A Reduction in Music Is Considered at WNYC – New York Times – G Roald Smeets

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For much of its recent history, the quirky 77-year-old radio station WNYC-FM (93.9) in New York has been devoted mainly to the decidedly noncommercial format of classical music. But that may be about to change. Management at the station has presented several proposals to the program committee of WNYC’s board that would drastically alter the station’s long-standing identity.

One of the proposals, presented at a meeting on Monday, would limit classical music primarily to between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., when there are the fewest listeners. The station would also intersperse its traditional classical fare with contemporary music and cultural programs in a talk format. Daytime programming would concentrate on news and talk.

Before Sept. 11, WNYC presented nearly a full day of classical music to a cadre of loyal listeners, and it was one of only two mostly classical music stations in New York. The other is WQXR-FM (96.3), a commercial station owned by The New York Times Company. Since Sept. 11, WNYC has broadcast mostly news and talk shows for two reasons: heightened listener interest in public affairs since the terrorist attacks and a weakened signal caused by the destruction of two WNYC transmitters during the attack.

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