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How Many Commercial Sponsored classical Music Radio Stations are left ?
- Thread starter recto101
- Start date
I remember when KRCK-101.1 changed formats from AOR to Classical Music in 1985. In my opinion, that was a shocker of a change. They changed calls to KYTE. This lasted until 1989 when they briefly switched to Smooth Jazz with the KKCY calls. A year later they switched back to AOR as KUFO and has been rocking since.Starbucks said:
Someone mentioned WRR Dallas, broadcasting a well done classical format for many decades. There are live announcers in all dayparts (except for Peter Van De Graaff's overnight show); it's a true gem of a station and it makes a profit. Thanks to the well-heeled "Friends of WRR" all proposals to sell the station have been turned down flatly by the City of Dallas, and it's not going anywhere. My only complaint is that they continue to broadcast Dallas City Council meetings. Their stream is available at http://player.abacast.com/wrr/playerb.html?stream=bb
Another commercial classical station is Entercom's KXTR Kansas City, booted off FM about ten years ago and switched to AM 1270. Soon afterward it shifted to the expanded band at 1660 AM, although it simulcasts on KUDL 98.1 HD-2. They stream at http://player.streamtheworld.com/_players/entercom/player/?id=KXTR and it's quite good, except for morning drive voice segments which are horribly over-modulated.
Another commercial classical station is Entercom's KXTR Kansas City, booted off FM about ten years ago and switched to AM 1270. Soon afterward it shifted to the expanded band at 1660 AM, although it simulcasts on KUDL 98.1 HD-2. They stream at http://player.streamtheworld.com/_players/entercom/player/?id=KXTR and it's quite good, except for morning drive voice segments which are horribly over-modulated.
WCLV is an interesting situation.
In 2001, a wholebuncha stations in the Northeast Ohio area played a big game of Musical Frequencies (I think Scott has all the IDs!).
WCLV was a full-market class B in Cleveland at 95.5...that frequency ended up going to Salem, where it became (and still is) CCM "The Fish".
WCLV's classical programming moved to 104.9 Lorain, a class A western rimshot signal. The Clear Channel top 40 format WAKS "Kiss FM" moved to 96.5 Akron, nearly a full Cleveland market B after a transmitter move. A bunch of other stations moved around, but that's all the moves involving WCLV.
The money that came to WCLV owner Radio Seaway in the swap was used to set up a foundation ensuring the preservation of classical radio in Northeast Ohio, albeit at a more challenged frequency. WCLV still operates as a commercial station.
WCLV was also going to set up on in-market 1420 AM, but changed that to classic pops/standards at the last minute and eventually adopted the WRMR call letters, then eventually sold 1420 back to Salem, where it's conservative talker WHK today.
Whew!
The move signal-wise is pretty similar to "KDFC"'s reinvention on the now former KUSF/90.3 added to 89.9 Angwin...the biggest problem with WCLV's signal, even after a move to far eastern Lorain County suburb Avon, is that it's on the Wrong Side of Town...far from WCLV's east side base near the cultural hub of the market (Cleveland Orchestra, etc.). (And for that person who snickered about Cleveland's cultural base, the Cleveland Orchestra is one of the finest in the entire world.)
A little of this pain for east siders is eased by Kent State University's WKSU/89.7, which does well in the areas traditionally served by WCLV and runs classical music outside of drive time hours (where it runs NPR's traditional "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered").
WCLV is not quite as bad signal wise in the I-271 corridor as the new KDFC is south of San Francisco, but it's a signal compromise many big city classical stations have had to make in recent years.
In 2001, a wholebuncha stations in the Northeast Ohio area played a big game of Musical Frequencies (I think Scott has all the IDs!).
WCLV was a full-market class B in Cleveland at 95.5...that frequency ended up going to Salem, where it became (and still is) CCM "The Fish".
WCLV's classical programming moved to 104.9 Lorain, a class A western rimshot signal. The Clear Channel top 40 format WAKS "Kiss FM" moved to 96.5 Akron, nearly a full Cleveland market B after a transmitter move. A bunch of other stations moved around, but that's all the moves involving WCLV.
The money that came to WCLV owner Radio Seaway in the swap was used to set up a foundation ensuring the preservation of classical radio in Northeast Ohio, albeit at a more challenged frequency. WCLV still operates as a commercial station.
WCLV was also going to set up on in-market 1420 AM, but changed that to classic pops/standards at the last minute and eventually adopted the WRMR call letters, then eventually sold 1420 back to Salem, where it's conservative talker WHK today.
