Classical 24
Encyclopedia
Classical 24 is a syndicated, satellite
-delivered public radio service providing classical music
to its carrying stations. It generally airs overnights on many non-commercial and a handful of commercial classical music stations. However, the service is operated 24 hours a day and is used by some stations during the day to augment their schedules. It was co-created by a partnership between Minnesota Public Radio
and Public Radio International
to fulfill the need for a comprehensive classic music service for stations to supplement their schedules. As part of this partnership, the service is produced by Minnesota Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International. It began operation on December 1, 1995.
Unlike most mainstream classical music stations, Classical 24 adheres to a "clock" that typically consists of one or two short selections at the beginning of the hour, followed by a longer work such as a symphony
, and then a short piece or two to close the hour. Classical 24 also requires two breaks per hour (one in the overnight) and a mandatory break at the top of the hour for announcements and station identification. The service also has a six minute "cutaway" at the top of the hour during the day for subscribers to air news programming.
Classical 24 employs live hosts instead of using voice tracking. To make the sound as "local" as possible, there are no identifications given to the listener that they are listening to Classical 24. Only the host's name is given. For stations to automate breaks, a special decoder must be purchased and used.
In 2000, the Minneapolis
Star Tribune
reported that the average selection on Classical 24 was 9.5 minutes, in contrast to then rival WCAL
's average selection length of 15 minutes. http://citypages.com/databank/25/1211/article11898.asp
Miami, Florida
station WKCP
, branded as Classical South Florida and owned by Minnesota Public Radio's parent corporation, The American Public Media
Group, is a full power FM radio station outside Minnesota that currently carries the network's full schedule. WNIU, broadcasting from Northern Illinois University
in DeKalb, Illinois, is another full power FM that carries Classial 24 on a full time basis.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
-delivered public radio service providing classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
to its carrying stations. It generally airs overnights on many non-commercial and a handful of commercial classical music stations. However, the service is operated 24 hours a day and is used by some stations during the day to augment their schedules. It was co-created by a partnership between Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
and Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
to fulfill the need for a comprehensive classic music service for stations to supplement their schedules. As part of this partnership, the service is produced by Minnesota Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International. It began operation on December 1, 1995.
Unlike most mainstream classical music stations, Classical 24 adheres to a "clock" that typically consists of one or two short selections at the beginning of the hour, followed by a longer work such as a symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, and then a short piece or two to close the hour. Classical 24 also requires two breaks per hour (one in the overnight) and a mandatory break at the top of the hour for announcements and station identification. The service also has a six minute "cutaway" at the top of the hour during the day for subscribers to air news programming.
Classical 24 employs live hosts instead of using voice tracking. To make the sound as "local" as possible, there are no identifications given to the listener that they are listening to Classical 24. Only the host's name is given. For stations to automate breaks, a special decoder must be purchased and used.
In 2000, the Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
reported that the average selection on Classical 24 was 9.5 minutes, in contrast to then rival WCAL
KCMP
-WCAL:The station began with physics experiments in 1918 when five students and a professor built a small radio transmitter at St. Olaf College. Using a wire antenna strung between the campus chapel and the college's "Old Main" , signals from these experiments were picked up as far away as New...
's average selection length of 15 minutes. http://citypages.com/databank/25/1211/article11898.asp
Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
station WKCP
WKCP
WKCP , Classical South Florida, is a classical music-formatted radio station in Miami, Florida. This listener supported, nonprofit public radio station is owned by American Public Media Group, the parent nonprofit support organization of Minnesota Public Radio...
, branded as Classical South Florida and owned by Minnesota Public Radio's parent corporation, The American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
Group, is a full power FM radio station outside Minnesota that currently carries the network's full schedule. WNIU, broadcasting from Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
in DeKalb, Illinois, is another full power FM that carries Classial 24 on a full time basis.
External links
- Classical 24 web site
- Maine Public Radio page containing links to a live Classical 24 stream in three formats