The Infinite Dial

Well, here's a blog post by a former KZLA listener who is looking for alternatives. Read the comments: Everybody's talking about satellite, only one mention of the HD program stream, then it's back to satellite again.

I cannot imagine another station playing the kind of music that's on many other stations. Smooth Jazz was unique and was often the choice of many businesses for their employees & customers to listen to durring the day. Now it's gone, taken over by some jackass of a programing manager who wants to be like all the other stations. Smooth Jazz was where you would go to listen to good music, hear great artists that you can't hear on any other station. They were the station for the Jazz Fest in Reading. Now you're no different than every other junk station out there. Congradulations on you're stupidity. In trying to be new and fresh, you're now nothing special. You will be on the radio dial another station that I simply pass by on my way to finding something good. First it was WRTI, now you. All the good music is dissapearing and we're left with junk!

What happened to asking or even informing the public about whats happening to our listening pleasure. My phone was ringing off the hook last
night because nobody could find WJJZ. Come on now
that was some cold stuff to just take it off the air. We want our JAZZ back.

I don't remember anybody asking me if I was tired of Jazz. It's truly a mystery why a station would change such a successful format and leave a huge listening audience at a loss.
Bring back our favorite jazz station before I have to reset all of the buttons on our radios.

WHAT???!!! No more WJJZ??? This is CRAZY!!! My car radio has been pre-set for 106.1, WJJZ, my FAVORITE station ever since I bought the car! Recently I've been wondering why I couldn't pick up the station, hearing strange music...blaming it on poor reception maybe due to the summer weather at the Jersey Shore(storms in the area, etc.) But on short local trips, I didn't give it much thought...just switched to a New York station. The last straw came Monday when we were driving to Virginia and I realized that even when we were on Route 295, driving parallel to Philadelphia, I STILL couldn't get "my" station. Normally I could listen to WJJZ until we got to the Tyler Bridge in Maryland. Talk about annoying...all those miles without good music! So..we returned home tonight I decided to check online to see if I could find out anything about the station. Now I see, it's just "disappeared"! How could I have missed the news? Were there any announcements? I admit that during the summer I don't tune in to radio as often as I do during the rest of the year, but surely I couldn't have missed EVERY SINGLE announcement from the DJs that they were leaving the air!! So...just where is everyone connected to the station? Is there another jazz station in Philly? I GOTTA HAVE IT!!! If anyone knows anything please let me know. I feel abandoned by old friends who normally accompany me as I sit through traffic jams and deal with wild drivers. Good music soothes the soul, don'cha know?

I was very shocked to turn on the radio and hear Whoopi's show. Although I have enjoyed some of her movies in the past, I am at a loss as to why the new format has replaced a great station. So where do we go from here? Where do the loyal fans go to hear jazz?

I completely understand what all the other posted listeners are saying. I was totally befuddled at first, wondering what had happened to my reception; and then I realized, WJJZ Smooth Jazz doesn't exist any more.

LET ME BE PERFECTLY CLEAR:
This was the ONLY radio station I could listen to that had enjoyable contemporary music. NOW THERE IS NOTHING! I will not replace it with anything viable, just not listen to the radio at all.
The Whoopi Show: come on, you've got to be kidding. I like Whoopi as an individual, but seriously I don't need to hear her blather on in the morning about nothing in particular.
It really is like losing a dear friend: this station was an oasis in the desert.

And it was handled brutally and with total disrespect and disregard for the listening public. No opportunities were presented for fund-raising or to save the station. And what was the fate of the DJs on the station? They were super: Michael Tozzi pops up immediately and his Sunday Brunches at the Zanzibar Blue !
And their vacation giveaways to the Carribean- I actually knew someone who won one of those.
This was not just your ordinary station: it had not only good music, but a zest for life. It was sophisticated, eclectic, savvy and poised all at the same time.
What was the one station I went to on 9-11-01? WJJZ Smooth Jazz.

You have a social responsibility to restore this incredible form of musical and societal communication and community forum.

Hi Tom,
You're right about responsibility. Once radio starts to respect the customer again, the industry will begin a rebound. Until then, we will have to comfort ourselves with the sporadic outbreaks of greatness.

