NYC Radio: WBGO, WQXR, WFUV, WSHU Launch Music Collaborative

Four New York City-area public radio music stations are joining forces to form the Tri-State Public Radio Music Collaborative (TSPRMC), a landmark partnership between WBGO 88.8FM (Newark Public Radio), WQXR 105.9 FM (New York Public Radio), WFUV 90.7 FM (Fordham University Public Radio) and WSHU 91.1 FM (Sacred Heart University Public Radio). The stations will collaborate to create content, build audiences and generate revenue.

“This project is an unique opportunity to leverage our geographical proximity and exceptional influence we share as four of America’s most influential broadcasters,” said WBGO President and CEO Steven A. Williams “For the first time, we’ll work together to develop initiatives that will benefit public radio listeners in the nation’s largest media market and the public media system as a whole, and at the same time we’ll build a foundation for similar collaborations between stations in other cities.”

The stations will use a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to develop a comprehensive, five-year business model, including a structural outline for staffing and management that could become the model for similar collaborations between stations across the country.

“WQXR is proud to unite with our fellow music format public radio stations in the tri-state region to find new, inventive ways to collaboratively serve our audiences,” said LaFontaine E. Oliver, President and CEO, New York Public Radio. “At WQXR, we are committed to making classical music inviting and available to everyone and joining forces with other stations who share our values of accessibility and service can demonstrate the unique value we bring to our communities. We are grateful to WBGO for spearheading this work and convening this collective, and to the CPB for supporting this effort.”

Working with the stations will be Public Media Company, which will help to develop the collaborative’s strategic focus, and Paragon which will conduct digital audits of each station and a comprehensive membership data analysis. The audits will analyze the current state of each service’s digital marketing presence and utilize industry-specific research to provide suggestions for improvement and identify areas to target to enhance content distribution while expanding digital reach.

Customized digital strategies will be developed that are specific to each station’s goals. The strategies will act as a detailed roadmap of digital content, marketing efforts and internal processes. The strategies will also include analysis of the targeted audiences for each platform.