Only a matter of weeks after WQCD 101.9 in New York switched formats from smooth jazz to rock, the news has arrived that another east coast contemporary jazz station has ‘bitten the dust’. As a part of corporate downsizing, new owners Citadel Communications have pulled the plug on Smooth Jazz WJZW 105.9 in Washington DC. 105.9’s legendary ‘Lights Out Washington’ slot that went out week nights from 7pm to Midnight was hosted right to the end by Jay Lang. Amid the debris of this once great station he was moved to write a few poignant words of farewell in which he reflected on the Walt Disney/ABC Radio sale and the inevitable fallout that came from it. He rationalized the huge gap that the loss of WJZW will leave with the business imperative of making money yet looked back fondly at the way he connected night after night with his loyal band of listeners to relax through to the Midnight hour.
Where this will all end no-one knows but it is increasingly clear that it will fall to websites, publicists and internet radio to keep the flame of contemporary jazz alive.
