107.3 The Wave Waving Goodbye
By Leader Staff. Published on 12/28/2009 - 9:50am
Your Cleveland radio dial will be getting a big makeover if you have smooth jazz station 107.3 programmed as a favorite. The channel will switch over today at noon from 107.3 The Wave to 107.3 The Boom. The Boom will feature a wide variety of music from classic rock to today's names in alternative music. Their website states "107.3 Boom! Playing great songs from an eclectic mix of eras and genres, is as much an experiment as it is a destination for great music."
If you are a fan of the old format, your not completely out of luck. If you have an HD Radio, The Wave will be moved to 107.3 HD2 and also will be streamed online.
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Sucks big time!
I have listened to the Wave for the 22 years that it has been on. I raised my three children listening to its fine music.
Now, because they think they can make a few more bucks, they toss the faithful listener to the curb. Demographics , they say.
I say that I have been betrayed by the people that I have supported by listening to commercials, going to Concerts that were promoted by them, etc.
This was one station that stood out by not giving in to pop culture and untalented musicians who use the media to prop up their sales by their "shock" value.
I am seriously disappointed with the owners of the Wave.
Older listeners to 107.3 fm, might remember the sprite, instrumental music still playing in the 1980's. Then they switched to this new stuff, which sounded like kids playing on their kid pianos. Then they added Ramsey Lewis program , but only one night. Sunday. Now they have gone full tilt, into retrograde confusion. I am more complacent and steady, so I keep my memories alive at 91.5.fm stereo Dependable and unchanging worldwide, radio.
I'm also disappointed but:
You must realize who purchased this station.......It is now owned by CLEAR CHANNEL , The largest radio PROPAGANDA BROADCASTING NETWORK across the nation. This network media conglomerate that now owns well over 1000 radio stations across the nation and purchasing more daily. Its the same rubber stamped listening format for each station. Listen to them and very importantly understand their agenda!
Bring back the wave!!!!!
Yes we have been betrayed!!!!!!
I will never listen to your station.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree. I've been listening for a long time too and it was the best station for me on the ride to work. It really did help me prepare for my day.
Now, the music sounds like what all of the other stations are airing...I'm so disappointed.
I don't like it either.
I listen to that station all the time, nice job of letting people know it was coming. It's all about money and they must not have been making enough playing smooth jazz. It does suck big time.
Stupid decision! The format change was dumb and will likely result in low ratings. Why flip a station when its ratings were good? Smooth jazz is the only quality music out there. I can't stand the commercialized pop garbage that's out nowdays.
For now, I'll get my smooth jazz fix with internet radio. Fortunately, there are quite a few good stations out there.
Please bring back smooth jazz to Cleveland.
The ratings were NOT good for The WAVE...that's why they swtiched. It has been declining for years and with PPM in the market...it tanked!
Your a knuckle-head too ! The ratings had to have been excellent, because this music crossed every line including race,age,and gender. Which is the whole point of sales, make it marketable to everyone !!! TicTicTicTicTicTicTicTicTicTic
Right on! Smooth Jazz started from nothing in the early 90's, and slowly grew through the efforts of the staff and owners. There were many times when the station was in the top 5, or at least in the top 7, in the Cleveland market. Not bad for a Mom & Pop operation out in Elyria with hardly an operating budget and a weak signal. They must have been doing something right. Ratings didn't start to falter until new management came in and decided to fix what wasn't broke. You can only hack and slash so much in an effort to make that bottom line look good, before your product starts to feel the effects. For years the company made a very decent profit; how much do you need before it becomes greed. I feel the worst for the people who dedicated so much to making the WAVE work for 22 years, who are now out on the street with no jobs, and no prospects. They didn't deserve that treatment, and the loyal listeners didn't deserve it either.
You are not completely correct about the ratings. The ratings grew as the station grew, through the efforts of a very dedicated staff and management that believed in what they were doing. The ratings never started falling until new management took over and determined that the almighty dollar was more important than giving Cleveland a product to be proud. During most of the WAVE's duration, with the exception of the last 2 or 3 years, ratings were good (sometimes in the top 5), and the station was making money. There is probably a limit to what a small operation with a very limited budget and weak signal will ever be able to do. I think they did a great job with what they had to work with. Unfortunately, when new management came in, everything started to deteriorate. Good management hires good people to do a good job, and stays out of the way and lets them do it. The WAVE's new management thought an MBA qualified them to also be a program director as well as general manager. I haven't seen it work yet! The issue with PPM is yet something else to blame when management is incompetent.
