What is "smooth jazz"

n. A modern form of jazz first developed in the 1970s that blends in elements of rhythm and blues.

Smooth jazz is a popular genre of music that grew out of jazz and is influenced by rhythm and blues, funk, rock and roll, and pop music styles (separately, or, in any combination). Musicians such as Kenny G., Ramsey Lewis, David Koz, and Spyro Gyra have had hits with instrumental recordings, while singers such as Anita Baker, Sade, Sting and Norah Jones have found success with vocal releases. George Benson remains a popular Smooth Jazz artist as both a singer and guitar player.

Smooth jazz was once successful as a radio format. However, in 2007, the popularity of the format began to slide. Consequently, it was abandoned by several high-profile radio stations across the U.S.A., including WQCD (now WFAN-FM) in New York, WNUA Chicago (now WEBG), WJJZ in Philadelphia (now WISX), and KKSF (now KOSF) in San Francisco. Programmers say the audience for the format has aged beyond the prime demographic sought by advertisers. Despite the format's demise outside a handful of commercial radio outlets, a number of non-commercial and HD stations have taken up the music. It is still available on SiriusXM on Channel 66, known as "Watercolors" and on the Music Choice cable radio service. In addition, smooth jazz concerts, recording sales, as well as increased smooth jazz offerings on the Internet, continue to show strong fan support for the genre.

Smooth Jazz was a 24-hour music network produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist consisted mostly of contemporary smooth jazz music from artists such as Boney James, Joe Sample, Kenny G., The Rippingtons, David Benoit and a dozen more artists. The format was overseen by Senior Director of Programming Jon Holiday and programmed by Steve Hibbard.

Jones' Smooth Jazz format was discontinued as of September 30, 2008, as part of the integration into the Dial Global brand. Unlike other networks to be eliminated, there is currently no other smooth jazz network with which this network is consolidating. The other most popular network is known as Smooth Jazz Network, provided by Broadcast Architecture, formerly a division of Clear Channel Communications.

At the end, the network had only has a handful of affiliate stations remaining, with some stations formerly affiliated with Jones Smooth Jazz having changed format or gone to the rival syndicated Smooth Jazz format. Among the Jones Smooth Jazz affiliates remaining, as of August 2008, were the following stations, which were all switched over to Broadcast Architecture's network following the end of Jones Smooth Jazz:

• WJZL in Lansing, Michigan
• WAUN-FM in Green Bay, Wisconsin
• WKYL in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
• KJJZ in Palm Springs, California
• KUJJ in Richland/ Pasco/ Kennewick, Washington
• WCIN in Cincinnati, Ohio
• WJZT in Tallahassee, Florida