The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis

Classic 107.3 was created by people who believe a vibrant arts and cultural scene is essential for our community to thrive. Since 2013, Classic 107.3 has been a home for the St. Louis fine arts and performing arts to come together, to share ideas and to flourish. Listeners tune in to hear Beethoven, log on to learn about the local arts scene, wind down with podcasts about favorite music, and take Classic 107.3 with them throughout their day and around the globe.

Classic 107.3 is a one-of-a-kind radio station committed to providing outstanding programming in support of the arts for the benefit of the St. Louis community. Organized as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) entity, the station offers a broad and invigorating format on both analog radio at 107.3 and in hybrid digital at 96.3 HD2. Content is also streamed live on the internet and via the station’s mobile app. As a community-owned station, Classic 107.3 has created a hub for the arts and culture in the St. Louis region by providing:

  • A variety of music on-air 24/7, from classical to jazz, opera to blues, Broadway and more.
  • In-depth interviews with local arts organizations, including The Black Rep, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, New Jewish Theatre, The Muny and many others.
  • Community outreach to young artists through our program “Kaleidoscope – Next Generation Artist”, which features live performances and recordings of youth music ensembles.
  • Promotion of cultural events in our area through interviews with artists, musicians, creators and performers, bringing their stories and events to the attention of the St. Louis community.
  • Educational programs for children like Classics 4 Kids and adults like Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin.
  • Broadcasts of live performances, both in-studio and remotely, highlighting musicians, conductors and music personalities who are charting the course of music today.
  • Podcasts for convenient listening to all of the above.

Mission:

To support and advocate the growth of the arts and culture in the St. Louis region through the programming and outreach efforts of a classical music station broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Location:

The station is located at 7711 Carondelet Ave, Ste. 302 in Clayton, Mo., in a modern studio with two broadcast studios and a performance space.

Board of Directors:

The station is led by a volunteer board of directors. James L. Nouss, Jr. serves as the board’s president. Board members include Thriess Britton; Spencer B. Burke; Carol Commerford; Art Fitzgerald; Mary Forsyth; Charles Gooden; Carolyn Henges; Cary Hobbs; Larry Katzenstein; Kenneth Kranzberg; Deanne Lane; David Mayo; Babette Meiners; Noémi K. Neidorff; Kelly Pollock; Mabel Purkerson, M.D.; John Russell; Michael Scully; Patricia Smith-Thurman; Donald Suggs; and Donna Wilkinson.

and Honorary members include Marie-Hélène Bernard, Andrew Jorgensen, David Robertson, and Leonard Slatkin.

Station Oversight:

Classic 107.3 is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is not owned by any single individual or corporation and is incorporated for the public benefit. The board of Classic 107.3 is responsible for overseeing the management and interests of the station.

Strategic Plan:

In 2018, Classic 107.3 developed a five-year strategic plan that contemplates a dramatic pivot and internal cultural shift from being not only a top-tier classical music station, but expanding to become a media communications enterprise that actively partners with cultural institutions in St. Louis. The radio station’s capabilities and digital assets will serve as a portal for those organizations to build and expand audiences for all involved.

The strategic plan’s five strategic areas of focus are:

  1. Community Outreach: Partner with major St. Louis area Arts organizations to cross-market and communicate in order to grow listener population and become the indispensable media partner for the leading arts organizations in St. Louis.
  2. Youth Education: Expand our programs and broaden our listener diversity, especially the underserved. Reach those not normally exposed to classical music.
  3. Listening Audience: Use our redesigned website and digital media assets, including a library of archived interviews, to support community outreach and listener convenience. We also intend to increase our local programming with new shows such as the “Slatkin Shuffle”. (The “Slatkin Shuffle” debuted in May 2019.)
  4. Development: Grow corporate, foundation and individual contributions.
  5. Sales and marketing: Rebrand as “Classic 107.3” and increase advertising sales

Economic Impact:

Classic 107.3 is proud to contribute to the incredible growth that the arts in the St. Louis region have enjoyed over the past decade. According to a 2012 study by The Regional Arts Commission, the arts and cultural industry in St. Louis has an economic impact of $582.3 million in the region. St. Louis employment in the arts rose to more than 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs, a leap of 14 percent since 2007.

Operational Support:

The station relies on charitable donations and advertising revenues from the use of a nonprofit commercial license (selling only 72 minutes of paid advertising per day), as well as underwriting, donors, grants, events and promotional activities to fund its operations.

Station Management:

John Clare is the Classic 107.3 CEO and General Manager. An experienced staff comprised of a mix of former KFUO employees and other radio industry professionals manage the day-to-day operations of Classic 107.3.

Social Media:

Follow Classic 107.3 on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CLASSIC1073
Follow Classic 107.3 on Twitter: @classic1073
Follow Classic 107.3 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classic107.3