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Public Comments
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WCSB 89.3 FM was a Variety of Student/Community Hobbyists, not just a "student club".
I am one of the many students and programmers of CSU who lost their show with no warning, and the station that housed it, all ironically on College Radio Day. CSU’s President Laura Bloomberg and Ideastream’s CEO Kevin Martin keep trying to paint and brush this off as a “win-win” for both students and themselves (or more so - their affiliations), but this is really just a “win-win” for themselves, and a 50 year legacy built by volunteers bulldozed over by self-interests (hiding under the umbrella of “public interest”).
Laura Bloomberg, her administration/board, and Ideastream (Kevin Martin largely) pulled the rug under every programmer on WCSB. She thought it was a kind idea to send an email to all of the university before the zoom meeting in which she stated “WCSB programming is now the purview of Ideastream”. No plan or time for programmers to make a [still, would be a reluctant] good-bye. Key-cards de-activated and police escorting students out of the station right afterwards. She says that students can figure out ways on their own to reach the public (podcasts, live streaming), but 89.3 FM is how we reached those people (with the internet stream as back-up for those not in Cleveland). There was no immediate (and still no) plan by her administration to remedy or help with this. As she said in her appearance on The Sound of Ideas forum this past Tuesday, “I'm not a media person”. The only thing that this does for students, is a few (unannounced!) internships, and a seat on the board of trustees for herself (and ad spots for CSU). By the way, she's only been with CSU/Cleveland itself since 2021. In the same forum, she said that losing WCSB was a “tremendous loss”.... Dr. Bloomberg… weren't you the one that signed off on this “strategic” plan?
Kevin Martin, on the other hand, keeps bringing up “the study" that said “people want jazz on terrestrial radio”... did that study say “Would you support (without notice) taking over a student-community radio station of 50 years and replacing it with 24/7 Jazz?”. He also keeps bringing up that “it's not smooth jazz”... which many in the community have stated is what is played. That is false, it's “Nothing but Jazz 24/7”. Jazz is fine and cool, but Ideastream took a 24/7 variety of different voices and made it entirely a jazz-focused station. WCSB had EIGHT different Jazz programs before the takeover. Hmmm…. would WVIZ PBS watchers enjoy it if the channel just became a 24/7 run of Antiques Roadshow? I don't think so.
Both Bloomberg and Martin have also stated recently how the station was just a student club…. not true. WCSB had hosts that were students, alumni, and community members. Martin even said this past Friday at the City Club of Cleveland, that it was like a “chess” or “drama” club.... We had listeners from different ages. JazzNEO seems tailored mainly towards just an older audience, and when talking about his “study”, Martin brings up how an older audience wanted to hear Jazz on the radio. Did he forget the part that we were a college (and community) station for nearly 50 years?
Hopefully the 50 years of WCSB can be honored and the student/community voices will be heard on FM again. As many have supported this cause, WCSB was a legacy of people who wanted their voices and a variety of music genres to be heard, from multiple different ages and backgrounds (not just a “student club”). I love public media, but Ideastream (CSU also --- this is a partnership overall!) has messed up big time.
Laura Bloomberg, her administration/board, and Ideastream (Kevin Martin largely) pulled the rug under every programmer on WCSB. She thought it was a kind idea to send an email to all of the university before the zoom meeting in which she stated “WCSB programming is now the purview of Ideastream”. No plan or time for programmers to make a [still, would be a reluctant] good-bye. Key-cards de-activated and police escorting students out of the station right afterwards. She says that students can figure out ways on their own to reach the public (podcasts, live streaming), but 89.3 FM is how we reached those people (with the internet stream as back-up for those not in Cleveland). There was no immediate (and still no) plan by her administration to remedy or help with this. As she said in her appearance on The Sound of Ideas forum this past Tuesday, “I'm not a media person”. The only thing that this does for students, is a few (unannounced!) internships, and a seat on the board of trustees for herself (and ad spots for CSU). By the way, she's only been with CSU/Cleveland itself since 2021. In the same forum, she said that losing WCSB was a “tremendous loss”.... Dr. Bloomberg… weren't you the one that signed off on this “strategic” plan?
