WETA Radio may drop classical music

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 03:56 PM

I don't know how they could possibly have gotten the misinformation that only 250 people listen to WBJC online. Their marketing process must be severely screwed up.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 03:47 PM

Each one of the 250 of us who listen online (assuming that number is correct) should send WBJC $40, and that makes the $10,000 they need. I did that when I realized they were off the internet, and suggested to them that they ask for donations on the same page where the notice of termination is posted. I hope others do the same thing--and call WBJC to let them know they care. Kathy in Maine (but the WBJC stuff should really have been in a new thread, not the WETA one!)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 12:54 AM

Oh, no. More bad news. I like to listen to classical music, so when WETA stopped playing it, I switched to WBJC, a Baltimore station. WBJC's signal is rather weak, so I've been listening to the station online. I tried to listen a few minutes ago, and I found this at WBJC's website:

In the past, WBJC offered on-line streaming at no cost to the station. The trade agreement with our on-line provider enabled WBJC to offer this free service to the few people who listened to the station through their computers. Due to the sale of our on-line provider, this trade agreement has now been terminated. WBJC would now be obliged to pay a minimum of ten thousand dollars annually for a service which we were formerly able to provide gratis. WBJC now must consider whether it is worth this substantial expense to provide on-line service for so few people. The on-line universe of listeners numbers around 250 people versus the broadcast universe of 200,000 listeners. Meanwhile, the station will continue to search for a trade agreement with another on-line provider, but until one is found, streaming will no longer be available.

Outrageous! "The on-line universe of listeners numbers around 250 people..." This does not make sense to me. Does some policymaker believe that only 250 people listen to WBJC online? What can we do to get classical music back?

(I still can't get over having no noncommercial classical music station in our nation's capitol. Buenos Aires has four, two of which are on 24/7.)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 12 Aug 05 - 01:18 PM

Publicradiofan.com has just added a section on podcasts, which are basically stored audio programs. But the best way to find out if a partcular show has stored programs available to be listened to "on demand" is to go to the website associated with that particular show. Many shows can't do this (yet) because of contractual problems involving broadcast rights to the music contained therein, but it's worth checking out, and it seems to be becoming more and more the wave of the future.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 12 Aug 05 - 12:21 AM

Charlie, thanks for the advice on publicradiofan. I have tried it and it does work as you described. Now I have another question. Is there a way I can find a particular program that has been "stored" online? Live webcasts are useful, but only if I'm at my computer or radio at the time of the live webcast. The Kennedy Center archives their Millenium Stage concerts so you can search and listen after the live concert, and the BBC does something similar with their Proms concerts.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 10 Aug 05 - 11:29 AM

"Publicradiofan" sounds like a fantastic resource. Sorting webcasted programs by day and time is a very helpful feature.

One of my favorite syndicated non-commercial radio programs is "American Routes," which has its own website listing all the stations that carry it, complete with day and time of the broadcast. The problem is that the stations are not listed by day and time of their broadcast of the program ~ they're listed geographically by state, the list includes stations with and without webcasting capabilities, and there are LOTS of them. To find a webcast on a given day of the week, you have to search "manually" via trial-and-error through the whole long list. Too much hassle to even bother!

(If you're driving cross-country and want to find the nearest public radio stations, this type of listing could be helpful. However, not too many of us have web access in our cars!)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 10 Aug 05 - 11:12 AM

The publicradiofan.com website I noted above will also sort by program name. For example, for Piano Jazz, you'll get:


http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=74


which gives a complete listing of stations webcasting Piano Jazz sorted by time of the week. Small icons following each listing indicate whether it's webcast using Windows Media Player, Real Audio, mp3, Oggs Vorbis, or something else.

