BEZ/Chicago To Drop Music Programs

[job]

All Access:

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CHICAGO PUBLIC RADIO will drop all music programming on its stations, altering previously discussed plans to move the music to a second frequency.

WBEZ/CHICAGO was originally planned for conversion to talk, news, and public affairs programming with WBEW/CHESTERTON, IN and WBEQ/MORRIS, IL picking up the station's late night and weekend jazz and world music programming, but the south suburban stations will now also eliminate the music programming.
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I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. Chicago has a commercial classical music/fine arts station. Ironcially, it's owned and operated by the local PBS-TV affiliate.

Are there any large or major markets left in which a major public radio station (at least one) is not all news and information (at least on weekdays between ME and ATC)?

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Neil Sullivan asked:

> Are there any large or major markets left in which a major
> public radio station (at least one) is not all news and
> information (at least on weekdays between ME and ATC)?

There are a few:

Here in Boston, WGBH-89.7 broadcasts classical music during the midday hours, and jazz evenings and oevrnights.

In Pittsburgh, WQED-89.3 is all-classical, and in fact, doesn't air "Morning Edition" or "All Thigns Considered". WDUQ-90.5 airs some jazz during middays (although they do take a pause from the music weekdays from 12 Noon to 1 P.M. to broadacst "Day To Day") and evenings/overnight. However, it may only be a matter of time before WDUQ cut backs or eliminates jazz to increase the amount of NPR news/information programming it broadcasts. There are several NPR news/information programs not currently heard in the Steel City.

The reason WBEZ is dropping music is probably the same reason cited by other NPR member stations that have dropped music: News and information programming brings-in the big pledge dollars. Music and cultural programming usually does not.

 

[jegrant]

I'm disappointed to hear this; I was hoping that WBEZ could execute the same kind of concept as "89.3 The Current" from MPR, and the music programming / online music stream from KCRW.

Although, since they don't exactly have 3 full-market signals, I wouldn't have been surprised if WBEW & WBEQ kept airing ME & ATC along with hypothetical new music format(s), leaving the rest of the news/talk to WBEZ.

Perhaps WBEZ can implement a music stream as part of HD Radio? They could even just pick up the new XPoneNtial Radio network from WXPN.

 

[uncamark]

> Neil Sullivan asked:
>
> > Are there any large or major markets left in which a major
>
> > public radio station (at least one) is not all news and
> > information (at least on weekdays between ME and ATC)?
>
> There are a few:
>
> Here in Boston, WGBH-89.7 broadcasts classical music during
> the midday hours, and jazz evenings and oevrnights.
>
> In Pittsburgh, WQED-89.3 is all-classical, and in fact,
> doesn't air "Morning Edition" or "All Thigns Considered".
> WDUQ-90.5 airs some jazz during middays (although they do
> take a pause from the music weekdays from 12 Noon to 1 P.M.
> to broadacst "Day To Day") and evenings/overnight. However,
> it may only be a matter of time before WDUQ cut backs or
> eliminates jazz to increase the amount of NPR
> news/information programming it broadcasts. There are
> several NPR news/information programs not currently heard in
> the Steel City.
>
> The reason WBEZ is dropping music is probably the same
> reason cited by other NPR member stations that have dropped
> music: News and information programming brings-in the big
> pledge dollars. Music and cultural programming usually does
> not.

And of course, the complaints are starting to arise on the station's new forums and on Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn's blog (Zorn's wife works for Chicago Public Radio and he didn't make a comment besides passing on an interoffice memo, which is his policy on conflicts of interest).

Meanwhile, WNYC-FM New York has one arts program in the afternoon, classical in evenings and overnights and Jonathan Schwartz and Danny Stiles on the weekends with standards and Big Bands (which P.O.'s the classical music snobs no end--they had considered 'NYC the alternative to NY Times-owned commercial WQXR). And KCRW LA has "Morning Becomes Eclectic" after "ME" as the one music program between "ME" and "ATC."

 

[network]

The New Alternative

> The reason WBEZ is dropping music is probably the same
> reason cited by other NPR member stations that have dropped
> music: News and information programming brings-in the big
> pledge dollars. Music and cultural programming usually does
> not.

What also of stations are doing, once they go digital, is using their digital channels for music programming or all news programming, etc.

Here in my area, WKSU-FM (www.wksu.org) has 3 digital channels. Their main "on-air" digital channel is their regular schedule: a mix of NPR/PRI programming and their classical music/sprinkle of folk music programming).

Then on WKSU-2, they offer all news and on WKSU-3 they offer all music.

Don't be surprised if you see other public radio stations doing this.

 

[dave73]

> I'm disappointed to hear this; I was hoping that WBEZ could
> execute the same kind of concept as "89.3 The Current" from
> MPR, and the music programming / online music stream from
> KCRW.
>
> Although, since they don't exactly have 3 full-market
> signals, I wouldn't have been surprised if WBEW & WBEQ kept
> airing ME & ATC along with hypothetical new music format(s),
> leaving the rest of the news/talk to WBEZ.
>
> Perhaps WBEZ can implement a music stream as part of HD
> Radio? They could even just pick up the new XPoneNtial Radio
> network from WXPN.
>
Actually WBEZ is a full market Class B non-commercial station. It covers the same areas that all other Class B commercial stations do, except for WDRV, which has a null to the NW. But back to WBEZ, they added WBEW & WBEQ to cover areas where people are migrating to, which WBEZ doesn't necessarily cover. But WBEZ does cover Chesterton, while Morris is fringe coverage for the same station. I remember WBEZ had planned to add more frequencies to cover more of the market to simulcast music on them, and leave the main station for talk. I don't know what WBEZ has on their sub-channels as they're already broadcasting in HD, as there's buzz sounds on 91.3 & 91.7.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

Neil Sullivan asked: > Are there any large or major markets left in which a major> public radio station (at least one) is not all news and> information (at least on weekdays between ME and ATC)?The University of Houston-owned KUHF-88.7 (Houston, TX) broadcasts classical music during the day (between ME and ATC), evenings, overnights and weekends. They used to brand as "Houston's Classic Choice" but have since dropped it for "Houston Public Radio" (co-owned KUHT-8 identifies as HoustonPBS). They are the only radio station in the market broadcasting classical music since KRTS-92.1 (commercial classical) sold off to RadioOne in 2004.