Fiscal Year 2011 Report to the Community
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Fiscal Year 2011 Report to the Community The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and The CPR underwriting team increased revenue 9% Cincinnati Opera, NPR’s Morning Edition and All over the previous year, bringing in a record breaking Things Considered, Fresh Air, A Prairie Home $1.635 million for fiscal year 2011. These results Companion, Cincinnati Edition, Around Cincinnati were also 6% higher than the previous sales record – 90.9 WGUC’s and 91.7 WVXU’s broadcast days of $1.535 million set in Fiscal Year 2009 (prior to are filled with essential and unrivaled public radio the deepest impact of the economic slump.) A programs, all helping to create a vibrant tri-state strategic emphasis on the health care sector and community with a more informed and enriched working to take full advantage of inventory helped public. account for this success. Cincinnati Public Radio’s Fiscal Year 2011 closed Cincinnati Public Radio’s Development Department with record high fundraising and underwriting generated a total of $3.725 million dollars. This revenue, providing the support needed to reach year the Sustaining Membership Program became station goals of enhancing WVXU’s local news wildly successful, more than tripling the number coverage with an additional reporter, relocating the of sustaining donors who permit the station to WGUC transmitter to WVXU’s site and installing automatically renew their annual contribution on a new dual purpose antenna, retiring past-due their credit or debit card until they terminate the obligations to NPR, and upgrading the stations’ arrangement. Sustaining memberships accounted Digital Audio Delivery System to catch up with for $94,852 of the membership revenue this fiscal technological improvements and increase daily year, an increase of 19% over FY 10. Also in its broadcast reliability. first year was the Cincinnati Public Radio Text to Give program. Continuing its tradition of industry The Cincinnati Public Radio audience continued trailblazing, CPR was the first public radio entity its annual growth trajectory with total unduplicated to offer the $10 text gift option during a fund drive. audience for the combined WGUC, WVXU, WMUB Since June of 2010, $30,660 has been raised and all HD channels measuring 330,000 listeners through texted gifts, with an average of more than in the most recently released Arbitron total market 600 texts received during each fund drive. analysis for Cincinnati and Dayton (Spring, 2011). With the goal of engaging the Cincinnati Public Cincinnati Public Radio ended 2010 with the Radio listener whenever and wherever possible completion of the relocation of the WGUC and increasing listening, loyalty and sharing, transmitter to WVXU’s transmitter site at WCPO-TV. mobile apps were created for WGUC, WVXU and Bringing the two facilities together in one location WMUB. The station apps allow people to listen live upgraded both stations’ transmitting antenna, to the stations using their iPhone, iPod, iPad or makes ongoing maintenance more efficient and will Android phone. The app also enables the listener save Cincinnati Public Radio more than $31,200 to bookmark a program or story heard, share it annually. Cincinnati Public Radio was also the with friends, stop and rewind, or access archived beneficiary of WCPO-TV’s donation of its older, but programs. In a little over a year, more than 13,500 still very serviceable, generator for the site, helping apps have been downloaded by listeners. to guarantee WGUC’s and WVXU’s broadcast service during times of electrical outage. Celebrating 150 Years of Public Radio In 2010, each of Cincinnati Public Radio’s stations Anniversary Fanfare Commissions celebrated a milestone anniversary. WGUC celebrated its 50th Anniversary; WVXU celebrated its 40th Anniversary; and WMUB celebrated its 60th Anniversary. A variety of activities and events were presented throughout the year to celebrate the occasion with listeners and the community. 90.9 WGUC is the only radio station with an ongoing Play Me, I’m Yours music commissioning program. In honor of its 50th Anniversary and Paavo Jarvi’s 10th Anniversary The centerpiece of this as Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony celebration took place in Orchestra, the station partnered with the CSO to August and September as commission five anniversary fanfares. The CSO Cincinnati Public Radio premiered the fanfares during the second half of welcomed British artist the 2010-2011 season, Maestro Jarvi’s final season Luke Jerram and his with the orchestra. The fanfares were composed internationally acclaimed by Jonathan Holland, Jörg Widmann, Stewart public art installation Play Goodyear, Charles Coleman, and Erkki-Sven Tüür. Me, I’m Yours to our listening WGUC’s 50th Anniversary and founder Bruce Petrie area. Over the course of 6 were publicly recognized by the Cincinnati Symphony weeks, 35 painted pianos Orchestra before its concert on March 25th, which were placed in