For the past few weeks I've been searching to find an answer to "what happened to WJJZ?" to no avail. I'm happy to just find SOMETHING here with others feeling the way I do. THERE IS A HUGE SMOOTH JAZZ LISTENING AUDIENCE JUST LEFT HANGING! That was pretty cruel. My "smooth ride home" from work just isn't very smooth anymore. There are no alternatives in this area (I live in Bethlehem). NONE. I refuse to listen to the radio in my car. It's like someone very close to me just died--WJJZ was a part of my life for many years. Someone out there must have the ability to get the music we love back on the air. I feel like an addict that needs a fix....Please?

you have got to be kidding,whoopie goldberg instead of brian culberson...please,are they smoking crack?????what can we do to end this madness?it's a joke,right????

The new music on 106.1 is the same junk you can find on any other station. WJJZ Smooth Jazz was the only place to hear that style. The New York smooth jazz station is too far away to get a good signal. Plus the charity CD compilations were the only place to find really, really good single songs from a variety of artists. I started getting them with volume 3 and they were like having a greatest hits of smooth jazz collection. There is no other station in Philly that I could turn on any time of the day or night and be sure to enjoy whatever was playing. What a waste!!

This is probsbly one of the worst betrayals of the Philadelphia radio listening region in a very long time, what happened here is the total disregard for any listener that has a level of sophistication above the level of Neanderthal man, this move to "blow up" a great contemporary jazz format like Wjjz is like putting a "Dollar Store" in place of Sach's
Fifth Avenue and expecting the customers to return.
I also wonder what college graduate communications braniac decided to ruin one of the best loved stations in the area if not "The Best", and replace it with Whoopie Goldberg! I don't know about the rest of you out there, but i certainly don't like Whoopie enough to listen to her blab all day or night! Give me back David Sanborn, George Benson, Ramsey Lewis, Cheli Minucci and some of the best mature entertainment that ever graced the Philadelphia air waves!

WJJZ 106.1 MUSIC FORMAT CROSSED A-L-L COLOR,RACE,
SOCIAL, BUSINESS, AND RELIGIOUS LINES,AS WELL AS
GENERATIONS!!!!

Smooth Jazz is calming and joyful to everyone who
listens to it. It can help a person concentrate
while studing all night,calm a fussy baby,ease a
headache,temper an angry person... The list is
endless.

SO WHY TAKE AWAY A RADIO STATION THAT DID SUCH
GOOD FOR THE HUMAN RACE???!!!

MONEY HAD TO BE THE GREAT MOTIVATOR FOR THE 'ceo'
WHO MADE THE DECISION TO REMOVE SUCH SWEET SOUNDS
TO SO MANY EARS!!!!

WHOEVER YOU ARE YOU BETTER BRING IT BACK. BECAUSE
IF YOU DON'T YOU WON'T HAVE A JOB ANYMORE. WHY?
BELIEVE IT OR NOT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE "NOISE" AS
OPPOSED TO "SOUND" THAT WE WERE USED TO HEARING,
AND WILL NOT TUNE IN TO THIS NEW STUFF BUT TUNE OFF F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!!

At first I thought someone changed my station on the alarm clock, because I was hearing pop music when my alarm rang in the morning. Then I had trouble finding the station in the car even though it was suppose to be preset. Finally a coworker told me wjjz was off the air. I can't believe that someone would remove the only 24 hr jazz station from Phila, one of the top broadcasting markets and home to some the premiere jazz artist in the country! I can't believe it. It's nice to know Bill Simpson and Loni Taylor are on the air in Baltimore on Clear Channel's other jazz station WSMJ. Forget Energy -Bring back Smooth Jazz to Phila NOW!

I am heartbroken at the loss of WJJZ. It has been a fixture on my car radio ever since I first discovered it years ago. I can't believe the lack of respect for your listeners and supporters. Really cruel.

WJJZ had a calming effect for me. I loved the music. Many are the CDs I bought because of something I had heard by certain artists on WJJZ.

I have given up radio altogether now when driving, and listen to tapes and CDs instead.

I too was glad to find this website to vent my frustration and disappointment. The loss of WJJZ is definitely a loss of something good in my life. Very sad.

"The polls show that depression is on the rise." Is it any wonder?! The public voice has continually been given a slow dose of the laryngitis virus until we simply can no longer speak. Thank you for this antedote, albeit temporary, in order for our voice to be heard.
NOW HEAR THIS: WE WANT OUR JAZZ BACK!
P.S. Does anyone from the NY area remember WRVR (beautiful old jazz) going off the air MANY years ago to make way for the (argh!) country music craze? Way back then we didn't have the luxury of the web-blog to express ourselves. Thank you for providing this venue.

