Smooth Jazz Is Back In Detroit! (Well, Sorta)

[DToTheJ]

it's a translator on 104.7 that is simulcasting the HD-2 channel of WGPR-FM.
http://www.radio-info.com/news/smooth-jazz-oasis-1047-debuts-in-detroit-on-an-fm-translator

[passtheword]

it's a translator on 104.7 that is simulcasting the HD-2 channel of WGPR-FM.
http://www.radio-info.com/news/smooth-jazz-oasis-1047-debuts-in-detroit-on-an-fm-translator

that'll work...even if it is a translator. 250 watts @ 927 ft isn't too bad.

[AnotherCat]

Smooth Jazz Network...old logo, old music..so 1998. We'll see.

[producer57]

Everybody wants to dredge up the past and that never works-250 watts?

[Jazz_Kat]

This move by Kelper and company will save the format by itself ... NOT!

[Interstate 78]

From that Radio-Info article: "Allen Kepler at Broadcast Architecture, which produces the Smooth Jazz Network, says 'the tide is turning for this truly unique radio format.'"

A translator in Detroit and an AM station in Reno, Nevada. That in addition to other huge stations like Montana still being on-air. Is this the definition of the tide finally turning? LOL 

[AC Tones]

From that Radio-Info article: "Allen Kepler at Broadcast Architecture, which produces the Smooth Jazz Network, says 'the tide is turning for this truly unique radio format.'"

A translator in Detroit and an AM station in Reno, Nevada. That in addition to other huge stations like Montana still being on-air. Is this the definition of the tide finally turning? LOL 

I yanked this post from the Detroit board.  We need this guy to post over here!   Couldn't have said it better myself!

"SMOOTH JAZZ 104.7" (THE OASIS) has just signed on FM translator W284BQ in DETROIT.  The station simulcasts on 107.5 WGPR HD-2.  For SJ fans, that could be a good thing (IF you are one of the seven people in Detroit that has HD radio), but it's being brought back by the same idiot who has singularly killed the format across the country to begin with!  Broadcast Architecture and it's honcho Allen Kepler have put a network together with Kenny G and Dave Koz hosting radio shows (didn't know they went to Specs Howard) and summarily got dozens of local radio hosts fired.
This is the guy that says "Just My Imagination" is Smooth Jazz.  The reason this format has flopped all acorss the country is because HE dictates what is and is not SJ.  He says people don't like the flute, so that's why his stations don't play Alexander Zonjic.  Plan on one Kenny G song PER HOUR!  He says what songs are SJ regardless, because as he puts it "they test well."  If you ask me, sure, I like the Temptations, but it isn't what I listen to a SJ station for!  You are not meeting the expectations of the listener!  You are confusing the listener, and that's why countless SJ stations across the country have abandoned the format.
If a station wants to do this format correctly, the first thing you do is NOT take any calls from Broadcast Architecture and program your station IN HOUSE!  And for goodness sake, play SJ and not a bunch of watered down pop vocals!  Check out smoothjazz.com or smoothjazznow.com and you'll see the difference.

[Jazz_Kat]

From that Radio-Info article: "Allen Kepler at Broadcast Architecture, which produces the Smooth Jazz Network, says 'the tide is turning for this truly unique radio format.'"

A translator in Detroit and an AM station in Reno, Nevada. That in addition to other huge stations like Montana still being on-air. Is this the definition of the tide finally turning? LOL 

I yanked this post from the Detroit board.  We need this guy to post over here!   Couldn't have said it better myself!

"SMOOTH JAZZ 104.7" (THE OASIS) has just signed on FM translator W284BQ in DETROIT.  The station simulcasts on 107.5 WGPR HD-2.  For SJ fans, that could be a good thing (IF you are one of the seven people in Detroit that has HD radio), but it's being brought back by the same idiot who has singularly killed the format across the country to begin with!  Broadcast Architecture and it's honcho Allen Kepler have put a network together with Kenny G and Dave Koz hosting radio shows (didn't know they went to Specs Howard) and summarily got dozens of local radio hosts fired.
This is the guy that says "Just My Imagination" is Smooth Jazz.  The reason this format has flopped all acorss the country is because HE dictates what is and is not SJ.  He says people don't like the flute, so that's why his stations don't play Alexander Zonjic.  Plan on one Kenny G song PER HOUR!  He says what songs are SJ regardless, because as he puts it "they test well."  If you ask me, sure, I like the Temptations, but it isn't what I listen to a SJ station for!  You are not meeting the expectations of the listener!  You are confusing the listener, and that's why countless SJ stations across the country have abandoned the format.
If a station wants to do this format correctly, the first thing you do is NOT take any calls from Broadcast Architecture and program your station IN HOUSE!  And for goodness sake, play SJ and not a bunch of watered down pop vocals!  Check out smoothjazz.com or smoothjazznow.com and you'll see the difference.

Preach on my brother.

The Oasis site is up. 1047theoasis.com

[Media_Maven]

Just discovered Detroit's New Oasis.  My initial reaction & thoughts: The signal is quite weak in the North-Western 'burbs, like the Bloomfields, Livonia, Novi -- these are the more affluent areas of Metro-Detroit, and without decent coverage of these areas, I imagine it will be difficult to attract advertisers.  It's definitely BA's 'Smooth Jazz' Network, not 'Smooth AC', and they're using the words "Smooth Jazz" on air, and on the website, so apparently, they believe "Smooth Jazz" has more appeal to the Detroit-area market than "Smooth FM" or "Smooth AC" or whatever else they could've chosen.  I see they're using Sandy Kovach mornings (paired with Kenny G; not sure whether she's part of the entire SJ Network, or if she's only heard now in Detroit); Sandy was with CBS-Detroit/WVMV 'V98.7' during the entire 13 years they aired SJ in Detroit.  Sandy is pleasant to listen to, and has a passion for the music & SJ format.  They're using the same 'audio-logo' heard on WNUA Chicago.  No jingles yet.  Thus far, the music mix sounds better to me than that of V98.7; I'm hearing songs that I don't ever recall hearing on WVMV.  So, I guess I have to admit the SJ Network actually sounds somewhat 'refreshing' for this market -- not a carbon copy of what we had before.  If they could boost the signal, the former V98.7 might actually embrace & prefer 'The Oasis' to what was here before.  That said, I'm sure we'll all agree that this venture would sound much better if the format were programmed either locally by someone with fresh vision/imagination, or if they could tap into the Jones Network instead. 

I'll give it a listen for a few days & let you know what I think.  Those of you who've read my posts here know that I mostly agree with AC, Nock, and most of the other regular aficionados here; and believe that Detroit's New OASIS could super-serve its audience/advertisers alike if they'd implement more of our ideas/suggestions. 

I'm amazed that it really does sound fresh & different compared to V98.7; I swear, I never heard 1/3 of these songs on V98.7, and the presentation (station imaging, etc) sounds better to me than V98.7. 

More thoughts soon...

MediaMaven,
Novi, Michigan

[Media_Maven]

oops -- this line should read "If they could boost the signal, the former V98.7 *listeners* might actually embrace & prefer 'The Oasis' to what was here before."