KQAC Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Rebrand & Visual Refresh

All Classical Public Media “All Classical Portland” 89.9 KQAC Portland OR is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a rebrand and visual refresh.

The station has rebranded as “All Classical Radio” to recognize its global streaming audience in addition to its local audience. A FAQ Sheet notes that they wanted “to make sure that people know what we do, we’re a radio station, and want to celebrate our core service,” and locals already called the station by the new official name. Regarding its logo, they note, “Our refreshed look helps improve our visual recognition and representation, especially in digital spaces as we expand our content on the airwaves, online, and in the community. All Classical Radio is a leader in the public radio industry, with high listenership and ratings and innovative programs—and we want to be sure that we are seen! With a hometown touch and an international reach, All Classical Radio continues to strengthen our unique service, and this refreshed visual language more fully aligns with our well-known and well-loved programs and identity.”

KQAC is also heard on a network of signals across Western Oregon.

All Classical Portland – an independent, community-focused radio network serving nearly a quarter million listeners in the Pacific Northwest and a significant international audience – is proud to celebrate its 40th birthday this month. As part of this milestone, the station is thrilled to reintroduce itself as All Classical Radio, and to unveil its new logo and visual language in partnership with London-based boutique creative consultancy – Hyper Beau. All Classical Radio’s new brand alignment reflects its expansive geographic reach and impact, and its commitment to providing exceptional classical music experiences for loyal listeners, including millions of streams from over 100 countries across the world.

Since its inception in 1983, All Classical Radio has been dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of the region by broadcasting classical music and fostering a love for the arts. All Classical Radio is the area’s most accessible and wide-reaching resource for outstanding music, arts, and cultural programming and produces the vast majority of its content locally – a rarity in public media – demonstrating the station’s commitment to its community. Over the past four decades, the station has become a beloved institution, serving as a trusted source for classical music enthusiasts, a beacon for community connection, and a platform for talented musicians and artists of all ages.

All Classical Radio’s President and CEO, Suzanne Nance, shares, “We are honored to be recognized as a leader in public media, for high rankings in listenership as well as our innovative programming on the air and in the community. This brand alignment reflects our flourishing global reach and our welcoming hometown touch, and positions the station to improve its accessibility and visual recognition, especially in the digital media landscape. We remain committed to enhancing lives and breaking down barriers to classical music; welcoming all people and all communities to experience the power of the arts on All Classical. It’s the same wonderful station listeners have grown to love over the past four decades, with a new vibrant look!”

With the development of its new visual language, All Classical Radio had two ambitious goals: firstly, to break the category norms for classical radio, and secondly to make a big visual impact in the digitally dominated media and music scene. The new visual universe was crafted with inspiration from the 20thCentury Orphic Cubism Art movement, which sees art as the unification of sensation and color. The minimalist ‘C’ logo has been paired back to create a pure lyrical abstraction of everything that makes All Classical Radio so unique: the layers of visual symbolism oscillate between musical sound waves, performance, audience, community and culture, all within a dynamic interplay of joyful and unexpected color. The intention is for the emotional intensity of the new imagery to spark passion for classical music in its myriad forms and expressions, to allow the listener and viewer to see themselves in the station, and to speak to the hearts of All Classical music and art lovers, listeners near and far, as well as the artists celebrated by the station.

Join All Classical Radio in celebrating its 40th birthday and its exciting next chapter. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements and special events throughout the year ahead including a forthcoming comprehensive website redesign, a retrospective exhibit to be displayed at the Oregon Historical Society this fall, and All Classical Radio’s move to its new headquarters at the KOIN Tower in downtown Portland in early 2024. For more information, please visit allclassical.org.

a visualization of the logo in different contexts

About All Classical Radio
All Classical Radio is consistently ranked in the top 3 classical radio stations in the USA. The network is recognized for its bold collaborations and outreach, and for broadcasting 98% locally produced programming, including innovative music playlists, interviews, live broadcasts, and arts and culture specials. Home to the award-winning Recording Inclusivity Initiative and the International Children’s Arts Network, All Classical Radio is one of the first classical stations in the nation to name artists and composers in residence, and to develop robust youth journalism mentorships.

Broadcasting from the heart of the Pacific Northwest, All Classical Radio is an independent and community-funded radio station, providing unparalleled access to classical music, outstanding performances, information about the arts, and more since 1983. Serving nearly 250,000 local listeners in Oregon and SW Washington, thousands more stream online from 100+ countries around the globe.

This story first appeared on radioinsight.com