WFMT Guide

WFMT is an FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of fine arts, classical music programming, and shows exploring such genres as folk. The station is managed by Window to the World Communications, Inc., owner of WTTW, Chicago's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Public television station. WFMT is also the primary station of the WFMT Radio Network, and the Beethoven and Jazz Networks. WFMT transmits from the Willis (Sears) Tower. Several classical music stations on the FM dial in Chicago was WEFM 99.5, WSEL, WJJD at 104.3 and WNIB 97.1 have changed formats for decades.

A feature of this commercial station is that it airs no pre-recorded (by non-station hosts) advertising on-air. A brief attempt at introducing pre-recorded commercial advertising in the early 1990s, the only time in its history, proved unpopular with listeners. All advertising on the station is currently read exclusively by WFMT's on-air hosts.

WFMT's programs can be heard through its satellite services, or syndication, internationally. The station's programming is also available online.

WFMT is an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union.

History

WOAK

The station began broadcasting on May 16, 1948, and originally held the call sign WOAK. WOAK broadcast from Chicago's Guyon Hotel, and operated at 98.3 MHz with an ERP of 770 watts.
Broadcasting—Telecasting Yearbook Number 1949
', Broadcasting—Telecasting, 1949. p. 303. Retrieved February 14, 2019.WOAK (FM) in Oak Park Starts on Channel 252
, '' Broadcasting — Telecasting''. June 7, 1948. p. 73. Retrieved February 15, 2019."Launch New FM Station on West Side", ''Chicago Tribune''. February 1, 1948. Part 3, p. 2. The station was owned by Gale Broadcasting Company. By 1950, the station's frequency had been changed to 105.9 MHz, and its ERP was increased to 9,300 watts.
Broadcasting—Telecasting Yearbook Number 1950
', Broadcasting—Telecasting, 1950. p. 130. Retrieved February 15, 2019. WOAK generally aired pop music, but also featured classical music programs and dramas.Rita Jacobs Willens, Radio Pioneer, 62, In the Chicago Area
, Associated Press. ''The New York Times''. June 13, 1990. Retrieved February 16, 2019.Warren, James.
Rita Jacobs Willens, 62, Founded WFMT Radio
, ''Chicago Tribune''. June 11, 1990. Retrieved February 16, 2019.

WFMT

In 1951, the station's call sign was changed to WFMT. Bernard and Rita Jacobs launched WFMT's classical music/fine arts radio format on December 13, 1951. They began with 8-hour-a-day broadcasts, with Bernard serving as the station's engineer, and Rita as the station's announcer. In 1952, WFMT began publishing a biweekly program guide, which later became ''Chicago'' magazine. In 1953, programming was expanded to 18 hours per day.

In 1954, WFMT's studios and transmitter were moved to the LaSalle-Wacker Building, increasing its HAAT to 547 feet.History Cards for WFMT
fcc.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2019. The station's ERP was also increased and its frequency was changed to the present-day 98.7 MHz. In 1956, WFMT aired a live recording of a folk concert with Pete Seeger and Big Bill Broonzy at Northwestern University.

In 1957, the station received an Alfred I. DuPont Award as the country's best broadcaster in the small-station category. WFMT also aired a discussion between Frank Lloyd Wright and Carl Sandburg, which was simulcast with WTTW, marking the first collaboration between WTTW and WFMT. Another collaboration occurred the following year, as the two stations began a pioneering stereo music project in which WTTW broadcast a left audio channel, and WFMT broadcast the right audio channel simultaneously.

WFMT won another Alfred I. DuPont Award in 1960, this time as the country's best broadcaster in the large-station category. In 1961, the station won its first Peabody Award. Its ERP was increased to 120,000 watts the same year. In 1962, WFMT began broadcasting a majority of its programming in stereo. In 1964, '' Hi Fi/Stereo Review'' readers voted WFMT the best station in Chicago in terms of audio quality. The station's first series of Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts began in 1965.

In 1968, WFMT began around-the-clock broadcasting. That same year, Bernard Jacobs sold WFMT to WGN Continental Broadcasting Company for $810,000, which in turn donated the station to WTTW two years later.

