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10 Feb 05 - 10:30 PM (#1405360) Subject: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST I feel compelled to lift this quote from a rather well known folk DJ: " ... WETA in Washington, D.C. one of the foremost classical/diversified music stations in the country announced today (after someone leaked it) that the station will go to all news/talk, mostly from NPR. Apparently the program director pleaded to go the other direction and drop the NPR programming the station already carried, but CEO Sharon Rockefeller deemed otherwise. I have been told there are major demonstrations occurring outside the station. Maybe Mary could fill us in. This is a very sad day for American radio." |
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10 Feb 05 - 11:50 PM (#1405426) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,another folk dj There have been no demonstrations. There have been thousands of e-mails, letters and phone calls, and we expect a huge hit in PR & membership & $$. Demonstrations would be refreshing. Mrs. Rockefeller's letter is on the WETA.org website. After 35 successful years, obviously the fix was in. As the letter says, weekends will continue to include Car Talk, Traditions and A Prairie Home Companion. |
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11 Feb 05 - 01:38 AM (#1405453) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Linda Goodman Zebooker It was so very heartwarming to hear each of the approximately 20 people who were allowed to speak about this matter in the Public Comment section of the WETA Board meeting. One person after another got up and collectively gave dozens of utterly pursuasive reasons that classical music programming is needed in the DC area. Several people mentioned "Traditions" and Mary Cliff's contributions to the community specifically, to applause from the other speakers and the observers lining the walls. The line- up of speakers was jaw-dropping: members of the NSO; the Washington Opera Orchestra; a representative of the instantly created ad hoc consortium of all the big-name musical arts groups in the area, including the 100-million dollar Strathmore Music Center which OPENED FIVE DAYS AGO. And the board members sat with inch-thick folders containing "a SAMPLING" of the letters and emails the station received over the past few days protesting this change. How could the Board fail to be swayed by this glittering testimony? How could they vote other than to keep and expand WETA's community- based classical music programming? Little did I think these were just words spoken on the execution platform with the hooded man behind us. What a shock to hear from one of the people who was able to stay on until fter the closed session to witness the actual vote. "It did not go well". I could not believe my ears. |
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11 Feb 05 - 09:42 AM (#1405806) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Charlie Baum Aer there any groups organizing yet to set up a translator station to boost the signal from WBJC out of Baltimore (or some other classical station) into the DC area? --Charlie Baum |
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11 Feb 05 - 10:15 AM (#1405827) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Bill D as "guest" says...(HI, guest...*smile*) it is obvious that this was decided, controlled, planned,....yes, FIXED....long before the 'vote'. There was no doubt what the outcome of that vote would be. Looking at the lineup planned, it simply pits WETA against WAMU in weekday hours. I don't think I'll switch my dial to help 'em out. I'm trying to think of a catchy phrase that describes this "adventure": "Cutting off your nose to spite your face"?...no, not exactly, though the flavor is there.. "Waist deep in the Big Muddy"?...nawwwwww....but I can see waters rising. "Burning your bridges behind you"?...getting closer...... "Putting all your eggs in one basket"?....more like putting all your eggs in someone else's basket, perhaps.... I give up....let's just call it silly and ill-advised. I predict a decline in revenue the next few beg-a-thons. |
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11 Feb 05 - 01:00 PM (#1406035) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: KathWestra Charlie, as I mentioned in the other thread on this subject (might be good for someone to put a link here!), WBJC has been actively fundraising to improve its transmission. I hope they succeed. I've sent them a contribution! (Despite moving to Maine, I am still a WBJC member because I think it's important to support them.) WBJC is an excellent all-classical station with well-informed DJs and programming that goes far beyond the pablum "top 40" classical hits that WETA has been playing, particularly on its daytime classical shows. WBJC actually plays entire symphonies. Entire concerti. Things by composers who don't usually get airtime. All the hotshots at WETA could learn a thing or two from this approach: WBJC speaks to the intelligence and knowledge of your listeners. They don't make their classical programming on a par with elevator music. What a concept. |
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11 Feb 05 - 01:04 PM (#1406043) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: KathWestra Here's a link to the other Mudcat thread on this subject: Original WETA thread |
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11 Feb 05 - 01:08 PM (#1406050) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Teresa the other thread on this topic |