i was totally shocked to learn that smooth jazz was dropped. i kept hearing the other music on 107.3 and wondered what the hell was going on ? The adult contemporary is on so many other radio stations. What will happen to the smooth jazz staff. As far as i know i never heard anything about smooth jazz losing money for the station
You are right. The WAVE's smooth jazz format did make money for the owners for many years. Their ratings were respectable, the bottom line was good enough to provide profit sharing to all employees, and it was well respected in the business community. Last I heard, the previous GM retired with a second house in Phoenix, three expensive cars in his garage, and a very comfortable pension. The rest of the WAVE staff??? Most of them are either on unemployment or very underemployed for their dedicated efforts. The loss of great music in Cleveland, the loss of good jobs for good employees, and total disregard for the loyal listeners who supported the format for so many years. Sounds like a good deal to me. It sucks!
What a HUGE mistake! You were the only radio station playing this kind of music. It was a family station a break from all the other junk on the radio stations! I had the wave on from morning til night. I am sure the other stations will benefit from your move because I surely wont be listening to it!
I listened to The Wave when it was playing New Age music and was okay with change to smooth jazz.. BUT this move isn't their greatest idea.. will change my set radio dial from 107.3 to just about anything now.. maybe country western.. or not.. bad move.. you will lose a lot of fans.. really should consider moving back..
I only started listening to the Wave about a year ago. Since then, I became hooked on your station, listening all day and most of the night. Many of my friends enjoyed this station as well. I predict the new format will bust and that another station will eventually pick up the smooth jazz format. - Janine
"The Switch and Bait!"
"So, how many classical KVOD listeners are going to heed his advice not to run out and buy an HD Radio thinking that will fix things... to encourage them to stop donations to Colorado Public Radio until this situation improves? Makes you wonder why didn't Colorado Public Radio executives just come clean with listeners in the first place? Instead, they hoped to persuade you with wiggly advice like this."
http://tinyurl.com/8b9zoq
"WUFT-FM officially makes switch to talk radio"
"In subsequent weeks, classical fans protested in letters, through an online petition drive and at meetings in a local home. There are a lot of upset and disappointed people, said Gainesville resident Sue Yelton, an organizer of those efforts. Yelton and others said they refuse to buy HD radios to continue to hear classical."
http://tinyurl.com/n2ab9m
This is called to HD Radio switch-and-bait, attempting to force comsumers into buying cheesy HD radios that really don't work.
WHAT A BIG, BIIIIGGGGG MISTAKE. ONE OF THE FINEST STATION IN THE ENTIRE AREA. WE JUST GOT SCREWED BY THE MONEY MONGER. BEEN A LISTENER FOR 20 YEARS, PLEASE RETHINK YOUR BUSINESS MODEL AS THIS IS DEATH TO YOUR MARKET AS ONLY TIME WILL TELL. NOT A LISTENER ANY MORE
Horrible! I discovered The Wave fifteen or more years ago and have been a faithful listener ever since. For me--someone who rarely turns on the TV but listens to the radio nearly every waking hour--I honestly feel like I've lost an old friend. I felt the same way several years ago when Majic 105 stopped playing the early R & R oldies. I went out and bought an HD radio just so I could continue playing those favorites on their "sister" station. On Thankgiving weekend of this year they dropped that genre in favor of the crap nearly every other station plays, and now The Wave has sold out too. Thank goodness I still have my HD receiver, so I'll be able to keep listening to the "old" Wave--that is--when the signal isn't breaking up!
WTF....this is the WORST thing done to radio in years. The Wave was the BEST station around. Big mistake people....big mistake.
I love the jazz you had on the show I cant get HD radio when i was living out of state I still listen to you on line now that my wife and i are back in Cleveland you change your format can you put it on a iPhone app ?
hope you still have the smooth jazz party's in the summer .
Kelly
A one time loyal listener
please change it back!!!!!
15 July 2006
2 hours 3 min
I believe their online station will still stream The Wave as they did before.
Miss the wave! it could always relax me after a hard day! Now what do we have?? Same stuff that's on other stations?? Yuck! I need a variety and can't afford to buy any special radio! Looks like I"ll look for jazz on college radio stations......Really shocked with this!
Miss the wave! it could always relax me after a hard day! Now what do we have?? Same stuff that's on other stations?? Yuck! I need a variety and can't afford to buy any special radio! Looks like I"ll look for jazz on college radio stations......Really shocked with this!
Well,I figured it was gonna get to this point sooner or later.
I have listened to The WAVE ever since it came out and it was a Breath of FRESH AIR!
