4MBS

4MBS Classic FM is an Australian community radio station that broadcasts classical music, jazz and nostalgia from Brisbane at a frequency of 103.7 MHz and on digital radio and online.

Operations

Its operations are conducted by about 300 volunteers and a small number of paid staff. Operational funding is principally derived from commercial sponsorship, listener subscriptions, a ticketing service, occasional sales of second-hand LPs, and an annual classical music festival.

4MBS Classic FM has a loose affiliation with a number of similar independently owned and operated stations in other parts of Australia, including 2MBS Sydney, 3MBS Melbourne, 5MBS Adelaide and ArtSound FM Canberra.

History

The station first went to air on 1 March 1979 at 10.30am from a small area rented from the Queensland University of Technology’s Kelvin Grove campus with Handel's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day. In 1994 it was moved to a large house in the suburb of Coorparoo. In later years, a 70 seat performance studio was built next to the house. The transmitter is located on Mount Coot-tha.