Some U.S. classical radio stations promote live performances, sponsor occasional talks or find other ways to get out in their communities, promoting local arts while elevating their profiles in the process. But I’m willing to wager that even the most active station would look like a hopeless underachiever next to Australia’s 4MBS Classic FM.
4MBS stages a dizzying array of musical and cultural events in its hometown of Brisbane, throughout Australia and even on the high seas — concerts, plays, contests, cruises, lectures, classes and more. These activities make 4MBS much more than just a radio station. In fact, General Manager Gary Thorpe credits 4MBS’s growth over the past 15 years to its efforts to engage audiences in so many different ways. The station boasts an annual income on par with that of classical stations in Sydney and Melbourne, homes to many more people than Brisbane.
“We want to show people that the radio station is just the start of the process of connecting with the community,” he wrote in an e-mail. “There are so many other relevant and meaningful things we can do to enhance their lives and the 4MBS experience — broaden their horizons within the classics.”
With the Olympics about to begin Friday, two classical radio stations have announced special programming to mark the occasion. One is Boston’s WGBH, which has already kicked off its World of Classical Music Challenge on Aug. 1. The station is asking listeners to help create “the dream team of classical music” by submitting their favorite pieces of music from the world’s five regions as represented by the Olympic Rings: Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 24.