Smooth Jazz was one of those things we took for granted. Since early 1987, it was always there for us, first on WCLR and WTWV and then WNUA. Whether you played it for a living, as I did, or listened to it on the radio, Smooth Jazz was a comforting, dependable part of your life.
For me, that all changed on January 20, 2009. With the attention of most of Chicago focused on a new president’s getting ready to take his historic oath of office, several of us at WNUA were quietly shown the door: Pat Kelley, Danae Alexander and I. Collectively, the three of us had more than 50 years of service to Smooth Jazz.
The other shoe dropped on May 22 when, at 9:55 that Friday morning, Clear Channel, the owners of WNUA, flipped the format to Spanish Pop. Loyal station employees such as Ramsey Lewis, Karen Williams, Bill Cochran, Scott Adams and Domingo Castillo, who had survived the staff cuts in January, were all let go that day.
Rumors of an impending format change at WNUA had been swirling around the Chicago media for months, so none of us in the industry was too surprised by what happened on May 22. In fact, a couple of enterprising individuals had been preparing to launch their own Smooth Jazz-based radio projects, waiting for the exact moment that Clear Channel would open up a hole in the Chicago market for Smooth Jazz by abandoning the format at 95.5.
Kurt Hanson, CEO of Chicago-based internet radio firm AccuRadio.com, and former WNUA Sales Manager Pat Kelley had been waiting for news of the format change. When it came, they both unveiled their respective plans. Mr. Hanson brought me onboard to help launch www.ChiTownSmoothJazz.com, a series of Smooth Jazz internet radio channels targeted to the Chicago market. At the same time, Mr. Kelley debuted WLFM, “The L,” a low-powered FM station featuring a Smooth Jazz format, at 87.7.
The summer and fall of 2009 proved to be periods of fast growth for both projects. Reflecting the hunger Chicagoans still had for the format, ChiTownSmoothJazz.com boasted audience growth in excess of 5900% in six months, while WLFM reached 540,000 listeners in November. Attendance at Smooth Jazz concerts remained strong in the summer and fall, as well.
In December, Pat Kelley initiated the next phase in his plan to grow WLFM: feature more locally-originated programming and add local air personalities to the 87.7 lineup. In the process, he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He would hire me as Program Director and host of middays and the Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch. I was only too happy to accept the opportunity to help Smooth Jazz take advantage of a second chance in Chicago.
My first day at WLFM was December 21. As for returning to the midday show, I am anticipating that my first day on the air will be either January 11 or 18. By then, construction on the station’s brand new air studio should be complete.
Pat and I are looking forward to the New Year as a time of significant improvements—especially on the air—at WLFM. We aim to preserve what loyal listeners liked best about WNUA while introducing exciting and innovative new features and station events that will whet the appetite of Smooth Jazz fans throughout the Chicago area. And we are counting on input from those fans throughout the coming year to let us know we are on the right track. I welcome your comments anytime through this site, the station site (www.877ChicagosSmoothJazz.com) and by private email (Rick@WLFM877.com).
Happy New Year! May 2010 bring us good news, good fortune and good music.
