I know, I promised that I'd just refer to previous blogs on this subject and never write another rant about FM radio and their inane decisions regarding music programming, especially in regard to Smooth Jazz. But here I am... inking it up over KKSF, San Francisco... again.  My first blog on the station was written in January 2008 and I had optimistically hoped that my directness would make an impact.  I have a loyalty to this radio station because not only was I on the air here for many years in the 1990's, but because a dear friend of mine, the late Steve Feinstein, worked very hard to create a unique listening experience for the Bay Area with this radio station.  

Sad really... that the powers that be in programming couldn't lay off the burned out Sade and Anita Baker tunes and the no longer relevant oldies from the R&B sector of music that compromised their ratings and integrity to the point that people were nodding off while driving over the Golden Gate Bridge or locking themselves into Alcatraz to escape from the monotony.  Pathetic that they couldn't see the obvious nuances of a changing genre and lead the edge rather than dull it.  

Today, the broadcasting outlet's press release reads like this:

"Over our 20 year history, you have always been there for us, and we truly appreciate it. You've traveled to our hundreds of KKSF listener parties and concerts, celebrated at our Sunday Brunches, helped raise over 4 million dollars for Bay Area AIDS organizations by purchasing Samplers for AIDS Relief, and you've listened to countless hours of Smooth Jazz music and artists. That unwavering support is reflected in a rich and successful track record at 103.7 KKSF."

Despite twenty years of listener loyalty, the corporation that owns KKSF has changed the format to Classic Rock... the new name is 103.7 The Band and here's what they have to say about it:

"While this decision was extremely difficult, KKSF is taking a different path and becoming a new radio station today -- 103.7 The Band. It was made only after exhaustive market research, and extensive economic considerations (yes this is a business). We hope you'll listen and let us know what you think."

Yes, it is a business, and as such, it would be very professional and dare I say profitable to keep the music fresh as well as the programming concepts and strategies, rather than run the sound into the ground by playing the same old music over and over again, and by narrowing your *broad*cast (I use the word broad very loosely) to 300 songs, one might have hoped for "exhaustive market research" on what was one of the most vibrant Smooth Jazz radio stations in the U.S, uh, let's make that the world.  

I think that Classic Rock is a brilliant choice for this kind of programming mentality...  Classic Rock never gets new, so they don't have to actually open mail for new music or discover new artists on MySpace or Facebook... they don't even have to tweet on Twitter if they don't want to.  

Guess the extensive economic considerations are no doubt referring to the savings on hiring a creative team to program their radio station.  I actually thought for a moment, that The Band may be referring to indie artists or San Francisco bands (some of the greatest rock bands in the world were raised up in the City by the Bay).  When I received a phone call from a friend this afternoon who had just turned into the station and reported the news that the format was just simple, old school, classic rock, I felt that sick feeling that one gets when they hear news of loss.  

In light of losing this format pillar, I can't promise that this is the last of these blogs on the subject.  Argh.

Please tune into SmoothJazz.com Radio for a deep mix of Smooth Jazz from all over the world and SmoothLounge.com for a chill out experience of sensual rhythms and beats!

Sandy Shore - President/Founder

SmoothJazz.com, Inc.