The Dallas City Council unanimously appoved the proposal for North Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA to take over management of Classical 101.1 WRR from the city of Dallas.
KERA will retain WRR’s Classical format and continue to operate it from its Fair Park studios in South Dallas for the next seven years. The takeover of WRR’s management by KERA is expected to take effect by the end of the year.
The Dallas City Council unanimously approved on Wednesday, June 8 an agreement between KERA and the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture to manage Dallas-based classical music station WRR 101.1 FM.
“We are so thrilled with the outcome of today’s vote,” says Nico Leone, KERA’s President & CEO. “Throughout the procurement process, KERA’s highest priority has been to ensure North Texas has equitable access to classical music and the arts. We now look forward to working with WRR on that shared goal, and expanding on their incredible 101-year history.”
“The Office of Arts and Culture is excited about this new partnership to continue free classical music to thousands of listeners each week and to create new resources for Dallas-based artists and arts organizations,” said Benjamin Espino, interim Director of the Office of Arts and Culture for the City of Dallas. “This kind of sustainable partnership with KERA to advance equity and communications was a key goal of the 2018 Dallas Cultural Plan. We are proud to continue growing the presence of the arts in Dallas through partnerships like this.”
KERA’s management agreement ensures WRR remains a locally programmed classical station, operated by KERA and owned by the City of Dallas. Keeping WRR a classical station is not only a requirement of the City’s RFP — it is KERA’s explicit goal. The agreement also ensures WRR will continue to operate out of its Fair Park studios in South Dallas for the next seven years.
KERA is an ideal management partner to help WRR grow its audience, keep up with industry and technology trends, and ensure audiences receive the highest-quality classical music programming possible. For more than 60 years, KERA has served the people of North Texas with the best in public broadcasting programming. And like WRR, KERA has a longstanding legacy of supporting the arts in North Texas — from in-depth arts reporting on 90.1 KERA News and Art&Seek, to inspiring performances on KERA TV and 91.7 KXT. Additionally, KERA reaches more than 2.6 million people each week through its public service platforms and broadcast channels. That coverage is also shared statewide through The Texas Newsroom, and nationally on NPR.
At the core of KERA’s mission is its commitment to sharing multiple perspectives and celebrating and reflecting the diversity of our region — a commitment that will be extended into the station’s management of WRR.
KERA is expected to assume management of WRR by the end of the calendar year.
Original Report 5/13: North Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA is awaiting final votes to take over management of Classical 101.1 WRR from the city of Dallas.
Should the contract be approved on Monday, May 16 by the city’s Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee and then by the city council in June, KERA will add WRR’s operations to its KERA-TV, Public News/Talk 90.1 KERA-FM, and AAA “91.7 KXT” KKXT. The agreement would require WRR to keep operating out of its studios on the grounds of the State Fair of Texas for the next seven years.
KERA and the City of Dallas, Office of Arts and Culture are in the final confirmation process of a management agreement for Dallas-based classical music station WRR 101.1 FM — the first licensed broadcast station in Texas and one of the nation’s oldest operating radio stations. KERA has submitted a proposal in an open procurement process and has finalized a contract with the City. The proposed contract will go to the Dallas City Council for approval.
The management agreement ensures WRR remains a locally programmed classical station, operated by KERA and owned by the City of Dallas. Keeping WRR a classical station is not only a requirement of the City’s RFP — it is KERA’s explicit goal. The agreement also ensures WRR will continue to operate out of its Fair Park studios in South Dallas for the next seven years.
“KERA is honored to be considered to manage WRR and deepen its commitment to classical music,” says Nico Leone, President & CEO of KERA. “Together we can help WRR grow and serve diverse audiences in Dallas and across North Texas, ensuring WRR’s sustainability for generations to come. And given our own commitment to arts and culture, and our strong partnerships both locally and nationally, KERA is well positioned to build on the success that WRR has achieved in its incredible 101-year history.”
KERA is an ideal management partner to help WRR grow its audience, keep up with industry and technology trends, and ensure audiences receive the highest-quality classical music programming possible. For more than 60 years, KERA has served the people of North Texas with the best in public broadcasting programming. And like WRR, KERA has a longstanding legacy of supporting the arts in North Texas — from in-depth arts reporting on 90.1 KERA News and Art&Seek, to inspiring performances on KERA TV and 91.7 KXT. Additionally, KERA reaches more than 2.6 million people each week through its public service platforms and broadcast channels. That coverage is also shared statewide through The Texas Newsroom, and nationally on NPR.
“WRR is a beloved station in the Dallas and North Texas community,” says Sylvia Komatsu, Chief Content and Diversity Officer of KERA. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to deepen our shared commitment to the arts and classical music in North Texas, and together engage with previously underrepresented communities in the classical space.”
At the core of KERA’s mission is its commitment to sharing multiple perspectives and celebrating and reflecting the diversity of our region — a commitment that would be extended into the station’s management of WRR. Already, KERA’s Art&Seek calendar represents more than 4,000 arts groups and venues, providing exposure to diverse organizations of all sizes across the region.
Together, WRR and KERA will continue in their shared goal of expanding arts and classical music programming in North Texas and beyond.
