New Boss at WNY Public Broadcasting - and he's familiar with the market

[SirRoxalot]

Tom Calderone got his start in broadcasting at Buffalo State's radio station. He went on to very big things since then, is a member of the Buffalo Broadcaster's Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Now he's coming back home.

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[TheBigA]

He's a very interesting choice for WNYPB. There's a movement in public broadcasting to become more involved with contemporary music, particularly AAA music. There are a few NPR stations that have flipped their traditional classical music station to AAA. They see it as a way to increase their member base. One of the models is KCRW. If anyone could do it, and do it with credibility, it's Tom Calderone.

Tom Calderone

Veteran programmer and consultant Tom Calderone is named President/CEO of Buffalo-Toronto Public Media, effective Aug. 2. In his new role, Calderone will oversee news/talk WBFO (88.7) and classical WNED (94.5)

www.insideradio.com

 

[Majic rockstar]

He also laid the foundation for what would become WEDG 103.3 the edge one of the better Alternative radio stations in the nation. A little cool side note is after he left the station for MTV networks he continued to host their out of order countdown every Sunday for almost a year or a bit longer. Very cool guy and very pro Buffalo

 

[ckg279]

To the Big A's point re WNED-FM: I really don't think that Tom's going to throw away over 4 decades of classical programming just to switch it to AAA. Plus, KCRW is more of a full-fledged NPR affil; Morning Becomes Eclectic only airs middays, plus they have Eclectic 24 simulcast on the station during late night. Weekends have music take up more of the schedule.

 

[TheBigA]

To the Big A's point re WNED-FM:

We'll see. Maybe he puts more music on WBFO, like KCRW. Or buys another signal.

I don't think he's coming back to Buffalo to maintain the status quo or for the weather.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

It's a masterful hire. Calderone knows the market and was a player on the national level in video, audio and social media platforms. As to changes at WNED-FM ... not likely. The station has a loyal, power-packed membership on both sides of the border that would raise a ruckus. Plus, WNED-FM is one of the more contemporary sounding classical stations in the country.

 

[tbolt909]

We'll see. Maybe he puts more music on WBFO, like KCRW. Or buys another signal.

I don't think he's coming back to Buffalo to maintain the status quo or for the weather.

In another post, you said the new WGRF PD is coming in to "maintain the status quo". Why is this different?

Calderone is replacing the retiring Boswell. I doubt he was brought in to make dramatic changes. Like all NPR affiliates, they always want to grow membership. They doesn't necessarily mean big on air changes. You could be right that some new music segments could be added to WBFO. NPR does that very well anyway...

 

[TheBigA]

In another post, you said the new WGRF PD is coming in to "maintain the status quo". Why is this different?

Very different situation.

 

[DN14224]

Maybe Calderone will take tbolt's sage advice and flip WNED to The Lake. Or convince BTPM (not called WNYPB any more) to buy 107.7 from Audacy and put the format back there.

Just speculatin'

 

[SirRoxalot]

It wouldn't surprise me if WBFO added some special music-oriented programming in the evening instead of repeating some features. They did well featuring a limited amount of local music while WBFO was still under the auspices of UB/State Ed. They had a grant for a weekly show recorded live in front of a studio audience that was well received and well attended. I think much of the local audience would appreciate more locally-produced content and less duplication. Of course, that costs money, so fundraising will be Calderone's primary chore and the likely driver behind any programming changes. Personally, I expect a breath of fresh air to sweep through the Broadcast Palace.

BTW, the corporation is still the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association. The branding is Buffalo Toronto Public Media.

 

[tbolt909]

Maybe Calderone will take tbolt's sage advice and flip WNED to The Lake. Or convince BTPM (not called WNYPB any more) to buy 107.7 from Audacy and put the format back there.

Just speculatin'

I never suggested that WNED will drop the Classical format. That's you Speculating. The Classical station is doing quite well.

It's possible that the new man may add some music segments to WBFO. As I said, NPR provides that content now. And yes, if 107.7 was part of the WBFO-WNED Group it would certainly be better off than its current Zombie-like state...

