WGBH drops "Folk on WGBH" and "Blues on WGBH"

[notlob]

"Folk on WGBH" was broadcast Saturday afternoons, noon to 3pm.

"Blues on WGBH was broadcast Saturday nights, 9pm-1am.

The first indication came to me yesterday in northeastfolknroots - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots - where Eli Polonsky posted this:

When WGBH 89.7 first announced a couple of
months ago that they plan to drop all of
their weekday classical music programming
and replace it with public radio news/talk
programming (to compete against the much
higher rated WBUR), they first claimed that
their weekend specialty music programs such
as "Folk on WGBH" with Naomi Arenberg and
Brad Paul and "Blues on WGBH" with Brendan
Hogan would remain on the 89.7 air schedule
while all of their weekday classical music
would move to commercial classical station
99.5 WCRB, which is pending for purchase by
WGBH (with plans to turn it non-commercial).

As of a release in today's Boston Globe,
apparently WGBH has changed their minds
about keeping the weekend folk and blues
programming, a spokesperson saying: "blues
and folk fans have other ways to find their
genres of choice in Boston".

No programming changes are planned until the
final purchase of WCRB by WGBH, still pending
final approval by the FCC, goes through as is
expected.

For the Globe story, scroll down to the third
item on their "Something About Boston" page:

EP

Link to Eli's post -

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/message/8578

The Globe article - http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2009/11/06/theres_something_about_boston/ - stated

Blues and folk radio programs may be dropped

Blues fans may get the blues when they hear WGBH's plans for programming changes. 'GBH spokeswoman Jeanne Hopkins confirmed to us yesterday that if the FCC approves the station's purchase of WCRB-FM, a classical station based in Waltham, the station will cancel "Folk on WGBH'' and "Blues on WGBH,'' which air on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, respectively. The blues show is hosted by Brendan Hogan, while folk is hosted by Naomi Arenberg and Brad Paul. Hopkins explained that WGBH wants to carry classical music on one station (WCRB's 99.5) and news and information on the other (WGBH's 89.7). She said that blues and folk fans have other ways to find their genres of choice in Boston, and that 'GBH wants to keep its programming unique. "We've carried both of these for many years and we've been proud do it. We're very proud of the contributions,'' she said. Hopkins said there will be no programming changes until the deal goes through.

This morning Eli found confirmation on the WGBH website that the speculation was correct.

"These unfortunate changes are now confirmed on the WGBH website:"

http://www.wgbh.org/listen/goodbyefolkandblues.cfm

Schedule changes on 89.7

In December, WGBH is bringing WCRB 99.5 into our family of noncommercial, listener-supported public broadcasting stations, a move that preserves full-time classical radio in Boston.

With the acquisition of 99.5, we are revising 89.7's schedule todevelop a new service for our listeners that focuses on news,information, and analysis. And our classical music will moveexclusively to 99.5, where we will continue the tradition of anall-classical format.

We are proud of the folk and blues programs we have offered and of themany contributions that WGBH and our hosts have made to these genres,so it was a difficult decision to discontinue Blues on WGBH and Folk on WGBH.As we refocus the 89.7 schedule on news and information, it becameapparent that it would not be possible to retain all of the nonnewselements of our schedule. We have chosen to keep a select group ofprograms, like A Celtic Sojourn and A Prairie Home Companion, that serve our audiences well and attract support for WGBH's work.

We are grateful to folk hosts Naomi Arenberg and Brad Paul, and blues host Brendan Hogan for sharing their passion, knowledge, and experience with listeners over the years.

Folk music fans can continue to find options on WUMB 91.9FM Boston, WNEF 91.7 FM Newburyport, WFPB 1170AM Orleans, WICN 90.5FM Worcester, WOMR 92.1FM Provincetown, or New Hampshire Public Radio. Blues fans can tune in to WUMB 91.9FM, WHRB 95.3FM, WZLX 100.7 FM, and WUML 91.5 FM.

We appreciate your support of our work and hope that you will enjoy thenew offerings on 89.7 WGBH and 99.5 All Classical. For the latestinformation about what's on our air, please visit wgbh.org/listen.

As a folk and blues (and Celtic and bluegrass) not-for-profit producer, both programs have been very good to my concerts and artists. I am a loss for words. These six hours served thousands of listeners. I wonder how many are considering discontinuing their financial and volunteer support?

All I can do at this moment is create a Facebook "Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH" group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201481030324

Discussion also continues at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots

 

[raccoonradio]

Yes I found out last night via a sep. thread here on radio-info. Eli mentioned on my facebook that the Sat. afternoon folk host had said today would be her last show. Don't know about when last blues show airs (who knows, tonight?) I mentioned to New Eng Blues society yahoo group

For many of us Blues After Hours w Mai Cramer, later Blues on WGBH w Brendan Hogan, was a fine intro to the art form. These shows ran for decades

 

[raccoonradio]

WGBH's site says Blues on WGBH will be discontinued in Dec. Shows for the next 3 weeks are detailed.

http://wgbh.org/listen/blues.cfm

 

[Blackroc]

and news and information on the other (WGBH's 89.7).

They have a significant commitment to Jazz--8pb-5am--although they have cut overnight weekend live programming. I would assume Jazz doesn't fit their '10 N&I format?

