The Weather Channel will no longer have a "smooth jazz" soundtrack behind its "Local On the 8s" segments. Instead, they will play rock. Fortunately, you can still turn down the TV volume and crank your CD of "The Weather Channel Presents Smooth Jazz," which actually hit #1 on the Billboard's Current Contemporary Jazz Album Chart. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“I think we’ve been doing an injustice to our viewers playing, for the lack of a better word, elevator music on the segments for all these years,” said Geoffrey Darby, the cable network’s new executive vice president of programming, Thursday.Weather Channel turns to rock
“People would have it on but they wouldn’t be watching and they wouldn’t be listening,” said Darby, who pushed for the change after joining the network in February. “We wanted music that would get their attention —- and this has.”
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If they would just talk about the current weather more than they do "Storm Stories" I wouldn't care what was in the background. I can't count how many times I have heard the tornado siren and turned on the weather channel only to see anything but information about the huge storm headed my way.
For those about to (broadcast) rock, we salute you.
That's a shame, because there have been many times while traveling when I have fallen asleep to the quiet jazz of the weather channel drowning out the strange hotel noises.
I guess TWC won't be the first thing I turn on in the hotel room anymore. I never liked the music, but that was never the point.
When they do this they'll have more rock than MTV.
Wow, what a pointless post.
This is less then interesting, not even remotely news and has zero effect on any of our lives.
Points for one of the worst posts ive ever seen on BB
PHISROW FTW!
I'm actually kind of angry to hear this. I like the Weather Channel's jazz soundtrack, and I'm disappointed to hear that they're changing their music. There's nothing more soothing than turning on your Local on the 8's during a rainstorm and hearing some relaxing jazz trio over your five day forecast.
Thanks for letting me know, despite the letdown.
The Clash's cover of "Time is Tight" has been on their local on the 8s for at least a year.
Arghmonkey, we all appreciate your insights. Truly. Thanks.
does anybody actually still use the weather channel? ahem, i thought they became irrelevant with the advent of the internet. *awaystare*
Arghmonkey: "not even remotely news and has zero effect on any of our lives"
It's funny that you say that, since the two people posting before you mention the effect it has on their lives.
Why buy an album of smooth jazz, when you can just buy the software that originally composed it?
Since they're switching from 'smooth jazz' to 'soft rock', can it really be considered much of a switch at all?
This totally affects my life. Local on the 8s was predictably, wonderfully, bland. It was great background music to drown out my brain.
No more "Weather Report" ??
“You know, Fox turned into a hard core porn channel so gradually I didn't even notice.”
Tangolomango, I see what you did there...
Personally I hate smooth-jazz and less of it in the world is a good thing.
But Weather Channel, you missed the point. Background music…is just that, background. It's not meant to be actively listened to, or grab attention.
Anyone know what "rock" they're playing. If it's Classic I may have to slam my head into the TV.
The Decemberists would make good weather music, maybe some Explosions in the Sky, or Air.
umm...who the hell still watches the weather channel?
(or is that the point?)
Also, are we talking real rock 'n' roll? as in actually recognizable bands with lyrics and stuff?
or are we talking meaningless generic "rock" sounding stuff--basically elevator music with distortion?
Next thing, AMC will stop playing American movie classics.
I watch the Weather Channel. It's on in the background right now, only because I like to be reminded that it's 105 degrees out, or that it's going to rain and be 105 degrees out tomorrow. When I'm channel surfing and nothing appeals, I park the TV on TWC and turn back to the computer.
It's soothing in the morning, with its bland, implicit reassurances that the day ahead is safely forecast and predicted.
As for the alleged Rawk Music, what I've heard so far is barely distinguishable from light jazz. It's not like they're cranking up the 'lectric geetars six times an hour.
What coelecanth said - it's going to be "soft rock" so *actually* more familiar and "soothing" than the sometimes interesting (yea, I listened to it) "smooth jazz." It's not going to be *rock.* It'll be pop generica.
I mourned when Weather Channel got taken over. It had had some actual intelligence...
I hope when they try to 'appeal to the teens' they play jungle ragga.
Or portishead
They've been playing Devo's "Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy)" lately.
I think there's only one appropriate thing to say after a format change from easy listening to rock:
BOOGER!
I'd rather listen to static than "smooth jazz," but if they'd gone for some classic bebop from the 40s and 50s, that would've be different. Switch the broadcast to black and white and have the forecasts read by beat poets. That would get people's attention.
I bet they already have "Rock You Like A Hurricane" cued up.
Yeah, we beboppers hate smooth jazz worse than rockers do.