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11 Feb 05 - 01:33 PM (#1406096) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: M.Ted The deal is(or at least used to be) that if you run any NPR stuff, you must pay them for all of it--They probably had to choose between cutting costs by eliminating music programming, or cutting costs by dumping NPR-- Conventional wisdom is that it is harder to get grant money to underwrite music programming than it is to get it for news and features, even though the listening audience prefers music--so, on a certain level, the decision was a no-brainer-- The thing is, with a little creativity and imagination, and a bit of motivation, it is possible to keep music on the air--the thing is, this being Washington, creativity, imagination, and motivation are not encouraged-- -- |
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11 Feb 05 - 03:49 PM (#1406260) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L Bill, how about "This symphony is dedicated to the memory of a great radio station" (with apologies to Beethoven)? |
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11 Feb 05 - 11:31 PM (#1406786) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Kaleea The PBS radio station in my old hometown where I was born vanished from my radio one Sunday morning. I found out that they went out of business due to lack of funds. Scary stuff! The local university started a new station, but it never was the same variety of Music & shows. |
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12 Feb 05 - 04:58 PM (#1407523) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Padre Here's the answer I got when I wrote to the station. They just didn't get it, and I blame whoever put Sharon Rockefeller in charge: Dear Fr. McHenry, I understand your sense of loss. We at WETA are enormously proud to have served the Washington area with classical music programming for many years. This was not an easy decision for us. I know that this change will be difficult for some and I am disappointed to know that valued friends and listeners like you are let down by the outcome. Yet, this is the right choice for our diverse, cosmopolitan community and the right choice for WETA. In addition to the unparalleled quality of National Public Radio (NPR) programs, our new schedule will feature programs that are new and unique to the Washington airwaves, including the "BBC Newshour," BBC's "Global Report," and NPR's "Day to Day with Alex Chadwick." We will introduce 40 hours of new programming to this market. The evolution of this decision began a few years ago and was influenced by a number of considerations. We explored many format options, including all-classical, but always arrived at several important factors. One was changing listening trends. The number of listeners and contributions to classical music program segments has declined steadily. High ratings are not our goal, but a continuing decline in ratings signals that audiences are not staying with us. We ended 2004 with our worst ratings in 15 years. Meanwhile new technologies such as satellite radio and Internet music streaming have gained listenership. Another consideration was providing a public service not being offered by any other radio station in this market. In the past, WETA 90.9 FM has at times aired BBC news coverage and we found that many of our listeners desired more global news and viewpoints that offered context to world events. We learned much about how we could fill that void. Our new lineup includes programming from the BBC not currently available in the Washington area. We are excited about bringing valuable news and public affairs programs to our listeners. Make no mistake, there's an element of sadness to parting with wonderful classical music programming, but we hope you will give the new programs a chance. Please tune in and let us know what you think. Thank you for the time and support you have given us. Sincerely, Danielle Dunbar Audience Services Coordinator WETA 2775 S. Quincy Street Arlington, VA 22206 (703) 998-2724 ddunbar@weta.com P.S. If you would like more information about how to access classical music streams on the Internet, I'd be happy to send you a list of Web sites. |
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12 Feb 05 - 05:56 PM (#1407579) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Ron Davies "Number of listeners to classical broadcasts has declined steadily"--I wonder why--maybe because it's been progressively harder to even find classical programming on WETA. They lost me when they made the brilliant move to drop morning classical music in order to broadcast Morning Edition directly opposite WAMU, which was already doing it. I also agree with Kathy Westra--bite-size classical is not what we're looking for----e.g. if you're going to play Mozart Piano Concerto #21, there's more to it than the "Elvira Madigan" Adagio--we need a little faith in the listeners that they do in fact like classical music, and could likely tolerate an entire concerto or symphony. After all, we're not asking for the entire uninterrupted Ring (though Garrison Keillor had a skit in which while "classical pieces of longer length" were playing, the DJ, masked for the occasion, would ride through the countryside collecting" involuntary donations" for public radio.) At any rate, WETA should spare us their crocodile tears--we certainly will spare them our financial support--and send some of it to WBJC. |
