BS: The End Of A Radio Era

Subject: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 14 Jul 09 - 07:38 PM

WQXR the Classical Music station of the New York Times was sold today in a 3 way deal with WNYC (NYC) and WCAA (Spanish Language Univision) which will move WQXR off the spot on the dial it has had for over 70 years in the NYC area--96.3 to the less desirable spot WCAA occupies--105.9 and have a signal that diminishes from 6000 watts to 600 (about what a college station has).

The good part is that it is now a part of WNYC and is a public radio station without commercials---just donor announcements disguised as non-commercials. Just support for Public radio---right!.

A bit of history.   WQXR was the first FM station in the nation to broadcast Classical Music (and carry the Met Opera Live) in the nation. It was the first FM station in the NYC area. 96.3 FM has been a classical fixture for over 70 years. In NY and its environs--that is the 6000 watts.

A bit of technical talk. WQXR has been "uncompressed" in its signal while other station of less power and quality of sound are "compressed" in their signal. Compression makes a weaker signal stronger (or jump out at you) with the loss of highs and lows. Not good for a Classical station. SO--what happens at 600 watts. We know not. Up to this point listening to WQXR and listening to a "compressed" station was the difference between a cheap transistor radio and a quality sound system---provided you had a good receiver and speakers.

A bit of personal thoughts. I grew up and lived in the era of WQXR. It did not allow singing commercials in the early days. It did not allow questionable subject matter in commercials. Times change and so did the station. Yet, when, on the radio, there was no alternative---after all my programs are not always on (TRADITIONS/SUNDAY SIMCHA)----there was always WQXR. And WNYC.   Both have a great history.

It can only be hoped that WNYC will keep true to its own roots and those of WQXR. As to the small staff that WQXR employed it is sad that they now have to re-apply for their positions since WNYC is now the "boss" and has staff of its own.   It is interesting that Public Radio is now in the "hiring" position after its own troubles. Lots of good donors I surmise. How that translates into salaries I do not know but am sure--hopefully---not even close to the obscene salaries paid radio and TV anchors on mainstream media.

As to WNYC and its history. If anyone wants to know more about it I assume you can check their website---or if not let me know here and I will post a dissertation--or an essay on it. Recall---it was New York City's own station until it went "private" thanks to donors when the city no longer wanted to be in radio. Mayor LaGuardia used it to his advantage--read "the funnies" to the kids, made speeches, and so on.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jul 09 - 11:30 PM

The passing of a Great Lady, part of the Great New York period.

I will never forget James Thurber's description of pulling into a gas station and demanding the mechanic find out what is wrong with his car. The guy asked him what the trouble seemed to be and he pointed with a shaking finger to an analog dial that was near the top of its range.

"Look!! That dial!! It shouldn't be reading that high, should it?"

The mechanic took a look and informed him,

"Say, Mack, that's your radio! You got her tuned to WQXR!!"




A

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Jul 09 - 11:41 PM

An announcement on www.wqxz.com says "And for the future, WQXR will continue to bring classical music to FM listeners in New York, and online listeners around the world, for a long, long time to come."

Quality of reception for FM listeners is not mentioned. I think the online quality will remain the same, but perhaps Bill H can comment on this.

I remember WQXR of many years ago. Oscar Brand was a host at the time. FM? What's that?

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Ron Davies
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 07:59 AM

Have to admit I'm of two minds on this.   Would need more information to decide. I love lots of classical music-passionately. My #1 question in a case like this is:   did (and does) the station always play the entire piece-- (aside from an opera or oratorio)-- or just a bit? It really annoys me, I'd have to say, when a station plays, say, just the second movement of the Mozart Piano Concerto #21, just because it is the movement made famous by "Elvira Madigan" a few eons ago. Classical music is far more than background for me.



A classical station should be able to trust its listeners that they are real classical fans--and want to hear a symphony, piano concerto, etc in its entirety every time.   If you are concerned about giving your listeners news, weather, traffic etc., that's certainly reasonable. But then just don't program a Mozart concerto etc. for that time.

As a result--since I have several days worth of classical music imported into my computer-- I virtually always listen to that music in the morning, rather than be spoonfed a bit of classical in between news, weather, traffic etc.    In the evening and weekends the programming is much better--they play entire pieces.

By the way, this is a musical topic par excellence--it should be above the line.

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Stringsinger
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 02:43 PM

Maybe WFMT in Chicago can take up the slack.

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: GUEST,Guest Bill H//\\
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 03:34 PM

Q: In answer to your question---logic tells us that 6000 watts vs 600 watts tells the story---though the involved parties disagree. Both stations transmit from atop the Empire State Building.

    Additionally, one has to take into consideration that WQXR has used, to my knowledge, an uncompressed signal due to the classical nature of the programming (keeping the purity and the highs and lows intact) while many commercial stations compress their signal causing more strength (focus if you will) of the signal--which loses the purity of the sound (highs and lows). So, an uncompressed 600 watt WQXR (at another less desirable spot on the dial) suffers even more in signal strength. If it gets compressed it suffers from the loss of the purity of its sound (signal).

         That said, I still have to congratulate the parties involved for making sure that a Classical station remains here. Years back we lost WNCN. That left WQXR for classical programming and most college stations to present some quality programming---even though some sound quite commercial.   WNYC, of all the parties involved, probably deserves the most praise for thinking of more than the "bottom line" and also WQXR since the Times might have held out for more money.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: RangerSteve
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 03:36 PM

My father listened to WQXR almost exclusively, so I grew up with it whether I wanted to or not (and I didn't want to). As I grew older, I learned to appreciate classical music, so listening to WQXR was a good thing after all. I moved away for a few years in the 70's, and when I returned to the NYC area, I went back to listening, but a lot of the announcers were incredibly stuffy. If they played a record that they didn't like, they had no problem telling you that they didn't like it, and neither did you. "I am a classical music announcer and you, mere listener, will like what I tell you to like, hate what I tell you to hate". I switched to WNCR, where they took a lighter approach to classical music. They switched to hard rock one night. Then I moved out of WQXR's range and haven't listened in years.

I did miss the voice of the lovely Nimet. I don't know what she looked like, but if you ever heard her, you would also assume she was lovely. She had the midnight to 5am spot. She kept me awake through plenty of night shifts. If she's still on the air, I hope they keep her forever.

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Ron Davies
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 09:26 PM

Never heard of a classical DJ saying why he or she didn't like a piece. They always give a bit of background--and may say why they do like a piece. And I like to hear the background--learn all sorts of things--e.g. Tchaikovsky didn't think much of the 1812 overture--just something he tossed off, Rachmaninoff was not at all religious, despite the Vespers (nor was Verdi, despite the Requiem), etc.

Subject: RE: BS: The End Of A Radio Era
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 11:53 PM

If you Google Nimot you will find that she is now working for The Metropolitan Museum of Art and was with WQXR for over 26 years. She also does charitable work.

There is a picture of her on Facebook---linked at Google.

Bill Hahn