Surely Death Metal is more appropriate soundtrack for weather.
Thank god. Smooth jazz =! real jazz.
I'd rather have dental surgery than be subjected to that crap for hours on end.
Why does the Weather Channel have shows? Sure, "Storm Stories" is weather related but wouldn't that be better suited for the Discovery Channel or something? I want to turn on the Weather Channel and see the current weather not someone saying, "I thought I was going to die."
@Nosehat, post #11 -
I just want to be clear on this, ANYONE who's life is affected by a change in hold music on the weather channel really has a problem.
Im not saying they arent good people etc but if anyone found out that the weather channel was changing its hold music and thought "damn, one more good thing in my life, gone" then id like to write a book about those people, a subculture that hermits and social nerds would be more socially advanced.
In all seriousness, this is less than news, the fact that I even typed a response has given this subject WAY more time than it deserves.
Stop the insanity!
could we go another direction?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQfkATCpW3c&feature=related
Recordings from before about 1970 are usually junk, despite noble attempts. Decent audio technology just didn't exist. If they used recent recordings of songs from the 1940s and 1950s, maybe.
Takuan, they tried that already. The hotels had to ask them to stop because guests kept putting the nearest lamp through the TV.
phillistines
@ Arghmonkey again #32:
"I just want to be clear on this, ANYONE who's life is affected by a change in hold music on the weather channel really has a problem."
Not as much of a problem as you appear to have with people who watch the weather channel.
I don't watch the weather channel myself, even in hotels. But I've certainly never managed to brew up any antimony for people who do. How is that even possible?
*by "antimony" I meant "animosity". Ah the vagaries of spell check.
Me Kneeanderthul...Neeander...Neander...oh crap...stupid.
Me watch TWC
Me hear musik
Me think rok musik sound like soft jazz sound like musak...
Me think not much change
Me thank BoingBoing for posting so I at least know TWC change something.
Arghmonkey @ 32
can you be clearer? I don't get it.
Alas, this change comes too late for my baby daughter. I used the pretty doppler blobs and innocuous music to soothe her back to sleep at 2, 3 4am - whenever she saw fit to have the kind of middle of the night freakout that only a three month old can have. Now, a year later, whenever she hears terrible smooth jazz of The Local On The 8's Orchestra, her face just lights up and she dances. "Smooth Jazz Peanut" became one of her first and certainly most unfortunate nicknames. I know I know - I ought to have patterned her young mind on Mahler and Brahms - but what's done is done. Maybe I can TIVO a few hours of old school weather channel before they totally switch over.
@Nosehat -
Its not that they watch the weather channel that I think they need help, its anyone who cares that the weather channel changed their background music.
War, the economy, rampant government and business corruption, our rights disappearing daily, too many conservatives still living, all these real problems and someone was like "right now the thing I need to talk about is how the weather channel changed their background music, those bastards cant screw with me like that!". *LOL*
Get a grip !
eh? eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g9fmoa99TU
they always play devo's "gut feelin" here in tampa.
@Arghmonkey--
I've always had time in my day to care about a wide spectrum of things. I concern myself with war and other "real problems", but some of my time is spent thinking about more local, personal, or even trivial things. I think I'm pretty well balanced as a result.
To each their own, though.
@ Takuan #43:
That's some seriously kick-ass accordion playing!
surely the Weather Channel people could be persuaded by a write-in campaign.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yugldxpRDMo
Here's the trump card though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT4u7wJEFks
I'll see that and raise you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzdG21cVJRY&feature=PlayList&p=D6C8903952768CF3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12
not all accordians and cabbage though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4om1rQKPijI
this is making me nostalgic for late-night anything-goes college radio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgOFp88vlg4&feature=related
No polka. It's clear they're headed in this direction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcqwYFafONI&fmt=18
i think I'll tivo a few hours of the weather channel now, so that I can still play it back in the future.. it's not like they have any pertinent information anyway...
If the only contemporary jazz you heard was on TWC or the radio, you have a right to hate it. Clearchannel did more to hurt the reputation of many talented jazz musicians than help them. The stations chose the most bland of the album cuts to broadcast. As usual, mainstream corporate radio companies insult the musical intelligence of it's
audience.
Thank god! It's about time. Smooth jazz is talentless crap that's tarnished REAL jazz's reputation.
Personally, I think switching to rock is a big mistake. Half the reason I tune into TWC is because of the Pat Metheny-induced coma during Local on the 8s.
If TWC is going to play anything, they should stick with artists like Gershwin, Guaraldi, Tord Gustavsen Trio, etc.
Shame on you, TWC! Shame, shame, shame!