WRCJ-FM

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WRCJ-FM
WRCJ-FM.png
CityDetroit, Michigan
Broadcast areaDetroit–Windsor
Frequency90.9 MHz
Branding90.9 WRCJ
Programming
FormatClassical; jazz
Ownership
OwnerStanley and Judith Frankel Family Foundation
(Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio LLC)
OperatorDetroit Educational Television Foundation
History
First air date
January 8, 1948 (as WDTR)
Former call signs
WDTR-FM (10/7/82-7/1/04)
WDTR (1/8/48-10/7/82)
Call sign meaning
"We Are Classical & Jazz"
Technical information
Facility ID6056
ClassB
ERP42,000 watts
HAAT165 meters (541 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°22′25″N 83°06′50″W / 42.37361°N 83.11389°W / 42.37361; -83.11389
Translator(s)97.5 W248CC (Ecorse)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewrcjfm.org

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 PBS member station WTVS, operates the public radio station for license holder Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio LLC, which is owned by the Stanley and Judith Frankel Family Foundation. WRCJ transmits its signal with an effective radiated power of 42,000 watts from an antenna 702 feet in height located in suburban Oak Park in Oakland County,[1] and has studios located at the Detroit School of Arts.[2]

History[]

WRCJ went on the air for the first time on January 8, 1948 as WDTR, a service of Detroit Public Schools. It was Michigan's first educational FM station. By the dawn of the 21st century, the station's programming consisted largely of urban contemporary music with public affairs programs concerning the school district and a variety of specialty shows, including the "Old 'n' Gold" rare oldies show, Safe and Secure Detroit, a show dedicated to public safety, and Personal Security after the September 11 attacks, and the Sunday big band/nostalgia showcase "Somewhere In Time". WDTR changed its call letters to WRCJ on July 1, 2004 (currently, the WDTR call letters are used by a Christian music station in Imlay City, Michigan) and the station cut back its broadcast time to 8 AM to 5 PM 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 Ann Arbor’s NPR member station WUOM and Detroit’s PBS member station WTVS. In April 2005, Detroit Public Schools announced that Detroit Public TV would take control of WRCJ in July. The change happened at noon on August 1, 2005. On January 11, 2017, it was announced that Detroit Public Schools would sell the station's license to the non-profit Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio LLC, an entity owned by the Stanley and Judith Frankel Family Foundation, for $6 million. The deal received FCC approval on March 1 of that year; the new ownership maintained the operating agreement with Detroit Public TV.

Airstaff[]

In addition to Dave Wagner, Peter Whorf, Jack Goggin, Maxine Michaels, John Penney and Linda Yohn, substitute hosts include Ron Nolan, Davis Gloff, Cecelia Sharpe, Judy Adams, and Carl Grapentine, long time morning host at WFMT in Chicago.

References[]

  1. ^ "WRCJ-FM 90.9 MHz - Detroit, MI". radio-locator.com. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  2. ^ "Contact Us | WRCJ 90.9 FM". www.wrcjfm.org. Retrieved 2021-02-28.

External links[]

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