WGBH Initiates Layoffs

[Eli Polonsky]

Even Boston's classical station WCRB, owned by GBH, has its transmitter in North Andover doesn't work south and southwest of Boston.

WCRB comes in fine in those areas rebroadcast on WGBH-FM HD2.

 

[TheBigA]

One of them, KKJZ (KJAZZ) is very popular and streams world-wide.

KKJZ has a 1 share. WGBH has a 4.3 share.

 

[nowradioguy]

Maybe WGBH should use its near 100K ERP signal for something Boston doesn't have Jazz and Blues and move away from News/Talk. Los Angeles has six Jazz stations. One of them, KKJZ (KJAZZ) is very popular and streams world-wide. Listener supported radio stations should offer the listener more options other than just news/talk on both GBH and WBUR. Even Boston's classical station WCRB, owned by GBH, has its transmitter in North Andover doesn't work south and southwest of Boston.

For the record, WCRB's transmitter is on Wood Hill in ANDOVER. But WCRB is carried on so many other stations in both MA and RI that the weak 99.5 signal doesn't matter much. Just listen to their top-of-hour station ID to get an idea of how many stations relay their signal.

And I agree with you they should definitely step away from news/talk. They USED to be "Boston's folk, classical, jazz, and blues station" before all the news/talk.

 

[TheBigA]

And I agree with you they should definitely step away from news/talk. They USED to be "Boston's folk, classical, jazz, and blues station" before all the news/talk.

Of course Boston already has a station that plays a lot of folk and blues: WUMB. The problem with folk, jazz, classical, and news/talk is they all appeal to people over the age of 55. In Nashville and Buffalo, the public stations went in a different direction: AAA. Here's a sample hour from WNXP in Nashville:

Dan Digs on WNXP - June 2, 2024

Episode 6! Every Sunday 5p-7p CT I spin a curated blend of electronic soul, leftfield indie, experimental beats, uptempo house grooves, and global sounds live from the studio. Tune in […]

wnxp.org

The AAA format usually leans old, as it does with WUMB. But this station is targeting younger listeners, with a format that is similar to KEXP in Seattle. Here's the story about the launch of WNXP:

Nashville Public Radio Introduces WNXP Branding For New AAA

Nashville Public Radio has officially announced WNXP as the call letters and branding for its soon-to-launch AAA in Nashville. The

radioinsight.com

Here's the story about the launch of The Bridge from Buffalo's WBFO:

WBFO The Bridge: New AAA Music Service

WNY, Southern Ontario and the world gain non-commercial way to listen to great music

www.wbfo.org

 

[nowradioguy]

Of course Boston already has a station that plays a lot of folk and blues: WUMB. The problem with folk, jazz, classical, and news/talk is they all appeal to people over the age of 55. In Nashville and Buffalo, the public stations went in a different direction: AAA. Here's a sample hour from WNXP in Nashville:

Dan Digs on WNXP - June 2, 2024

Episode 6! Every Sunday 5p-7p CT I spin a curated blend of electronic soul, leftfield indie, experimental beats, uptempo house grooves, and global sounds live from the studio. Tune in […]

wnxp.org

The AAA format usually leans old, as it does with WUMB. But this station is targeting younger listeners, with a format that is similar to KEXP in Seattle. Here's the story about the launch of WNXP:

Nashville Public Radio Introduces WNXP Branding For New AAA

Nashville Public Radio has officially announced WNXP as the call letters and branding for its soon-to-launch AAA in Nashville. The

radioinsight.com

Here's the story about the launch of The Bridge from Buffalo's WBFO:

WBFO The Bridge: New AAA Music Service

WNY, Southern Ontario and the world gain non-commercial way to listen to great music

www.wbfo.org

Now here's where you're supposed to tell us that the "leans young" format of "indie rock, hip hop, urban alternative, electro-pop, and the freshest sounds from your local favorites" is a HUGE ratings success, and the financial support is overwhelming.

 

[TheBigA]

Now here's where you're supposed to tell us that the "leans young" format of "indie rock, hip hop, urban alternative, electro-pop, and the freshest sounds from your local favorites" is a HUGE ratings success, and the financial support is overwhelming.

We're talking about non-commercial formats, so ratings don't matter. Right now the financial support isn't very clear.

I'm merely throwing this as a musical option for non-coms other than classical, jazz, or folk.

 

[nowradioguy]

We're talking about non-commercial formats, so ratings don't matter. Right now the financial support isn't very clear.

I'm merely throwing this as a musical option for non-coms other than classical, jazz, or folk.

Larger cities have a fairly good-sized older Black population, who, I would think, would appreciate a steady source of jazz and blues.

 

[TheBigA]

Larger cities have a fairly good-sized older Black population, who, I would think, would appreciate a steady source of jazz and blues.

New York has WBGO and WKCR, and neither of them are doing well in the ratings or in fundraising.

 

[daveu]

Like most NPR affiliates around the country, this isn't about a lack of listeners. It's about a lack of advertisers/underwriters buying traditional media. Also, surveys have shown the public is suffering from what's called 'donor fatigue' that is weighing on public stations being able to maintain budgets from donations. Changing formats to some jazz-fusion, or whatever music genre would probably kill an otherwise successful station.

KKJZ (88.1 MHz FM), also known as "KJazz 88.1", is a non-commercial public radio station in Southern California that broadcasts jazz, blues, and Latin jazz. As of February 2024, it was considered the top full-time jazz and blues station in the United States and has a strong international following.

 

[TheBigA]

As of February 2024, it was considered the top full-time jazz and blues station in the United States and has a strong international following.

WBGO has a larger cume.

 

[daveu]

Larger cities have a fairly good-sized older Black population, who, I would think, would appreciate a steady source of jazz and blues.

I think jazz and blues has an appeal to a more diverse audience. The late David Sanborn jazz show on Media America Radio was quite successful, leading him to a television show Sunday nights on NBC.

 

[TheBigA]

I think jazz and blues has an appeal to a more diverse audience. The late David Sanborn jazz show on Media America Radio was quite successful, leading him to a television show Sunday nights on NBC.

Are you aware of this?

GBH Music's Jazz on 89.7

GBH Music's Jazz on 89.7 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9PM - 12AM

www.wgbh.org

 

[nowradioguy]

Are you aware of this?

GBH Music's Jazz on 89.7

GBH Music's Jazz on 89.7 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9PM - 12AM

www.wgbh.org

Maybe the poster was aware, but this is a far cry from the 7-nights-a-week Eric In The Evening broadcasts. All the complaints and letter-writing and phone calls to WGBH didn't matter much.

 

[TheBigA]

Maybe the poster was aware, but this is a far cry from the 7-nights-a-week Eric In The Evening broadcasts. All the complaints and letter-writing and phone calls to WGBH didn't matter much.

In the end, it's about putting one's money where their mouths are.

If they could make more money doing it more often, don't you think they'd do it?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Maybe the poster was aware, but this is a far cry from the 7-nights-a-week Eric In The Evening broadcasts. All the complaints and letter-writing and phone calls to WGBH didn't matter much.

In the end, it's about putting one's money where their mouths are.

If they could make more money doing it more often, don't you think they'd do it?

How many of those listeners/letter writers/emails/phone calls were members/donors to GBH? Far less then youd hope, id bet