Classical Music

[Kemosabe]

This thread was inspired by the following post from MarcB:

WFCR does really well in The Hartford, Connecticut Ratings. Hartford hasn't had a Classical Station since the 490 Watt AM Powerhouse known as Beethoven 1290 (and its FM Classic Rock Station WCCC) were sold by Marlin Broadcasting to K-LOVE 3 years ago. Fairfield County in Connecticut has WSHU-FM from Sacred Heart University. Greater Danbury has WMNR 88.1 Fine Arts Radio. That's on over a dozen translators across the state. (That pisses me off). Block Island/Eastern Connecticut has Classical 95.9 WCRI.

How interesting that some of Hartford's best known calls—WTIC-FM and WHCN—once broadcast classical music full-time, as did Springfield's WCRX (now WAQY). While the music on the three foregoing stations is more contemporary these days, WFCR's classical programming appears to have garnered an estimable following in the Hartford area. Has the switch from classical to news yielded significant gains for WNPR?

 

[MarcB]

I wish there was a way to find out the break down of WFCR's ratings to see how much of the listening is done during the Classic Hours. They get a 1.7 in the ratings. That's what I mean by really well - considering it's an out of market station. WNPR has a 4.7 but was as high as 5.2 back in June.

 

[b-turner]

You might call them and ask them. They might just share that with you. Generally the ratings we get to see are 6am to Midnight 6+ ratings. It would be interesting to know how they do. Classical is funny. It does quite well in some markets and quite poorly in others.

Are they locally programmed in classical hours or are they running a satellite service or Beethoven Network? Personally I have been unimpressed with the syndicated options I suppose because classical isn't especially friendly to the syndicator who wants to provide X number of minutes an hour in X number of breaks for affiliates. And the number of lesser heard classical pieces are usually mostly eliminated to be more recognizable. If you guarantee 3 breaks, it's hard to slip in Beethoven's 9th Symphony, for example.

One thing I have found is it is hard to build new listeners in Classical. If you stick with just the familiar pieces you do well in listeners but poorer in donations. If you play a percentage of 'discovery' or not frequently heard classical pieces, you have fewer listeners but they do give in pretty high percentages. From what I can figure, the casual classical listener likely listens to other formats and is not inclined to contribute to the station because it is not their primary station. The serious classical listener is less in number but very attuned to making sure the station pays its bills or their primary station goes away. Generally you cannot keep both the casual and serious classical listener happy, it's an either or.

In recent years Public Radio has learned they can do better selling Underwriting at higher rates and get more donations by opting for the news/talk format.

 

[amfmradio1]

WHCN was known as the "Hartford Concert Network" (HCN) & WBCN/Boston was known as the "Boston Concert Network" (BCN)

 

[CTListener]

Are they locally programmed in classical hours or are they running a satellite service or Beethoven Network?

They're local from 9 a.m. (after Morning Edition) to 4 p.m. (before All Things Considered). The jazz after the evening news block is also local. At 11 p.m., a satellite-fed classical music service takes over until Morning Edition, not sure of the source.

 

[Kemosabe]

WHCN was known as the "Hartford Concert Network" (HCN) & WBCN/Boston was known as the "Boston Concert Network" (BCN)

To say nothing of the last "Concert Network" holdout: WNCN in New York.

They're local from 9 a.m. (after Morning Edition) to 4 p.m. (before All Things Considered). At 11 p.m., a satellite-fed classical music service takes over until Morning Edition, not sure of the source.

John Nowacki, WFCR's midmorning classical host, is a WNPR alumnus. The Beethoven Network supplies the overnight programming and can be heard round the clock on WFCR HD2.

 

[b-turner]

The Beethoven Network is likely the best of the syndicated classical programming and likely the best well rounded musically. I'm glad to see they are locally programmed in the classical and jazz hours. Coming from non-classical radio work, I find the classical announcer rather rigid and stiff but in trying to learn the quirks of the format, the announcer is an important part of the classical music listener's experience. I found the announcer that knows the music/eras and who the composer was really gets the nod when they share that information.