I could not belive they took off WJJZ, i wrote them a letter thanking them for replacing the only radio staion in Philly worth listening too with crap, the same crap I can here on every other station.
I will never listen another Clear Channel radio station again, do they really think the smart listeners of Jazz want to here Whoppie? We want to here JAZZ!
I switched to SIRIUS radio the next day.
Free radio is dead.

I'm stunned! Everyone I know loved WJJZ. Even those who were not hard core Jazz listners. There is a whole left in radio. Advertisers..... This station CANNOT replace WJJZ. You have lost your audience. You'd better run the numbers again.

I too, was fumbling through the radio stations trying to find my beloved wjjz. Where did it go to? Who the heck was crazy enough to replace it with Whoopie GOldberg of all people??? When I moved here seven years ago I was sooo happy to find such a great station and it has been set on my radio from the first day I found it. I used to brag to all my visiting friends and relatives about how great a station it was. Now I guess I'll just have to listen to more cd's and pray that someone at the station "Comes to their Senses" and brings back that smooth jazz! All I can tell you is "what goes around comes around" so they better watch out!!!!!

Clear Channel sucks. WOOPIE sucks! You took Jazz away from Philly.....stupid mistake. No other place on this planet has more Jazz fans then Philly. There is hope.....I was just at the Penns Landing Jazz concert for Michael Lington, who said that we will get WJJZ back, and that ther are alot of Arists who are trying to make a difference. Hopefully we can all put the pressure on these F*&%ing idiots at Clear Channel, so much so that this type of thing can never happen again. I hate rich people!

This year I lost: My brother, the love of my life, my job and now my favorite radio station.

WJJZ was a true melting pot, it transcended all ages, economic levels and races and this was clearly evidence at any JJZ sponsored function.

In a time when we all need firm common ground to stand on, management in all its wisdom and shallow insight decided to get the jack hammers out and crush us all.

Great job!

Although I am not a Jazz fan, I totally empathise with the feelings of everyone here. When a radio station... ANY station does this to its listeners, it is a stinking shame. What everyone here needs to do is try to form a coalition. Raise funds. Get together, and pool your resources. BUY an existing, struggling station, and bring back your Smooth Jazz. My best wishes to you.

I for one will not listen to the new format. As others have noted, you can move the dial to just about anywhere and hear the same format.

WJJZ was truly different and a welcome change among the rest of the boring monotonous stations.

When all the other stations were Talk Talk Talking all the time, I could press my #6 button (set on all my cars for YEARS) and count on WJJZ to be there & help me get through the day...alas, farewell to another great station. You will be missed.

What I don't understand is how in the world could Whoopie even agree to this type of madness. I knew she never had any taste anyway. There is no way that anyone could agree to take away WJJZ JAXX. Where are all the Jazz musicians, why aren't they protesting this. Whoopie doesn't look good on tv and doesn't sound good on the radio either. It is a disgrace to hear her on the air. She should be banned from radio and tv now that she has crossed the line. What made her think that she was a damn DJ. Step aside Whoopi and leave the DJing to the real STARS. Your radio station stinks and I will never listen to it and I am getting all of my family, friends and co workers to not listen to your station. Hopefully with no one listening to you, you will be banned.

WJJZ - Philly's Smooth Jazz will never die.

"I feel love everytime your body's next to mine,
something deep inside of me,
wants to love you endlessly."

"She was a gemini on the cusp of Mars,
she holds me back or she goes too far,
winding me up just to let me down,
so emotionally gagged and sound.
There was more to this than meets the eye,
a devil woman locked inside,
with the full moon rising I was scared,
I think I was possessed." (Maxi Priest 1990)

Where's the senseable approach here. You have a large pool of Jazz listeners out there that are now looking for another station to listen to. It definitely won't be 106.1 with that format you have. Later 106.1

I am totaly discusted!

I was wondering what happened to WJJZ, now I unfortunelty know, how sad, I truly enjoyed that station. That is where I discovered my two favorite artists. I guess I will just have to listen to Eric Darius & Brian Culbertson on CD instead of radio. Your loss Clear Channel!!

I live in DE and work in MD. I have scanned the car radio for a music station to listen to and have come up empty after I realized that yes that was 106 playing that crappy hiphop. For now I am sticking to NPR and as soon as my broken ipod is repaired I will stick to my own collection and some good podcasts. I didn't much care for Clear Channel before and now I detest them. I'll never listen to any of their channels at all. More garbage on the air that can be heard on a dozen other channels. At home I can pick up a Baltimore smoothjazz station and that is the one I'll tune into until they yank that one away.

