The Trend Towards Smooth Jazz
When it comes to radio, most anywhere in the country you can tune in and find a smooth jazz station. Smooth jazz is music that utilizes instrumentals and sometimes improvisation associated with the stylings of jazz music. It also draws from soul, R&B, pop, and funk. Many jazz purists have denounced smooth jazz as not being "true" jazz, but of course, said purists are not exactly the widest audience available to radio stations, and so the trend continues.
These downtempo stations are mostly likely to be playing music from vocal artists such as Sade, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross. Pop hits that cross in would likely include hits from artists such as Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Motown often is played- think the Temptations and Marvin Gaye. Whatever you think of this trend, it would seem that smooth jazz is here to stay.