Kevin Martin, on the other hand, keeps bringing up “the study" that said “people want jazz on terrestrial radio”... did that study say “Would you support (without notice) taking over a student-community radio station of 50 years and replacing it with 24/7 Jazz?”. He also keeps bringing up that “it's not smooth jazz”... which many in the community have stated is what is played. That is false, it's “Nothing but Jazz 24/7”. Jazz is fine and cool, but Ideastream took a 24/7 variety of different voices and made it entirely a jazz-focused station. WCSB had EIGHT different Jazz programs before the takeover. Hmmm…. would WVIZ PBS watchers enjoy it if the channel just became a 24/7 run of Antiques Roadshow? I don't think so.
Both Bloomberg and Martin have also stated recently how the station was just a student club…. not true. WCSB had hosts that were students, alumni, and community members. Martin even said this past Friday at the City Club of Cleveland, that it was like a “chess” or “drama” club.... We had listeners from different ages. JazzNEO seems tailored mainly towards just an older audience, and when talking about his “study”, Martin brings up how an older audience wanted to hear Jazz on the radio. Did he forget the part that we were a college (and community) station for nearly 50 years?
Hopefully the 50 years of WCSB can be honored and the student/community voices will be heard on FM again. As many have supported this cause, WCSB was a legacy of people who wanted their voices and a variety of music genres to be heard, from multiple different ages and backgrounds (not just a “student club”). I love public media, but Ideastream (CSU also --- this is a partnership overall!) has messed up big time.
Anonymous
Reinstatement of WCSB 89.3 fm to the students of CSU and community of greater Cleveland
Hello,
I don't write things like this very often, but I appreciate that our city council has taken up talking about the issue involving WCSB 89.3 and Ideastream that has disturbed our media ecosystem of the greater cleveland area and I implore this council that represents me and my city to do anything that can be done to undo this action committed by CSU and Ideastream.
As both a homeowner in Cleveland and a former DJ and manager at WCSB, this issue is one of the few that take personal in town that I have found increasingly alienating to its own working class population, in favor of corperate and monied interests.
WCSB, whether you've listened in or not, is one of the few truly original cultural institution this city has to offer and is considered highly across not only our community, but the global community of independent broadcasting. In just doing my small show for 3 years, I had listeners tune in regularly from big cities America and across the globe. This ranged from niche music genres, such as Psych Rock, Ambient Electronic, or Doom Metal, all the way to ethnic music genres that have almost no airspace such as Arabic music, Slovenian music, Hungarian Music, and Polish Music, among others. People recognized this station for its highly regarded quality AND quantity of culture that we distributed, through the commitment of a large population a volunteer DJ's who did what they loved most for - Finding good music that you couldn't find easily anywhere else. And they did this for free, mind you, for the benefit and for the recognition of our city.
Disregarding the abominable behavior and dismisable demeanor both Ideastream and CSU dealt with this issue and with the volunteers and patrons of WCSB, I think another issue is that I just don't see what the need is for a single non-commercial broadcaster, such as Ideastream, to own not one, but three different fm signals within the same area. That's just monopolizing a scarce resource that, as a noncommercial frequency, is primarily for the public good and not for profit. I don't see them doing this takeover for the benefit of the majority of Cleveland citizens - In fact, I see it as just benefiting a small minority of citizens who do not care about sustaining the history and culture of Cleveland, but wish to sterilize it into what they want to see, with large donations and no considerations. Ultimately, I think if this trend continues, people will just abandon radio instead, as it turns into a homogenous curation of things they're not interested in and a sterile and alien culture and community they're not committed to uplifting and supporting. I'd argue this issue is, in a way, a microcosm of the identity crisis Cleveland, as a whole, has been having for the last 10 years. And as a proud Clevelander, I would hate for people to abandon Cleveland.
