NY Times Article on Issues Facing WBGO 88.3

[Barry]

The rather lengthy and complex piece calls WBGO, "One of the World's Best Jazz Stations." It explores some of the internal difficulties that it is facing, behind the scenes. In addition, it alleges that the jazz station is losing touch with the people of Newark, its home city, and that some of its staff has become disenchanted with the new management.

NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/29/...?action=click&module=Features&pgtype=Homepage

 

[BruceNYC]

There is a related article at https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/11/is-there-a-blackout-at-wbgo-opinion.html

 

[BruceNYC]

I worked at NJIT in Newark from 1992-2017. When I interviewed there in the Summer of 1992, I arrived early and sat in the student center where WBGO was heard on the loudspeaker. Since that time I have listened to them regularly and even give them a monthly donation. They at least have always maintained a Newark identity while certain commercial stations whose COL is Newark have no connection to the city. I hope their current problems can be resolved with a new management team.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I agree that jazz radio is trapped between those who think jazz radio should be an audio museum of mostly-dead artists, and those who think the music is modern and vital.

Add that to a community that led WBGO from Newark now giving way to a new generation of listener-members largely from New York City, and I can see the sources of tension.

But be warned: It won't take much of this kind of infighting to become another WBAI.

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

If there were any such skirmishes, allegations and racist overtones clouding the sky over Philly's former all-jazz station WRTI 23 years ago, I wasn't aware of them.

I believe it was Greater Media who got hold of classical WFLN 95.7 in that city and changed them into some form of modern Hot A/C. The boast from the PD was that they would 'dominate the market 18-49'.
Well, the new shoehorned forced-issue failed. I doubt they dominated the market 18-19 before switching to another pop format, let alone 18-49.

The move left Classical fans in Philly with no place to go. WRTI picked up the Classical format for the daytime, and kept the Jazz at night and overnight.

We get WRTI here locally from their 99.1 relay in Pottsville. Here's their 100 watt signal. We're right at the northern purple contour point under the first 'a' in Shenandoah.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W256AB&service=FX

My point again is that I heard of no commotion 23 years ago when WRTI effectively compromised half the station's emphasis. Perhaps I missed any,
and someone here has a differing version. Either way, though, it would be a shame if PTBoardOp94's wincing suspicions became the outcome at WBGO ; if radio and music and tradition become a secondary concern for a management group ostensibly in the 'radio', 'entertainment' and 'communications' business.