THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 10, 1995 TAG: 9504080038
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: SOUNDCHECK
SOURCE: BY SUE SMALLWOOD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
THERE'S A SMOOTH new sound at the upper reaches of the FM dial. WMXN, Mix 105.3, is now WJCD, CD 105.3, playing ``smooth jazz and easy vocals.''
The format change, which began March 17, was the result of intensive market research, said Steve Crumbley, operations manager and head of programming at the new WJCD.
``This city's not big enough for four adult contemporary stations,'' the programming used by the old WMXN, Crumbley explained. ``Our research said exactly what we had thought, that people had four different places to hear Michael Bolton and that there was an incredible hole about as big as the Hampton Roads tunnel going both ways with people saying, `How about some nice smooth jazz?'
``We said, `OK, let's take the chance.' So far, it's exploded; it's done very well for us. The research was right.''
In official industry parlance, WJCD's programming is dubbed New Adult Contemporary. The format relies on goes-down-easy contemporary jazz artists like Kenny G., George Duke, Najee and Hiroshima.
Though both the area's National Public Radio stations - WHRV and Norfolk State's WNSB - offer blocks of jazz programming, WJCD marks the region's first commercial foray into continuous jazz in quite some time.
``Our approach wasn't in any way, shape or form as treating them as competitors,'' Crumbley said of the other jazz-playing stations. ``I think there's room for all of us.''
Response has been overwhelming, Crumbley said, with listeners calling in with profuse thanks and a myriad of suggestions.
``We've had a lot of calls about New Age jazz and a lot of people who like the old standards,'' he said, ``so we're going to have a time for that. The comments have been incredible, and the suggestions have been even more helpful.''
WMXN's staff has remained largely intact through the transition, with only wild morning mouth Chris Bailey making an exit.
``Chris does a different type of show than what our format requires,'' Crumbley explained. ``He was like, `This doesn't fit me.' I was like, `Yeah, we know.' So it was something we both knew.''
In other airwaves news, the country radio wars have claimed yet another victim. WCMS morning man Rob Wilson (Joe Hoppel's sidekick) is no longer at the stalwart station, having been shown the door March 24th.
``It was very amicable,'' Wilson said of the split. ``The chemistry on the air was just not quite there. Off the air, Joe and I remain very good friends, and I remain good friends with a lot of people at WCMS. It was a great 2 1/2 years.''
WCMS program director Mike Meehan was not available for comment.
Wilson's dismissal is surprising, given the morning show's impressive ratings. Last month, Wilson and Hoppel appeared on the cover of local magazine Country Star, which touted the pair as bridging the growing generation gap between ``new country'' and more traditional country music listeners.
And even more ironic: Wilson's the kindhearted jock who, after Jay Francis' abrupt firing from fierce WCMS competitor WGH, Eagle 97, had Francis on his show to let him good-humoredly beg for work.
Francis is now at WAFX - perhaps he'll return the favor. MEMO: Got a comment about local radio, music, nightlife? Leave it on the
Soundcheck squawk-box, 640-5555, category 3277.
by CNB