Photo by Darwyn

You might want to keep your ears close to WAMU’s Bluegrass Country station over the next few months because it might not be around next year. Due to D.C.’s changing demographics, WAMU is selling the music service, according to a release from the station. And if they can’t find a new owner by December 31, the service will stop altogether.

WAMU’s bluegrass offerings have been available for nearly 50 years. What began as a half hour show has grown into a 24 hour music station at 105.5 FM. It’s also streamed online.

Recently though, WAMU hired two companies to conduct studies to find out what listeners want to hear and what they’ll financially support over the next five years. Both reports came back saying that Bluegrass isn’t it. Instead, listeners flock to the public radio station for its news value.

Last fall, a couple of the station’s most popular hosts announced other changes. Kojo Nnamdi said that his show would be cut in half and only focus on “critical regional issues.” And Diane Rehm, whose two-hour newsmagazine program is recorded at WAMU and syndicated across the country, told The Washington Post that she’ll likely retire this year after the presidential election. The station is also trying to build new listenership with a focus on producing podcasts.

Staff members are “proud of the bluegrass legacy WAMU helped build over the past 49 years,” according to the release, which also adds that the ideal situation would be to find a new owner for the service.

The station has launched a public search for an individual or group to take over the music service. Interested parties can complete a proposal form online.