WRCJ-FM is a classical/jazz FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station operates on 90.9 MHz and is the only Classical Music station in Detroit. The Detroit Educational Television Foundation, owners of WTVS, operates the public radio station for the Detroit Public Schools.

History [link]

WDTR [link]

WRCJ went on the air for the first time on January 8, 1948 as WDTR, and was Michigan's first educational FM station. By the dawn of the 21st century, the station's programming consisted largely of urban contemporary music with public affairs programs concerning the school district and a variety of specialty shows, including the "Old 'n' Gold" rare oldies show and the Sunday big band/nostalgia showcase "Somewhere In Time". WDTR changed its call letters to WRCJ on July 1, 2004, and the station cut back its broadcast time to 8AM-5PM weekdays only. At the same time, the school district announced it would draft a contract with a third party to operate the station while the school district continued to own the frequency. Accordingly they put out an RFP (Request for Proposal), stipulating the station's format change to classical and jazz, to which several area organizations responded, including WUOM and WTVS. In April 2005, the Detroit Public Schools announced that Detroit Public TV would take control of WRCJ in July. The change happened at noon on August 1, 2005.

90.9 WRCJ [link]

The current format of classical and jazz music began August 1, 2005. The station plays Classical music from 5AM to 7PM and Jazz music from 7PM to 5AM, six days a week, with religious/gospel music on Sunday mornings.

The station is staffed by local presenters from 6AM-7PM. Morning and afternoon show host Dave Wagner was a longtime air personality on former commercial classical music station 105.1 WQRS. Mid-day host Chris Felcyn is a longtime public radio personality known for his show "The Listening Room," which is now heard Sunday mornings at 10AM on WRCJ. Former classical WQRS host and frequent fill in host for WRCJ, Jack Goggin hosts the Sunday evening show “Film Classics”, a show that aired for nine years on 105.1 WQRS.

WRCJ's weeknight jazz programming consists of "JazzWorks" from WDUQ in Pittsburgh and "Jazz Overnight" with Bob Parlocha, which is nationally syndicated by WFMT in Chicago. The station also carries WFMT's "Exploring Music" with Bill McGlaughlin, weekday mornings from 5-6AM. With the exceptions of "The Listening Room," "DSO and MOT Unmasked" , "Film Classics", "Sphinx Journeys" and Detroit Symphony Orchestra live broadcasts and "The Civic in Concert," WRCJ's classical-music programming on weekends is satellite-fed from the Classical 24 network. WRCJ also broadcasts five hours of programs each month produced by Detroit Public Schools students and staff. Those programs air 7pm each Wednesday and 7pm every other Sunday. John Penney hosts "JazzFest Detroit" every Saturday 7-9pm.

90.9 WRCJ currently ranks at #23 (1.3) in the Detroit market according to the January 2012 PPM Ratings release. Approximately 170,000 people listen to WRCJ-FM each week. The signal is streamed worldwide on https://www.wrcjfm.org

Airstaff [link]

The current lineup (as of March 13, 2012): Starting out the day at 5am is Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin. In the morning, (6a - 11a) it's Dave Wagner. Midday (11a - 4p) is The Well-Tempered Wireless with Chris Felcyn. On the ride home (4p - 7p) it's Dr. Dave’s Drive Time Elixir with Dave Wagner once again. Wrapping up the day on nights is Jazz Works with Helen Wigger or Bob Studebaker (until 11p), and Jazz Overnight with Bob Parlocha. John Penney, formerly of WDET-FM, hosts "JazzFest Detroit" Saturday nights 7 - 9p. Jack Goggin hosts "Film Classics" Sunday nights at 6p. Ron Nolan and Jack Goggin are regular substitutes for Wagner and Felcyn. Jimmy Rhoades co-hosts "The Civic in Concert" broadcasts with high school students.

Sources [link]

• Michiguide.com - WRCJ-FM History

External links [link]

• Query the FCC's FM station database for WRCJ-FM
• Radio-Locator information on WRCJ