Skelly replaces Cowan

[jonfan]

I like Rob's idiosyncratic presentational style and am sad to see him leave R3 and wish him luck . If Classic FM could just back off on the compression ,perhaps by spending a bit of money on a few extra transmitters , I would follow him as a listener ....

I don’t think money is the issue H as CFM share transmitter sites with the BBC. It’s rather about keeping car radio people happy by making flutes as loud as tutti brass so they can be heard above engines and road noise. CD record producers must despair at having their careful balances destroyed. The few occasional CFM sponsored concerts sound even worse so the distorted sound is company policy, or just not caring that the sound in concert halls is reproduced as faithfully as possible. No it’s R3 for me every time; come on BBC roll out Concert Sound which was such a revelation at the Proms.

[Ein Heldenleben]

That's interesting because many moons ago I was told they had fewer and used compression to signal boost . You are right very difficult to compress without introducing distortion . I agree about Concert sound - really excellent

[Frances_iom]

Can I interrupt this Rob fest - Rob's expertise was used to best extent on the Saturday CD review slots - the weekday programmes were a dog's breakfast, no idea of a target audience, stupid 'competitions', even worse tweets, usually dire interviews and a cringe making 'gift' - I don't know how much say the presenters had in the format though my usual take is that money is a marvellous salve for bruised consciences - admittedly my listening stopped a few years ago but the occasional recent sampling showed no improvement at what I have often described as hospital radio (ie done on cheap for an immobile audience) - I would be very surprised if Classic FM which is there purely for the money would allow much deviation from what they consider would suit their target audience at that time of day.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't know how much say the presenters had in the format ...

I suspect it was all part of Roger Wright's Big Society.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I like Rob's idiosyncratic presentational style and am sad to see him leave R3 and wish him luck . If Classic FM could just back off on the compression ,perhaps by spending a bit of money on a few extra transmitters , I would follow him as a listener ....

Some people seem to like compression. I'm not one of them, but Frau A often complains that music is too loud or too quiet.

[Frances_iom]

I suspect it was all part of Roger Wright's Big Society.

Ah yes, right in name only and wrong on everything else. But he had a great entertainment allowance.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Compression is pretty much key to most pop and rock music - e,g Elton John's piano sound which doesn't sound like any piano I have ever heard . All radio stations have to use it (and some pretty savage limiting ) but at least on R3 it's done with a bit of subtlety even if it does mean constantly adjusting the car radio. To my ears the compression on Classic FM affects the timbre of instruments particularly piano ( apologies for going off thread ) .

[french frank]

I don't know how much say the presenters had in the format

The format seemed to follow Radio 3's original commissioning brief of 2007; and from memory the renewed brief looked pretty much the same except the full-length work was not mentioned. So the programme format would have been signed off by the then controller, I presume. How to make Radio 3 less elitist and more Three for All.

[Wrong thread, though, as I was talking about Essential Classics]

[antongould]

CF FF's stats up thread:

I keep asking myself if so many people on here are so bitter and disappointed, then who on earth is the BBC asking about audience input to help planning? Because it sure as heck ain't many people who come on here.

I can't remember ever reading autumn / winter season postings on these boards in which so many seem to be suggesting that in fact they simply do not listen any more or listen far, far less than heretofore. If that is the case more generally, and many above are suggesting that the younger end are not listening either, then FGS who is advising the BBC on their audience's opinions? Or maybe they just don't give a monkey's?

I hope Rob Cowan is looking at some of the responses on these threads and, after secretly chortling at the BBC's probs, actually relaying core opinions to his erstwhile bosses? Maybe he and others HAVE tried to bend minds and failed, hence the ship-jumping?

So is it not just the young changing their listening patterns, but with iPlayer, CDs, utube, etc etc, ALL generations are, and the poor Beeb like a massive oil tanker is still struggling to decide what on earth to do about it and how to turn round?

I am only asking, and will put my head back below the parapet immediately, but do we gathered here think we are a fair cross section of the 67% of R3 listeners over 54 per ff's figures ..... ????

[cloughie]

I am only asking, and will put my head back below the parapet immediately, but do we gathered here think we are a fair cross section of the 67% of R3 listeners over 54 per ff's figures ..... ????

anton, I think that each of us probably has a fairly unique taste and varied repertoire of recorded music on their shelves, scattered over the floor and wafting through our heads. on that basis we are a fair cross section and all difficult to please!

[french frank]

I am only asking, and will put my head back below the parapet immediately, but do we gathered here think we are a fair cross section of the 67% of R3 listeners over 54 per ff's figures ..... ????

We can't know, but I'd say no, I'm sure we're not. But I also think it's not entirely relevant since R3 has been trying for 15 years to attract listeners who aren't like us. We have always been 'the wrong kind of listener' because we are not representative of the population of the UK. Ergo …

[cloughie]

We can't know, but I'd say no, I'm sure we're not. But I also think it's not entirely relevant since R3 has been trying for 15 years to attract listeners who aren't like us. We have always been 'the wrong kind of listener' because we are not representative of the population of the UK. Ergo …

ff - I think you are stereotyping 'us'.

[french frank]

ff - I think you are stereotyping 'us'.

I'm not saying we're not all (on the forum) very different: you and I have very different tastes. That doesn't make either of us less 'Radio 3 listeners'.

[french frank]

I'm not saying we're not all (on the forum) very different: you and I have very different tastes. That doesn't make either of us less 'Radio 3 listeners'.

And to be more explicit: if they 'popularise' certain classical programmes they can be fairly sure it will attract people who have more popular tastes who will enjoy these programmes and start listening to them. They know there are listeners who want single movements rather than full works, who want to participate with their requests and suggestions, but I don't think the majoprity of us want that (unless they've all been keeping very quiet ) . Popularising means bigger audiences.

[cloughie]

I'm not saying we're not all (on the forum) very different: you and I have very different tastes. That doesn't make either of us less 'Radio 3 listeners'.

Yes but anton was asking about a cross section of the overall 67% and the cross section within the forum inputs to the overall cross section.