Delete WardMaking a Public Comment
Council welcomes public comment before regular council meetings. Fill out the online form below for your chance to make a public comment at the next regular Monday Council meeting. Please read the revised rules and procedures.
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Public Comments
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I would like to express my hope that Cleveland City Council can do something to help counteract Ideastream and CSU’s destruction of the cultural fabric of our city. The way they went about this, behind closed doors and without public input, is the antithesis of the supposed transparency and free speech Ideastream claims to support.
Cleveland champions itself as the “rock and roll city” and one of the best independent college radio stations that championed lesser known artists was just junked for a Spotify algorithm of mid century mainstream jazz.
But WCSB was more than a radio stations it was the essence of community. In a town that has lost so much media in the past 20 years it was a venue for artists of all types to get the word about their shows, performances, exhibits, etc. The loss of this resource will be catastrophic to the cultural fabric of our community.
And for what? To accomplish the pet project of a California based CEO and the dreams of a couple of millionaire donors? That’s not Cleveland.
If we are going to continue to grow arts and culture in this city we need WCSB. If we are going to promote the Rock Hall and its importance to the city, we need WCSB. We don’t need pre programmed jazz.
On the morning of October 3rd, 2025, Ideastream abruptly and unceremoniously took over the on-air signal of Cleveland State University’s student and community run radio station, WCSB, which was about celebrate its 50th anniversary, replacing an eclectic mix of music and public affairs programs, with an all jazz format.
Why? Ideastream CEO Kevin Martin cites results of a “study” that showed Cleveland listeners want a conventional radio station devoted to 24 hour jazz programming, without offering any specifics. Cleveland State President Laura Bloomberg framed the arrangement as a ”strategic partnership.” Interestingly, those involved in the deal were bound by NDAs ahead of the October 3rd date. The people most involved with the radio station — the students, station engineer, and community volunteers — were literally the last to know.
There is clearly more to the story as even a cursory glance of the scant available details reveals. At a minimum, those directly involved in the takeover need to publicly explain and justify their actions.
Please, do whatever is in your power to hold them accountable. To date, such inquiries from current and former CSU students have been met with smug indifference.
Respectfully,
Lawrence Kren
Case Western Reserve University engineering graduate and former volunteer programmer at WRUW