A classical music station’s highest ratings are rarely outside of format, that is to say, a DJ with a stack of records. Those hours hosted by a smart, accessible announcer presenting an equally smart playlist, all imbued with a potent sense of place (localism) engender the highest long-term loyalty. Of course there are exceptions but it doesn’t get better or match listeners’ expectations any better than good company and good music. Here at All Classical we do just that, 99% of the time. From the department of deep thoughts, we finally asked ourselves, why then do we and most classical stations only enjoy around 10% giving among those who listen. This, too, is essentially an accepted industry benchmark. We get it right when it comes to our programming. Are we getting it wrong when it comes to our funding appeals?
WCLV Goes Non-Commercial
WCLV is joining the public radio community after 50 years of being a commercial station. Here’s the press release: WCLV TO BECOME NONCOMMERICAL IN JANUARY September 26, 2012 –CLEVELAND WCLV 104.9FM,Northeastern Ohio’s Classical Music station, will begin operating as a noncommercial station onJanuary 1, 2013. The audience will continue to enjoy familiar WCLV programming with familiar voices presenting the greatest music of the past five hundred years and the rich arts and cultural resources of today. With the transition, WCLV is following commercial classical music radio stations in New York City, Boston and … Continue Reading
Eastern Shore Gains More Classical
Our friends in Hampton Roads VA continue to be leaders in classical radio. Instead of constricting, they are expanding — this time to the Eastern Shore, on the southern end of the Delmarva Peninsula: National Public Radio and classical music fans on the Eastern Shore of Virginia can tune in radio programs from Hampton Roads after WHRO officials this week flipped the switch that activated two new stations. Most listeners on the Shore can tune to 90.1 for NPR and 98.3 for all classical radio. WHRO invested over $1 million in three … Continue Reading
Southern Maine Losing its Classical Station
The PressHerald.com is reporting that WBQW — known as WBACH — in Portland is going off the air next week. The station — WBQW, heard in the Portland area on 104.7 FM — was sold in a bankruptcy auction earlier this year to a company identified as Mainestream Media. The new owner will take over that station at 5 p.m. on Sept. 13, which will end the playing of classical music on the station. The new owner has not made its plan for the station public. WBACH’s classical music will continue to be … Continue Reading