The site will also sort for any other non-commercial radio show you can think of.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 10 Aug 05 - 10:51 AM

I'd like some more advice from one or more of you knowledgeable people. Can I listen to Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz *online*?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 04 Aug 05 - 04:53 PM

Donuel, I just tried 94.7 and got a rock station. I think there's a rcok station in the DC area that blasts out everything else. Charlie and sapper82, thanks for the links. The meta-page is awesome.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: sapper82
Date: 04 Aug 05 - 05:56 AM

BBC Radio 3 Season of the Sir Henry Wood Promanade Concerts;

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 03 Aug 05 - 05:23 PM

I've found a wonderful meta-page that will take you to non-commercial broadcasts anywhere in the world. You can sort by genre, location, language, or even program name.


http://www.publicradiofan.com/

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Aug 05 - 04:57 PM

In the WETA area you should still get 94.1 Baltimore classical music.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 03 Aug 05 - 03:31 PM

My thanks to all who recommended BBC Internet radio for classical music. It's great! So many programs to choose from! I've been listening to classical music all my life, and now I'm listening to and enjoying music I've never heard before. This is great!

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 03:32 PM

For starters, here's a list of stations around the country that broadcast the syndicated American Routes radio program:

http://www.americanroutes.org/stations.html

Most of 'em are NPR stations, and many of them probably still feature classical music most of the time. If they carry American Routes, though, they must have an interest in at least some of the "roots music" (folk/blues/country/jazz) presented by that program.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 03:06 PM

Thanks, PoppaGator. Does anyone have any other good suggestions for stations that play folk or jazz that I can listen to on the Internet? Now that I have broadband, I have opportunities.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:42 PM

Pauline, follow this link to Archie Fisher's Travelling Folk Show.
As I mentioned, each two-hour show is available for an entire week by clicking the "Listen Again" button. He plays a wonderful variety of folk, leaning heavily on traditional material, and including both the U.K. and North America. Enjoy!
BBC Scotland Travelling Folk with Archie Fisher

Lester Simpson's show on BBC Derby is linked on my computer at work, so I'll add it to this thread tomorrow.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 04:47 PM

Glad to be of service. I was afraid that a slow connection speed might have been the reason you weren't already listening to this more-or-less local station via the Internet.

You don't HAVE to be far away from a station to listen to its webcast. I'm currently listening to the same great local non-profit station on my office computer that I listen to in my car on the commute back and forth from home. If I had a radio on my desk in addition to a PC, I suppose I could tune in "the old fashioned way," but I don't, and the webcast works just fine.

Commercial radio stations, apparently, are not allowed to webcast (or maybe they just don't find it profitable), but many public and community stations from around the world can be accessed by the internet.

My favorite station, for which I am glad to do some volunteer wwork several times a year, is WWOZ, FM 90.7 in New Orleans ~ not classical (not hardly), unless you agree with those commentators who describe jazz as "America's classical music."

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 04:24 PM

PoppaGator, thanks so much! I'm listening to it now. ;-)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 04:18 PM

Kathy, please tell me more. How do I get BBC Scotland?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 04:13 PM

Slight drift away from classical here, but if you'd like to hear really good Internet folk from the BBC, check out Archie Fisher's "Travelling Folk" on BBC Scotland. The show airs on Thursday nights, U.K. time, but each two-hour show is archived for a week. My other favorite is Lester Simpson and Mick Peat's two-hour show on Monday evenings U.K. time (2:00 p.m. EDT). That one is only available as a live stream, though. Both shows play great stuff! Kathy

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 02:44 PM

If you can't get a good signal over the air, try your computer:

http://www.wbjc.com/

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 02:11 PM

Kathy, thanks for the explanation. I live in Rockville, which is near Bethesda, I can usually get WBJC, but the signal is weak, so I sometimes get a lot of noise. I listen when I can, though.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 01:58 PM

Pauline, it's "The Proms," a classical music festival at Royal Albert Hall, with concerts broadcast by the BBC. They bill is as: "The world's greatest classical music festival with over 70 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and live on BBC Radio 3." You can find more than you ever wanted to know by Googling The Proms. The BBC website should be the first thing that pops up. A social summer tradition not unlike Wolf Trap in D.C., and Tanglewood in Mass., although the concerts are indoors and the focus is strictly classical.

