WBEW
{{short description|Public radio station in Chesterton, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WBEW
| city = Chesterton, Indiana
| country = US
| above = Simulcasts WBEZ-HD2, Chicago, Illinois
| logo = File:Vocalo895.png
| area = Northwest Indiana
| branding = Vocalo Radio
| frequency = 89.5 MHz {{HD Radio}}
| translator =
| repeaters =
| airdate = {{start date|2001}} (as WAJW)
| format = Urban
| language =
| erp = 4,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|181.9|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = B1 NCE
| facility_id = 3248
| coordinates = {{coord|41|38|6.1|N|87|2|59.1|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = WAJW (2001–2002)
| former_frequencies =
| affiliations =
| owner = Chicago Public Media
| licensee = Chicago Public Media, Inc.
| licensing_authority = Federal Communications Commission
| sister_stations = WBEQ, WBEZ
| webcast =
| website = {{URL|http://www.vocalo.org/}}
}}
WBEW (89.5 FM) is a non-commercial educational (NCE), Class B1 public radio station at Chesterton in Northwest Indiana. Since June 2007, the station has been branded Vocalo, initially airing listener submitted content and later airing an urban format. It is owned by Chicago Public Media and is a sister station to WBEZ in Chicago. WBEW broadcasts in the HD Radio format.http://www.hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=4 HD Radio Guide for Chicago
History
The station began broadcasting in early 2001, holding the call letters WAJW.[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=3248&Callsign=WBEW Call Sign History], fcc.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2022."[http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-020715.html North East RadioWatch]", BostonRadio.com. July 15, 2002. Retrieved January 6, 2022.[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2003-04/D-Radio-All-BC-YB-2003-04.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2003-2004], Broadcasting & Cable, 2003. p. D-158. Retrieved January 6, 2022."[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-2001-02.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 06. February 7, 2001. Retrieved January 6, 2022. It was owned by Auricle Communications."[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-07-12.pdf Radio Business]", Radio & Records. July 12, 2002. Retrieved January 6, 2022. WAJW aired a freeform radio format, largely simulcasting WFMU 91.1 in East Orange, New Jersey.
In November 2002, the station was purchased by Chicago Public Media for $550,000 and its call letters were changed to WBEW.[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=614252 Application Search Details: BALED-20020708AAE], fcc.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2022. Chicago Public Media simulcast 91.5 WBEZ on the station from November 2002 until June 2007.Feder, Robert. "WLS Radio hanging up on callers who 'sound old'" Chicago Sun Times. November 21, 2002.{{cite news | url = http://www.rwonline.com/article/8488 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201123205/http://www.rwonline.com/article/8488| title = Vocalo.org: From Web to Broadcast | first = James | last = Careless | work = Radio World | publisher = NewBay Media | location = New York City | date = 2007-12-05 | accessdate = 2010-11-01 | url-status = usurped |archive-date=2009-02-01}}
=Vocalo=
The station split from its simulcast with WBEZ in June 2007 and was branded "Vocalo". Initially, Vocalo hosts played content that listeners had uploaded to the Vocalo.org website. It was launched with the desire to reach a more racially diverse and younger audience than NPR.{{cite web |last1=Janssen |first1=Mike |title=Fresh startup keeps old ideals |url=http://www.current.org/radio/radio0708vocalo.shtml |website=Current.org |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517040653/http://www.current.org/radio/radio0708vocalo.shtml |archive-date=May 17, 2007 |date=May 14, 2007}}
By August 2010, Vocalo had begun to base their playlist on hip-hop, dance, and R&B, and in 2014 adopted the slogan "Chicago's Urban Alternative".Janssen, Mike. "[https://current.org/2017/08/music-format-highlighting-hip-hop-other-genres-seeks-home-on-public-radio/ Music format highlighting hip-hop, other genres seeks home on public radio]", Current.org. August 17, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022. In January 2016, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) gave Chicago Public Radio $450,000 to refine Vocalo's format, so that the format's viability in other markets could be researched.Falk, Tyler. "
[https://current.org/2016/07/vocalo-looks-to-build-audience-with-refined-format/ Chicago's Vocalo reins in eclectic approach but keeps focus on younger audience]", Current.org. July 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
On April 3, 2024 Chicago Public Media announced it would discontinue the Vocalo radio broadcast, claiming that the operation had lost money for several years and had an average weekly audience of only 11,000 listeners.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/267049/wbez-to-shut-down-vocalo-radio-and-other-divisions-as-part-of-layoffs/|title=WBEZ TO SHUT DOWN VOCALO RADIO AND OTHER DIVISIONS AS PART OF LAYOFFS|work=RadioInsight|date=April 3, 2024|access-date=May 28, 2024}} The cut drew criticism from the station's union, SAG-AFTRA, as it coincided with a $6.4 million studio upgrade at WBEZ’s Navy Pier office and a 19% pay increase for Chicago Public Media’s CEO, Matt Moog.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=Chicago Public Media announces 14 layoffs, end of Vocalo radio broadcast |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/04/03/wbez-cpm-chicago-public-media-vocalo-matt-moog-vocalo |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}} The cuts also came only 2 years after CPM acquired the Chicago Sun-Times for $61 million.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-31 |title=Chicago Public Media Announces Its Acquisition of the Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://www.wbez.org/pressroom/chicago-public-media-announces-its-acquisition-of-the-chicago-suntimes |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=WBEZ Chicago |language=en}} The announcement included 14 layoffs in total with additional cuts to the WBEZ podcast team and non-newsroom Sun-Times employees.{{Cite news |last=Kaufmann |first=Justin |date=April 3, 2024 |title=Chicago Public Media kills Vocalo, lays off 14 employees |url=https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/04/03/chicago-public-media-vocalo-layoffs }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://vocalo.org Vocalo.org], WBEW's official site
- {{FM station data|3248|WBEW}}
{{Northwest Indiana Radio}}
Category:Urban contemporary radio stations in the United States
Category:Public radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 2001