2022 Local Content and Services Report
The purpose of this section is to give you an opportunity to tell us and your community about the activities you have engaged in to address community needs by outlining key services provided, and the local value and impact of those services. Please report on activities that occured in Fiscal Year 2022. Responses may be shared with Congress or the public. Grantees are required to post a copy of this report (Section 6 only) to their website no later than ten (10) days after the submission of the report to CPB. CPB recommends placing the report in an "About" or similar section on your website.
1. Describe your overall goals and approach to address identified community issues, needs, and interests through your station’s vital local services, such as multiplatform long and short-form content, digital and in-person engagement, education services, community information, partnership support, and other activities, and audiences you reached or new audiences you engaged.
The need for classical and fine arts music in Connecticut has always been high and yet over the years those stations that provide this service have become fewer and fewer. Connecticut no longer has a commercial classical radio station and the number of public radio stations that provide classical music has decreased as well as the number of hours of classical music that have been broadcast. Since WMNR began broadcasting classical music broadcasting in 1982 we have increased the number of hours devoted to classical music and it now represents 92% of our schedule. We have also increased our coverage area so that we now serve 1,269,506 people in Connecticut and parts of New York. WMNR broadcasts at least 8,684 hours of music a year. A very high percentage is sourced from WMNR. From 6 am to midnight 79% is produced by WMNR and 21% is from national sources. WMNR has a number of different specialties in classical music featured with special local weekly programs: a piano hour, a film music hour and Evening at the Opera for 4 hours. We also broadcast some nationally produced programs to support an understanding of classical music. Every week we broadcast the 5 minute long Classics for Kids. This short program is designed to explain classical music to children. We also carry the hour long weekday program Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin to add to our listeners in-depth understanding of classical music. The 8% of our schedule that is non-classical features diverse programs including music from American Jukebox, Big Bands, Broadway, Cabaret, Folk, Jazz, and New Age.
2. Describe key initiatives and the variety of partners with whom you collaborated, including other public media outlets, community nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions, the business community, teachers and parents, etc. This will illustrate the many ways you’re connected across the community and engaged with other important organizations in the area.
WMNR produced and broadcast long form interviews and concert broadcasts with many non-profit arts organizations including: Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, Guilford Performing Arts Festival, New Canaan Chamber Music, Newtown Arts Festival, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Caramoor Music Festival, Ridgefield Symphony, Musical Masterworks, International Arts and Ideas Festival, Suzuki Music School of Westport, Music Haven, Sherman Chamber Ensemble, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Theaterworks of Hartford, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, Kent Singers, Madison Lyric Stage, Music Mountain Music Festival, Sharon Playhouse, Osher Lifelong Living Institute, Palace Theater, Waterbury Symphony Orchestra and Ridgefield Playhouse.
3. What impact did your key initiatives and partnerships have in your community? Describe any known measurable impact, such as increased awareness, learning or understanding about particular issues. Describe indicators of success, such as connecting people to needed resources or strengthening conversational ties across diverse neighborhoods. Did a partner see an increase in requests for related resources? Please include direct feedback from a partner(s) or from a person(s) served.
The success of our classical music broadcasts and our ability to support local classical music groups through concert broadcasts is described by the following statement from one our partner organizations: “The broadcast of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra concerts on WMNR are a crucial resource for the visibility of the ECSO. Through these broadcasts we are able to reach a wider audience and at the same time make an effective case for the excellence of the Orchestra. The WMNR broadcast includes announcements about our next concert, a very important marketing tool. The fact that our broadcasts are heard on the same station that broadcasts the concerts of the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra dubs the orchestra with a stamp of approval. Isabelle G. Singer, retired Executive Director, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Inc., New London, CT.”
4. Please describe any efforts (e.g. programming, production, engagement activities) you have made to investigate and/or meet the needs of minority and other diverse audiences (including, but not limited to, new immigrants, people for whom English is a second language and illiterate adults) during Fiscal Year 2022, and any plans you have made to meet the needs of these audiences during Fiscal Year 2023. If you regularly broadcast in a language other than English, please note the language broadcast.
Classical music is an essential part of many cultures. WMNR transcends the language barrier with music for many languages. WMNR’s broadcasts of classical music have always included a wide range of languages in its vocal music. The number of different languages used includes but is not limited to: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish and English.
5. Please assess the impact that your CPB funding had on your ability to serve your community. What were you able to do with your grant that you wouldn't be able to do if you didn't receive it?
The funding that WMNR receives from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting assists us in many ways. It strengthens our ability to fulfill our broadcast mission and accomplish our operational goals. It allows us to broadcast 24 hours a day, pay for transmitter site costs that enable us to serve over 1 million listeners, to acquire nationally produced classical music programming and to assist in the production costs for local classical music collaborations.