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Buy 107.7? Not likely. I doubt NYPBA is in acquisition mode with regard to radio or TV. It's focused on membership and expanding the digital base. NYPBA bought WBFO from UB because WNED-AM was... AM... its signal was deficient. FM was a golden opportunity and UB wanted to get out of the radio business. Audacy isn't selling. So put the 107.7 "speculatin'" to rest on that one. As to the retiring CEO, there's probably more than one farewell party that will be thrown for the noted fabulist to which he won't be invited. The upper management jockeying-for-position (aka, "sucking-up") will begin as soon as Calderone enters the building.

 

[TheBigA]

They had a grant for a weekly show recorded live in front of a studio audience that was well received and well attended.

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd hope to see. Once again, using the KCRW model, the moved into a new building in 2017 that had a performance space. This kind of thing is very popular at public radio stations.

Sneak peek at KCRW's new home | KCRW

KCRW's new building, designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects Photo by Avishay Artsy After 33 years broadcasting out of an airless and fluorescent-lit basement on Santa Monica Community College…

www.kcrw.com

In my view, any new music programming would be local. That's the best way to merchandise it for membership. Yes fundraising is the CEO's top priority, which is why Calderone is such an interesting choice. Not sure that he has a lot of that in his background. But money is the thing that makes programming possible. The potential is there.

 

[four4rock]

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd hope to see. Once again, using the KCRW model, the moved into a new building in 2017 that had a performance space. This kind of thing is very popular at public radio stations.

Sneak peek at KCRW's new home | KCRW

KCRW's new building, designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects Photo by Avishay Artsy After 33 years broadcasting out of an airless and fluorescent-lit basement on Santa Monica Community College…

www.kcrw.com

In my view, any new music programming would be local. That's the best way to merchandise it for membership. Yes fundraising is the CEO's top priority, which is why Calderone is such an interesting choice. Not sure that he has a lot of that in his background. But money is the thing that makes programming possible. The potential is there.

I'd stake a bit on Calderone's "cool" factor to encourage donations/membership. I'd expect that the people that would be wooed to donate grew up in the MTV generation. No doubt Calderone will make no secret about his involvement. Oh, he's got stories to tell. Cool stories. Inside scoop. That will surely draw the eyes, ears, and currency of the mark.

I guess the hip/in thing to close with is "Just speculatin'"!

 

[SirRoxalot]

I don't expect Calderone will launch "Austin City Limits" here, but that's a big facility that's woefully underused. He's got some contacts and he might have some ideas. There are lots of ways to raise funds - on both sides of the border when it opens up again.

 

[ckg279]

If memory serves, didn't WBFO carry a decent amount of music programming from NPR/APR/PRX back in the day(such as Thistle & Shamrock and the like)?

 

[Rusty Bridges]

I'd stake a bit on Calderone's "cool" factor to encourage donations/membership. I'd expect that the people that would be wooed to donate grew up in the MTV generation. No doubt Calderone will make no secret about his involvement. Oh, he's got stories to tell. Cool stories. Inside scoop. That will surely draw the eyes, ears, and currency of the mark.

Bingo, we have a winner ↑ No more calls please. Calderone speaks the language of a demo that Public Broadcasting desperately needs now and for the foreseeable future, whether it's derived from OTA or digital, whether it serves OTA or digital consumers. His diverse background lends itself to change and adaptation. Expect a Goo Goo Dolls driven membership drive sometime within the next 12 months. Only half joking on that.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Expect a Goo Goo Dolls driven membership drive sometime within the next 12 months. Only half joking on that.

It would be a good move for WNYPB to get more involved with Music is Art. It could lead to that very thing.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

It would be a good move for WNYPB to get more involved with Music is Art. It could lead to that very thing.

That could very well be his very first co-operative promotion, and it would make $en$e.

 

[four4rock]

Bingo, we have a winner ↑ No more calls please. Calderone speaks the language of a demo that Public Broadcasting desperately needs now and for the foreseeable future, whether it's derived from OTA or digital, whether it serves OTA or digital consumers. His diverse background lends itself to change and adaptation. Expect a Goo Goo Dolls driven membership drive sometime within the next 12 months. Only half joking on that.

Any truth to the rumor that he's trying to find a way to resurrect Freeland to be his administrative assistant? LOL