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WGMS

J

JakeLongwell

Hi everyone,
I'm from upstate New York, but thought I'd post on here as I have a question concerning some very disturbing I recently heard will be happening on the radio in the DC area.
I've heard that WGMS will soon be going All Sports, and dropping its longtime Classical format. Is this true?
Now, I am not too familiar with the radio market down there. But personally, I have to ask does Washington really NEED another Sports station? How will this station be unique in comparison to Fox Sports or ESPN Radio?
What I find to be even more unfortunate, is that with WGMS gone, there will be no local outlet for Fine Arts programming in Washington.
I know WETA-FM dropped the classics from their programming a couple years back. No doubt because of the presence of WGMS. But I can't help but wonder if they made a tragic mistake in assuming that there would always be a commercial Classical station in the market. Too bad. You guys already lost your full time Jazz station long ago (WDCU "Jazz 90") and now Classical is on the way out, leaving three full power public radio stations with mainly All-News/Talk formats. Makes me realize how fortunate I am living in upstate New York, where Classical and Jazz music are alive and well on our local public radio outlets.
 
WGMS owner Bonneville has pledged that it will not sell or flip WGMS unless there is another outlet for classical in DC.
The board of WETA has voted to approve going back to a classical format IF WGMS switches.
Speculation is that if WGMS changes, it will sell its music library to WETA.
WETA has been competing with another NPR news/talk station in DC. In some hours during the day, the programming is duplicated on the two stations.
Classical fans in DC may actually be better off after this switch. Classical on WETA means no commercials and more music.
 
radiophiler said:
Classical fans in DC may actually be better off after this switch. Classical on WETA means no commercials and more music.
Click to expand...
And I guess a better signal across the metro DC area right.
 
radiophiler said:
WGMS owner Bonneville has pledged that it will not sell or flip WGMS unless there is another outlet for classical in DC.
The board of WETA has voted to approve going back to a classical format IF WGMS switches.
Speculation is that if WGMS changes, it will sell its music library to WETA.
WETA has been competing with another NPR news/talk station in DC. In some hours during the day, the programming is duplicated on the two stations.
Classical fans in DC may actually be better off after this switch. Classical on WETA means no commercials and more music.
Click to expand...

Anybody want to bet classical fans still won't come across during pledge periods?
But ETA has about 60% of AMU's audience, maybe advertising (ahem "corporate underwriting") revenues have dropped and that may outweigh the fact that classical lovers are notoriously tight-fisted during membership campaigns.
 
Even if WETA does bring Classical music back to its program lineup, it would still only be a part time solution I'm sure. Because I would guess they would want to keep running Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and other NPR news shows that are already heard on WAMU.
I say, NPR should do what PRI does, and make their progrms available to one station per market. That way, WAMU would be the sole outlet for the news/talk shows, and WETA could focus more on music and fine arts programming. Oh, I know this won't happen anytime soon, but it's an idea nonetheless.
Furthermore, if WETA were to drop the news/talk shows they added when dropping Classical, perhaps the powers that be at 88.5 could pick them up. For instance, they could run the BBC World Service overnights, instead of re-running their daytime talk lineup.
 
I think this is a shame.

I started looking at the Style and Sunday Comics in the Post because a library near here gets the Post and I found out Art Buchwald was in that paper, as well as the laughably old-fashioned Miss Manners (my taste in music may be old-fashioned, but I'm more like people today interms of manners).

I notice these radio topics. I thought it was sad when WGAY-FM changed, and then when WGAY-AM (which was WWDC when the FM was still WGAY) was gone as well.

And putting WGMS on a frequency people can't hear--that's the last straw.

I think standards should be on WGMS. That's how standards usually gets treated anyway.
 
Here is the latest according to DCRTV.com

Source: Several WGMS Staffers To WETA-FM - 1/12 - From DCRTV's Rumorama. Not confirmed. We're told that Jim Allison, program director at Bonneville's commercial classical WGMS, is jumping to non-commercial WETA-FM, which has been rumored to be dropping news talk for classical. With WGMS personalities James Bartel and Diana Hollander, and the GMS music library, also making the move to WETA-FM. We're also told that the WGMS calls might even get moved to WETA's 90.9 FM. DCRTV wonders: Maybe the on-again off-again deal to sell WGMS's 104.1 FM and 103.9 FM frequencies to Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra for his Triple X sports talker might be close to being signed.....
 
Which brings me to another question. Didn't WETA have their own classical library when they were doing the format until a couple years ago? And, what ever became of that library? Was it sold off? Auctioned? And just how extensive was the WGMS library given that it's a commercial station?
I do wish the WGMS staff the best in their new home at 90.9 (assuming the rumors are correct).
Now, if only someone could bring an all-jazz station back to DC... Maybe the WETA/WGMS folks could try jazz on one of the HD sub channels when and if HD is launched there.
 
goodbye WGMS, hello WETA

Just heard on the way in, WGMS switches to sports talk, but WETA goes back to 24 hr classical at 3PM today(Monday). This is even better than before the switch to news 2 years ago as they are no longer even airing ATC, fresh air etc.
 
