Classical Music Radio in Denver
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Looking for a great classical music radio station in Denver? Look no further than KVOD! With a wide variety of classical music programming, KVOD is sure to please everyone from long-time fans to newcomers.
History of Classical Music Radio in Denver
In the early days of radio, classical music was often used as a filler between programs. It was seen as “elevating” and “highbrow,” and it wasn’t until the 1930s that classical music began to be treated as a serious genre. In the years since, classical music radio has ebbed and flowed in popularity, but it has always had a place in Denver.
Early years of classical music radio in Denver
Classical music radio in Denver can be traced back to the early years of radio broadcasting. One of the first classical music radio stations in Denver was KRMA, which went on the air in 1947. KRMA was originally an AM station, but switched to FM in the 1970s. KRMA is still on the air today, broadcasting at 106.1 FM.
Other early classical music radio stations in Denver included KVOD (92.5 FM), which went on the air in 1965, and KQMT (99.5 FM), which began broadcasting in 1968. KQMT was originally an easy listening station, but switched to classical music in 1971. KVOD and KQMT are both still on the air today.
In the early 1990s, two more classical music radio stations came on the air in Denver: KDCO (88.1 FM) and KCFR (90.1 FM). KDCO is a public radio station that is part of the Colorado Public Radio network. KCFR is a public radio station that is part of National Public Radio (NPR). Both KDCO and KCFR are still on the air today.
The decline of classical music radio in Denver
The decline of classical music radio in Denver is a story that begins in the late 1990s. At that time, there were two commercial classical music radio stations in the city, KVOD and KDMT. However, by the early 2000s, both stations had been sold and replaced with other formats. In addition, several other classical music stations around the country had also been replaced with other formats in recent years. This trend continued into the early 2000s, as classical music radio station after station was replaced with other formats.
The renaissance of classical music radio in Denver
In the early 1990s, classical music radio in Denver was on the verge of extinction. There were only two full-time classical music stations left in the city, and both were facing financial difficulties. One station was sold and changed to a country music format, while the other switched to a news/talk format.
For a time, it looked like Denver would become one of the few major metropolitan areas in the country without a classical music station. But in 1994, a group of business and community leaders came together to rescue classical music radio in Denver. They formed a non-profit organization called Friends ofClassical Music Radio, which bought the remaining classical station and kept it on the air.
Since then,Friends of Classical Music Radio has been working to build a strong classical music radio community in Denver. They have helped finance the creation of two new public radio stations that offer full-time classical music programming, and they provide financial support to several other stations that offer partial classical schedules. Today, there are more than 10 full-time and part-time classical music radio stations serving the Denver area, and the renaissance of classical music radio in Denver is well underway.
The Current State of Classical Music Radio in Denver
Classical music radio in Denver has been on a decline in recent years. With the retirement of KOA’s classical music station in 2011, and the switch of KVOD’s format to all-news in 2016, there are now only two stations in Denver that regularly play classical music.
The classical music radio stations in Denver
In Denver, there are several classical music radio stations that offer a variety of programming. Some of these stations are public radio stations, while others are commercial stations.
Public Radio Stations:
-KOA – 850 AM
-KVOD – 1340 AM
-KVOT – 104.3 FM
-KLZ – 560 AM
Commercial Stations:
-KYGT – 102.7 FM
-KRWG – 90.5 FM
The classical music scene in Denver
Since the early 2000s, the classical music scene in Denver has been growing steadily. More and more classical music fans are moving to the city, and there are now several radio stations that cater to their taste.
However, While there are a number of classical music radio stations in Denver, they are not all created equal. Some stations only play classical music during certain hours of the day, while others only play it on weekends. And some stations only play a mix of genres, with classical music as just one of them.
This can make it difficult for classical music fans to find a station that meets their needs. But despite the challenges, there are still a number of great classical music radio stations in Denver that are worth checking out.
The future of classical music radio in Denver
It’s no secret that classical music radio is in a tough spot. declining listenership, financial pressures, and competition from new media sources have all taken their toll. stations have been sold, merged, or simply shut down altogether. in the past few years, several of Denver’s classical music radio stations have met this same fate.
As recently as 2011, Denver had two full-time classical music radio stations: kvod (1280 AM) and kdkr (95.1 FM). But kvod was sold to a Spanish-language broadcasting company in 2012, and kdkr flipped to a contemporary Christian format the following year. That left just one station playing classical music full-time in the Denver market: kbco (97.3 FM).
Since then, kbco has continued to be the only source of 24/7 classical music on the radio in Denver. but its future is far from certain. in recent years, the station has been marketed as a ‘triple-a’ format, blending classical music with other genres like jazz and folk. it’s an unusual mix, and one that may not be sustainable in the long run.
What’s more, kbco is now the only classical music station left in the state of Colorado. with no other options on the radio dial, it’s becoming increasingly clear that classical music fans in Colorado will need to find their fix elsewhere.