You live in Bethesda, don't you? You should be able to get WBJC-FM in Baltimore (91.9). They play nonstop classical music--and far more interesting stuff than WETA thought to program. Cheers, Kathy (not a Brit)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 12:36 PM

I've got some related bad news. The Arlington Symphony Orchestra, based in a suburb of Washington DC, has filed for bankruptcy. I've also heard from a reliable source that the decision-makers at WETA dropped classical music partly because "there's no future in it." Ow!!!

I finally got broadband Internet service at home, and I now I listen to classical music from the BBC. I thoroughly enjoy it. Can one of you Brits translate the word "Proms" for me? It's used a lot on the BBC classical radio site. (I know it's not a fancy dress ball for graduating seniors.)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 11:25 PM

Not all is lost! I've been reading about XM satellite radio on their website, www.xmradio.com. In particular, I checked their program scheduling for one of their classical music channels, and there I found Robert Aubrey Davis's Millenium of Music. How ironic that we need satellite radio to listen to centuries old music.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 12:24 PM

Bill D, the size of the antenna is related to the wavelength of the signal. That's why a "T" antenna for FM radio is about 1 meter long and a satellite dish for TV signals is much larger. The amount of information carried is not directly related. (Techie response)

WFDU Ron Olesko, thanks so much. The excerpt you quoted explains a lot.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 09:00 PM

Pauline - Here is an excerpt from XM radio's webpage (www.xmradio.com)

"XM Satellite Radio consists of a state-of-the art Broadcast Center in Washington, DC, that covers 150,000 square feet and includes some 80 studios; two Boeing 702 satellites, appropriately named "Rock" and "Roll;" and approximately 800 terrestrial repeaters located throughout the continental United States. XM broadcasts digitized programming, both original and acquired, to the satellites which are positioned over the East and West Coasts in geostationary orbits. The repeater network ensures signal coverage, particularly in urban areas where tall buildings and other obstructions may otherwise interfere with signal reception. The repeaters receive the XM signal directly from the satellites and then re-transmit it to XM radios anywhere.
XM Radios:         An XM radio can receive and play XM's encrypted digital signal once that radio is activated. XM radios incorporate a proprietary chipset that decodes the signals from the satellites and repeaters. The chipset, designed by XM in conjunction with STMicroelectronics, consists of two custom integrated circuits that process satellite and repeater signals, and decode audio and data streams. Each XM radio requires an XM antenna."

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 08:16 PM

a radio signal carries a lot less information than a TV signal, so I imagine it needs far less antenna to get it...(GPS needs only a small receiver, also)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:56 PM

Now I have some full blooded techie questions, and I'm posting them here and on the other current thread on WETA. I've heard that BBC carries a lot of good classical music on their Radio 3, and I'm wondering how to access it. I don't have broadband, so Internet radio won't work well for me. The site provides information on various ways to listen to BBC radio 3. One is DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), and it sounds like what we've been calling "satellite radio." It uses a special receiver which costs less than 100 GBP. They also describe an alternate method. "In some other territories, Radio 3 is available on the Astra satellite and via cable." Is this "Astra satellite" something different?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:14 PM

3/4 techie question: What is the wavelength of the signal being transmitted? Why do such small antennae work? Is the signal boosted at various places, by anology with towers that boost cell phone signals in hill country?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 05:08 PM

We are on overload with talk shows now. With WETA'S announced new program format they may be surprised when a drop in contributions/pledges are made from their classical music listeners during their Spring fund drive. No more money pledges coming from me.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:12 AM

yeah... what Bill said!! :)

Seriously, the receiver has a small "dish" antenna that receives the satellite signal.   For my car, I have a small device that is attached to the hood of my car (by a magnet). If you have someone with knowledge of cars you can route the wire so it is invisible. I basically know where the gas goes, so I had someone install it so it would look neater.

The "dish" on my car is very small - about 1/4 the size of a computer mouse and similar in appearance.   The boombox that I have at home has a similar device on the back. For the boombox the device has a long cable so that you can put the antenna near a window facing south.

The signal can be picked up anywhere in the US.   That is one of the selling points. If you are going on a long drive you can hear the same programs without interuption.

