Much ado about classical radio

[resqgeek]

Last month I wrote about the potential purchase of Washington, DC's only remaining classical music radio station by Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Today's Washington Post has an article on the front page of the Style section that suggests that the deal might be stalled. Apparently, comments made by officials at Bonneville International, the company that owns WGMS, suggesting that Snyder was offering more than the station was worth have created a snag in the negotiations.

Unfortunately for classical music fans in Washington, WGMS appears to be considering a format change, even if the sale doesn't go through. One possibility is that the station would switch to a sport talk format, competing directly with Snyder's other stations in this market, using the stronger signal he wants against him. The only good news in all of this is that the local public radio station, WETA has indicated that they would return to the classical music format they abandoned in 2005 in the event that WGMS changes format. WGMS, which has been broadcasting classical music for 60 years, plans to donate its library of classical recordings to WETA when and if any format change takes place.

[via The Washington Post]

Comments

[florafloraflora.livejournal.com]

The one thing I will really miss on WGMS is the Christmas carols during December. I get most of my classical music from WBJC (91.5) in Baltimore. For some reason I never really cared for WETA's classical music choices—too peppy and mainstream for me. But it's always sad to lose variety on the radio dial (and you know, we so sorely need another sports talk station!)

[florafloraflora.livejournal.com]

What I meant to add is that no other station has the really good Christmas music that WGMS plays. Somehow I can't see WETA picking up the Christmas-music slack—it would be too un-PC.