WRCJ-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WRCJ-FM


city = Detroit, Michigan
area = [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WRCJ&service=FM&status=L&hours=U]
branding = WRCJ 90.9FM
slogan = We are Classical & Jazz
airdate = January 8, 1948
frequency = 90.9 MHz
format = Classical/Jazz
power = 42,000 watts
haat = 165 meters
class = B
facility_id = 6056
coordinates = coord|42|22|25|N|83|06|50|W|type:landmark
callsign_meaning = We are Classical & Jazz
former_callsigns = WDTR-FM (10/7/82-7/1/04)
WDTR (1/8/48-10/7/82)
owner = Detroit Public Schools
(operated by Detroit Educational Television Foundation)
webcast = [http://www.wrcj909fm.org/listen.htm Listen Live]
website = [http://www.wrcj909fm.org/ http://www.wrcj909fm.org/]
affiliations =

WRCJ-FM is a classical/jazz FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station operates on 90.9 mHz and is the only Classical Music station in Detroit (Other stations like WVMV and WGPR have Jazz music). The Detroit Educational Television Foundation, owners of WTVS, operates the public radio station for the Detroit Public Schools.

History

WDTR

WRCJ went on the air for the first time in January 8, 1948 as WDTR, and was Michigan's first educational FM station. By the dawn of the 21st century, the station's programming consisted largely of urban contemporary music with public affairs programs concerning the school district and a variety of specialty shows, including the "Old 'n' Gold" rare oldies show and the Sunday big band/nostalgia showcase "Somewhere In Time" (which has since moved to Christian station WMUZ). WDTR changed its call letters to WRCJ in July 1, 2004, and the station cut back its broadcast time to 8AM-5PM weekdays only. At the same time, the school district announced it would draft a contract with a third party to operate the station while the school district continued to own the frequency. Accordingly they put out an RFP (Request for Proposal), stipulating the station's format change to classical and jazz, to which several area organizations responded, including WUOM and WTVS. In April 2005, the Detroit Public Schools announced that Detroit Public TV would take control of WRCJ in July. The change happened at noon on August 1, 2005.

90.9 WRCJ

The current format of classical and jazz music began August 1, 2005. The station plays Classical music from 5AM to 7PM and Jazz music from 7PM to 5AM, seven days a week.

The station is staffed by local presenters from 6AM-7PM. Morning and afternoon show host Dave Wagner was a longtime air personality on former commercial classical music station 105.1 WQRS. Mid-day host Chris Felcyn is a longtime public radio personality known for his show "The Listening Room," which is now heard Sunday mornings at 10AM on WRCJ. Former classical WQRS host and frequent fill in host for WRCJ, Jack Goggin hosts the Sunday evening show “Film Classics”, a show that aired for nine years on 105.1 WQRS.

WRCJ's weeknight jazz programming consists of Tony Mowod's "JazzWorks" show from WDUQ in Pittsburgh and "Jazz Overnight" with Bob Parlocha, which is nationally syndicated by WFMT in Chicago. The station also carries WFMT's "Exploring Music" with Bill McGlaughlin, weekday mornings from 5-6AM. With the exceptions of "The Listening Room," "DSO Unmasked" , "Film Classics", "ARTifacts", "The Voice of MOT" and Detroit Symphony Orchestra full-length concerts (Sundays at noon), WRCJ's classical-music programming on weekends is satellite-fed from the Classical 24 network.

Airstaff

The current lineup (as of August 2008) is as follows

* Mornings: Dave Wagner
* Mid-Days: The Well-Tempered Wireless - Chris Felcyn
* Afternoon Drive: Dave Wagner
* Nighttime: JazzWorks with Tony Mowood
* Overnights: Jazz Overnight with Bob Parlocha
Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin (5-6am)
*Weekend Hosts/Shows: Classical 24
Bob Christiansen
Mindy Ratner
John Zech
JazzWorks with Scott Hanley
JazzWorks with Bob Studebaker
The Listening Room - Chris Felcyn
Film Classics - Jack Goggin
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Unmasked
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Broadcasts
The Voice of Michigan Opera Theater - Kelly Rinne
ARTiFacts
Pipedreams
The Santa Fe Music Festival
The Romantic Hours - Mona Golabek

Sources

* [http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-p/wrcj.html Michiguide.com - WRCJ-FM History]

External links

*fmq|WRCJ-FM
*fml|WRCJ