A sad day for classical music (commentary)

WMFE 90.7 recently made the decision to switch from a music and NPR format to an all NPR news and talk. It is sad to think that a major metropolitan area like Orlando cannot sustain a classical music station.

In their defense, WMFE has not cancelled their musical programming altogether, they have shuttled it to 90.7-2 for those of you with HD Radio capability. It is also available over the Internet for live streaming.

My business is entertainment technology and while I can manipulate my browsers, Apple TVs and HD Radios to find WMFE's music, my belief is that a radio station's presence is still defined by what they play on their primary signal - regular old FM radio. By de-emphasizing classical music, WMFE (more to the point-the majority of WMFE's listening audience) has decided classical music is no longer important (or at least commercially viable).

Personally, I like NPR and its programs, but am saddened at the loss of a classical music FM broadcast.

P.S: If you are going to force me to explore the options available online and from Apple TV, I think I'll switch my listening, and support, to WGUC 90.9, a station that recently sent its news and talk to a smaller sister station so that it could broadcast nothing but classical music!

net: www.wguc.org