A Note From Robert Conrad

Dear Friend,

I want to thank you for listening to WCLV over the years, as the station truly exists for you, the listener. As you know, WCLV was established in 1962 as a commercial operation and was extremely successful on many levels.

However, in the late '90s, my partner, Rich Marschner, and I began to think about how we could secure the future of the station. So began our journey from commercial radio to public radio. Hence, on January 1, 2013, the ownership of WCLV was donated to Ideastream Public Media, and it became the nation's newest public radio station.

WCLV dedicates its programming to the preservation of classical music on the radio in Northeast Ohio. We believe programming should highlight exciting local arts and musical organizations with live broadcasts of area performances by The Cleveland Orchestra, Apollo's Fire, ChamberFest Cleveland, and students and faculty from The Cleveland Institute of Music, Baldwin-Wallace University, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland State University and many other fine ensembles.

All of this incredible programming takes funding, which is why WCLV periodically invites you to consider providing financial support. While we strive to raise dollars for current budgeting needs, we must also think about the future.

That is why I included Ideastream Public Media in my will. I believe WCLV is an important institution in Northeast Ohio and should be preserved. I hope you will agree and will consider including Ideastream Public Media in your will, as well.

Together, we can ensure that WCLV continues to preserve classical music, entertain listeners and influence future generations.

Regards,

Robert Conrad

Robert Conrad
Co-Founder, WCLV

A History of WCLV

WCLV was established in 1962 as a commercial radio operation. The station was successful on many levels, especially in establishing relationships with the northern Ohio arts community and was hosted by knowledgeable, talented and enthusiastic live-air hosts.

In the late '90s, WCLV owners Robert Conrad and Richard Marschner began to think about the future of the station, as they were aging and time was passing quickly. While there were many offers to purchase WCLV, they felt the station was an important institution in Northeast Ohio and should be preserved. With the advice of The Cleveland Foundation, urging from the newly established public broadcasting organization Ideastream Public Media and a decade of consideration, the stockholders decided the future of WCLV involved an association with Ideastream Public Media. On January 1, 2013, the ownership of WCLV was passed to Ideastream Public Media, and WCLV Classical became the nation’s newest public radio station.

The transition from a commercial station to a public station occurred in other markets, as well. These transfers of ownership required the acquiring entities to pay millions of dollars for the classical outlets. This was not the case for WCLV and Ideastream Public Media, however. The stockholders of WCLV generously donated the station to Ideastream Public Media and, by extension, to the community.

It gives great satisfaction knowing you are out there on the other side of the radio, or smartspeaker, smartphone, tablet, or desktop or laptop computer. Classical music lives on…thanks to you!

You can help ensure classical music lives on for generations to come with a planned gift. Contact Ella Fong, CFRE at efong@ideastream.org or 216-916-6154 to learn more about this type of giving or for help finding the right gift for you.