Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Save Detroit Radio: WDET

9. January 2006 • MarkDilley
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I stopped listening to the Detroit Newspaper Scab host Martin Bandyke’s early afternoon program in ~1996, but enjoyed everyone else that was part of making this radio station a fantastic place on the dial.

We, the Public, are deeply disappointed in Wayne State University’s decision to stop the broadcast of all community programming and local daytime music on WDET, 101.9 FM, Detroit Public Radio. We should have a say in what is aired on WDET, OUR public radio station in Detroit. We have supported, promoted, and cultivated WDET for 35 years. Music is art, and it is also an integral part of Detroit’s rich and noteworthy history. Therefore, it should remain a large part of WDET, OUR public radio station. WDET is a part of the fabric of this city, and was one of the last mediums to expose listeners to a wide variety of diverse music from local to global artists, to independent and underexposed films and festivals, the marketplace to Detroit’s cultural festivals and events, local dining venues and much more.

> Save Detroit Radio
> WDET

I do like the inclusion of Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now!



  1. Metro Times had something to this effect, but I know I was amused that my brother got the WDET Live CD – with all sorts of now-cancelled programming – right after donating. And the music programs were the only reason he really donated in the first place (not including Ed Love). False advertising a bit, I’d say. I have 91.7 for news and talk, and it does a lovely job… but I do miss the 101.9 music, quite a bit.

    Didn’t know Bandyke was a scab, though. Oddly enough, since I was in the suburbs for that whole ordeal, cancelled Free Press subscription and lawn signs and all. Oh well, the more you know.
       —Jen    Jan. 9 '06 - 08:38AM    #
  2. There is a relatively new public radio station in Detroit: WRCJ, 90.9. They play classical from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and jazz the rest of the time.

    WRCJ says it is supported by Detroit public TV and the Detroit public schools.

    It seems a bit odd to have public TV and the schools supporting WRCJ when WDET is around.

    Does anyone have an explanation?
       —David Cahill    Jan. 9 '06 - 05:16PM    #
  3. WRCJ is the old WDTR, the Detroit Public Schools radio station that no one listened to. WTVS (Channel 56) took over operations with a grant from the Kresge Foundation. More here.
       —tom    Jan. 10 '06 - 03:29PM    #
  4. All this unhappiness with WDET reminds me of the time WUOM went from an all-classical format to all NPR news and talk. Long-time listeners to UOM were extremely unhappy and very vocal about it, but UOM stayed with the new format and grew both their audience and financial base. I don’t know if the same thing will happen with DET since it seems now to be a UOM clone.
       —tom    Jan. 10 '06 - 03:42PM    #
  5. I am thrilled about the changes to WDET. They’ve got a really diverse programming line-up during the day, including News and Notes with Ed Gordon, Democracy Now, and the reinvention of the Tavis Smiley Show. Also, I’m really happy that they brought back Folks Like Us and the Arkansas Traveler on the weekends.

    NPR runs solely on donations; I know plenty of people who quit donating to WDET when they went to all music a year ago. Those people plan to up their donations now that it’s back to talk, and I plan to do the same.
       —jenny    Jan. 15 '06 - 10:16PM    #