Loyal Smooth Jazz Listeners,
Thank you for the over 6,400 responses
expressing your frustration, anger, disappointment, and passion
for Smooth Jazz and KKSF. After reading over 5,000 of them, to
use some of your words, it’s time for this idiotic, spineless,
moron to respond. Your question, Why? I know it’s not popular,
but the answer is, it’s business. As many of you know, there
have been numerous Smooth Jazz stations replaced in many cities
around the country, the latest being WNUA in Chicago. Here in
the Bay Area, we have a population of over 6 million people.
Successful radio stations are determined by which get the most
people to listen most often. While we all place a high value on
being unique, different, and special, those qualities alone do
not always equal success. What research and ratings have
definitively shown is there are a lot more people in the Bay
Area who enjoy the kind of music that you hear on “The Band”
compared to Smooth Jazz. Not thousands, not tens of thousands,
but hundreds of thousands more. From a business stand point, the
decision was obvious. What made it so difficult were you, the
loyal, passionate listeners. While we cannot bring back Smooth
Jazz to your FM radio at this time, we have created a way where
you can listen to Smooth Jazz in your car, at work, or at home.
HD radio. Right now, you can hear all the great Smooth Jazz
songs you love, plus personalities like Miranda Wilson, Dave Koz,
and Maria Lopez on 98.1 HD-2. We do not make one penny off the
purchase of HD radios, this is simply a way to get the music and
DJs you love on a radio. To find out about HD radios,
click
here, or go to
KKSF.com and enter the keyword: HD. If you aren’t
familiar, you can also listen to Smooth Jazz on your iPhone or
Blackberry by downloading the free
iHeartradio app.
KKSF.com
will continue to stream Smooth Jazz, as well as provide
you with updated concert information and Smooth Jazz news. Many
of you have asked if there will be a Summer Jazz Fest in Concord
this year, and the answer is YES, we’ve been told by Live Nation
there is one scheduled for August 22nd. We will update you with
more information just as soon as we get it.
One more Program note: Sundays from 8am to 10am you can listen to “Smooth Jazz
Weekend” on
98.1 KISS FM. (regular FM radio)
This two hour show features the same great Smooth Jazz music you
are used to listening to, plus interviews with some of your
favorite artists (find out more below). No, this is not supposed to be a replacement
for KKSF, just a way to keep Smooth Jazz on the airwaves, and to
support the music and artists in the Bay Area.
Michael Erickson
KKSF Program Director
May 18th, 2009 at 3pm marked the end of an era. KKSF-FM is no longer the Bay Area's home
for Smooth Jazz.
Everyone at KKSF would like to thank all the loyal fans of our station
and the years of support you've given us. 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.
The spirit of KKSF isn't going away, however. KKSF.com will continue to
thrive as your source for Smooth Jazz including a digital audio stream
of the Smooth Jazz Network as well as videos on demand, concert listings
and other features. We hope you'll choose to continue to support the
artists and the music online.
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.
Please take a moment and share your thoughts and questions here on the site.
We will be updating information regularly and encourage your feedback.
© 2009
