And another Smooth Jazz outlet is gone. Sandusky has flipped 98.9 KWJZ Seattle to what they are calling Modern Music as “Click 98.9“. The station is straddling the line between Modern Rock, AAA, and Hot AC putting the station in between Modern Rock “107.7 The End” KNDD, AAA “103.7 The Mountain” KMTT, and even CHR “Kiss 106.1” KBKS and Hot AC “Star 101.5” KPLZ.
KWJZ.com features the following farewell message from PD Carol Handley.
To the KWJZ Family,
For 19 years 98.9 KWJZ has been presenting a mix of Smooth Jazz music for you, our very loyal music fans and radio listeners. It is with sadness that we inform you that this era for 98.9 FM has come to a close. Technologies change and the new radio audience measurement is not favoring our once “ratings-strong“ Smooth Jazz music format. I encourage you to continue to support the artists who make the music and the venues who bring them to the Northwest. It is with huge gratitude on behalf of the entire KWJZ staff that we thank you for being here with us for these many years.
Sincerely,
Carol Handley
Program Director
The first hour of Click 98.9 featured:
Neon Trees – Animal
Jack Johnson – Flake
Broken Bells – The High Road
Pink – So What
Kings Of Leon – Use Somebody
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Sara Bareilles – King Of Anything
The Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue
The Fray – How To Save A Life
Fall Out Boy – Dance, Dance
Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man
Nirvana – All Apologies
The Script – Breakeven
Maroon 5 – This Love
Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Paramore – Misery Business
Dave Matthews Band – The Space Between
The Dirty Heads – Lay Me Down
Cake – Never There
Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape
Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me
This is absolutely horrible. We had a unique station that really tied in with the Seattle lifestyle and now we just have another station playing the same music 10 other stations are playing. Whoever made this decision should be ashamed of themselves. This is one listener they’ve definitely lost.
THIS IS AN INSULT TO THE GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC OF SEATTLE’S JAZZ COMUNITY! DID THESE CORP. NEOPHITES JUST SEE A COLLEGE (MONEY SPENDING,SELFISH,ALL ABOUT ME, MUSICAL HISTORY IGNORANT CROWD) THIS NEW FORMAT WILL DO NOTHING BUT DILUTE THE TRULY STRONG BASE OF JAZZ MUSIC THAT HAS MADE ARTISTS PRONOUNCE. AND I QUOTE.(KENNY G) WHEN I CAN COME HOME TO THE PARAMOUNT AND PLAY FOR THE ONES THAT GOT ME STARTED, I FEEL BLESSED. BRIAN BROMBERG (BASS PLAYER BEYOND COMPARISON) “THIS IS A PLACE I CAN WAKE UP AT 4:00AM AND DO RADIO THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE” IF ANYBODY OF IMPORT IS LISTENING, WE AS A CITY CANT AFFORD TO LOSE A LINK TO THE ART THAT MADE SEATTLE FAMOUS. WE HAVE SHOWN THE WORLD THAT WE AS A CITY, NO, AS A REGION, MAKE THE MUSIC THAT THE WORLD LISTENS TO. IF WE AS A COMMUNITY LET THIS SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS, WE WILL LOSE PLACES LIKE, (JAZZ ALLEY AND IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE. “YOU MISS THE WHOLE POINT OF, (AD-LIB JAZZ, TRUE SOUL,
AND SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF JAZZ MUSIC.) GET A CLUE AND REMEMBER WHERE IT ALL STARTED. MY RESPECTS GO TO THE ONES THAT CAN’T SPIN THAT MAGIC ANY MORE. ((((((C.H.))))) YOU HAVE SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO OUR ART THAT IS WORTHY OF A GRAMMY. I WILL DO ANYTHING REQUIRED TO ASSURE WE CAN GET THIS TRUE AMERICAN ART BACK INTO THE MAINSTREAM RADIO MARKET IN OUR TOWN,COUNTY,REGION,(((HEARTS))). “””””IF WE CAN’T HEAR IT WE CAN’T FEEL IT”””””
The fact of the matter is that while KWJZ had a loyal audience, it was a small audience.
