was the same station to listen to it recently. I even won a pair of tickets to a concert at Chastain from them. The only thing I’ve ever won on the radio.

I can’t understand why they let their playlist become SO small anyway. I mean how could they possibly think that becoming more and more predictable would draw new listeners or keep the old ones listening? Are they running focus groups in which the participants demand more monotony? Do they think people are afraid to hear something new? That listeners would say “I’ve never heard this song before. I’d better change the station”?

I agreee, WAY too much Anita Baker, Mariah Carey, Hall & Oates, EWF, etc. Not knocking those artists, but there are so many other places to hear them and so few to hear jazz (“smooth” or otherwise) on OTA radio.

WCLK is (mostly) fantastic and the source of at least half of my jazz education, but it’s ridiculous for such a large city to have one jazz station.

I wonder if we’re headed to a point at which OTA radio will be like OTA TV - something you only put up with if you can’t/won’t spend the money for satellite. We seem to be on the way there. OTA radio is constantly shuffling and flipping and changing formats without ever addressing how badly it’s failing at what we expect(ed) it to do: play music!

By soraya

January 29, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this

I have been listening to SJ 107.5 for years..I played it all day at work and on my way home. I really enjoyed the jazz and R&B mix of music…But I won’t listen now. Need to find alternative…..This makes me sad…

By soraya

January 29, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this

I have been listening to SJ 107.5 for years..I played it all day at work and on my way home. I really enjoyed the jazz and R&B mix of music…But I won’t listen now. Need to find alternative…..This makes me sad…

By Cedar Red

January 29, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this

I stopped listening to “Smooth Jazz” so much because after Wayman Tisdale, they will throw in a R&B artist, it just throws your whole Jazz vibe off! I do like the fact that now it’s continuous music without, (as far as I can tell no commercials), and no DJ. straight R&B music. Great for staying in your vibe!

By kc

January 30, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this

I am really going to miss this station. I’ve been listening since Jazz Flavors and I love it. Hopefully another station will come along and pickup where Smooth Jazz left off.

By Sean Bissette

January 30, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this

WJZZ was like a lot of jazz stations (and commercial radio in general), they played the same old stuff over and over again. A lot of the music they played wasn’t “smooth jazz”. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of the music was good, but having to sit through Mariah Carey, Anita Baker, and Phil Collins just wasn’t worth it, and it reflected in the ratings.

A good smooth jazz station worth checking out on the internet is wavjazz.net. They play ALL smooth jazz with no pop artist or R&B oldies.

By DLGURL

February 10, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this

Sad indeed. I used WJZZ to send my kids to bed. At ages 7 and 9, evn they have a true appreciation for smooth jazz.