In 1969, the station's transmitter was moved to the Prudential Building, and in 1971 its transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.

In 1976, WFMT created the Fine Arts Network for broadcast syndication of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera. In 1979, WFMT became America's first radio superstation, delivered by satellite and cable systems across the United States and dozens of countries, including the Soviet Union and China.

In August 1976, the FCC granted WFMT temporary authority to simulcast on AM 1450, using the former facilities of WVON, which had moved its call sign and programming to another frequency the previous year. The simulcast continued until 1979, when Midway Broadcasting and Migala Enterprises were granted licenses to share time on the frequency.

In 1980, WFMT became the first US radio station to join the European Broadcasting Union. A live performance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was heard in the US, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden and West Germany simultaneously. Richard Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' was broadcast live for the first time as a digital transatlantic performance from Bayreuth, Germany to the US and Canada in 1983.

In 1986, WFMT launched the Beethoven Satellite Network, a satellite delivered classical music programming service.

The WFMT Fine Arts Circle, a member/listener support and funding group, was formed in 1991.

In 1995, the station moved to its current location in the WTTW complex in Chicago's Northwest Side. The new facility included an all-digital path from studios to transmitter. The WFMT Jazz Satellite Network debuted two years later.

In 2001, the station's transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower.

WFMT celebrated its 50th anniversary on December 13, 2001, which Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley declared ''WFMT Day''.

In 2003, the station began syndication of the program "''Exploring Music'' with Bill McGlaughlin", an educational daily program on various themes in classical music. It was created by Steve Robinson and is now carried by over 50 stations in the U.S. and is heard by over 400,000 people each week. They also launched a Fine Arts Hotline for the Chicago area that same year.

WFMT has won numerous first place Major Armstrong awards for excellence and originality in radio broadcasting and special awards for engineering and technical achievement.

People of WFMT

Several noteworthy individuals have worked at WFMT in its history. Award-winning stage and film director, writer, and producer Mike Nichols, at the time a student at the University of Chicago, joined the station in 1951.Loring, Michael.
Late director Mike Nichols launched 'The Midnight Special' at Chicago’s WFMT
, ''Chicago Sun-Times''. November 20, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2019. Nichols started the folk music program '' The Midnight Special'' in 1953. In 1983, Rich Warren became a co-host of ''The Midnight Special'', and later became its sole host in 1996. Rich Warren continued as host of ''The Midnight Special'' until 2020.The show still airs weekly on WFMT, with Marilyn Rea Beyer as the host.

Noted author and broadcaster Studs Terkel began a radio show on WFMT in 1952, remaining on the station until 1997.

Carl Grapentine, former weekday breakfast host on WFMT, has served as the voice of the University of Michigan Marching Band since 1972 and has doubled as the public-address announcer at Michigan Stadium since 2006. He retired from full-time presenting in July 2018 but still continues to contribute programming.

Two-time Peabody Award-winning audio dramatist Yuri Rasovsky, creator of the National Radio Theater of Chicago, began a decade-long association with WFMT in 1975. He is still heard periodically on ''The Midnight Special'' in his classic "Chicago Language Tape" skit.

WFMT is noted for the longevity of various staff members. Norman Pellegrini joined the station as an announcer in 1952 and became program director in 1953, holding the position until 1996. Ray Nordstrand was hired as an announcer, also in 1953.Von Rhein, John.
Ray Nordstrand
, ''Chicago Tribune''. August 28, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2019. He later became the assistant of original owner Bernard Jacobs. Nordstrand moved up to the position of president and general manager in 1970. After suffering a heart attack in 1993, Nordstrand worked as a part-time consultant to the station.

Another key contributor to WFMT's success was Associate Program Director Lois Baum. Arriving at the station from KPFK in California in July 1964, Baum produced and oversaw the production of countless spoken arts programs and features. She produced the Critic's Choice series, regular broadcasts of reviews and commentary by artist Harry Bouras (whose name was the inspiration for the playful Chicago art group, the "Hairy Who"), theater critic Claudia Cassidy, and journalist and author Herman Kogan. Baum selected and programmed plays and readings produced by the BBC
...