public spaces for the community included the premiere of Stewart Goodyear’s to play and enjoy. The street pianos exceeded all Anniversary Fanfare, Count Up. The commissions expectations, serving as a blank canvas for the were supported by Ann & Harry Santen. public to create music and art. As musicians young and old, amateur and professional, first time and Live Broadcasts and Special seasoned performers played the pianos, countless Appearances others enjoyed spontaneous performances across the city. The pianos drew people together and Also presented as inspired ideas, dialog, and pure joy. part of the WVXU and WMUB anniversary Based on traffic and celebrations were attendance estimates at the sold-out return various piano locations, of A Prairie Home it is conservatively Companion to Music estimated that 1.2 Hall; a live broadcast of million people in the the program Whad’Ya Greater Cincinnati, No. Know from the Aronoff Center for the Arts; and a Kentucky and Butler sold-out performance of The Capitol Steps. County area had the opportunity to encounter Play Me, I’m Yours by Cincinnati Public Radio is proud of its stations’ Luke Jerram. Over the course of the installation, the long-time service to the Greater Cincinnati and project’s website, cincinnatipianos.com, generated Miami Valley communities. By promoting a sense of 60,080 site visits. And, thanks to the generosity of community through music and art with Play Me, I’m the project’s sponsors, Play Me, I’m Yours was a Yours; adding to the classical music repertoire; or profitable program for Cincinnati Public Radio. presenting opportunities for listeners to experience and interact with the finest public radio programs in the country, Cincinnati Public Radio’s anniversary celebration demonstrated that CPR is an essential partner in creating a more vibrant local community. It is a mission that Cincinnati Public Radio will continue to pursue for many more years to come. WGUC Music for your Heart, Mind, and Spirit On September 21, 1960, 90.9 by Catacoustic Consort, Vocal Arts WGUC began as a broadcast home Ensemble, Linton Music Series, for classical music Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and public affairs and the Music in the Museum programming. More than series. And, the station serves as 50 years later, its mission a friendly guide to the wealth of to enrich our community arts performances and cultural and present the finest opportunities throughout the tri-state in classical music area, promoting our community’s programming continues most valuable assets, its musicians, to this day. Today, artists and performers. WGUC’s music and broadcast professionals Classical music reflects the best present a variety of local of human nature, speaking to the and national classical heart, mind and spirit to provide music programming, while also inspiration; transform a mood; producing special concert broadcasts and enrich every day life. Listeners of the Cincinnati Symphony continually praise WGUC as their Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, and companion and refuge from the May Festival. Music Cincinnati chaos of the day. Their loyalty provides a monthly showcase for is reflected in the growth of the additional Cincinnati classical music station’s audience to 140,000 weekly performances, including concerts listeners. Hallelujah Handel In April, 2011, WGUC was pleased to partner with Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director at Cincinnati Opera, on the production and broadcast of a new four-part radio series, Hallelujah Handel. A chronicle of the life and art of George Frederic Handel, Hallelujah Handel showcased one of the most fascinating and uplifting tales in the history of music. From the autumn of 1710 until his death in 1759 George Frederic Handel lived and worked in London. The scope, variety, and sheer amount of great music that flowed from his pen during this time continue to delight the world to this day. Because of works such as the Water Music written for his king, the brilliant Italian operas he wrote for the superstars of his time, or the matchless and immortal oratorios, a genre he basically invented, Handel became the first truly internationally famous composer. Hallelujah Handel’s four programs chronicled the range of Handel’s genius, the breathtaking variety of his works, and the tumultuous story of his life. The series is also being distributed to classical music stations around the country. WVXU Connecting You to a World of Ideas “Greater emphasis on national In addition, in the ongoing effort and international news coverage to better meet the needs of WVXU and programming is wonderful listeners wanting even more in- and rare,” commented a WVXU depth coverage of international listener when providing thoughts news, this year WVXU began on the station’s service to the broadcasting the BBC World community. WVXU is Greater Service on its digital HD2 Cincinnati’s dependable source channel. Listeners with an HD for news from around the block RadioTM receiver can now enjoy and around the world.