Do these idiots understand that by alientating consumers they drive ratings down and build up ill will. No one in that management team ever took training in leadership or marketing obviously.

Where did Michael Tozzi go?
No Euge Groove, Brian Culbertson, Average White Band?.... driving to work and working at the office is just not the same. I'm up for anything anyone wants to get together to do.

Lossing WFLN was surprising now this....I remember WJJZ when in town from NY. I'am now
in Winnipeg Canada.....the FM radio band is just
packed with stations here ...what ever you want its on. Electronic, Jazz...etc
all of can be streamed...try 99.1 KOOL FM...It is
like JJZ but they blend other stuff like Bryan Ferry and Santana yet it goes together well..Clear
Channel has no idea how to reach a larger audience and yet totally satisfiy their core.

My wife and I are very upset that WJJZ is gone. There in nothing in the Philadelphia that can replace it.

I was stunned when I found out the station was off the air. Please bring back our jazz station. It's just not the same. Will we still have our jazz concerts in August at Penns Landing?

I echo all of the listeners comments. To deprive a city as big as Philly of a station which was truly alternative is a real shame. Besides being the olny jazz outlet, it was a great office/workplace station playing soothing but intelligent music in a great format delivery. Unlike other format changes, this one made no sense as the ratings were good (7th place). I can't imaging that much time will pass before one of the poor performing stations will fill this gap and switch to smooth jazz.

Recently returned from vacation out of the area. Turned to 106.1 for my morning drive...heard something strange so I changed to something else...thought it was an anomaly. Turned it on again for my afternoon drive...an opportunity to escape talk radio and hip hop so I could "chill" on the ride home...again, something "strange" was playing. Later learned that WJJZ - even with its limited perception of "jazz" was no more. What a pity, Clear Channel. You have lost a large demographic...a group that has supported the smooth jazz format--even in all its limitations, the station's community activities, and the concerts. Guess we do not count. Like others, I just plan to hook up my iPod or tune in to WSMJ out of Baltimore when I cab get the signal.

I doubt you have enough space for me to vent. At noon on that awful day I went from hearing my beloved Michael Tozzi to some lousy sounding garbage. I thought there was a signal problem; got in my car with same problem and drove home to the same thing. My fiance called to ask me what happened to Michael. We're still shell-shocked and won't listen to a Philly station. 101.9 in NY is OK but not the same as Michael and the rest. Rich and I fell in love with each other listening to Europa at 7 PM every night of the week. We woke up to whomever did the AM show before Michael signed on. Michael took me through my workday ever since 2000. We met him at Zanzibar Blue when they hosted the wonderful Jeffrey Osborne CD release last summer. Rich and I feel like we've lost a good friend. At home we listen to Sirius' Smooth Jazz station and rely on CDs in the car.

There's no station for 50+ listeners. I'm a woman who won't listen to Whoopi on the radio. Put her back on a movie screen.

I'm brokenhearted and want Michael Tozzi and WJJZ as we knew it. Please make Clear Channel hear our pleas.

WJJZ is gone. I don't understand why the management of a truly unique radio station in Phila. would change format to become one of the pack. Philly 106, or whatever they are to be called, cannot hope to distinguish itself among the numerous channels broadcasting the same style of music. Where are they to draw their listeners? It should be apparent, from the many disgruntled messages preceeding, that radio station listers are, for the most part, loyal to their favorites. It's much harder to stand out in a crowd, than to stand out as an unique individual. WJJZ was truely unique to this region, and with it's demize, fans are left in a void no other station in our listing area can fill. WJJZ grew over the years into a fantastic station, playing music that appealed to people across racial, social and age boundaries like no other radio station ever in the City. They ran the best (Carribean Vacation) contest ever. The DJ's were knowledgeable and fun to listen to. I'll miss WJJZ, I won't miss Philly 106 because you can't miss something you never knew.

