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.
History
WRCJ went on the air for the first time on January 8, 1948 as WDTR as 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 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, 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, 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. 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.
Programming
The current format of classical and jazz music began August 1, 2005. The station plays Classical music from 5AM to 7PM and Jazz music from 7PM to 5AM, daily. The station is staffed by local presenters from 6AM-7PM weekdays. The morning and afternoon show host Dave Wagner was a longtime air personality on former commercial classical music station 105.1 WQRS. "Midday Music" is hosted by Peter Whorf, formerly of WKAR-FM and WFMT-FM. He succeeded Chris Felcyn, who died unexpectedly in September 2018. Jack Goggin hosts the 6PM Sunday show "Film Classics", a show that aired for nine years on 105.1 WQRS. In December 2018 Jack Goggin was named Music Director, succeeding Jim Dantzer, award-winning music director who was largely responsible for creating what some called "the best classical radio playlist in the country". WRCJ's nightly jazz programming includes Detroiters Maxine Michaels hosting "Maxology" every Friday 7-11pm; John Penney, who hosts "JazzFest Detroit" every Saturday 7-10pm; and Linda Yohn, who hosts "The Swing Set" every Sunday 7-9pm. The remaining jazz hours include various hosts from the Jazz Satellite Network from WFMT in Chicago. The station also carries WFMT's "Exploring Music" with Bill McGlaughlin, weekday mornings from 5-6AM. Much of WRCJ's classical-music programming on weekends is satellite-fed from the Classical 24 network. WRCJ also broadcasts programs from other providers, such as "MSU in Concert" Saturdays at 9a; "Great Lakes Concerts" Sundays at 9a; "Sunday Baroque" Sundays 5-9a; and "Wind & Rhythm" Sundays at 5p. WRCJ also broadcasts four hours of programs each month produced by Detroit Public Schools students and staff. Those programs air 7pm Wednesdays. 90.9 WRCJ ranked at #19 in the Detroit market according to the September 2019 PPM Nielsen Ratings release. Approximately 160,000 people listen to WRCJ-FM each week. The signal is streamed worldwide on http://www.wrcjfm.org and also available through the WRCJ mobile app.
Airstaff
In addition to Dave Wagner, Jack Goggin, Maxine Michaels and John Penney listed above, substitute hosts include Ron Nolan, Davis Gloff, Cecelia Sharpe and Judy Adams, and Carl Grapentine, long time morning host at WFMT in Chicago.