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13 Feb 05 - 11:12 AM (#1408111) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: WFDU - Ron Olesko "we certainly will spare them our financial support--and send some of it to WBJC." That is certainly something you should do, but the sad fact is - it doesn't matter to the management of WETA. This move was not made to attract more donors - it was made to attract more listeners. There is a huge difference between donors and listeners. WETA can go the talk route and potentially attract more listeners, but those listeners won't be the loyal donor demographic that supported the classical program. What it will do is draw more corporate underwriting as companies will realize that they will target audiences that buy their product. Don't let that "non-commercial" crap fool you. When the FCC (a four letter word in my house) opened up the rules to allow "underwriting" a number of years ago, it started the slippery slope that you now see. IF you want to be effective, find out the names of the corporations that are undewriting this "new" programming on WETA. Send your letters to them - not some empty suit at WETA. This is not just a problem in DC. All across the country public radio stations are dropping programming for changes like this. Local flavor disappears. Talk is cheap - you do not have to pay royalties to musicians, syndicated programming is readily available, and you make money. I work (volunteer actually) at a non-commercial radio station that is owned and operated by a university in Teaneck, NJ. We are not part of NPR or any other public radio network. We do not have large underwriters. We still rely on listener donations (and we are in the midst of our fund drive). My station is part of a dieing breed. What happened at WETA is a crime, however it is not something that happened overnight. It will only get worse unless people speak up and change the elected officials that made these changes possible. |
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13 Feb 05 - 01:05 PM (#1408214) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,Ken J. in Michigan Fans of minority musics can protest all they want, but if our experience in Ann Arbor is any guide, the station execs and consultants know exactly what they are doing and will make their audience-size and listener contribution targets. WUOM, the NPR station of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, dumped classical music a few years back. The classical listeners stamped their feet, but the station's audience rocketed upwards with the change. As a classical station their audience was pitiful; as a NPR news/talk station they are have the largest audience in the county, for any format, and their listener contributions are way up. Classical music fans need to buy into satellite radio or internet streaming radio. (I have another rant about how the business future for classical music looks a lot like folk music, but that's for another time.) |
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13 Feb 05 - 01:26 PM (#1408229) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Bill D well, those last two posts helped clarify the situation, but didn't cheer me up much..*wry look*.... when you vote next time, remember who started the trend of denying government grants to NPR a few years back and began the "underwriting" stupidity, and remember who controls many companies that are getting this relatively cheap advertising under the guise of 'supporting the arts" etc. How far are we from those "underwriters" beginning to explicity influence what stories and issues are reported? If they can control a lot of the content of NPR, it won't be necessary to pay the likes of Armstrong Williams promote a 'certain' agenda. |
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13 Feb 05 - 01:46 PM (#1408253) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: WFDU - Ron Olesko "How far are we from those "underwriters" beginning to explicity influence what stories and issues are reported?" Not far at all. Corporations have a tremendous influence on content already. I am convinced that satellite radio and a handful of true "public" radio stations will survive. Satellite in particular is perfect for "narrowcasting" these types of programs. Less face facts, it is meant for a niche audience. |
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13 Feb 05 - 01:55 PM (#1408265) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Bill D so far, I don't know how to get Child Ballads and Uncle Dave Macon by satellite in a way I can just tune in when I'm in the shop or the car....and I'm too old to wait much longer. I expect I'll just hold on to CDs and MP3s that *I* program myself. I have enough material to play a different 'set' like an LP every day for 2 years with no repeats. I can tune into some NPR station now & then to hear the news, maybe....if I decide the news can be trusted. At least right now, it's sort of interesting and not totally conservative! |
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13 Feb 05 - 02:23 PM (#1408287) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,Ken J. in Michigan (Digression to Bill D. For the last three years, much of my radio listening has been to the folk & world music shows of the BBC, streamed over the Internet. For car use, it takes a bit of advance planning, but I tape the shows to minidisc and play them back through the adapter when I'm on my long commutes, and a friend has an even better setup which tapes directly to MP3. Archie Fisher's "Travelling Folk" show on BBC Radio Scotland might even start to approach Bill's desired mix of Child Ballads and Dave Macon, on a good night, though I have heard some militant traditionalists complain that even Archie's show doesn't have enough traditional song in it. End digression... sorry, I'm just really evangelical about these programmes.) |
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13 Feb 05 - 03:18 PM (#1408333) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L Thank you, WFDU Ron Olesko, Bill D,and Guest Ken J. in Michigan, for your comments today. They explain a lot. So sad, so true. |
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13 Feb 05 - 06:21 PM (#1408526) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Bill D that's not a bad digression, Ken. Yes..I know how to do most of that and have both a mini-disk and and MP3 player. I do have the well-know CRS syndrome and usually forget to plan my recording, remember which program will do which tricks, get plugged in, etc... I do appreciate having these ideas and links, though, and may well get better organized one of these days. In many ways, there are too many options. For years, it was "record what you want on a cassette and take the cassette along"....now 'better' means having 4-5 options of just what hardware to use. (and I have a malfunctioning 12 volt plug in my van...and batteries are expensive...) so...thanks anyway. I will check out the BBC shows to go along with my current favorite, The Obsolete Music Show |