Clear Channel Radio executives have made a huge mistake in removing WJJZ Smooth Jazz from Philadelphia. I personally know dozens of people who have called and complained and who have written letters to complain. We are all being told that there was a decline in listeners and the station ranking was low. THAT IS NOT TRUE. WJJZ ranked as #4 in the age 25-55 demographic, that is a fantastic ranking. It was one of the most highly respected Smooth Jazz stations in the US. The Philly fans are not going to relent until they bring us back our Michael Tozzi and the rest of our team.
WJJZ was a way of life for us. We supported this Clear Channel station, their sponsors and their charities and their concerts. WE LOVE THE ARTISTS who were played on WJJZ - George Benson, Al Jarreau, Brian Culbertson, Gerald Albright, Chris Botti, Peter White, Nick Colionne, Euge Groove, etc. We will go to any lengths to hear these artist and not the junk radio on 106.1 they now are playing. Whoopi in the morning - NO WAY!
Clear Channel has no class in how they have handled this. They are telling us to get HD radio and they will stream jazz music. Oh please - is that what they think we want? WE WANT OUR SMOOTH JAZZ station with Michael Tozzi and all the Philly area contemporary jazz news. We want our summer concerts, our smooth ride home, our vacation a day giveaways and most of all, we want to hear our favorite artists on the radio in Philly. The fans are passionate about their music, their artists and their radio station.
Here is how you can listen to smooth jazz music in the meantime....XM Radio - Watercolors Channel 71 - its fabulous but you need to be a subscriber, Sirius Satellite Radio, smoothjazz.com (you can listen on your computer), Smoothjazz4u.com (listen on your computer), CD 101.9 New York - try this station if you can get it, it is an EMMIS broadcasting station (not Clear Channel).
You can also listen to WNUA 95.5 Smooth Jazz on your computer - it's from Chicago but is very similar to WJJZ (another Clear Channel station). If you have not yet contacted Clear Channel in Bala Cynwyd to complain, make sure you call or write. Their new station will not make it and Clear Channel will be lucky to have any listeners in Philadelphia if they don't listen to what the listeners want to hear.
Do they think everyone in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley wants to hear crap radio?

What were these clowns at Clear Channel thinking? Bring back WJJZ Smooth Jazz to Philadelphia or we may all have to relocate!

I listened to CD101.9 from NewYork many years ago until WJJZ started the Smooth Jazz format in Phila. I've been listening ever since and attended dozens of concerts because of the cultural awareness provided by the station.

More recently WJJZ was a Philadelphia pioneer in HD radio. By extending their programming onto HD they provided audiofiles (perhaps there are a few left) with CD quality sound. This was all heavily promoted with HD spots appearing every few minutes. So I buy an HD Radio, plug the head phone jack into my high-end stereo's CD input and had even better sound...convinced satellite radio couldn't compete in quality I was totally satisfied. It seemed as though the station was committed to doing everything right....except for selling the stock at the bottom.

I can't add much to what has alraedy been said here. The format change makes no sense. What a loss for all of us smooth jazz fans. The way the station promoted all of the area jazz events is something that can't be replaced. Maybe when the ratings come out and this new format ranks near the bottom the knuckleheads who made this decision will reconsider.

A SAD DEATH FOR WJJZ - Over 10 years of a new and continually maturing music format.

Great job clear channel and welcome to 2000 version of payola. now you only need to pay one 'DJ' woopi goldberg (woopi, you don't have enough money?) to play the same crappy song across america. Sort of your version of national doctor's office music.
Guessing you have them pay you a pretty penny. Why pay local tallent to dicuss region events when you can have one person with nothing interesting to say to anyone.

CHEERS to those brave board members who thought this up. Let me guess... your forefathers.... Edsil driving, mood ring wearing, pet rock people who dress in polyester leisure suits. You must be the talk of the radio world that you own. Don't wear your arms out patting yourselves on the back. Here's a clue, 106.woopi won't be here in 2010. By then , let me guess 24 hours of 106.1 with Sean Hannity/Rush Limbaugh.

I am certain you wouldn't look at this so.... no sense in typing more. If you had any class, it would be lonley.

I add my name to the many who miss WJJZ 106.1. It has been my favorite station for many years and will be sorely missed. They are certainly mis-informed if they think the new format(music)is better. Sorry to see Wjjz gone from the air-----

Where can we contact Michael Tozzi or Clear Channel to register our protests. I miss WJJZ and not have to resort to taking CD's in the car . There is no other music on the radio for people like me who love good music.

Michael Tozzi is not the one who made the decision, you need to contact Clear Channel Radio in Bala Cynwyd, PA to complain, ask for Lorraine or Manuel Rodriguez.

There are thousands of upset contemporary jazz fans in Philly and we need our Smooth Jazz station back

I miss WJJZ. I still miss WFLN. I enjoy WHYY and WRTI so I guess they will be next to go. Deregulation has ruined radio.

