WCPE-FM: A business model that works
August 30, 2006
I keep my eye open for unique businesses that thrive when most would say that they can’t. A few years ago, my love of classical music (which balances out my love for Country music) led me to The Classical Station in Wake Forest, NC. The General Manager is Deborah S. Proctor, and she often talks about their business model in her mailings.
Their quarterly publication is Quarter Notes, and its masthead says this about WCPE:
Great Classical Music is FREE from The Classical Station, WCPE,
- A commercial-free, 24-hour classical music service for cable systems, satellite services and radio stations. Available without cost or obligation via C-band and Ku-band satellite.
- Hear our Free-to-Air DVB signal on … .
- Hear our unscrambled signal on Satellite Galaxy 14, … .
- Listen online at TheClassicalStation.org.
How do they do it? Believe it or not, they are dependent 100% on listener support, almost half of which comes from people like me listening to their online stream. While off-air classical music is disappearing all over the country, WCPE is tapping into a national, even global, online market of classical listeners. Like me, many others must think that a few bucks a month is a reasonable donation to support 24-hour classical music.
The cost of providing these services is mind-boggling, and I still have trouble believing they can do it, but they do it year after year, and with on-air fund drives only twice a year. Deborah and the WCPE team: a tip of the Orlop hat to you, and may you continue to prosper!
Dave, which he loves Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Sacred music on Sunday mornings, and… .
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Thanks, Dave! Great site! WOW, there is hope after all.
And thank you, O’Wise One.
Just out of curiosity, are you able to listen to their stream with your slow connection? Or do you have broadband now?