Smooth Jazz Leaves the Air in Chicago for Spanish format

During the current economic downturn, broadcast radio continues to make changes to survive. Company decisions are keenly focused toward the financial bottom line and the profitability of the music formats. Today's switch by Clear Channel from Smooth Jazz to a Spanish hot adult contemporary format is purely business. In a report by the Sun Times, "Clear Channel executives blamed their inability to sell advertising against the smooth jazz format in the current radio environment for the need to switch formats at WNUA. " However, what is this "need"?

The need that the executives are referring to is the need that the company has to stay in business. Suddenly smooth jazz is not a viable option to make a profit? On the other hand the need could be "greed" disguised in a desperate attempt to capitalize on the growing Spanish market. From a purely business perspective the switch is a safe move. The Spanish community in the Chicago area as well as other places across the nation are growing. Chicago is not the only city that lost Smooth Jazz. Clear Channel has been switching the Smooth Jazz format across the nation and the reality is that Clear Channel wants to tap into the disposable income of the Spanish community to save itself.

The question now is what format will the company cut next "Gospel?" Stay Tuned. I called one of my broadcasting buddies and solemnly he said "It's going to get worse."

It's time for radio to really take a look at it's own practices and really question the operating model. Radio is the most personal of all mediums and yet radio seems to have lost the connection to individuals. The radio industry has only itself to blame for causing people to abandon it. I think the problem with radio today is that there is too much science and research. Radio has to learn how to make money with the public interest then maybe people would continue to listen at least I would.

Then again maybe it's time for the legislative branch to review their recent decisions on the media ownership rules. I think it would be better if radio had limits on ownerships. Because of the massive ownership of one company and it's inability to pay it's debts, millions lose. Why not take a look at the media ownership rules and find a way to bring back competition and the American way?