Glad I found this venue so I too can vent my anger and frustration. JJZ was truly my "at home companion." It was great background music for those times when I just needed to relax - at home or in the car - and I miss that sound terribly. So now we're left with two Philly stations that have sold their souls - 106.1 playing the usual crap, and 104.5 playing all Latin.
There is another smooth jazz station at 92.7, but the signal is not that strong and it only comes in clearly if you're west of Reading.
Can't we petition the FCC to give us back our jazz?

I can't believe it - WJJZ turned into another Sunny 104.5. Come on...we need both kinds of stations but now, no jazz and also no classical either since WPEN let that go.

Maybe I just get Comast digital and listen to all the types of music I like on Music Choice.

Why not ask the listeners before something changes?

Why not inform them of decisions being made before they actually happen?

How do we get what stations are out there to get stronger signals?

Did WJJZ go bankrupt?

I had been a listener to WJJZ Smooth Jazz every since it came on the air in Philly. It had a way of soothing the soul, after a hard days work and created a calming effect for thedrive home (traffic). People would probably look in my car and say, " Why does she look so at ease, with all of this traffic congestion." My remedy was alway jazz music. WJJZ will be sorely missed. WJJZ introduced me to a world of jazz artists, Gato Barbieri,Marcus Miller, Joe McBride, Walter Beasley to name a few. Thank Goodness for six CD changers and XM radio. I hope Philly gets someone to start a new jazz station. TV One Broadcast are you listening?????

I did what you all did, tuned in like I do everyday without thinking, putting on wjjz, and hearing some really bad music. So I turned the station thinking I was off the channel and was so saddened to see that the station went off the air.
There were so many good artists and the music would just get you through the day. I especially loved to cook listening to smooth jazz.
Who is in charge of decisions without the public knowledge. Was a poll taken, or did someone just come in and want to try something new. In this case, NEW is not working, especially when the old was doing just fine. The Sunday night program was great old jazz and it's music you don't hear today but should be heard. The sound is all the same on every channel now, how and why do they want to be like the others. I as others have gone out to get the cd's of wjjz to have a collection of good music.
This was a really BAD DECISION on someone's behalf.

Turning off WJJZ was clearly an act with no clear explanation, at least one that could be made public, that is why there was none. I am sure it was a executive decision based on mis-information, greed or vengence. What goes around comes around. Smooth Jazz will be back, just wait!

I got hooked on Smooth Jazz (KTWV - "The Wave" while living in Long Beach, CA about 15 years ago! When I moved back to New Jersey\Philadelphia area, it was great to hear WJJZ in Philly! I to was shocked to hear the station change one day!

Give me back my Smooth Jazz!

VERY UPSET.
WJJZ

Lisa, you need to be upset with Clear Channel Radio, not the wonderful staff who were at WJJZ radio, they were fired! Clear Channel made this terrible decision for Philadelphia. Thousands of calls have been made to clear channel to complain and e mails have been sent. Perhaps another radio company will see the need for Philadelphia to have a smooth jazz station.

My wife & I are angry & sad about the overtly money-driven decision to kill our area jazz station. There is no chance we'll be listening to the drivel that is being served as entertainment. I am learning to listen to silence and my own thoughts now, for there is nothing else to truly replase WJJZ. For any of you former DJs of WJJZ who might read this, I'm sorry for you, and extend to you our thanks.

I too was confused as to what happend to WJJZ, as were many of my friends that called me (because I was the one who turned them onto WJJZ about 11 or 12 years ago). I was amazed to hear Whoopi on 106.1, who I enjoy as an actress not a radio show host. Because of WJJZ we have been to every Dave Koz Xmas show in Philly. We have been to smooth jazz concerts in Reading Pa., Rehobeth De., RedRocks in Az, The Mann, The Keswick, The Tower, The Tweeter, Zanzibar Blue, House of Blues (Chicago) and most recently Dave Koz's Jazz Cruise. We were privileged to meet Dave Koz and Chris Botti and Waymon Tisdale as well as many other smooth jazz artists, all of this was due to WJJZ. I am crazy enough to own 10 cars (we have 2 drivers) I now had to eliminate 106.1 from every car, as well as my morning wake-up alarm. I don't understand the logic in clear channels decision to abruptly yank WJJZ off the air, but this just reinforces my reasons for my lack of respect and distrust of big business. Probably the latest wiz kid arrived at Clear Channel with his ideas on how to revolutionize the radio business and bring in tremendous new revenue for Clear Channel. History will probably show this was a big financial mistake, but the damage will have been done. It's time to stock my cars with my Smooth jazz CD's again. I also own a copy of every Smooth Jazz CD WJJZ put out.

