If you read this blog regularly you know I’m a fan of KUSC in L.A., because they don’t shy away from fresh programming and documenting what’s going on in the real classical music world, instead of pretending that the only thing people want to listen to is music they already know.
People
News roundup: More on WUFT; Arizona station moves classical to AM
The Gainesville Sun reports that unhappy fans of the classical music aired until recently on WUFT have been, um, scanning the dial for alternatives — and finding cause for offense. Like WUFT, Gainesville’s Rock 104 is owned by the University of Florida. Former WUFT listeners have been turning to Rock 104, and they’re complaining about a morning show that airs on the station. What this article doesn’t explain is why these classical fans would turn on a rock station and then feel let down about what they find there — as if this weren’t entirely predictable. What did they expect? I’m baffled.
Meanwhile, the newspaper is still running letters from the miffed classical fans.
Station Bites: Good News and Bad News
Had an email from Daniel Gilliam today, P.D. of WUOL in Louisville. He reports that Louisville Public Media has achieved its highest listener numbers ever, with the three Louisville public stations up 38% over the spring book. LPM Vice President Todd Mundt credits his staff and the stations’ focus on community:
WLIU On The Auction Block
A quick note, and Happy Monday! WLIU on Long Island is up for sale or is available for some sort of creative partnership, according to Tom Taylor of Radio-Info. WLIU’s owner, Long Island University is going to stop supporting the NPR-affiliate in October for financial reasons. The station is mostly news and jazz, though it does play some classical, and one of the announcers is Bonnie Grice, who is well known to those of us in the classical world. We’ll keep you posted.