96.3 FM WQXR and The WFMT Radio Network to Join in Production, Distribution, and Promotion Efforts

96.3 FM WQXR and The WFMT Radio Network to Join in Production, Distribution, and Promotion Efforts

CHICAGO, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- 96.3 FM WQXR, The New York Times's legacy classical music radio station, and The WFMT Radio Network, a service of Chicago's legacy classical music radio station, 98.7 WFMT, have entered into an agreement by which the two stations will collaborate on a number of initiatives associated with the production, promotion, and national distribution of classical music radio programming. WQXR will primarily contribute production and promotion resources, and the WFMT Network will primarily contribute syndication and distribution services. Both will be involved in seeking funding for the projects.

This effort is separate from, but complements, WQXR's role as manager of the Concert Music Network, an unwired network of commercial classical music radio stations. The WFMT Radio Network provides services to those stations in addition to public radio stations around the country. Both WQXR and the WFMT Network also provide programming to XM Satellite Radio.

"WQXR and WFMT share a history and a mission, and have a longstanding business relationship," said Tom Bartunek, president of New York Times Radio and general manager of WQXR. "This agreement will provide the springboard for us to pool our resources more efficiently and more systematically in the future."

"This arrangement strengthens our position as one of the most prolific producers and syndicators of high quality classical music radio programs in the world. It also creates a new and exciting dimension for the field of classical music radio," said Steve Robinson, senior vice president of 98.7 WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network.

Founded in 1936, 96.3 WQXR-FM was the nation's first commercial classical music radio station, and since 1944 it has been owned and operated by The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT). The most listened-to classical station in the United States, with nearly a million listeners tuning in each week, WQXR also features regular news, analysis and commentary from correspondents of The New York Times. WQXR is available online exclusively through Radio@AOL. More information about the station and its programming, and access to its stream, are available at http://www.wqxr.com/ .

The WFMT Radio Network, the international syndication division of award- winning classical music station 98.7WFMT, is one of the world's most well- regarded sources for classical, jazz and folk music programming. The Network syndicates concerts by orchestras in Seattle, Milwaukee, New York and Jerusalem, as well as organizations such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Cliburn International Piano Competition and many others. The Network also produces and distributes ongoing series and documentary specials such as Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin and Leonard Bernstein: An American Life with Susan Sarandon. The WFMT Radio Network also offers exclusive programming from Germany's Deutsche Welle Radio, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and dozens of classical, folk, jazz, and news series, as well as specials to radio outlets around the world.

98.7WFMT, Chicago Classical Experience is the market's only classical radio station, offering the country's most diverse mix of classical and fine arts programming.

Source: The WFMT Radio Network

CONTACT: Jennifer Wada, Communications, WQXR, +1-718-855-7101, jennifer.wada@verizon.net , or Holly H. Gilson of WFMT, +1-773-509-5424, hgilson@wfmt.com

Web site: http://www.wqxr.com/

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