PickPocket Revealed

Artist Education Initiative - Episode II

In 2026, Smooth Jazz cannot be heard on FM radio in the following markets: NY, LA, SD, CHI, PHI, SF, SEA, DAL, MIA, and more.

However, the legacy for Smooth Jazz created by stations like KIFM/San Diego, CD101/NY, WNUA/Chicago, WJJZ/Philadelphia, and many more is still strong in those markets today. Several passionate individuals and institutions have contributed to keeping their SJ communities vibrant; 3 specific examples include Rick O’Dell in Chicago, Kelly Cole in San Diego, and Michael Tozzi in Philadelphia. Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment restaurant in Los Angeles, which features live performances from several top SJ artists, embodies the Smooth Jazz lifestyle better than anywhere we’ve seen – and their food is killer, too. Art Good’s Jazz Trax Festival on Catalina Island in October is iconic; Berks Jazz Fest is a legendary festival on the East Coast, attracting an estimated 30,000 Jazz lovers each year. Seabreeze Jazz Festival has contributed to the popularity of the genre across the entire state of Florida, not to mention southern Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The 2026 festival will be their 27th Anniversary. The festival is sold out to capacity at 8000 people per day...with an expanded lineup of over 35 artists featured, and almost 200 total musicians performing.

The legacy of SJ in those markets and others, is proven by sold-out artist performances, Jazz Festivals, Jazz Cruises and more. Passionate fans still love to hear and see their favorite musicians perform live, even with no FM station in their market; these music lovers are listening to their favorite Smooth Jazz artists on SiriusXM Satellite Radio/Watercolors, Music Choice/SJ TV channel, multiple radio networks delivered across multiple platforms, nationally/internationally syndicated specialty shows, literally hundreds of online/streaming radio stations just a few keyboard clicks away, and via mobile apps like iHeart Radio, Live365 and others. Ironically, there are more listening platforms for Smooth Jazz on the radio today than ever before.

While some in the industry have been spreading the ‘SJ RADIO IS DEAD’ agenda for years now, we at Gorov Music would argue that Smooth Jazz radio, across all its platforms in 2026, is exactly what’s sustaining our genre.

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It's too bad legendary keyboardist Philippe Saisse isn't having any fun today. Current score: PSG 2, CHELSEA 0. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!