There are two companies in the U.S. - XM and Sirius.   XM was the first out of the gate. They were actually scheduled to launch on 9/12/01, but the events of the day before caused them to postpone their launch. Currently they have about 3.5 million subscribers and it is growing. They expect to exceed 5 million before the end of the year. You can find out more about them at www.xmradio.com.

Sirius Radio launched a bit later and they have about 2 million subsribers. Both systems work on the same principle. Sirius is a bit more expensive per month but not excessively.   

I chose XM for several reasons. The folk music offering was more to my liking, simply because they offer programs like WFMT's THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL with Rich Warren.   The general blend is very eclectic, lots of commercial folk revival material mixed in with contemporary singer-songwriters and tradtional material. I wish they had more traditional music, but they hold promise. I just wish they would not play as much John Denver as they do!

XM will also be presenting Major League Baseball this year - you will be able to hear EVER SINGLE game for EVERY SINGLE team. Very impressive!

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:30 PM

semitechie? *grin*

signal beamed UP to satellite from source,
signal from satellite beamed DOWN to you, if you ain't behind a hill somewhere and have paid for the service.

kinda like them TV dishes, only different.

whaddya mean I'm no help?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:11 PM

Guest, Doug Pratt, I also remember a non-ad on WETA quoting a German poet/playwright (Bertold Brecht?), "Music washes away the care of everyday life." We've got new loads of everyday B.S.

WFDU Ron Olesko, thanks for the information on satellite radio. Is signal strength an issue as it is with FM? How long has it been on the market? Usually, if you wait a year or two after something is introduced into the marketplace, you find that prices have gone way down. Also, can someone give me a semitechie explanation of how it works (I'm a life scientist)?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:47 PM

Initial investment in satellite radio averages from $100 to $150. This will buy a receiver and a docking station for hooking it into an existing home unit or your car. You can also buy a boombox for about $100, but you do not have the flexibility of listening through your car or home stereo in that case.

I have a receiver, car unit and a boombox. With installation of the car unit (which I did not want to try to install on my own) I spent about $200.   The fee for monthly service is $10.   Additional units would be separate purchases and require additional monthly fees at a special rate.

This may be too expensive for some people, and that is understandable.   Like cable television, this is a luxury item. You get variety of programming, most channels are commercial free, the audio is better than FM signals, and it is fun. My unit also gives me a stock ticker and sports ticker option.   I love it and find it to be worth every penny. I will probably purchase units for my wife and daughter this year.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:15 PM

Hmmmm ~ we all may have to rethink any impulse we might have had to bequeath money or make any kind of long-range contribution to any NPR station. The station could change at any time to something we have no interest in supporting.

I can't imagine a similar development ever happening at my beloved (and completely independent) WWOZ (dot-org), but who knows? ~ anything, apparently, can happen.

Pauline, I'm pretty sure that satellite radio requires an initial investment in special hardware in addition to the monthly subscription cost. For most people, that means at least two units, one in the home and one per vehicle. I have no idea if the receivers must be purchased or if some kind of lease arrangement might be included in the monthly tab.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:01 PM

Well said, guest Doug.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,Doug Pratt
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 10:38 AM

I consider this format change a betrayal.

Not long ago, WETA started running on-air spots to encourage people to make donations to the station in their wills and estate plans. I recall one who spoke about making sure that her children and grandchildren would be able to hear classical music in the area.

Is WETA going to refund her donation?

Sure, most of NPR news is just fine. I appreciate the depth to which they cover stories, even though most of the reporting is slanted so far left, if it was print it would be reverse italic. But did anyone in WETA management ever hear the phrase, "the world is too much with us?" Some of us need music (and art of all kinds) to help us endure. Now WETA is becoming another part of the information overload.

Public radio was supposed to be about serving the underserved parts of the community. Now it's about revenue streams. If the management wants to make that change, fine...but I don't have to buy into the idea. And don't try to tell me that I should become a member so WETA will always be there for me. I did, and now it isn't.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,GUEST, Dan
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:02 PM

I live in Alexandria, work in DC. With the imminent
decline of WETA, I'm switching to WBJC (91.5 out of
Baltimore). Other posters have mentioned it. It can
be difficult to get the signal to come in, being 50
miles south and all. But I find that if I set up my
FM antenna in the right direction, and switch my FM
receiver from stereo to mono (not all receivers have
that option, unfortunately), I can get a nice clean
signal.