GREAT NEWS!! A Radio Station called Greater Media Radio issued a press release today that Smooth Jazz is coming back to Philly on 97.5FM and will be called WJJZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This will happen next month! God bless Greater Media Radio!

How sad. A truly unique, sophisticated and relaxing station turned into another bee-bop station. I have to admit I do like the new station for some of their older stuff you don't hear on the other stations, but it's not worth losing WJJZ over. When I realized the change, I thought for sure WJJZ just had to move to another station. Didn't think in a million years they would simply disappear. So I searched their website to see where they went, and like everyone else, found that disappeared too. I live in Reading, PA and WJJZ was such a big part of our JazzFest. It was a channel I could listen to all day at work and not loose concentration on my job. It is a bottom line pathetic shame. Shame on you Clear Channel for being so ignorant to your jazz fans. The all mighty dollar does it again.

I worked for one company (the now departed Sundance, led by the late Mike Jorgenson) that insisted on giving listeners notice of upcoming format changes.

About a week before a station would meet its fate, a promo would air hourly voiced by Jorgenson saying thanks for listening, this station will be making changes soon, and if you like what you're hearing now, please set a button for (insert dial position and call letters of similar formats).

Jorgenson's take on it was it really wasn't a secret that we were changing formats - the sales team was already on the street advising customers that we were going to make a change to keep the business on the air and sign new deals.

If you're already making courtesy calls to your customers who buy time to give them a heads up, you might as well show the same courtesy to those other customers, you know, the ones who use your station.

GREAT NEWS, MICHAEL TOZZI is coming back as Program Director of Philly's new Smooth Jazz Station (Greater Media Radio - 95.7) Our new Smooth Jazz Station will be on the air sometime in November!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!! giving comments to Chris October 6th are you for real... i don't know how i come across this site but i was sitting at my desk at work and another co worker had some pop music in which normally i am in the office must of the day alone... when wjjz was on it was ok to be in the office alone with my work and smoothe jazz... i felt a real void the day the pulled the plug on wjjz and i still feel the void... i agree with some many of the other comments i have read since i enter this site... i truly felt like i lost a very best friend... but this is great news about Greater Media Radio 97.5 fm i will keep my ears open for open and listen for the new station of wjjz i loved their format and every one at the station i too say God Bless Greater Media Radio... i ran into difference people over the last 2 month and they all say the same thing how could a city as large as philly not have a smooth jazz station like wjjz.

I've lived in Philly for over 30 yrs. now and have seen many changes but this is the worst of all. I didn't need the contests and whatever else they "assumed" was needed. I have found nothing anywhere that will satisfy me since the loss of WJJZ. I have XM Radio w/DirecTV service and there is no smooth Jazz Station there. One friend went out and got Sirius to have smooth Jazz. I have yet to talk with any one who has anything good to say about the "current 106.1". Also am truely surprised at hearing from those I "didn't think" listened to WJJZ of how upset they are. I can now refer them this site.

I can't believe our city (Philly) has NO Smooth Jazz!!!! Oh, but we have Whoopie??? She is in broadcasting now?
This is unbelievable. Smooth Jazz is everywhere but here!
Let's get it back.

I've listened to Jazz as long as I can remember.I can't beleive what has happened. I will no longer listen to the radio. Philly needs and wants a Smooth jazz station once again. Please!!bring it back.

i had a feeling a change was coming when there were endless jazz artists promoting wjjz, but didnt think it was coming just a few seconds later, when they played the black eyed peas "lets get it started". to add insult to injury my 2nd favorite station went bye bye at the same time, when sunny 104.5 switched to spanish music. ugh!

The latest: Smooth Jazz WJJZ returns Friday, Nov 17 to Philly at 6 pm on 97.5 FM according to the Berks Jazz Festival website.