I'm not really sure what could be done to change this action, if the council would agree to take this cause up, but any action is a step in the right direction. I know how poorly the "Modell Law" worked when push came to shove with the Cleveland Browns, but maybe something along those lines would work when it comes to limiting non-commercial broadcast affiliations within the county area, in order to promote a vibrant community and dissway monopolizing actors. I dunno though, thats just a thought - I'm artist, not a lawyer. If I was one, I'd probably down in city council, arguing with a ton more vigor and wit than what the written word has to offer me this late at night.
But if I can say just one more thing, on a personal note - Besides what WCSB means to the community and what it means for our culture of Cleveland.... I've lived in many through many different situations and environments, from Westlake, to Florida, to New York City. Worked with people along all walks of life, from carpet installers just trying to make their mortgage, to actors who were just waiting to quit their barista job after landing a gig that gets them famous. I even lived in hospital for about a year after falling off a roof and met a potpourri of individuals, both patients and as providers who varied as wildly as can be. All these things I've seen, and lived through, and I'd still say that WCSB was the only place I've been a part of that I felt like I truly belonged when I was there. It was like a home, to me, and to countless other former DJ's and listeners. Like our own little island of misfit toys, where we could be ourselves and not worry about being different. It was something we loved for its unique and quintessential timber of its own being. Something that we cared for and nurtured, supported and believed in. An identity we celebrated when times were good and place we could commiserate when times were not so good. We love this place - I loved this place. It was our home, our eclectic, sporadic, utterly oblique, unique, beautiful home.
Please, help us, our listeners and supporters, and the larger community who doesn't even know what they lost. Please help us get back our home.
Thank you,
DJ No Refund
I don't write things like this very often, but I appreciate that our city council has taken up talking about the issue involving WCSB 89.3 and Ideastream that has disturbed our media ecosystem of the greater cleveland area and I implore this council that represents me and my city to do anything that can be done to undo this action committed by CSU and Ideastream.
As both a homeowner in Cleveland and a former DJ and manager at WCSB, this issue is one of the few that take personal in town that I have found increasingly alienating to its own working class population, in favor of corperate and monied interests.
WCSB, whether you've listened in or not, is one of the few truly original cultural institution this city has to offer and is considered highly across not only our community, but the global community of independent broadcasting. In just doing my small show for 3 years, I had listeners tune in regularly from big cities America and across the globe. This ranged from niche music genres, such as Psych Rock, Ambient Electronic, or Doom Metal, all the way to ethnic music genres that have almost no airspace such as Arabic music, Slovenian music, Hungarian Music, and Polish Music, among others. People recognized this station for its highly regarded quality AND quantity of culture that we distributed, through the commitment of a large population a volunteer DJ's who did what they loved most for - Finding good music that you couldn't find easily anywhere else. And they did this for free, mind you, for the benefit and for the recognition of our city.
Disregarding the abominable behavior and dismisable demeanor both Ideastream and CSU dealt with this issue and with the volunteers and patrons of WCSB, I think another issue is that I just don't see what the need is for a single non-commercial broadcaster, such as Ideastream, to own not one, but three different fm signals within the same area. That's just monopolizing a scarce resource that, as a noncommercial frequency, is primarily for the public good and not for profit. I don't see them doing this takeover for the benefit of the majority of Cleveland citizens - In fact, I see it as just benefiting a small minority of citizens who do not care about sustaining the history and culture of Cleveland, but wish to sterilize it into what they want to see, with large donations and no considerations. Ultimately, I think if this trend continues, people will just abandon radio instead, as it turns into a homogenous curation of things they're not interested in and a sterile and alien culture and community they're not committed to uplifting and supporting. I'd argue this issue is, in a way, a microcosm of the identity crisis Cleveland, as a whole, has been having for the last 10 years. And as a proud Clevelander, I would hate for people to abandon Cleveland.
I'm not really sure what could be done to change this action, if the council would agree to take this cause up, but any action is a step in the right direction. I know how poorly the "Modell Law" worked when push came to shove with the Cleveland Browns, but maybe something along those lines would work when it comes to limiting non-commercial broadcast affiliations within the county area, in order to promote a vibrant community and dissway monopolizing actors. I dunno though, thats just a thought - I'm artist, not a lawyer. If I was one, I'd probably down in city council, arguing with a ton more vigor and wit than what the written word has to offer me this late at night.
