...Do Bing & Ella belong on Radio Three?

[Guest]

...I don't think so,no.Those of us who turn on R3 have made a conscious
descision as to the quality of Music to which we would like to listen-
There's nothing wrong with Ella Fitzgerald or Bing Crosby-excepting they
are not my choice and are available in many other Radio Stations & mediums...

[Mr Pee]

I agree. I love Ella Fitzgerald at the right time and in the right place, but I don't believe that Breakfast is that time or place. Rob also played some Sinatra the other morning- again, wonderful stuff, but it's not why I listen to Radio3, unless it's a specifically jazz oriented programme. At the time of writing, Radio 3 is still a predominantly classical station, although that may have changed by the time I've finished my cup of tea.

[Norfolk Born]

There's nothing wrong with Ella Fitzgerald or Bing Crosby-excepting they
are not my choice...

'Nuff said, I think.

[Eudaimonia]

Radio 3 was playing jazz when it was the Third Programme in 1964. Are you seriously suggesting it become a "classical only" station? That's never been what R3 was about.

That said, what could possibly be wrong with doing a survey to find out what percentage of potential listeners switch off because they can't stand a mixed-genre morning show? If they're alienating more people than they're attracting, it's counterproductive. Who are your core listeners, and how can you give them what they want within the framework of your organizational mission? Personally, I'm not seeing why they should have a mixed-genre morning show, but I'm assuming somebody somewhere originally had a good reason and didn't just pull it out of his hat.

Should it be re-examined? It couldn't hurt. Is it a big deal in the overall scheme of things? Not specifically--but if they're losing enough of their core audience over it, it's definitely a problem. Nobody will ever know any of this stuff without good metrics.

Originally Posted by Freddie Campbell
There's nothing wrong with Ella Fitzgerald or Bing Crosby-excepting they
are not my choice...
'Nuff said, I think.

No, it's not enough at all. Why? Because you can't program a publicly-funded radio station based on personal preferences alone. Personally, I'd keep them both off the breakfast show, give Ella her own 15 minutes as a short, late-night programme-between-programmes and never play Bing at all. But that doesn't matter.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well Alyn did a library on Bing and a huge debate ensued, eventually i succumbed! Bing did come from the world as well as the age of jazz ... and so did Ms Fitzgerald...

that said, there can be a world of difference between their recordings, they both recorded plenty of Hollywood schmaltz .... and imv this morning's Ella was in that category ....

whereas ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsgP4Hjgyv4

is rather more engaging eh?

Rob does slip in the odd bit of jazz, and needs encouraging to select the real thing, he can fall prey to rather easy listening choices ...


it is a matter of concern to the jazz fraternity that R3 never plays jazz at the right time!

[Mr Pee]

it is a matter of concern to the jazz fraternity that R3 never plays jazz at the right time!

And it is a matter of concern to the classical fraternity that they all too often play Jazz at the WRONG time!!

[Globaltruth]

Ever listened to Words + Music?
latest playlist here... on a regular basis quite likely to find Ella, Bing, Christopher Logue, Bob Dylan, Cole Porter et al...

[Freddie Campbell]

...Sure,wonderful! I have to say though,that at least Classic FM does NOT have an identity
Chrisis! And since it's inception R3 has developed one,IMV. But my problem is more with lack
of coherance at times- trying (like Tony Blair) to be "All Things to All People"(& not succeeding!)

[french frank]

That said, what could possibly be wrong with doing a survey to find out what percentage of potential listeners switch off because they can't stand a mixed-genre morning show? If they're alienating more people than they're attracting, it's counterproductive. Who are your core listeners, and how can you give them what they want within the framework of your organizational mission? Personally, I'm not seeing why they should have a mixed-genre morning show, but I'm assuming somebody somewhere originally had a good reason and didn't just pull it out of his hat.

I did answer your more general point about surveys in a post which is now somewhat buried.

As for Breakfast, we do know (because quarterly listening figures are published) that the programme hasn't yet reached the listening levels of its predecessor, Morning on 3, and that of those who do listen many are discontented. And of those who quite like the programme, many/most will agree that they also dislike specific aspects which the 'whingers' whinge about.

That said, Bing on Jazz Library pleased the jazz fans, I think, but would they want to listen to 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' on Breakfast?

[amateur51]

...But my problem is more with lack
of coherance at times

Don't be too hard on yourself, Fred

[Norfolk Born]

Message #3 was meant to be ironic. I would never suggest that particular composers or performers be kept off Radio 3 simply because I don't like them or they don't appeal to me. But it appears that, to some people at least, personal preference may be a good enough reason to suggest such a drastic course of action!

[Frances_iom]

.. "All Things to All People"(& not succeeding!)

I don't know - they have found a role for KD - a leader of the red nose Kazoo band at the Albert Hall - a mega investment by our own RW to drag in the crowds and raise the culture level to previously undreamt of heights

[John Wright]

I'm probably one of the bigger Bing and Ella fans on here. Being an Arts & Culture station they DO have a place on Radio 3, but I don't think Breakfast is one of those places.

Problem is: Bing and Ella hardly get a look in over at Radio 2. The odd track maybe on R2 Breakfast but always the very 'commercial' tracks, and more possible inclusion, only, on Friday Night and Sunday Night programmes.

[Freddie Campbell]

...Try not to be Amateur! But you see my point-just as TB offered "sound bites" instead of
genuine policy,so R3 similarly tries Listeners out with the odd misplaced Lyric by EF or BC...

[Peter Katin]

I'm probably one of the bigger Bing and Ella fans on here.

Does it help if I say that Ella was a great love of classical music?