WETA switches back to classical music format

WETA-FM in Washington, D.C., resumed broadcasts of classical music last night in a format change that was closely coordinated with WGMS, a local station that replaced Mozart with oldies pop tunes. The Washington Post reports that several WETA staff members, including talk show host Rebecca Roberts and Program Director Maxie Jackson, will lose their jobs. WAMU-FM, now the city’s sole all-news NPR station, has picked up A Prairie Home Companion, which WETA dropped, and may make other changes. The Post‘s Marc Fisher reviews the new sound: “Best sign so far: Full-length works, albeit relatively short ones, even in morning drive time.” Jake Shapiro questions the change: “Internet radio, on-demand audio, and the deepest offerings of new online music services are a better match for the classical fan than the rare asset of a big signal in our nation’s capital — even if the adoption rate for new platforms and devices hasn’t caught up to terrestrial’s reach yet.”