KWJZ was the 2nd lowest rated Commercial FM station in Seattle, ahead of only 103.7 The Mountain. The station that will benefit the most is Warm 106.9, which like 98.9 is owned by Sandusky.
It appears Seattle still has KPLU playing some traditional Jazz and if another company sees a void for Smooth Jazz it will return. I wouldn’t hold out hope as the format is now down to a handful of stations nationwide.
I am so distressed about this. I thought you were above the herd mentality. It would be different if we could find another station with the same venue, but those of us who have been listening to smooth jazz (since before KWJZ) have no alternatives! There are so many fine jazz artists and I learned all about them on KWJZ. Where do we go now? Where will these artists get played? Is there a smooth jazz venue out there soon for the Seattle area?
Sad about this,
Susan
I’m distressed too! The old 98.9 is the only station I listened to. SEems like I’ve lost an old friend. My home doesn’t sound the same anymore. I know we can get similar music on line but I like having music and local news bits on something other than my computer. Any chance we can get it back? Does anyone know? Pay to help support the station or something?
I am so disgusted and frustrated. Loved my smooth jazz and always hearing what’s going on in the Seattle music scene. A great loss to our community and people who appreciate finer things, Like GREAT MUSIC!!!!
In response to Chris Lane’s message, this is just one more case where those who do listen do not “support” what they say they do. Money talks. And those who listen to the other stations buy the products advertised.
I will miss having options to radio listening. Mine will permanently be on KPLU until a new jazz station pops up.
I was deeply shocked & saddened to hear that Smooth Jazz 98.9 ceased to exist. This was my favorite radio station. Click 98.9? If I wanted to listen to 96.5 or 107.7, I`d change the dial to those stations. Such a tragedy.
I was in shock that Smooth Jazz was cancelled. I have enjoyed listening to this station for 15 years. I have learned about and seen many artist thanks to Smooth Jazz 98.9. I agree with others if I wanted more of the same I would “click” the station to 10 other similar stations. What happens to the Jazz Festival at Ste Michelle now??
Such a tragedy!!!
It’s a shame that our one and only smooth jazz station went up in favor of Click 98.9 But I’m sure another radio station will popup somewhere down the road sometime in the future. I’m an avid radio listener to r&b music not necessarily with KUBE 93 (which I do listen on & off) along with Movin 92.5 FM. Back in the ol’ days I listened to AM radui station 1250 KYAC which played R&B music (with Robert L Scott) as one of their DJ’s, then they went flop and later I think came back as another station. But anyways, it’s almost the same situation. NOT ENOUGH RADIO LISTENERS. Come on peeps, support your local (favorite) radio station. Or else no more. I’m filipino and in the Philippine language (Sayang!), which means (My gosh – Oh well).
I am profoundly depressed. This is NOT the way to end a year nor start a new one.
WELL IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS JUST GETTING STARTED. PLEASE MY FRIENDS, LETS NOT FORGET THAT THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE ARE BEST SAVORED WITH TIME. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH PEOPLE LIKE CAROL H. WHO HAS HER HAND ON THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SOUL IN OUR LISTENING COMMUNITY. DO WE REALLY NEED A COPY-CAT “MODERN—INDI—DORM CRAP PROGRAMMING. DO THEY REALLY LISTEN? DO THEY SEE THE ART? OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER PARTY BACKGROUND? PLEASE DONT GET ME WRONG. I HAVE PLAYED FOR THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE KIDS. BUT THEY ARE TRANSIENT IN THE TRUE FAVORITES THAT THEY HEAR. THE CLASSIC FORMS NEED TO BE SHOWN IN ALL OF THIER STRENGTH. LISTENING NEEDS TO BE SHARPENED AS TO THE REAL ARTISTIC NATURE OF THE OFFERING. ((((FEEL))),(((THOUGHT PROCESS))) AND LAST AND BUT NOT LEAST, THE LETTING GO. I.E. HEADPHONES, HEARTFELT EMOTION THROUGH EMERSION INTO THE FORM. THOSE THINGS CAN ULTIMATLY HELP THE LISTENER/STUDENT/ENTHUSIAST AND TRUE HUNGRY MUSICAL ART ADDICT FEEL WHAT IS REAL.
