Will Classical Music Disappear in D.C.?

"Bonneville is absolutely committed to doing everything possible to keep classical music in this market," says Joel Oxley, senior vice president and market manager for Bonneville International in D.C.

Bonneville International, the owner of WGMS, has been in negotiations to sell the FM frequencies on which WGMS broadcasts, 104.1 and 103.9 to Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Snyder's Red Zebra Radio has been broadcasting the Redskins games on on three weaker frequencies this season, drawing criticism from listeners in the area. Those signals are 94.3 FM, 92.7 FM and 730 AM.

"It appears we've hit an impasse," says Oxley of the negotiations with Snyder.

If the deal with Snyder falls though, nothing changes at WGMS, which holds the market's record for the longest consecutive broadcast in the same format. Classical music has been on WGMS since 1948.

"We have no current plans for moving off classical unless there is another home for classical," Oxley says.

"Classical music is an important part of the Washington community."

Oxley would not comment on widespread speculation that public radio station WETA could pick up that classical programming. Oxley does say the classical format would not move to or bump programming off any of Bonneville's other existing Washington stations.

Bonneville also owns Washington Post Radio (107.7 FM and 1500 AM), WTOP Radio (103.5FM and 820 AM) and wtopnews.com, WTOPnoticias.com, WTOP's Spanish-language news site, WFED (1050 AM), Federal News Radio and Viva La Voce, a 24-hour Internet radio station devoted entirely to classical vocal music.

(Copyright 2006 by WTOP Radio. All Rights Reserved.)