Wow!!!! I am sitting here listen to sounds of WJJZ Smooth Jazz new home 97.5... sounds great to me I am glad this format is back... love it I feel like I am in heaven... the void is gone... thanks Greater Media Radio 97.5 FM... there is a God!!!

thank god wjjz is back long live 97.5

I am a jazz lover who lives in northern NJ and was an avid listener to both WQCD in NYC (CD 101.9) and WJJZ. However, I really haven't listened to those stations for more than a few minutes in a long while. I feel that all of the Smooth Jazz stations that I've heard around the country have become too bland and have tried to incorporate too much R&B or pop music into the mix. They've catered their playlist to too many similar sax players (such as Boney James and Dave Koz) and then throw in a Donna Summer song or something similar--even thinking that Josh Groban is a good fit for the format! If people wanted to hear R&B, they'd probably be listening to an R&B station. Likewise, if people wanted to hear Josh Groban, they'd tune their dial to one of those Lite AC stations. And, finally, as for the repetitiveness involved in the heavy smooth sax playlist, these stations should diversify their playlists by featuring more lead players who play other instruments--or if they really wanted to feature sax players, at least play more music by more adventuresome folks like the late Michael Brecker or Joshua Redman. More Pat Metheny (my fave) would certainly help as well. There's a world of very adventurous, yet rhythmic and/or appealing artists out there who aren't getting their due on the supposed Smooth Jazz stations. Those stations tried to stick with the "tried & true" artists that they had been playing for a long time. But, in the end, the "tried & true" simply became "tired & old" to listeners like me. My hope is that, in it's new incarnation at 97.5 FM, WJJZ has opened its eyes to their malaise and will start playing a more varied playlist of artists and songs. I also hope that CD 101.9 in NYC takes what happened to WJJZ as a "warning shot" and realizes that they, too, had better become more creative in the product they are putting out.

I miss Whoopi I cannot start my mornings without
her she made me laugh so hard my days would be happy!
Whoopi was great to listen to and had interesting
topics and i enjoyed Cubby's children jokes were
really funny also!!! I will not be listening to
106.1 anymore since she is gone!! Miss Ya Miss Ya
WHOOPIE!!!!!!

I live in New Jersey and the Smooth Jazz station in our area, CD101.9 out of New York, was recently taken off air and replaced by something else. I'm not even sure what it was replaced with because I have no interest in listening. I was deeply saddened when I heard I wouldn't have this station to listen to anymore. Would the listeners have been able to do anything to keep this station on the air? Sign a petition or make a call to the owners. Now what will I listen to? It's very sad.

The bean counters have done it again to WJJZ. On Friday September 5th, 2008 at 6pm, they killed off Smooth Jazz a second time on this station. Now the Philadelphia market joins New York in the wasteland of bland-all the same radio stations. It just like the strip malls...wherever you go in the US. you can always find the same stores. Hopefully Internet Radio will survive.

I can't believe they did it again!!! Some of the best music in the world isn't "popular" enough any more?! This is a very sad commentary on the industry as a whole...more interested in the kid market than providing music programming to adults who appreciate something a little more sophisticated and creative. How sad. There are a vast number of people (myself included) that feel abandoned. You've managed to dump yourself right into the same pot....you are no longer unique in what you offer. The end of an era? I hope not, but I fear so. Farewell to all the extradorinary DJ's and the great programming that was a hallmark in the industry...I'll miss you all.

I am shocked and I feel abandoned once again with the canceling of WJJZ Smooth Jazz! Here today, gone tomorrow! While I didn't have good reception at home, I would keep it on the car radio until I got in an area where I could hear it loud and clear. I guess there is no chance they will be back on the air again. How awful! I have no interest in the new format and will not be listening. So sad...

I still have my vacation a day list posted. It was SUPPOSED to be good until 9/12. Talk about no warning. I will not be listening to the new station.

So WJJZ is gone again, and without so much as a goodbye. I am truly disappointed in Greater Media Philadelphia. Do they really expect us to listen to what they replaced it with? Now once again there is not a single decent radio station to listen to. This makes me angry and sad.

What happens to all the Smooth Jazz people? The interest in Smooth Jazz doesn't just go away.

There is no way I will listen to NOW. This station 'now' dead to me. I never listened to 106.1 after they killed WJJZ, and the same is true of 97.5. No Jazz, no listen. I have been forced to go to the Internet for my Smooth Jazz fix. Broadcast Radio sucks!

For those who were dissapponted like I was when I found WJJZ was turned into just another radio station, I found a similar jazz station on http://www.sky.fm/

Try it, you'll like it! Sounds good!

John Rothermel

I moved away from Philadelphia a few years ago, but found out that WJJZ was gone when I received an e-mail FROM WJJZ asking me to consider WDAS as my station now that WJJZ is gone.

The is a place for a smooth jazz on the FM band in New York City. There are two top 40 stations Now 92.3 and WHTZ 100.3 FM. Get rid of one of the top 40 station and flip one of them to smooth jazz.