LETS NOT LOSE THIS. WE NEED TO FIND A HOME FOR THIS ESTABLISHMENT. JOIN ME IN WHAT EVER IT MAY TAKE TO BRING THIS PUBLIC MUSICAL MEDICATION BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU
E.J.M.
Dude. Turn your caps lock off. I get the point.
This is a huge loss for the Smooth Jazz audience in the greater Seattle area. This was always my number one station since the beginning. Click what? I refuse to believe Seattle needs another “modern music” station.
The only reason I have a Pandora account is because of all the great artists I have come to discover from KWJZ! In the car, in the garage and my bedside alarm, all were set to 98.9 Smooth Jazz. What a shame. )-;
I am outraged. No warning what so ever…this was a unique radio station, and I will miss it very much! 98.9 click…the only thing that I will be clicking is this station off!!!!
I have a hard time believing that the revenues were so low. Truly sad. But I believe the decision is dictated by business. I also can’t believe that I-91 FM from Clover Park Tech College changed their format this year from top 40 to NWPR, as if KPLU, KUOW and KUOW2 were not enough excellent public radio stations. I-91 FM (90.9 FM, could be heard well in the south Sound) was an award-winning commercial-free station geared toward youth. WSU dept. of communication taking over or having an agreement with Clover Park Tech. broadcasting program? Back to KWJZ, WE WILL MISS YOU. If our testimonies have anything to do with a potential return, let’s keep writing them! Hi to all radio fans in the Puget Sound. Radio is important to us people leading productive lives instead of watching dumb TV and playing even dumber video games!
Such a shame. Seattle radio is starting to sound more the same all the time and it SUCKS!!! At least put Smooth Jazz on HD2. The only stations I like in Seattle are KISS, KUBE, MOViN and 1090. I don’t know if Click will fit in with my listening habits. Sorry.
This is sad. I’m not an avid listener but I tune in to hear songs I wouldn’t normally hear on other stations.
Seattle has what, 5-6 stations that play exactly the type of music that Click 98.9 is now playing? Come on.
I was shocked to learn of the demise of KWJZ, but I have to say that they lost the true nature of what they claimed to be many years ago. I for one was sick of hearing Sade and Michael McDonald over and over again and yet they touted themselves as a jazz station. I wish some station existed around here that played the great music KPLU does, but does not break away for NPR or the blues on the weekends. Please radio executives, give us some real jazz around the greater Seattle area.
I also was shocked to hear music that was not jazz when I got in my car to go home from work the other day. I thought my radio was on the wrong station. I am not only sad, but angry. I agree that within the two years or so I heard music that I did not consider jazz – Bob Marley, Santana, Steeley Dan, etc. The station introduced me to artists I would never have known or considered. Gee, can’t even listen online to the music. I don’t care much for modern music played on all the current stations. I also did not hear of any warning on-air or online. If they claim they were low on listeners, does that mean 98.1 has more or just better advertising.
98.1 KING-FM has lower ratings than KWJZ. But they are switching to a listener-supported business model that will not rely on advertising to survive.
The only full powered commercial FM with a smaller audience than what Smooth Jazz was doing on 98.9 is 103.7 The Mountain, however that station is considered to have more desireable demographics than KWJZ did.
Change my mind. I will still listen to 98.9, just maybe less. The music doesn’t sound too bad at all. But, I do want to hear Smooth Jazz on HD2.
Wow, I love the passion in everyone response. I too second the thoughts concerning the poor format of mixing r&b artists and calling it smooth jazz. Sorry Carol,maybe next time you will listen to your listeners.Peace
I agree as well with the poor format of mixing r&b artist, seems like every time I tuned in to KWJZ I heard Bonnie Rait singing ‘I can’t make you love me’…smooth jazz? R&B? Country. I tuned in tonight not knowing that the format had changed, and I thought…”please, don’t be playing Bonnie Rait!”. I love Jazz, smooth or otherwise. But I get tired of hearing the same stuff I’ve been listening to for 20 years now. I like the new format. I’ll be listening regularly. Thanks for the change…change is good!
