Is WCAL going to become the new "REV 105"? [View All]

[LTR]

Here's the press release:

http://access.minnesota.publicradio.org/press_releases/releases/20041216_wcallaunch.php

Minnesota Public Radio to Launch New Music Station in the Twin Cities

A new, diverse mix of music for listeners who have grown up in the digital generation

December 16, 2004


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(St. Paul, Minn.) Dec. 16, 2004 — Minnesota Public Radio announced today that it would launch a new radio station for music lovers in the Twin Cities after the first of the year.

The new station—89.3 FM—will present a diverse mix of music for listeners who have grown up in the digital generation. "Radio is both widely available and the perfect portable technology to support our lively music scene today," said Sarah Lutman, senior vice president for cultural programming and initiatives at Minnesota Public Radio. "Our staff will be hanging out in clubs, searching the Internet, reading the music magazines and streaming music from around the globe to find the best music for you. We're going to take the work out of finding music, and put the fun back in. Just turn on your radio."

"Welcome to the anti-format," said Steve Nelson, the new program director for 89.3 FM. "Music listeners don't categorize themselves into narrow niches and stay there. They listen to more kinds of music than ever before. And much of what they want is not currently available on radio in the Twin Cities."

Minnesota Public Radio's award-winning newsroom also plans some innovations for the new station. Lutman said, "News updates, appearances by local newsmakers, and features like film and book reviews will make the station the single best place to find out what is happening musically, and in the community at large."

The new sound will complement the programming heard on Minnesota Public Radio's existing Twin Cities stations—news and information station KNOW 91.1 FM and classical music station KSJN 99.5 FM. "We are excited that we can introduce new audiences to the breadth and depth of public radio," Nelson said. He said the station would underscore the cultural roots of the music it plays and spotlight the work of local and regional artists, both live and recorded. "This new service allows Minnesota Public Radio to continue its 37-year tradition of serving the public interest. Now we can bring this tradition of service to a new audience."

The opportunity to engage public radio listeners in a new way became available when St. Olaf College decided to sell WCAL 89.3 FM in Northfield, and its sister station KMSE 88.7 FM in Rochester, to Minnesota Public Radio. When owned by St. Olaf, the stations offered a classical music format.

WCAL and KMSE are now broadcasting MPR's Classical Music Service pending the debut of the new music station. MPR's classical music programming is undergoing changes, aided by several former WCAL staff members.

MPR's new Twin Cities station 89.3 will change its call letters to KCMP. Once it debuts, the audience can expect to hear musical artists ranging from local favorites such as Mason Jennings, The Replacements, Olympic Hopefuls and The Jayhawks to modern icons such as The Postal Service, Lucinda Williams, Alejandro Escovedo, Joni Mitchell, U2 and the Arcade Fire. Artists such as Chet Baker, Johnny Cash and Ella Fitzgerald will creep in periodically.

Until the new radio station launches in January, Nelson and his staff will be looking for comments and suggestions about this station on a new Web log (blog). The team will also offer updates on the blog as it builds the new programming.

Minnesota Public Radio's popular musical variety program The Morning Show with Dale Connelly and Jim Ed Poole—now heard on KSJN in the Twin Cities from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.—will be heard in the Twin Cities exclusively on 89.3 when the new station is launched. The Morning Show will continue to be heard beyond the metro area on MPR's regional Classical Music network.

The new station will begin operating with six or seven full-time staff members and some additional part-time staff, led by Nelson. (See his bio below.)

Rochester

The new sound of 89.3 will also be broadcast on KMSE 88.7 FM in Rochester, giving listeners there a choice of three Minnesota Public Radio stations. MPR station KZSE 90.7 FM carries news and information, and KLSE 91.7 FM offers classical music.

Program Director Steve Nelson

Steve Nelson, 32, currently production manager for Minnesota Public Radio, has been appointed program director of MPR's new radio service.

"After a national search and a very competitive application process, I am especially pleased that we have found what we're looking for in a program director right here on our own staff," Lutman said. "In his current role, he has improved the overall sound of our broadcast services and has brought a fresh spirit and energy to our work."

Nelson brings a variety of news and music radio experiences to his new position. He started his broadcasting career as morning show co-host at commercial Twin Cities music stations during the mid-1990s. He also worked as production director and sound engineer at various Twin Cities stations.

From 2000-2002, he was associate producer for public radio's national arts and culture show Studio 360 at public radio station WNYC in New York, where he helped to develop the sound and content of the show from its inception.

Nelson graduated from the University of Minnesota with a journalism degree. He helped create Radio K, the university's music station.

Minnesota Public Radio® operates a 37-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and produces programming for radio, Internet and face-to-face audiences. Programs produced by Minnesota Public Radio and its national production and distribution arm, American Public Media™, reach 13.6 million listeners nationwide each week. Of those, more than 690,000 listen regionally, in Minnesota and surrounding states. With nearly 83,000 members, Minnesota Public Radio has the highest percentage of listener membership of any community-supported public radio network in the United States. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be obtained at www.mpr.org and www.americanpublicmedia.us.

It should be noted that Nelson is a REV 105 vet, as is music director Thorn. Should be interesting. I hope they stream.