Finally ,melodic new age material! It WAS GREAT! From the late 80s,early mid90s,then new Mgmt. took over and started playing Pink Floyd on a JAZZ Station. What was that all about?
But, I went thru with it. The WAVE was Great when it was syndicated and had a great way of promoting their station.Then unfortunatly a New Change comes along, and they start playing Contemporary Jazz Music. Some was Good, others I had to change the station. The only thing I REALLY Enjoyed listening to was the Sunday Sound scapes, but too bad it was only on for 2 hours.
And it started so early in the morning.
I Will NOT Miss MARK RIBBONS!! His air voice was NOT for radio! TOO FRIENDLY all the time!!! And he got Alot of the air time I thought.
What happened to Richard Greer and Frank Masek?
I will sure miss their voices..
I HOPE something New comes along Soon.. Right now Thank GOD for satelite
radio!!
Totally with you on the Mark Ribbons sentiment. Do we know he's officially been booted? This morning, Gale Storm was still on, but Mike Kesler appears to have vanished. I assumed they would keep most of the old DJs instead of hiring all new.
Please tell me this is not a bad dream. The new format sucks and will have few listeners (if at all). Why would they make such a stupid decision? Bring back smooth jazz please.
What is wrong with you people? That was the only worthwhile station out there and now it's gone. I could not believe my ears when I heard what they were playing on the radio. So disappointing. I felt like I lost a friend. What a way to end a Monday and to start a new year!
I moved to cleveland in 94 from Europe after living there for 8 yrs. I used to go to different clubs to listen to jazz. I had been living in cleveland for about a year when I found the "wave" and fell in love with it. I am sorry to see it go and can only hope that it comes back.
The worst thing is, there was no mention of the problems and no attempt to have the listeners do anything about it. My wife works for the airlines and lives in Chicago and stated that their jazz station went away only to come back after a few months. lets hope this is Clevelands solution too.
Your wife is correct. WNUA, the powerhouse smooth jazz station in Chi-Town, flipped format to a SPANISH station a bit ago. Ramsey Lewis held down the morning spot there during its heyday. There's been talk that another station has picked up the smooth jazz format, but I haven't looked more deeply into it. Used to listen to WNUA on my way up to Milwaukee to visit daughter and son-in-law. They were very good but started to show the same symptoms of programming that WNWV had.
I just heard some disturbing news concerning your music format change. No matter what you are switching to, it will never, ever compare to the jazz format that you had been playing for many years that was enjoyed by thousands of appreciative listeners in this Ohio area. I, for one, will seek other stations that have the deep appreciation for that enjoyable daily jazz listening. You have absolutely, positively and without question made a serious error in judgment in switching over to alternative music listening instead of sticking to the welcomed format of jazz that you had featured for so many years. This is a sad day in music history. It may not be too late for you to reconsider and revert back to the original music style that we have been accustomed to listening to. Will be waiting patiently for you to come back to your senses.
You mean no more Norman Brown? no more Tim Bowman? No more Richard Elliot? How many classic rock and alternative stations do we need? Are you trying to tell me there is NO market for smooth jazz?? I think they have thier idea of the smooth jazz demographic out of wack (mid 50's?) Everyone I know who loves that music is in their 30's or 40's. I started listening to the WAVE when I was 28. The problem is the people they gave the PPM's to. People who listen to smooth jazz are professionals who are too busy to participate in these PPM expirements. I still like to hear Led Zepplin from time to time, but nothing beats that original, classy, relaxing sound. The closest Smooth Jazz station is now in Columbus. Please reconsider.
I have been a "loyal listener" for over ten years, and could not believe what I heard this morning when I tuned in to my favorite station. I thought surely there must be a problem with the broadcast...so tuned in again this evening and was equally appalled. Wouldn't it have made sense to at least mention that a change in format was in the works? Your dedicated smooth jazz fans deserved better.
The smooth jazz format, while at times comforting, was always fairly pathetic in terms of quality music. There's a HUGE difference between smooth jazz and authentic Harlem-style jazz versus the type of bubblegum-style, Kenny G. session music that had become The Wave. How many times can you hear Candy Dulfer's "Lily Was Here" or an inferior Muzak version of "Wind Beneath My Wings"? Although the change was rather abrupt, let's be open-minded and give the new format a chance. I listened to it tonight and was surprised at the true variety of music and the absence of seemingly endless advertisements -- both areas that the old format was sorely lacking.