Reaction to 'GMS flip and 'GMS to 'XGG flip audio

Whoa...didn't see this coming. This is a BIG story in radio in three ways. First, a station that was distinctively known as the station with the longest-running format in the US (over 60 years) has flipped into a format like Jack and Bob, and unfortunately bringing the adult/variety hits format into hot water yet again (CBS-FM anyone?). Second, Bonneville and the Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (the official name for WETA), both non-profit and for-profit radio companies respectfully, have teamed up in a deal which is unheard of in the radio industry. Third, WETA/WGMS is going to get a BIG ratings boost since 90.9 is the Strongest FM signal in DC at 75,000 W (Class-B). And, at this address, http://www.vartv.com/media/WGMS.wma (thanks to dcrtv.com for the address), you can hear the flip from the entrance into the final segment of WGMS (at 103.9/104.1) to the beginning of the first song of George 104, the appropriately titled "A Change Will Do You Good" by Sheryl Crow. This was very awkward, and very funny the way that the PD went from a sad "Tears of Grief" choral (the announcement of the demise of 'GMS in Washington radio) to a happy choral (the announcement of the move to 'ETA starting at 8PM 1/22) before going into a long pause (longer than I thought it would be) and the opening speech of George 104 (Which includes a montage of songs about "change" and "being free") before going into Sheryl Crow. It was seriously putting butterflies in my stomach. Enjoy the audio and thanks for your time!
 
NEW WETA-FM FLIP TO CLASSICAL AUDIO, possibilities of George's/'ETA's first book

New Audio (from dcrtv.com):http://www.vartv.com/media/WETA.wma featuring end of final news/talk/info show, DC WX report (Damn, its cold up there), VP/GM Dan Devany speech, then the classical music starts off. No biggie, just wanted to post this so people won't ask if anyone's got the audio. Classical music's still alive, thank god Bonneville, and WETA's board of trustees, have hearts (no, i'm not a classical music fan) since this stations does so well, and, be sure to catch Winter's book to see what happens with both Classical WETA 90.9 and George 104. I, looking at all the other Adult hits stations in the US, think the ratings for George will decrease dramatically compared to the final book of 'GMS, with the cause, more than likely, listeners fleeing to WETA and listeners who don't like George and will listen to MIX 107.3, which was starting to act like a "jack-like" station before George came along. And, the ratings of 'ETA will soar like a bird since former 'GMS listeners and curious listeners wondering what the NEW classical music station sounds like compared to 'GMS (since the former 'ETA classical library remains with 'ETA). Stay tuned and find out....
 
i'm a little pissed about what boneville did to wgms, i mean what the hell was the point blowing up a 60 - year old plus station for what exactally a crappy i - pod station i don't think so i mean hell i can download the same sort of crap,but it's clasical music that should have lived not that crap,i mean boneville & that monster Dan Snyder gezz it's bad enough you had to enflict the region with that piss poor excuse of a football team it's even worse for your god - awfoll excuse of radio stations just please go away PLEASE, also if anyone has a playlist of the last day of WGMS i'd be grateful expecilly the last song they played during there apoligy to the washington market.ok i found out what the last track was it's tears of grief choral but which version & on what cd is it on thanks
 
carter.haruka said:
ok i found out what the last track was it's tears of grief choral but which version & on what cd is it on thanks
Click to expand...

The final audio of 'GMS only said it was "Tears Of Grief (Choral)" from Bach's St. Matthews Passion while saying "It is with tears of grief that we leave the Washington airwaves." (from the Washington Post article) Before going into a happy choral to announce the move to WETA 90.0 FM and going into a pause then George 104's intro. They didn't mention "Tears of Grief's" CD or version, unless it Choral is the version name. But it did not mention the CD.
 
What of WETA's relay station, WETH 89.1? I know most folks in DC can't hear that one because of WPFW on 89.3. But does anyone know if 'ETH is all-classical as well? Or are they keeping that frequency news/talk for their audience in MD and PA? What might make sense would be to make 89.1 a part-time simulcast with 90.9, and still split off for Morning Edition, ATC, etc. Because I don't believe that area has any other clear outlet for NPR news programs. Some may be able to pick up WITF out of Harrisburg. But not sure on that station's coverage.
 
Most of the Hagerstown listeners should be able to get the NPR stuff like Morning Blather and Nothing Considered from nearby WVEP 88.9 licensed to WV Public Radio in Martinsburg. They put a strong signal into the northern Shenandoah Valley from a transmitter site atop Great North Mountain uphill of Capon Springs WV.
 
JakeLongwell said:
What of WETA's relay station, WETH 89.1? I know most folks in DC can't hear that one because of WPFW on 89.3. But does anyone know if 'ETH is all-classical as well? Or are they keeping that frequency news/talk for their audience in MD and PA? What might make sense would be to make 89.1 a part-time simulcast with 90.9, and still split off for Morning Edition, ATC, etc. Because I don't believe that area has any other clear outlet for NPR news programs. Some may be able to pick up WITF out of Harrisburg. But not sure on that station's coverage.
Click to expand...

WETH will take the WGMS calls and simulcast WETA.
 
Not everyone is happy, go to washington post.com for more info. Many have asked for their pledges back, but WETA has received 40,000 in unsolicited new pledges. You can't even get into the WETA web site much of the time(althought I did get somes posts into their rapidly growing blog).


I listened to the WGMS switchover live. Wish Chip Brienza's speech right before it was included. IT was touching.
I hear WETA could hire some of the WGMS personel. Certainly hope so as they did hire Jim ALison, the WGMS program director. I just hope Jim does not bring along his WGMS programming style Maybe WETA can start an a live overnight program, the CLASSICAL/24 produced by MPR isnt too good.
 
Thndrstm said:
Not everyone is happy, go to washington post.com for more info. Many have asked for their pledges back, but WETA has received 40,000 in unsolicited new pledges. You can't even get into the WETA web site much of the time(althought I did get somes posts into their rapidly growing blog).


I listened to the WGMS switchover live. Wish Chip Brienza's speech right before it was included. IT was touching.
I hear WETA could hire some of the WGMS personel. Certainly hope so as they did hire Jim ALison, the WGMS program director. I just hope Jim does not bring along his WGMS programming style Maybe WETA can start an a live overnight program, the CLASSICAL/24 produced by MPR isnt too good.
Click to expand...
Can you post audio of the WGMS sign off and the WETA format change. Thanks.
 
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