Also, WGMS (103.5) does commercial free music each morning
from 9 till 10:45-ish. It's not much, but it's there.
Dan

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: LuteMonkey
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:53 AM

I once lived in Baltimore, and listened to WETA. I remeber when WJHU went all talk, it was not cool. I would hate the same fate fall on WETA.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:45 AM

I suppose I need to learn about satellite radio. Someone told me that it costs $10/month to subscribe. Do you need a special radio or special equipment for receiving the signal?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,R. Byrd
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 01:40 PM

WETA has lost my support. This confirms ny decision to now take the money I give to public radio and get a satellite radio service instead. Classical music with no commercials.

Dick

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 09:48 AM

TimJMU--

If you're listening to the Music through the night segment via webcast, you can pick up that webcaast from other public stations in the US jsut as easily. For example, in searching for replacements for WETA, I've discovered the webcasts of Vermont Public radio (http://www.vpr.net/). The local news is a different locality and the weather forecasts give you lots of extra snow, but the music is all there.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,TimJMU
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:42 AM

I listen to WETA classical music every nite from 12am to 6am. If it were not for this segement every evening, I would undoubtedly be at a loss for true culture while away from home (fairfax county) attending University at James Madison. How can I help stop this format change?   


p.s. I can barely deal with the loss of WHFS 99.1, and would not be able to stomach the loss of the current classical programing at WETA via the internet. WETA keeps me closer to home than care packages and phone calls to mom. Please do not drop the current format.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:26 PM

I just found out that Buenos Aires has four radio stations which play classical music, and two of them run 24 hours a day.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 08:18 PM

Yes, you're right Pauline. It's 91.5 FM. I got confused with the Maine Public Radio frequency. Apparently WBJC is working on a stronger transmitter--they're sending out fundraising mailings to help make it happen.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 01:50 AM

WBJC may become the source of classical music in the nation's capital by default. They will need a stronger transmitter, though. Their classical DJs are very good -- lots of knowledge and good sense of humor. I believe they are at 91.5.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:15 PM

Even before this happened, when I lived in D.C., WETA has repeatedly exasperated me. Mary Cliff e-mailed me earlier this week with the news as reported in the Washington Post. Luckily, Mary's "Traditions" show (or so she was told by the station's brass) seems to be safe for now. They probably don't dare mess with someone who's been on the air for the station's entire lifetime and who served for many of those years as WETA's shop steward. But it's probably safe to bet that when Mary retires in 3-1/2 years, all vestiges of folk programming will disappear permanently from the station. I definitely agree with those who plan to write to express their concern for protecting "Traditions" and similar programs. They need to know we care!

If, like me, you like classical music as much as you like folk, and if you want to hear really good classical programming in the D.C. area, AND if you live in the more northern suburbs (Montgomery County, parts of Prince George's Co., Howard Co., and certain parts of northern Virginia), you can tune in to my favorite all-classical station, WBJC-FM (90.1). They are public radio, based at a community college in Baltimore. They have excellent classical programming (much more intelligent and interesting music choices than the "classical top 40" format that WETA has been offering!), low-key pledge drives, and virtually no news. If, as their latest fundraising mailing indicates, they succeed in raising the money they need to strengthen their transmitter, they have a good chance of filling the classical market niche that WETA has filled so poorly in recent years.

Do not give up. Write! Write WETA to tell them how you feel. Write WBJC to tell them how much you appreciate what they have to offer.
Kathy

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 01:19 PM

Yes it is, PoppaGator. I think it was originally WVa Public Radio's answer to A Prairie Home Companion. It's a pretty good show except when Larry Groce sings. That's pure torture.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 01:13 PM

There's a very nice weekly NPR program of mostly-acoustic music called, I think, "Mountain Stage." We don't get in here in New Orleans on our local NPR outlet (WWNO-FM), but I've heard it on the car radio while traveling. Isn't that a production of West Virginia Public Radio?