WQED fm89.3 AND THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST UNVEIL THE "CAROLYN M. BYHAM WQED fm STUDIO" IN THEATER SQUARE

PITTSBURGH — WQED fm89.3 and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced the opening of the “Carolyn M. Byham WQED fm Studio” at an unveiling ceremony in Theater Square, Thursday evening, September 25. The satellite radio studio is the result of a unique partnership between WQED Multimedia, the Trust and William C. Byham, who named the studio as a surprise gift for his wife, Carolyn. WQED fm was broadcasting live from the “heart of the Cultural District” when the studio name was unveiled for the first time to the public, and to a very surprised and elated Carolyn Byham. "Carolyn Byham is a long-time supporter of the arts, and has been very active in the development of the Cultural District. She was also a long-time board member at WQED, so it is fitting that this beautiful facility be named for her," said Bill Byham, WQED board member and chair of its production and technology committee. Byham and his wife are the founders and owners of DDI International.Located in Theater Square on Penn Avenue (between the O’Reilly Theater and Katz Plaza), the radio studio is equipped with a DJ booth, production equipment and a small performance space that allows WQED fm DJs unprecedented access to musicians, performers and special guests for live interviews and chat about major cultural happenings in the city.“We’re very excited for WQED to have a presence in the ‘heart of the Cultural District,’” said George L. Miles, Jr., president and CEO of WQED Multimedia. “‘The Carolyn M. Byham WQED fm Studio’ will connect listeners to the arts and culture community and encourage residents of the region to take advantage of the extraordinary events and performances happening daily in downtown’s vibrant cultural center.” Trust CEO and President J. Kevin McMahon added, "We are very pleased to have the ‘Carolyn M. Byham WQED fm Studio’ as the newest component of Theater Square. This collaboration between WQED Multimedia and the Trust is another example of not-for-profit organizations proving that so much more can be accomplished by working together rather than independently. Live broadcasts will add energy and excitement to Pittsburgh’s performing arts center, and will provide incredible opportunities for listeners to hear on-air interviews with some of the most important performing artists of our time. As a dynamic component of Theater Square, the ‘Carolyn M. Byham WQED fm Studio’ will advance the Trust’s mission of creating an animated Cultural District.”

These live evening broadcasts mean listeners will find the nationally syndicated programs they are used to hearing on WQED fm in the prime time hours at new times. Acknowledging that some people will miss these shows, Jim Cunningham, WQED fm’s station manager, sees many benefits to the new studio. “One of the advantages to broadcasting live from the Cultural District is that we can tailor the music to evening listeners and current District performances,” said Cunningham. “We can do the same kind of hand-picking that we do in the day, so that it will be more listenable and complement what is being offered in the District that evening.”

WQED fm DJs - Jim Cunningham, Judy Canava, Paul Johnston, Stephen Baum, Ted Sohier and Anna Singer - will broadcast live from the “Carolyn M. Byham WQED fm Studio” Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight.

For a complete listing of WQED fm89.3’s new program schedule, visit www.wqed.org or call (412) 622-1400.

Designed by Michael Graves and Pittsburgh-based WTW Architects, Theater Square opened in April 2003. This $30-million, multipurpose facility has nine floors and measures 330,000 square feet. The building includes the Garage at Theater Square with 790 parking spaces; the Box Office at Theater Square, centralized ticketing office, where Cultural District patrons may purchase tickets to any performance at Benedum Center, Byham Theater, O’Reilly Theater and Pittsburgh Symphony Heinz Hall; and two large outdoor computerized video boards serve announcing information about Cultural District events and displaying original electronic art presentations curated by the Trust’s Wood Street Galleries. In the coming months, planned developments include a 250-seat cabaret theater and restaurant.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a nonprofit organization created to stimulate the economic and cultural growth of Pittsburgh through the development and promotion of a Downtown arts and entertainment district.

WQED fm89.3 went on the air in 1973 as the region’s only full-time classical music station. WQED fm89.3 is committed to providing classical music and other fine arts programming to entertain, inform and enrich the community. All-classical WQED fm is a lively advocate for the arts both locally and nationally. As the only classical station in the region, WQED fm is critical to local artists, ensembles and organizations for assistance, support and publicity. The station produces and distributes the Pittsburgh Symphony Radio series throughout the country, Performance in Pittsburgh, and the River City Brass Band. WQED fm staff is out in the community to record over 100 concerts each year. In 1997, WQED fm expanded its reach into the Johnstown market with WQEJ fm89.7/Johnstown. WQEJ fm simulcasts WQED fm’s programming in the Johnstown market, which has a rich history of support for the arts.

For additional information, please e-mail: promotion@wqed.org