Whew!
The move signal-wise is pretty similar to "KDFC"'s reinvention on the now former KUSF/90.3 added to 89.9 Angwin...the biggest problem with WCLV's signal, even after a move to far eastern Lorain County suburb Avon, is that it's on the Wrong Side of Town...far from WCLV's east side base near the cultural hub of the market (Cleveland Orchestra, etc.). (And for that person who snickered about Cleveland's cultural base, the Cleveland Orchestra is one of the finest in the entire world.)
A little of this pain for east siders is eased by Kent State University's WKSU/89.7, which does well in the areas traditionally served by WCLV and runs classical music outside of drive time hours (where it runs NPR's traditional "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered").
WCLV is not quite as bad signal wise in the I-271 corridor as the new KDFC is south of San Francisco, but it's a signal compromise many big city classical stations have had to make in recent years.
KBOQ is 103.9
I don't think Portland can support 2 classical music stations these days. The last commercial classical music station in Portland was 106.7 K-BACH KKBK back in 1994. Their format move over to 1230AM after KKBK switch to Smooth Jazz and died around 1995 when it became Regional Mexican (Z-Spanish Network). However, Classical 89.9 KQAC does very well in the PPM ratings these days.
I don't think anyone mentioned WBQK 107.9 Bach in West Point/Williamsburg, Virginia. Great sounding commercial classical station. Yorktown Daily newspaper provides newsbreaks, & William & Mary Football, too. http://www.wbach.net/index.html#
The WCN network was listed early in the thread. There was some early cross pollination between that and the W-Bach stations. I do not know if they were one network split in two, but before WCRB was transfered to the WGBH foundation, it was owned by Nassau Broadcasting and much of its content also landed on "Maine's Classical Network". I do not believe WCRB ever ID'ed as W-Bach.John1 said:
Or even C's.Madmansam said:
The problem with classical music dying as a commercial radio format and in some markets as a non commercial format has nothing to do with political ideologies. The audience is dying off and not being replaced by enough new listeners.
I don't know if this is because of the lack of music education in schools, the coarsening of the culture, changing ethnic demographics, or younger people simply not being interested. But it is a problem that classical music faces at all levels.
I don't know if this is because of the lack of music education in schools, the coarsening of the culture, changing ethnic demographics, or younger people simply not being interested. But it is a problem that classical music faces at all levels.
I have no feel that would cause me to say: "Right On. You have nailed it." or should I say: "No Way. You don't understand."
If what you have observed is on target, we should find:
Enrollment in schools of music in universities will be down.
Symphony orchestras should be talking about the lack of young patrons.
High schools with a tradition of offering classes and orchestras in fine music should be discontinuing their programs or severely reducing them.
I have no exposure to these "canaries in the mine" that might confirm or refute the concept.
If what you have observed is on target, we should find:
Enrollment in schools of music in universities will be down.
Symphony orchestras should be talking about the lack of young patrons.
High schools with a tradition of offering classes and orchestras in fine music should be discontinuing their programs or severely reducing them.
I have no exposure to these "canaries in the mine" that might confirm or refute the concept.
Well, there are some changes in the classical music world that aren't necessarily reflected in classical radio, and it's maybe why classical radio is finding its audience aging and declining.
Who are the top-selling classical artists today? Andrea Bocelli, Chris Botti, and Josh Groban. Not necessarily the ones getting airplay on classical radio. So while classical radio sticks with the war horses, their version of Stairway to Heaven, there is an audience for CHR classical, as it were. But it is still way smaller than the more mainstream formats available to radio.
Who are the top-selling classical artists today? Andrea Bocelli, Chris Botti, and Josh Groban. Not necessarily the ones getting airplay on classical radio. So while classical radio sticks with the war horses, their version of Stairway to Heaven, there is an audience for CHR classical, as it were. But it is still way smaller than the more mainstream formats available to radio.
102.1 has had a Classical Music format since day 1 back in 1947. After being Classical for well over 60 years, they switched to Classic Rock. One thing that I can guarantee is that in the next 60 years (if broadcast radio still exists), 102.1 will have multiple formats. No new format will ever exceed the 60 plus years that Classical Music has enjoyed on 102.1. I mean, Look at 95.7, How many formats have they had since dropping Classical Music in 1994 after nearly 30 years of playing it? I think (not counting the interim KOYT simulcast of a Chicago Station), Six? Same with San Diego's 94.1 (Formerly KFSD) and Denver's 99.5 (Formerly KVOD). They have had multiple formats since dropping Classical.
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