Two weeks ago Steve Robinson, g.m. of WFMT-FM in Chicago, told the Sun-Times that the fundraising environment for his commercially licensed classical station was the worst he’d seen in his career. Fortunately for the station, it looks as if it may not be so terrible after all.
New prez at VPR, and other odds and ends
:: Robin Fenn was named president of Vermont Public Radio, which runs a network of classical stations throughout the state as well as news/talk outlets. Fenn has worked at the station for 20 years and most recently served as v.p. of development. She replaces Mark Vogelzang, who left VPR to work with a nationwide fundraising effort for public radio. More in the Burlington Free Press. CORRECTION (added 3/11/09): As you’ll see if you read the article, Robin Fenn is now Robin Turnau.
:: I got a kick out of this article about a shopping mall in Yellowknife, Canada, which falls into the “Is it real, or is it The Onion?” file. The Northern News Service reports that most people are glad the mall has stopped playing classical music on speakers at its entrances. The tactic was intended to keep people from hanging around outside the mall.
NEA Funding Reinstated in the Stimulus Bill
Virginians for the Arts reports today that the wording prohibiting funding for arts and community was deleted from the final stimulus bill, or if that’s too many negatives in one sentence, we got it back!
Meet PRX, the Content Bank for Everyone
A guest post today from David Srebnik:
There’s PRI, APR, MPR, NPR, CPB, NEA, but have you heard about PRX? The Public Radio Exchange is a relatively new radio program bank where program producers and stations (large and small) meet to upload, download and review programming. You don’t have to work at a radio station to listen – PRX programming is available to all listeners at www.prx.org.