What a sad day for Seattle and the surrounding area. The number “1” button on my car radio will not be the same. I will truly miss the sound of some of my favorite Jazz musicians. What will become of the Jazz Festival?? I hope someone else can step up and continue the tradition of bringing fine jazz music to Seattle.
So sad. No more Smooth Jazz radio in my car, in my bathroom, in my bedroom, at my desk! The places are endless! No more racing to the phone to dial up 100 times to win a concert ticket (and I won lots of them). Like Seattle needs another crazy nonsense radio station. I, for one, will have my radio off!!! Thanks for all that great music and I will miss you KWJZ.
I admit it: I am a station hopper, switching according to my mood or to avoid having to listen to commercials. 98.9 was my relax and “chill” station (I hope I am able to find the Chill program somewhere–I love program). I needed to really chill today after learning my marital status was about to change. Instead, I got obnoxious, nerve-jangling “click” crud. Ugg.
Money talks and sh*t walks. It makes no difference how passionate the loyal listeners were, they just didn’t make the owners enough money. The end. Makes me sad too – I’ll be clicking OFF as well. As Big Daddy Irv said above: sayang.
This is a tragedy. KWJZ is the only radio station I listen to. I don’t own an Ipod, don’t have to leave CD’s in the car all because for the past 17 years I have had my favorite music and on air personalities at KWJZ 24/7. Apparently no more. I phoned and spoke to a Sandusky employee who informed me of the new format explaining that it will be a better mix of music, I informed her that leaves me out. In fact I wont listen to any Sandusky stations unless they field a smooth jazz station. I will go back to KPLU in the short term. I will purchase a MP3 or MP4 and record all of the great smooth jazz artists’ music that KWJZ has turned me onto and plug that into the car stereo. Truly a sad day in Pugetopolis. Thank you Carol, Jay, Diana and the great people of KWJZ. I truly hope our paths cross again.
This is why I use Pandora and GrooveShark.
Better music, less commercials.
Goodbye KWJZ. You were great while you lasted.
Radio is dead!! Long live the iPod!!
The issue wasn’t the music, it was the incessant strings of commercials. The DJs even cut the song ends just to get to the commercials. I was able to get the younger generation to like smooth jazz, but not when each song was accompanied by 5 minutes of paid/unpaid commercials.
I have been a devoted listener since the inception of Smooth Jazz 98.9, and am heartsick that this station has vaporized. Thanks to KWJZ I own most of the music that I love best. Carol, I will miss your steady, solid and reassuring voice on my radio. At my house 98.9 will go silent. Pandora, here I come.
Now what? I guess ill be buying smooth jazz CD’s more now.
This comes as a shock to me as well. I woke up to some hard rock music this morning…..horrible. Smooth Jazz was making peple less stress in the Seattle area, helped you relax in the traffic, st a good mood for dinner, make work environment more joyful….seriously…the decision to shut it off is just wrong. I want to know if the Smooth Jazz family opens another project…maybe a internet radio?
Carol Handley, the writing was on the wall when you kept changing DJ, adding too many commericals, FORGETTING or ignoring the station was SMOOTH jazz, not ‘ANY-OL’-JAZZ session, not staying true by chasing the dolla bill, focus more on who was hired for sales (really, and biggest mistake – letting Matt Redy go…….
Wow…nobody included me in this “radio audience measurement” of KWJZ! I listened to this station at a low volume at my job every day. So no more 98.9 for me at home, in my car, or at work.
Un-FREEKING-believable. Seattle can support 3 (no offense to country fans) country stations, but no consistent Jazz? Click this Sandusky!
Excellent message from Carol. I was impressed that she came right out and stated that the new radio measurement system (PPM) simply does not favor the old format as much the previous system (diary). That’s what this is all about…effectively programming to the people who are included in the measurement sample.