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15 Feb 05 - 10:52 AM (#1410460) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: JedMarum ... seems the centralized, corporate approach to radio broadcasting is the way these stations think they can compete for "marketshare" economically, and efficiently. I too mourn the loss of 'local flavor' and hope one of the stations will show the way - set your broadcast goals, aim for excellence, build your local audience and fund the enterprise through the variety of means available. Who says you have to have 'marketshare' to be worthwhile? |
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15 Feb 05 - 09:14 PM (#1411326) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L I know that BBC also carries a lot of good classical music. Can you get BBC on satellite radio, or am I mixing apples and oranges? |
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15 Feb 05 - 11:37 PM (#1411445) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,Ken J. in Michigan |
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15 Feb 05 - 11:45 PM (#1411453) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,Ken J. in Michigan er, oops... Digression for Pauline above: I am unaware that any of the BBC music channels are available on satellite radio. I have a carpooler with XM, and I'm pretty sure there is no BBC music on that system. Most of the BBC classical music is on Radio 3, which is available for internet streaming. Radio 3 also carries a number of world music shows; the one I have been enjoying the most is Late Junction, which is a blend of world and folk and classical music. The exact mix varies with the week; LJ did a folk-intensive week with lots of live broadcasts from Glasgow during the Celtic Connections festival. The irony for me is that, having come to BBC Radio 3 for the folk/world music shows, I've gotten drawn into more classical music than I'd listened to in years. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 |
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15 Feb 05 - 11:57 PM (#1411465) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,Art Thieme How about, Seeming necessity is the mother of strange bedfellows. ---and If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can usually depend on the support of Paul. I'm quite sad for all the loyal listeners. Art |
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16 Feb 05 - 06:26 PM (#1412423) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L Thanks for the digression and the link, Guest Ken J. in Michigan. Does anyone know when the change at WETA will occur? |
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16 Feb 05 - 06:46 PM (#1412454) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L I will post this here and also on the other current thread re WETA. I just checked the link to BBC radio 3 provided by Guest Ken J in Michigan. That site provides information on various ways to listen to BBC radio 3. One is DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), and it sounds like what we've been calling "satellite radio." It uses a special receiver which costs less than 100 GBP. They also describe an alternate method. "In some other territories, Radio 3 is available on the Astra satellite and via cable." Is this "Astra satellite" something different? |
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17 Feb 05 - 12:33 PM (#1413049) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L It looks like PBS TV may be going the same route as WETA. At least, the issues are similar, as reported in the NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/17/business/media/17pbs.html?ex=1266382800&en=5e0c9eeb7791cd10&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo |
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17 Feb 05 - 02:29 PM (#1413171) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Charlie Baum The last full day of classical music will be Friday, Feb. 25th. There will be the usual classical shows on through the next weekend (Feb 26 and 27), and the station drops all music on Feb 28th, except for the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on Saturday (probably contracted through the end of the opera season), Mary Cliff's Traditions show, and A Prairie Home Companion. There's a new schedule available on their website, but I'll be damned before I provide a link to publicize the unappetizing stuff they will be serving. --Charlie Baum |
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17 Feb 05 - 02:32 PM (#1413174) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: Pauline L Thanks, Charlie. I share your sentiments. |
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17 Feb 05 - 03:24 PM (#1413231) Subject: RE: End of Music on WETA? From: GUEST,bear For anyone trying to find classical radio on the web, this is a pretty good resource: http://www.operacast.com/opstations.htm Wherein, if you scroll down a bit, you'll find a list of stations worldwide that do streaming audio, what kbps rates they stream at, and what players they're geared for, as well as direct links to their audio streams and schedule pages. (Note that this site is opera specific, but where there's opera there's usually everything else too -- including folk music programming, if you look hard enough.) There are also links to Real Audio, et al., for downloading players, and a very useful little article called "Internet Radio for Simpletons", for anyone who finds all this utterly mystifying. Happy surfing, B. |