WRCJ
Encyclopedia
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. The Detroit Educational Television Foundation, owners of WTVS
, operates the public radio station for the Detroit Public Schools
.
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". WDTR changed its call letters to WRCJ on 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.
music began August 1, 2005. The station plays Classical music from 5AM to 7PM and Jazz music from 7PM to 5AM, six days a week, with religious/gospel music on Sunday mornings.
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.
90.9 WRCJ currently ranks at #21 (2.1) in the Detroit market according to the November 2010 PPM Ratings release.
WRCJ has been also repeated intermittently by W284BQ, a low-powered "fill-in" repeater in Detroit owned by Martz Communications Group
(through licensee Radio Power, Inc.) that broadcasted on 104.7 MHz. In March 2011, Radio Power filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission
to relocate the frequency of W284BQ from 104.7 MHz to 93.9 MHz -- if approved, the repeater will interfere in much of Greater Detroit with CIDR-FM
, an FM radio station in Windsor, Ontario
that also serves Greater Detroit, though the licensee contends that, despite CIDR-FM's coverage area, the transmitter will be directional, as to not interfere with CIDR-FM on the Canadian side of the border. In addition, the repeater rebroadcasts the HD Radio
signal of WGPR
's smooth jazz station, The Oasis; it is unknown if Martz intends on using the repeater for WRCJ, as originally planned.
Weekend programming includes "The Listening Room," "DSO Unmasked," "Film Classics," "ARTifacts," "The Voice of MOT," and Detroit Symphony Orchestra full-length concerts (Sundays at noon). At other times during the weekends, and on holidays, the station is satellite-fed from the Classical 24
network.
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
radio station in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. The station operates on 90.9 MHz and is the only Classical Music station in Detroit. The Detroit Educational Television Foundation, owners of WTVS
WTVS
WTVS, branded as Detroit Public TV, is the Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station in Detroit, Michigan. Broadcasting since 1955, its vision statement is "educate, entertain and inspire — in partnership with our community." The viewer supported station produces many local...
, operates the public radio station for the Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
.
WDTR
WRCJ went on the air for the first time on 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 contemporaryUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
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". WDTR changed its call letters to WRCJ on 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 jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music began August 1, 2005. The station plays Classical music from 5AM to 7PM and Jazz music from 7PM to 5AM, six days a week, with religious/gospel music on Sunday mornings.
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
WDUQ
WDUQ was a public radio jazz and news radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station broadcasted at 90.5 MHz with an ERP of 25kW. WDUQ was a full member station of National Public Radio and was also affiliated with Public Radio International and American Public Media...
in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and "Jazz Overnight" with Bob Parlocha
Bob Parlocha
Robert "Bob" Parlocha is an American jazz expert who, for many years, is best known as a radio host and programmer. He is also a professional saxophone player.-Local journey to success:...
, which is nationally syndicated by WFMT
WFMT
WFMT is an FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of fine arts, classical music programming, and shows exploring such genres as folk and jazz). The station is managed by Window To The World Communications, Inc., owner of WTTW, one of Chicago's two Public Broadcasting Service ...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The station also carries WFMT's "Exploring Music
Exploring Music
Exploring Music is an internationally syndicated radio program featuring classical music, with commentary and analysis by host Bill McGlaughlin. It is a daily, one-hour show with a single in-depth theme each week. The show, which debuted in 2003, is produced by WFMT Radio Network...
" with Bill McGlaughlin
Bill McGlaughlin
William "Bill" McGlaughlin is an American composer, conductor, music educator, and Peabody Award-winning classical music radio host...
, 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
Classical 24
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...
network.
90.9 WRCJ currently ranks at #21 (2.1) in the Detroit market according to the November 2010 PPM Ratings release.
WRCJ has been also repeated intermittently by W284BQ, a low-powered "fill-in" repeater in Detroit owned by Martz Communications Group
Martz Communications Group
Martz Communications Group is an American radio broadcasting company, which operates three radio stations in the St. Lawrence River area of New York; one in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and two in Detroit, Michigan...
(through licensee Radio Power, Inc.) that broadcasted on 104.7 MHz. In March 2011, Radio Power filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to relocate the frequency of W284BQ from 104.7 MHz to 93.9 MHz -- if approved, the repeater will interfere in much of Greater Detroit with CIDR-FM
CIDR-FM
CIDR-FM is the callsign for a radio station, broadcasting at 93.9 FM in Windsor, Ontario. The station broadcasts a adult album alternative format using the brand name 93-9 The River. It is owned and operated by Bell Media. It is one of the few commercial adult album alternative stations in Canada...
, an FM radio station in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
that also serves Greater Detroit, though the licensee contends that, despite CIDR-FM's coverage area, the transmitter will be directional, as to not interfere with CIDR-FM on the Canadian side of the border. In addition, the repeater rebroadcasts the HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
signal of WGPR
WGPR
WGPR is an FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan brodacasting a Mainstream Urban format. Owned by the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons and operated under local marketing agreement by Radio One, the station operates on 107.5 MHz....
's smooth jazz station, The Oasis; it is unknown if Martz intends on using the repeater for WRCJ, as originally planned.
Airstaff
The current lineup (as of August 18, 2008) Starting out the day at 5am is Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin. On the morning drive it's Dave Wagner. During the workday is The Well-Tempered Wireless with Chris Felcyn. On the ride home it's Dr. Dave’s Drive Time Elixir with Dave Wagner once again. Wrapping up the day on nights is Jazz Works with Tony Mowod, and Jazz Overnight with Bob Parlocha.Weekend programming includes "The Listening Room," "DSO Unmasked," "Film Classics," "ARTifacts," "The Voice of MOT," and Detroit Symphony Orchestra full-length concerts (Sundays at noon). At other times during the weekends, and on holidays, the station is satellite-fed from the Classical 24
Classical 24
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...
network.