I’m so sad. This was “my” station. I hate the new format. Very disappointing.
I was surprized when I turned on my radio and heard “the regular CRAP”. I really thought my radio station had been changed. Such a shame. I know I will not listen to click. I am going to click somewhere else.
I too am very sad. I relied on this station for smooth jazz via the internet while working in my sewing room. I live on the N. Oregon Coast and there are no stations around like this. Portland used to have one also that went “modern”.
I’m sad to see the end of Smooth Jazz broadcasting in the area. Carol, Jay & Cedric were favorites — and I was a daily listener for 15 years. As others have commented — the “modern music” genre is already well represented here — and I really don’t think we need more of the same. Sadly, I believe KWJZ began to lose their focus (…and a large part of their audience) during the last few years. The artists that drew me (…and my group of smooth jazz buddies) to the station — Acoustic Alchemy, Boney James, The Rippingtons, Joyce Cooling, Sade, Basia, Peter White, The Yellow Jackets, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber, Chris Botti, Craig Chaquico, Jeff Golub, 3rd Force, Fourplay, Dave Koz, Jeff Kashiwa, Grover Washington…and many others — have had less and less airplay in the lastseveral years. I think they got lost in the effort to try to expand the audience — attempting to be all things to all people. Sadly, when you become a “jack-of-all-trades” — you are a master of none. I hope some brave broadcaster will pick up the torch in the future — but, I won’t hold my breath. Glad I’ve got these artists available on my Rhapsody playlists…so long, KWJZ.
Carol..Sorry about this..Really!
When you are cleaning out your desk see if my copy of Island Crossing is still there I sent you. I know you probably couldn’t play any of the cuts but I wish i had gotten an acknowledgement after 5-6 emails that is was received..
I suggest to everyone to subscribe to Sirius XM radio. Watercolors is an awesome station without the super tight playlist that KWJZ had. If I never hear Anita Baker again I won’t be sad..
Our horses in the barn loved KWJZ..We are ALL sad..
Thanx Carole for playing Darren Motamedy at least for a little while.
Darren did more than ANYONE to promote 98.9.
He got very little airplay in return.
That always really bothered me.
Darren’s in Vegas & Seattle has no smooth jazz for free.
A sad day indeed.
Norm Peterson.
I’ve been listening to this station in VANCOUVER BC for the past 12 years and its the only jazz radio station we could listen too.
Its not always about the bottom dollar, its about life, sharing satisfaction, pleasure, enjoyment.
Every other station plays the same type of music, it should be called Bovine music, you know like a COW chewing the cud or regugitated music.
It makes me want to vomit.
So. no more listening to radio for me thanks.
Unfortunately this is far from the truth. Commercial radio is a business. If that business is not making enough money then they have to change.
The point of the change was to target a new audience. If some of the former KWJZ listeners stick around, great. If not, so be it as Click is attempting to build a newer and hopefully larger audience for themselves.
thought i was losin it today when i heard click music, etc. on my old fav 98.9.
have listened to this station & rarely anything else since day 1.
feels something like a death in the family to lose KWJZ. nothing is permanent however.
would like to thank Carol H & the crew & those who preceded for providing us with many years of great radio. the best to you & hope we’ll hear you again here soon.;((;
I think that a new radio station is probably what we need to bring in the new year, “out with the old and in with the new”
Of the first hour listed for Click there is only 20% that I “might” listen to. Most AC is either bad or just not that interesting.
No way I listen to WARM.
All smooth jazz was too limited to do with some airstaff but maybe somebody in the broad commercial market figures out a mostly acoustic station.
For now I’ll listen to more KPLU for jazz and more internet radio to fill the KWJZ gap.
I’m saddened to hear the news that after 19 years, KWJZ has changed it’s format…I have listened to you since KEZX left a hole in the radio world. I am underwhelmed with the new format. It seems that the station owner is looking for a different audience, combining a KISS with KMTT music format…I am not sold.
