Last October, Brigham Young University announced it would be cutting off Utah’s last remaining classical station in favor of self-produced shows. But, after some passionate pushback, Classical 89 is here to stay.
Michael Dunn, the manager of BYU broadcasting, said he’s been hearing from a lot of listeners.
“People are very passionate about it, it’s a meaningful part of their daily lives," said Dunn.
Pushback was expected, but Dunn was surprised, and impressed, by the intensity. He was also surprised by another thing.
It's easy to think about a classical music audience as an aging population. But Dunn said that’s not entirely the case based on the people who reached out.
“Everything from kids in junior high to even young families," said Dunn.
Dunn and his team found a way to make it work. BYU acquired another FM channel, 107.9 — which currently plays rock music — and it will use this new frequency for BYU Radio shows. Shows that are already available via satellite but are not currently on the dial in Utah.
And with that, Classical 89 lives on to play another day.