But if I can say just one more thing, on a personal note - Besides what WCSB means to the community and what it means for our culture of Cleveland.... I've lived in many through many different situations and environments, from Westlake, to Florida, to New York City. Worked with people along all walks of life, from carpet installers just trying to make their mortgage, to actors who were just waiting to quit their barista job after landing a gig that gets them famous. I even lived in hospital for about a year after falling off a roof and met a potpourri of individuals, both patients and as providers who varied as wildly as can be. All these things I've seen, and lived through, and I'd still say that WCSB was the only place I've been a part of that I felt like I truly belonged when I was there. It was like a home, to me, and to countless other former DJ's and listeners. Like our own little island of misfit toys, where we could be ourselves and not worry about being different. It was something we loved for its unique and quintessential timber of its own being. Something that we cared for and nurtured, supported and believed in. An identity we celebrated when times were good and place we could commiserate when times were not so good. We love this place - I loved this place. It was our home, our eclectic, sporadic, utterly oblique, unique, beautiful home.
Please, help us, our listeners and supporters, and the larger community who doesn't even know what they lost. Please help us get back our home.
Thank you,
DJ No Refund
Dustin Hall
The Unfair Ejection of Student Led Radio at CSU
The shameful and secretive way in which the original WCSB was stolen from the city of Cleveland cannot be left without comment from those impacted. For me, as a young person in the 80s and 90s, WCSB was a place where I could hear music that no one else would play. It showed me the possibilities of a true alternative voice on radio and I learned to love things that are not in the mainstream. From there it also supported messaging from people who are actively oppressed in many communities. Again providing an alternative that could get information to people who needed it as opposed to the purified/sanctioned messaging on other stations. Replacing that student and volunteer led voice is a major loss for Cleveland. While I don't think we know the full story of what happened, the way it was done with no interaction with the station members suggests that those with the power to do this knew they were actively doing something wrong. Had they been honest and upfront, they would have given the people who did the programming time to say goodbye to their listeners or give them a pre-arranged alternative to continue listening. Instead, they ejected the broadcasters with no warning and cut the programming over to the new format. Not only was this unprofessional, but it was also clear evidence that there is more behind this than what we have been told. There was some message or some person who the decision makers wanted to silence for some reason. Given the number of messages that are being suppressed today due to authoritarian bent in many leaders around the world, it is anyone's guess what that message might have been or who that person was. While they have been silenced for now, the college radio community won't just sit down and smile. The dishonesty won't be forgotten and the trust (CSU admin and NPR) is broken.
George H. Lenzer
WCSB 89.3 FM
There have been few cultural institutions as diverse, important, or representative of Cleveland's diverse populations as our college and community radio stations. Many cities never come close to the quality of programming available on the now defunct WCSB, and WRUW, and WJCU. Losing WCSB 89.3 FM, as it approached fifty years on air, would have been heartbreaking under any circumstances, but the approach that Ideastream and Cleveland State University took feels like the worst kind of betrayal, not only to the students and community members who volunteered to keep the station going, but to listeners spanning the globe, who turned to WCSB to discover new music, old music, weird music, music from aroind the world, or to hear about news and events happening in Cleveland and beyond. I sincerely hope, that with guidance and pressure from the Cleveland City Council, that Ideastream will agree to reverse course and restore the priceless programming, that it abruptly and unceremoniously cancelled, back to the airwaves. As a lifelong Clevelander, I can say with certainty that college radio shaped who I am as a person, and I want those opportunities to hear new sounds, new rhythms, amd new ideas to be there for generations to come.
Troy Schwartz
WCSB
The disbandment of WCSB (89.3 FM) as a student run organization has a greater impact than just those with direct connections to Cleveland State University. The station’s programming, specifically the programming being on the airwaves, serviced the people of the greater Cleveland area and was a community initiative that I can attest made many differing individuals feel represented. For many, the 1-2 hour shows that aired on the station was a way to connect to others within Cleveland both by way of hearing direct community opinions and happenings from DJs in addition to the various diverse programs on the station. The sheer rang and diversity of the programming being a direct reflection for so many groups within the fabric of our city, many of whom lacking appropriate representation in other avenues and ventures throughout the mainstream culture of Cleveland. WCSB as a student and alum organization, has amplified and held all of these diverse pieces of culture on a level playing field for all to hear, learn, and connect with. Something that a contested and dubious 24 hour Jazz station seems to stifle.