I wish the best for the program folks that I have listened to all these years, Carol Handley and the gang. My hat’s off to you all. I have developed a deep and abiding love for the Contemporary Jazz you have offered all these years. I will be loading up my mp3 with my favorites and forsaking this excuse for a radio station.
Sincerely, Donna Lotton, Loyal Listener until now.
What a way to start off the New Year. “The New Click” SUCKS.
Yes, I am very sad about this also. I too remember the KYAC days of Seattle, where it would go off of the air at 9:00 but it had a rhythm and blues format that was fun and east to dance to. I have been a loyal listener and feel there is a whole group of people that aren’t being counted.
Well KPLU can you make some room for some of the artists that have been mentioned by some of these people? All radio stations end up having to conform to some sort of standard and I am not sure what you call it but it a mixture of a rhythm/blues/jazz and it is fun, has a good beat and great instruments.
Who was going to all of the sold out concerts, or wine festivals…seemed like a lot of people to me. Is is true that the owner is private family with 5 other radio stations in the Seattle area?
How do we get something else on the radio? From the new line up on “Click” the only ones that I like are Pink and Dave Matthews and when I turned it on, it sounds like electronic techno music (sounds like disco days to me). Seems to be absent the DJs too, which also means some savings on laid off employees. Carol, Jay and all of the others provided a community service and have been at events through-out Seattle reaching out beyond the music. I had enough of Sade and Van Morrison but who was responsible for that format?
This has truly cut-out a large segment of some very gifted musicians and I will try to continue to find ways to still hear them. Seems like we need another place where the peaceful people can turn when they want to have fun and stay calm. I had to break out my old cassette tapes, that I was almost ready to throw out, so that I have something to listen to in the car.. Believe me I searched all over a.m. and f.m today. 106.9 is the closest but since I found out the same family owned that….I think I will not be listening to the radio too much anymore.
I too was shocked when I heard music not typically heard on my favorite station coming from the speakers. I thought someone had changed the station. I am very saddend to hear smooth jazz has left Seattle. I can only hope that the outcry of public dissatisfaction will be heard by someone that can give us back our music. KWJZ I will miss you.
I was shock to wake up and found out that the Jazz station was playing rock…so tired of every station playing rock!!!…I can’t believe they terminated this station..this is very very sad…Click…what kind of mess is this..Jazz is calm and soothing…now what
I’m so devastated about this, now days this genereation only cares about pop and rock and etc. There are countless stations that already play that stuff!!!! it’s so unfair that they would acturally do this, and at the end of the year this is really depressing, The first morning the station was gone and I woke up to the “Mocern Day Music” that really depressed me…I’m most likely the only person who’s not even in High School yet that really has an attachment to KWJZ I’ve been listening to this station all my life…It almost feels like I lost a really close family member 🙁
I agree its a sad deal but really 98.9 started playing music even some rap and other formats far from beng jazz i realize its a name jazz but you ruined it for me with some of the music which did belong on a jazz radio station but the new click has no soul…SAD hope for a new jazz ststion in 2011…..John
What a stinking thing to do! The most calming music station I ever knew, now what will I do without my KWJZ as a stress reliever for the ever worsening hectic traffic jams and drive at the end of a bad work day home…how will I make it safe and sane now?
This Click junk drives me nuts in just a few short minutes – I’ve quit T.V. because of advertisements and cable fees, looks like the end of most radio for me too, with an exeptional KPLU tune as long as it doesn’t get too wierd.
I feel like I’ve lost a part of my family! The click format is horrible. I won’t be listening again, 1/2 an hour was all I could tolerate. I could tell something was wrong when the music shifted in 2010 to something less than the smooth jazz we all loved. Good luck to the Smooth Jazz family! I’ll keep searching until someone brings back the sound we all loved for 19 years!
Yesterday is when I realized the change…I thought what is this they are playing on KWJZ? I know the era of ipod music has taken over, but KWJZ was the only reason I listened to the radio still..Wow..click is gonna stay clicked off..BOO HISS!!!!!!!!!!!
