What, exactly, are O'Dell's plans to customize BA's Smooth Jazz Network programming to galvanize the imaginations of, and connect with, disaffected former WNUA listeners? "I know BA's been taking some hits lately. But, without them, we would be talking about how Smooth Jazz in Chicago died May 22, 2009, when WNUA flipped to Spanish pop. Pat Kelley and Allen Kepler kept the format going and growing, with cume that has exceeded 500,000 in recent months. 

 

"As we did at WNUA for 22 years, here at WLFM we're going to utilize what BA does best and complement it with a strong local identity, music and personality that resonate with Chicago listeners. Since it's all about the music, to start with, I have a list of what I like to call 'The Chicago 10,' ten core tracks historically favored by a Chicago audience that gave WNUA a unique feel and flavor over the years, even among Smooth Jazz stations in general," he states. 

 

"Moreover, we’ll be further supplementing BA's basic playlist with other proven Chicago favorites, which we’ll be scheduling locally. Next, we’re moving to localize all of our dayparts -- even those hosted by the network -- as much as we can, having Brian Culbertson, Dave Koz and others specifically reference what’s happening around us in Chicago each day. Also, in the coming month, we’re bringing back a former WNUA voice (not at liberty to say who it is, yet) to give us Chicago personalities hosting two important weekday dayparts. Once we have the local elements in place, we'll be launching a WLFM stream at long last.

 

"Outside of programming, Pat Kelley and Marketing Manager Jason Trotter are working on campaigns that'll boost WLFM's visibility in several key zip codes in and around Chicago. And, once we escape the clutches of a Chicago winter, the local airstaff will be out in the community, appearing at area events," O'Dell concludes.

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The Straight Skinny

 

 

Windy City Options Fit Format Fans

New iterations fill abyss left by WNUA's flip

 

 

By Carol Archer

A Horse Of A Different Color

Kurt Hanson's AccuRadio's Internet radio stations, which encompass the gamut of formats, now include a global brand called UltraSmoothJazz.com, plus market-specific versions for Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, and Detroit, with others under development. "In the long run, we hope each city-specific version will feature beloved local Smooth Jazz air personalities and at least one local-music channel," Hanson says.