 

[carmen]

Al Davis was the best Jazz DJ ever. too bad he's only on like once a blue moon anymo

 

[carmen]

also whats up with having to tune WBRU or 90.5 from Worcester t ohear decent jazz

eric jackson is great, and wgbh is 'respectable' and all, but i'll be damned if they dont like elevator muzak jazz

 

[mgpt6]

The protests will be many after Dec1. None of the other signals have the range of 89.7FM. Plus the classical audence south of Boston will be upset when they cant get 99.5FM clean in stereo.
Hope that GBH will have a promotional with Best Buy for the sale of HD Radios for people to get classical on WGBH-FM HD2.

 

[EnterCommunicator]

If they ever take down "Jazz with Eric" my tears will flow mightily.
I also love the Sunday jazz show that's on from 7-8pm (think it's called Jazz Decades)

 

[motormouth]

can always get the Blues "fix" on 95.9 WATD mon thru Fri 10 p - 2 a with Peter Black on "The Wide World Of Blues" streaming at www.959watd.com

 

[carmen]

can always get the Blues "fix" on 95.9 WATD mon thru Fri 10 p - 2 a with Peter Black on "The Wide World Of Blues" streaming at www.959watd.com

excellent jazz on ATDtoo. the hosts were recording engineers in New York in the golden era, and really know their stuff (its as if Rudy Van Gelder had a show!)

 

[aaronread]

As a folk and blues (and Celtic and bluegrass) not-for-profit producer, both programs have been very good to my concerts and artists. I am a loss for words. These six hours served thousands of listeners. I wonder how many are considering discontinuing their financial and volunteer support?

I'm sure a lot of them are considering it. But if those shows truly served "thousands" of listeners on a titanic signal like WGBH's (98,000 watts, remember)...then that's a pretty small, niche audience. I would find it very odd if WGBH couldn't re-tool the format overall to come out ahead of the game both in terms of raw listeners (which impacts underwriting rates) and in terms of donating listeners. (shrugs)

Granted, if you're a folk or blues fan, this move sucks. But there is a universal truth here: with ANY niche-music format, the internet can better serve a NICHE audience much better than a radio station possibly can. The wide scope of operations and access to tremendous diversity in both advice and music makes the 'net - generally speaking - a far better outlet. It does mean that, usually, you gotta work a little harder to GET that music...it's nice to have a DJ do the work for you of "finding the good stuff" but there's usually a collection of blogs and podcasts that do that just as well.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

... a titanic signal like WGBH's (98,000 watts, remember)...

Titanic... Are you implying that WGBH is large, or sinking? ;D

 

[inorm99]

I just want to remind you all who still may not be aware that Blues still lives and thrives every Saturday Night on WICN Public radio 90.5 FM with Norm Rosen from 7:00PM-11:00PM on Saturday Night Fish Fry ;D
Go to our web site for our stream: www.wicn.org
Please spread the word to those who haven't heard it yet

Norm Rosen

 

[aaronread]

Titanic... Are you implying that WGBH is large, or sinking?

I swear I didn't mean to lob a softball like that, but Eli did an admirable job smacking it out of the park. I bow before your superior bastardry, sir. ;D

 

[notlob]

A post to
1) mark the anniversary of WGBH killing their "Folk on WGBH" and "Blues on WGBH" programs (read "WGBH drops folk and blues programs" http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/2009/11/wgbh-drops-folk-and-blues-programs.html, and
2) a question, are any Boston-area radio stations playing the same caliber of folk and blues to fill the void?

It is also the anniversary of WGBH shuffling off its classical programming to weak-signaled sister station WCRB. The following passage comes from an article in The Boston Musical Intelligencer, "a virtual journal and blog of the classical music scene in Boston" titled "One Year After Change: Is WGBH/WCRB Working?" http://classical-scene.com/2010/11/07/one-year/

This report was written on the basis of conversations with persons close to WGBH but no one at the station would speak for attribution nor would management permit BMInt to interview anyone on staff. I have known many workers at WGBH/WCRB beginning with Robert J. Lurtsema, with whom I spent many amusing hours and have also brought many artists to the studios for live performances over 25 years. As an old friend of WGBH, I have made a good faith effort to make this report fair, though regrettably without being able to confirm the accuracy of every conclusion, attribution or opinion. We at BMInt want the best for classical music broadcasting in Boston and take no pleasure in reporting again on its current state of affairs

.

 

[raccoonradio]

There are some college radio blues shows, like mine (shared with 2 other DJs) at WMWM but certainly not a powerful station like WGBH was. WATD has their blues show still, etc,

WGBH now has news, talk, etc from their
Taj Mahal studios but the money's drying up (for various reasons esp. the economy).

 

[drredbeard]

You can also check out, "The Eclectic Picnic," on `ATD, Sundays from 2-4 PM w/host, Brian Edwards.

It's some pretty good music from all genres.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

It is also the anniversary of WGBH shuffling off its classical programming to weak-signaled sister station WCRB.

My mom, a lifelong classicial listener, can not get good reception of WCRB due to a hill behind her house blocking reception from north of Boston. It was necessary for me to buy an HD radio for her so that she can listen to the rebroadcast of WCRB on the WGBH HD-2 channel.

 

[raccoonradio]

Other classical fans have had similar situations; in Cleveland WCLV changed frequency (the station
that produces the humor/music "Weekend Radio") and some were probably now out of range of
them, or it was weaker

 

[Don Juannn]

It is also the anniversary of WGBH shuffling off its classical programming to weak-signaled sister station WCRB.

My mom, a lifelong classicial listener, can not get good reception of WCRB due to a hill behind her house blocking reception from north of Boston. It was necessary for me to buy an HD radio for her so that she can listen to the rebroadcast of WCRB on the WGBH HD-2 channel.

You mean someone is enjoying HD radio and the world hasn't come to an end? ;-)