The Infinite Dial

I helped Steve get that station up and running nearly 22 years ago. (Was the first MD). Really sad to see it go too.

That you did, Nick, and you've also always had a singular vision of the format that I admire. It doesn't seem imaginable that KKSF would vanish from SF like this, but there you go.

I agree 200%! I have been a loyal listener since the station hit the airwaves and have totally loved it. We finally had a station for adults and great, relaxing music. Too bad! The Bay Area needs another rock station like we need another hole in the head.

Classless people in other cities determine what we should and should not be listening to - smells like big brother to me.

So the bastards change another station to another format without blinking and eye and could care less about the area they service or the people that listen.

This is what continues to be wrong with radio, and it’s name is CC. Horrific bunch of criminals.

(Yes, this is my quote from the Radio Insight Blog)

Here's another ex-KKSF staffer checking in (I worked there twice, a total of 11 years between 1988 and 2000). This is extra sad because KKSF symbolized an entire genre...the locally programmed, community involved, musically adventurous commercial major market radio station. Honestly the Steve Feinstein version of KKSF probably evaporated about a dozen years ago, but as long as KKSF still existed as a smooth jazz station, its maverick first ten years were still a strong part of its overall image. And through it all, KKSF really was a good citizen of the Bay Area.

I can't fault Clear Channel for wanting to change something that wasn't providing a good return on investment, but it would make a lot of us feel a whole lot better if we could believe that 103.7 The Band would live up to certain standards. That bar was set very high by KKSF.

Will the new station take the time to interact one-on-one with each listener to earn their loyalty, as KKSF did? Will we see The Band raise incredible amounts of money for AIDS relief or a similar cause? Will it be highly regarded by listeners and the industry for having a creative and musically adventurous spirit? My instincts tell me those are not the primary goals for this format switch, but time will tell.

People used to describe themselves as "KKSF listeners" in the personal ads! And you instantly knew what that meant...that's how much the station resonated with listeners. I hope that the new classic hits approach of 103.7 The Band can be as unique and engender such loyalty.

It seems most of the music that started this format is gone to Urban AC. I guess the question is what core artist should be playing past and present to retain its ratings.

"classless, idiotic, and ultimately destructive" -- Sean, I couldn't have said this any better. Thank you.

In my opinion though even radio stations that call themselves "smooth jazz" only actually play good smooth jazz a small portion of the time. It's not all that surprising that radio stations that played the following mix blew up: very old pop hits mixed with instrumental covers of old pop hits and a few good smooth jazz songs by real, current, original smooth jazz artists. "A trip a day" was considered vital, but can a contest really be relied upon to compel radio listeners to make that station their daily destination?

Smooth jazz can be young and fun and can be led by really cool artists -- people who see a Jazz Attack show know that -- but that energy was rarely, if ever, translated to the radio stations. Instead, everyone involved allowed the format to live off of its old image of dorky, stodgy, uncool, and boring as hell. A musical style that can bridge a gap between jazz and rock and symbolize relaxation, cool, chill, and happiness became a radio format that was nothing about any of that.

So I say let them fail with "The Band" or "The Rock Experience" or whatever they want to call the latest strip mall rock format the executives want to throw on the air. We never lost with real smooth jazz anyway.

Thanks for reading, Gordon--though, to be clear (since those were strong words,) they were mine, and not Sean's.

After Smooth Jazz flipped in Miami on Thanksgiving Day, and after the format was dispatched in Ft. Meyers two months ago, many format watchers were wondering where the next flip was coming from. Some mavens had knowledge of PPM scores (the devil's own ratings system) and accurately predicted the demise of KKSF. It was shocking news when the word got out in R&R several days ago. It was both shocking and sad, as KKSF had a unique sound. They would play "flavor" songs that couldn't be heard at other outlets, apparently a function of giving a truly hip market that extra dose of hipness which was expected by its sophisticated listeners. When the news broke, it was a familiar refrain, the same one uttered by jazz listeners in other major markets like NY, DC, and Miami, "What? They flipped the format? It was the perfect format for this market! They had a good thing going! Why would the suits do this to the loyal listers?" A storied market like San Francisco without a Smooth Jazz station is like Pittsburgh without the Steelers. It's simply unseemly. KKSF was a great station, now its signal will carry classic rock in a deperate attempt to channel middle of the road, passive listeners, who have heard the songs of the classic rock format a million times before.

I have listened to KKSF for many, many years. I was surprised and dismayed when I turned on the station and IT WAS GONE. Thanks for letting everyone know in advance KKSF! I am not sure I will ever tune in to their format on the web. I feel betrayed. Anyway there are plenty of other smooth jazz formats on the web. Itunes has a large jazz format selection in their Radio section.

I did notice that KKSF seemed to be in a rut the last few years. They seemed to play the same songs and artists over and over without pushing the envelope. There are a lot of wonderful jazz musicians and singers out there, and they didn't seem to pick up on a lot of them.

However there is another alternative in the bay area. KCSM is a community supported (no commercials) public radio station that plays nothing but jazz. Yes its not just smooth jazz, but expand your horizons.

KKSF was an exceptional station. It was very suprising monday when I turned it on in the afternoon and heard non jazz music. I thought I had the wrong station on. When I found out KKSF no longer plays jazz I switched to another station. CC are a bunch of idiots..you know there is a phase "you can never expect people in the right position to make the right kind of decisions" this is another example of that. The Band...sounds lame to me and the music is lame too....I will miss the jazz and the brazilian show on sunday night the most.
J

Cutbacks resulted in the PDs of Clear Channel's urban ac radio stations in San Francisco - Michael Erickson (KISQ) and Chicago - Derek Brown (WVAZ) to both be assigned to also program the Smooth Jazz stations in each of those markets, KKSF and WNUA, respectively. Smooth Jazz and Urban AC share a huge amount of audience. These PDs bread is buttered (their bonus and main responsibility) by the urban AC stations not the Smooth Jazz stations for which they are responsible. If the Smooth Jazz station goes bye bye, the Urban AC ratings will go UP. As soon as these guys were put in charge of the Smooth Jazz stations, it was the beginning of the end for Smooth Jazz. I don't mean that as disrespect for the PDs but rather to showcase a management decision so clueless that it could only happen in the radio industry.

