New England Public Radio to Move Classical Music Off Flagship Stations, Focus on News and Talk

In Wednesday’s (8/30) MassLive.com (Massachsetts), Jim Kinney writes, “New England Public Media will use its main radio signals to present news programming, moving daytime classical music shows to other stations. The switch, beginning Monday, follows a trend by public radio stations across the country to elevate news in response to audience demand…. The nonprofit’s flagship stations—88.5 FM WFCR and 640 AM WNNZ—will present news and talk programs. Classical music will move to the organization’s NEPM News Network, a family of broadcast frequencies around the region … as well as online and, soon, an app…. Classical music hosts John Nowacki, Steve Petke and Jon Solins will continue their work … ‘Classical NEPM’ will also broadcast from Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony Orchestra … and hopes to find local partners to add more home-grown classical features, including concert broadcasts…. The radio signal on 88.5 FM reaches from Brattleboro, Vermont, south to Hartford, Connecticut, and from Worcester to Albany. The stations that will carry classical music have a smaller coverage area…. listeners will also be able to access the online broadcast and the app.”