“WRR-FM (101.1), Dallas’ classical radio station, will not broadcast the finals of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition … in Fort Worth this week, barring some last-minute resolution,” writes Tim Diovanni in Tuesday’s (6/14) Dallas Morning News. “The station has broadcast the final two Cliburn concerts and the awards ceremony since 2009. It’s due to a conflict over pay between the Cliburn and the local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians. The union represents the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, which is performing concertos with Cliburn competitors in the semifinal and final rounds…. The Cliburn and the union negotiated an agreement last week that covered national and local radio broadcasts as well as livestreams. Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn, said the union rates for the livestreams were higher than anticipated. The Cliburn then asked the union for a new clause specifically for the WRR broadcasts at a lower rate. The union denied the request because it had already agreed on a contract…. Stewart Williams, president of the local American Federation of Musicians chapter, said the broadcast rate is about the same as it was at the 2017 Cliburn. But this year’s Cliburn has added a third concerto … to the traditional two in the finals.” The Cliburn performances will be livestreamed for free.
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