Just to post again. I am so disappointed with the change. I've summed it up in other detail elsewhere in this forum but just to reiterate and have my voice heard again. I feel cheated, and like I’ve been dumped off alone and naked in a badland...

And to respond to those that say KKSF was getting tired with the same old repeat. That's kind of the point of a genre format isn't it..? We listen to what we want to listen to for as long as we choose to do so. Then we can turn the dial if we want to. The plethora of stations that play old rock have the same issue don't you think...?!! There were only so many songs in that genre as well. Then you turn the dial if you want to...

How Clear Channel (if that's who it is) thinks it can make the station more marketable by joining the ranks of countless other stations up and down the dial with the same format, is beyond me. It shows how Marketing Depts. really don't know their job. They should have focused on leveraging and selling the uniqueness of their format and the listeners that tuned in. Surely it does not take a brain surgeon of a marketing genius to point out to advertising customers the obvious advantages of having the only station on the dial with such a sophisticated sounding music format and an obviously cerebral (hello: purchasing power) listening audience to boot...

And sure yeah, maybe smooth jazz is the MUSAC of my generation but so what..., I've grown up too but I'm not dead.

Maybe I should start my own smooth jazz station… Talk about cornering the market now...!

You've got to be kidding!!!! I just got back in town and tuned to 103.7 to hear some somooth jazz that I had bragged about to my friends in Cincinnati. Who made this "Bone Head" decision to change thr format????

Same here. I was on vacation, came back and couldn't tune in my favorite station. I have listened to KKSF since it first aired. One problem I saw was the increase playing of R&B. Now I enjoy a little R&B now and then but I tuned to KKSF to hear "Jazz". I understand about keeping a station profitable but couldn't they have said something to the listeners. Maybe we might have had some ideas they could have used. I remember when another jazz station, (KBLX 102.9) first came out. It was great. Then the format changed and it went Jazz/R&B. If it's owned by Clear Channel too it's time will soon be up too. Lucky for me I live in Vacaville where i can catch KSSJ 94.7 which is like a sister station (but for how long?

I guess all us true jazz listeners will have to go to on-line radio stations in the future. Obviously Clear Channel feels with this format they will more than make up for the loss of 100% of it's current listener base. If you work any jazz station that is owned by Clear Channel, get your resume ready!

I bought every KKSF Sampler, attended the most wonderful 10th annv. concert in Concord and enjoyed having a special place to call my radio home. The music, celebs and radio personalities brought a unique piece of my community to the airwaves. Maybe it is just business, but you will not get mine. These are terrible times with terrible people trying to squeeze out every last penny at the expence of our humanity. Goodbye my friend. I will miss you.

I was very disppointed when KKSF went to the Classic Rock format. I am an avid jazz listener and although KKSF played quite a bit of non-jazz music (Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Earth Wind an Fire are not jazz artists) but the jazz that they did play was wonderful. I've been toying with the idea of getting an HD radio for the car. I guess now I'll get it sooner than planned. CC ought to be ashamed of themselves for making this decision but I guess business is business.

Good bye KKSF Call Letters. it will be KNEW 103.7 someday with Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, Bill Ayers
and Wright will have Propaganda speak on KNEW 103.7. Jazz will live on. Look for a great web station that plays Jazz

Like everyone else that has posted, I have fond memories of KKSF from listening to the air personalities in my car...to attending the numerous free concerts that gave us opportunities to see the likes of Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Boney James, Bob James, Richard Elliot, Craig Chaquico, Nils, Peter White and others. This was a great opportunity to meet these fine artists and also hook up with friends that were already hooked, or about to become hooked, on smooth jazz.

The stoppage of these concerts didn't alarm me to the change at KKSF, because I figured it had a lot to do with the economy and lack of sponsorship. What made me begin to wonder is when they got rid of the air personalities and began to use the Ramsey Lewis, Dave Koz, and Kenny G SYNDICATED Shows. The occasional (probably taped) KKSF references didn't fool me one bit.

The most shocking aspect of this decision is how they literally ripped out part of San Francisco's (and the overall Bay Area's) Community ties. This radio station had done wonders with bringing people together and raising money for Aids Research with their Samplers. That piece of the puzzle was...in my opinion...given zero consideration. I know it's business, but if you want people to support your station (regardless of format), you don't conduct yourself that way.

I am fortunate enough to now have KSSJ (94.7) airing in the area of my new home in Sacramento. They are very similar to the old KKSF with regards to on-air and community related activities. Give them a try on the internet (not sure if they broadcast over satellite radio).

KKSF will always be a fond, fond memory for me. Hopefully when the economy picks up, some company will see a void (and advertising opportunities for a fixed, non-channel changing audience)and bring smooth jazz back to the San Francisco Bay Area.

In the 21 years since moving to Eureka from the bay area, I always looked forward to getting within range of 103.7 when going down to the bay area and a few weeks ago, it seemed I couldn't find my all time favorite radio station and sadly now I know why.
In a classic movie one liner.......BIG MISTAKE.
KKSF WAS a class radio station. I've since removed 103.7 from my presets on my car stereo.

At least, for now, KKSF Smooth Jazz online streaming is still available. Wonder how long its going to last?