The takeover and takedown of the station by CSU, and more specifically President Bloomberg, via a covert deal with Ideastream has altered the way in which I feel connected to the people within this city. More than anything I wish to argue that the station’s broadcasting acted as a public service to the people of Cleveland. A service that has been ended without any consultation or proper amendment within the station or by anyone within the community. Please do not let community voices and initiatives end by way of greater corporate enterprise and sheer willpower. Stand to rekindle the loss of a great station and pillar of our community for the people of our city to enjoy once again.
The takeover and takedown of the station by CSU, and more specifically President Bloomberg, via a covert deal with Ideastream has altered the way in which I feel connected to the people within this city. More than anything I wish to argue that the station’s broadcasting acted as a public service to the people of Cleveland. A service that has been ended without any consultation or proper amendment within the station or by anyone within the community. Please do not let community voices and initiatives end by way of greater corporate enterprise and sheer willpower. Stand to rekindle the loss of a great station and pillar of our community for the people of our city to enjoy once again.
Tenzin
WCSB
Kevin Martin lives in the Bay Area of San Francisco, Laura Bloomberg came to Cleveland in 2021 from Minnesota. Both clueless about our culture that WCSB has helped to nourish and cultivate for almost 50 years. She is not one of us nor cares to be as she has clearly demonstrated by eradicating an icon to our City.. So we have 2 outsiders dictating our cultural identity without any understanding of what it means to be a young kid from Cleveland stumbling on the far left dial of terrestrial radio and discovering the pulse of our community or countless others in our great melting pot that found a connection to Cleveland thru WCSB. To allow this to disappear would be a tremendous loss .
Chris Swanson
WCSB
Even though I am a big fan of Ideastream and jazz, I strongly oppose their takeover of WCSB. It was one of the best college radio stations anywhere and a great service to the community. It seems especially shady that there was no public discussion on this at all. Ideastream is supposed to be one of the good guys, but they sure have not behaved like it. Also, shame on the president of Cleveland State University to agree to this. I hope this decision can be reversed.
Paul Stranahan
Resolution 1324-2025 re: WCSB
As a former Cleveland resident, alumnus of CSU, and Music Director of WCSB in the early to mid 80's, I was highly upset to hear of the transfer of programming away from students to Ideastream, purportedly in support of student "opportunities" I can say with certainty that my time at WCSB was life altering for me, providing a network of friends that have lasted a lifetime, in addition to providing valuable experience in radio management, and even encouraging me to start my own band, which over the course of the following 20 years released 13 LPs on 4 different record labels, and performed hundreds of concerts for audiences throughout the US, Canada, and mainland Europe. I can truly say without my experiences and connections made at WCSB none of that would have happened, and my life was enriched far more than any internships at a corporation could have. It is for these reasons I fully support Resolution 1324-2025, and encourage CSU and Ideastream to either return the programming to the students, or provide (not just encourage) an alternate pathway for those voices and experiences that have changed the lives of students like me for over 50 years
Mark Edwards
WCSB
For 49 years, WCSB had been gracing the airwaves of the Cleveland area until it was cut short by Cleveland State University and Ideastream on October 3rd of this year. What they took away was a culture institution that had the kind of radio freedom next to no mainstream stations offer anymore. Students, alumni, and community volunteers had a voice that was taken away and with the passing of this resolution, hopefully those voices are one step closer to being heard again.
Jerry Koenigsmark
WCSB
98 students had shows that were taken away on WCSB. How many interns from CSU will there be? This station provided service to its students and members of the community in so many ways the injustice of its closing needs to be redressed.
Hoyte King
Submissions are accepted up to 5 hours before a hearing if time slots are available