What were they thinking by changing formats? The Wave was one of the best stations here in Cleveland. When I moved here over a year ago, I knew very little about smooth jazz. Now I consider myself to be a loyal fan. I love artists such as George Benson, Sade, Norman Brown, David Sanborn, etc. Sure there were a few songs on their playlist that I didn't care for, but for the most part the station played great music (unlike today's over-hyped pop garbage). Do they really think smooth jazz listeners are going to continue listening to the station now that it sounds like complete crap -- I don't think so. Please stop this insanity and bring back smooth jazz.
I was shocked at what I heard on my radio this morning. The Wave was the station we always woke up to. I am a 40 year old music lover of all genres. I listen to pop, metal, rap, everything. My music collection includes everything from 2Pac to Seal, Sade to Slayer, and everything in between. For over 20 years, the Wave was a preset on my radios at home and in the car. I enjoyed the music, and dj's were great, and the music was nice, calm, relaxing, upbeat! When I became a parent, this was the ONLY station we listened to with or near our children. I never worried about inappropriate content, lyrics, or DJ's talking about sex, violence or the like. The kids and I and loved the music too!. This unannounced move is a big mistake. I am just one example that there is a younger crowd who loyally listened to this station! I am just sick about this bogus switch! SWITCH BACK! Your new format is terrible! Bring Smooth Jazz back!!!!!
Yes i ama little sorry of the format change. But this is a positive addition to Cleveland Music. The other popular stations to me just suck, big time. I have spoke to people who where upset, "Like what happened to my Station".. Well its 2010 and just get over it. Iam 53 wht female who is rockin the boom. I tell everybody about 107.3 oh I am your biggest fan.
Checked out the website and "The Wave" states the move is due to a rating system and overhead costs. Let me think? How many of us have HD radio? The ratings should be lower since there are not many of us with HD radios. How does this rating system rate?
107.3 "The Wave" is the Art Model of radio for jazz listners in northern Ohio. Shame on managment. In time, I hope another station fills the void because I am not paying for an HD radio.
Last, this was a great notification to loyal listners they were going to move.
I think this was a huge mistake especially without getting the listeners' ratings. This was the only jazz station in Cleveland. Did anyone bother to get another one before switching this over? We have enough of rock and roll alternative stations. What happen to diversity in Cleveland? All I see here is catering to one group of people. Other big cities have wide variety of music stations with all types of music. Cleveland has rock and roll catering to the westsiders and yuppie class! Just forget about the blacks, latinos, chinese who may enjoy soft music. The was a stupid and ignorant move but this is Cleveland-the mistake by lake. You all live up to this phrase!
Why are you trying to fix something that wasn't broken!! Bad choice!
I give The Boom 6 months before they bring back The Wave.
bring back the wave...loyal listeners for 25+ years...boo....appalled! We need the WAVE back as we develop the vineyards of ohio...so sad
WOW - What a huge mistake...I am devastated you took the WAVE away. I will not be listening to the BOOM. It is awful. Please bring back the WAVE!!!! I was just telling my husband the other day that I just love the WAVE and have a hard time turning it off!!!! Now I will have no problem at all. Please rethink your decision. After reading the comments, I don't think I'll be the only one not listening anymore. I NEVER post comments but this one I could not pass up.
Signing Off.....................................................
I went all out to wire my house (including basement, and garage) for the sounds of Smooth Jazz. I had to connect a special antenna to to receive the best possible signal. I use my system to also produce music to my outside areas. I love to work to the pleasing sounds. Unfortunately that has now ended. I would now rather hear silence then what junk is being sent our way. Hopefully another station will see plight of us and cash in on being the "NEW" station of great "SMOOOOOTH JAZZ". Until we get a new station, I'll be listening to CD's. Good luck Boom, I hope you blow up in a spectacular blast.
This new station sucks.... "experimental.... anything from classic rock to alternative" wtf dont we already have any combination of those types of music on other channels already? SUCKS! The wave was awesome and there was nothing else like it on cleveland radio... just mellow smooth jazz music. This is such a mistake.
Typical..."if it ain't broke..." then some duffas(s) in business suits who don't listen to good music anyway decide to change a great station. I've been a loyal listener to The Wave for 17 years and it never got boring. Oh yeah, and a special thanks for letting the listeners find out by accident about the change. Good job!
Karen
Turned off my radio for good. Forget HD, streamonline, whatever! I want The Wave back...now!
I remember listening to the wave while playing on the floor of my living room as a kid while my mom did the ironing. It's truly the end of an era! At the same time, I was pleasantly surprised to flip on the radio in my car this morning and hear *gasp* good music! I'll be keeping this one on my dial as a favorite.