I only read the first page of this thread, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but I think a lot of you are misreading the opening post. It doesn't state that the music itself was created by radio programmers, only the format, which was then given the misleading name "smooth jazz". I don't think the author had any intention of claiming that these unnamed programmers had any hand in directing the content of the music, just the mix of the format. And for those of you who haven't had anyone in your life who actually listened to this stuff, the Smooth Jazz format is more than just pseudo-jazz; it also includes a mix of R&B and even rock. The only common element is that the music has to be non-edgy, if you will. If it can wake you up, it doesn't work...
In other words, the author is making the point that "Smooth Jazz" was created by pulling existing music together under the single marketing term that it is now known by. It wasn't a natural development from previous genres, which is evident by the fact that it actually contains work from previously existing unrelated genres.