WRTI's classical and jazz CD collection will soon be transferred to a central, searchable repository of digital music thanks to the Argus Fund, a Bucks County-based family foundation committed to music education as well as local and global humanitarian issues."The foundation believes in supporting WRTI's important role in the classical music and jazz public radio world," explains Mark Dibner, Argus Fund trustee. Providing the funds to bring the station's vast musical holdings into the computer age and making them more accessible to listeners is something that the foundation is happy to do."
Dibner also feels that WRTI is positioned for growth "by reaching more audiences, in more places, and for less money than it does currently." He believes that the station is "a public radio asset that must be preserved and maintained via all the platforms that music lovers use worldwide."
David S. Conant, WRTI's executive director, explains that with the advent of high-definition and Internet radio, having a digitized collection will allow WRTI to maximize its offerings. "This remarkable and visionary grant," he says, "allows the station to do so much more with its music assets. Listeners will soon be able to access complete music information from the station's website.
Digitization is the process of transferring audio CDs to hard disk drives, including metadata such as artist, genre, song title, or any number of additional pieces of information. This advanced technology gives WRTI's staff instant access to, and retrieval of, the music library's music content for programming, production, and public service purposes. Moreover, digitization is essential to producing and distributing program content via current and emerging electronic platforms such as HD Radio.
"Mr. Dibner believes in the sustainability and potential of WRTI," says Conant. "We are indebted to him."