This is absolutely sick. No peaceful music around town now. What’s a person going to do now with no peaceful music on the radio now,to smooth out their day or night with now. This is absolutely sick I tell you.
Well, we live in an area with so many wealthy folks–multi-millionaires and billionaires. It is my hope that one of them will buy a radio station and regardless of the “low ratings” which I don’t believe, keep playing jazz music and peaceful music. Unbelievable that they would switch to playing such NOISE. It is so sad that the listeners were not asked what they’d prefer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s what the ratings have shown. More potential listeners would rather hear what Click is playing than what KWJZ was.
I am sorry for all of you who lost your station. But honestly the fact that The majority of Seattle has never even heard of KWJZ speaks volumes as to why the change was made. Radio does not exist as a public service but is a Business. You can’t expect people to lose money just so a small minority can hear what they want. I would suggest Pandora it will open you up to much more music than you ever would be exposed to on the radio and it tailors itself directly to your taste. as for the new format, I think its Nice to have a station that actually plays good Music without acting like they have something to prove. The Mountain tries to be too hipster and the end tries to be too edgey. I found Click flipping through the dial and I have loved pretty much everything I have heard so far.
Thanks Mae for your thoughts. I hope that maybe this is an idea that gets noticed. I read somewhere that jazz is a music that higher achievers enjoy; so maybe there is a possibility.
Very very sorry to see this come to a close.
What will we do in august when it come time for the concert.
If there is some way to support the jazz format in seattle please contact me and i will do all that i can to get the word out.
Bpetway@aol.com
I too am saddened by the loss of my favorite radio station, (and also somewhat frightened that my second favorite station seems destined for the same fate due to it’s low ratings).
However, over the last few years the number of commercials and expensive contests on KWJZ seemed to steadilly increase to the point where it was almost unlistenable. I sort of wonder if KWJZ were attempting to use it’s Smooth Jazz Club membership list to refute the ratings numbers, and got caught in an every increasing cycle of promotion to do so.
Hopefully other stations will take KWJZ fate as warning, and give folks what they really want – good music, and plenty of it.
This is truly sad. I have been a jazz listener for years and will truly miss 98.9. What efforts can be done to bring Seattle a jazz station back?
Seattle is too big of a market not to have a jazz station. We do not need another Top 40 station. There are already plenty of them out there.
I read a statistic one time saying that, every comment submitted represents about 10,000 other people that don’t make any comment, but are thinking the same thing. Most people are so busy with their lives that they don’t take the time to find one of these sites to submit a comment about how much they also are missing the smooth jazz station.
This is not only sad, it makes me mad!! I can’t believe we will not have a smooth jazz station in Seattle. Doing what they did really makes it tuff to be loyal. I hope someone will see the opportunity here and fill the void.
Someone start a petition at the free website I just found: iPetition! Let others know and perhaps with enough signatures, we’ll get our favorite station back. My radio is off until Seattle gives us back our KWJZ.
I’m really sad about this. There’s no real alternative. I find myself missing this both when I’m working and when I’m playing. A real void.
It’s hard to believe there aren’t enough of us out here who feel the same.
Click Modern Music?? Too irritating to listen for more than 30 seconds. WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING?
I think the so-called ‘smooth jazz’ format sort of shot itself in the foot. I’ve been a longtime jazz fan since the age of 15 (I’m in my 40s now) and one of the most irksome things about ‘smooth jazz’ stations across the nation was the misrepresentation of a lot of music as jazz. Seal’s “Kiss on a rose” turns my stomach. It is not jazz. Kenny G, despite him playing a sax, was really just crappy easy listening music. Mushy songs by Sting, save for the few he did with Marsalis, are not jazz. I think it was this misrepresentation of these weepy-weed non-authentic, non-jazz songs stuffed in between great stuff like Miles Davis and Quincy Jones is what cost KWJZ it’s existence. I’d be willing to sign on for a new FM jazz station here especially since the NPR ‘jazz’ station is not so hot, but I’m not tuning in to hear lame easy-listening tunes again being pushed as jazz.