As a mission-driven station, WRTI champions music as a vital cultural resource to move and inspire, educate and entertain, all while reflecting the community we serve.
We must do more to reflect our entire community. On Juneteenth, a holiday when Black Americans commemorate the end of slavery, WRTI is responding with an all-day salute to Black classical and jazz artistry, sharing the work of many Black composers—men and women—as well as Black soloists, conductors, and performers.
WRTI’s Juneteenth programming is a celebration as well as part of our ongoing commitment to amplify underrepresented voices and perspectives in music. You will continue to hear that commitment on-air and online. These are voices and ideas that must be heard to fully appreciate just how vital this music is to our collective well-being.
WRTI is uniquely positioned to champion music. We reach over 300,000 listeners weekly and have an opportunity to impact, on a large scale, how the intersection of music and society deepens our understanding and appreciation of the world around us.
Arguably one of the greatest threats to the stability and growth of our democracy is race. Music has a powerful role to play in helping us understand how we can humbly and compassionately approach the complex issue of systemic racism and continue toward building a more perfect union.
This important work requires the many members of WRTI and the investment of partners who share our passion to amplify underrepresented voices in music. If your vision aligns with our passion and you want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Just drop us a line at musicspeaks@wrti.org.
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Bill Johnson is the general manager of WRTI.