WICR adds hours of programming
The University of Indianapolis’ public radio station ,WICR-FM/HD 88.7’s schedule recently underwent changes in its programming, including the return of Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Famer and columnist for Nuvo Newsweekly Chuck Workman’s “Sunday Morning Jazz Show.”
Workman’s show originally aired in 1986 on commercial station WTPI until its end in 2005 when smooth jazz programming was taken off the air. Workman joined the WICR family in 2006 when his show “Saturday Evening Jazz Show” launched. His revived show, “Sunday Morning Jazz Show,” came back on Jan. 10 and will be on WICR every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This show leads into “Sounds of Jazz” which is hosted by Workman’s fellow Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame member Ralph Adams, thus making a five-hour period of jazz music each Sunday.
Student broadcaster, Garrison King is at work in the studio. WICR recently added several hours of broadcasting to their weekly line-up.
Doug Housemeyer, Director of Sales, also hosts a new show every Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. called “Smooth Jazz in the Morning.” His new show lasts an hour and is filled with both smooth jazz music and interviews. These interviews cover a wide range of people, including directors and performers in art, music and theatre. There are two people being interviewed during the show on an average day; one during the first half hour and the second in the following half. The show is broken up into small sections, playing one or two smooth jazz songs in between three minute interviews with an added news break towards the end of the show.
“It works for both sides,” said Housemeyer. “The people there for the music will stay because the interviews are only three minutes long, then the people that are there for the interviews stay because there’s only one or two songs in between interviews.” Housemeyer’s show begins what becomes a jazz block lasting until 4 p.m. every Monday through Friday.
Housemeyer believes that the show benefits more than just the listeners, but also the students in radio at UIndy.
“The students produce the show,” Housemeyer. said. “I have a different producer almost every day so it gives them great experience.”
WICR will still be hosting jazz Saturday nights from 6 to 10 beginning with Workman’s show “Saturday Evening Jazz Show” followed by “Have You Heard?” hosted by local musicians Jack Helsley and Rich Dole and finishing with “How Jazz Works,” hosted by UIndy’s Jazz Studies Director Harry Miedema.
“We do jazz, and we want to do more of it,” said Director of Programming for WICR, Russ Maloney. “The jazz music is where we’re really involved.”
However, WICR isn’t solely a station for jazz. Following the four-hour jazz block on Saturday night will be a show called “Blast from the Past.” This show, playing from 10 to midnight, features 80’s music nostalgia. Music on the weeknights includes classical music from the Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis. Eclectic music, talk shows and sports programs are all featured throughout the week.
“[Feedback] is very positive thus far,” Maloney said. “I’ve gotten positive feedback from both Doug [Housemeyer]’s and Chuck [Workman]’s shows.”
According to UIndy’s public Web site, www.uindy.edu, WICR also has two digital HD channels and recently relocated its antenna in order to improve the metropolitan area’s indoor reception.
“We hope the smooth jazz audience finds us,” said Housemeyer. “They’ve been looking.”
