'Classic FM-ification'

[Nick Armstrong]

Re. Mr. Preview's honour: indeed - bestowed, unless I've been misinformed, for services to passengers on the 49 bus route and in recognition of his unique academic paper: 'The Struggle against Nordic Noir - A Study of the Interface between Grieg's Piano Concerto and Broad-Dissemination Visual Humour'

[Albion]

Some of the programmes that now occupy the air as a stonewaller occupies the crease would have been rejected by the Third Programme either with contempt or as poor jests - especially the increasing number shorn of published details, with insensitive, disc-jockey-like removal of breathing spaces between speech and music, the bland superficiality of some of the smoother comperes patronising to the intelligent listener for whom Radio 3 purports to exist. And the frequent replacement of concert intervals by brief and unspecified readings, however good in themselves, means that the production belt of classy aural wallpaper is the more relentlessly continuous. By such pseudo-commercial behaviour is Radio 3 losing more and more of its character as a general cultural service. A network of this kind cannot avoid a high proportion of good things, but the evidence shows that the Third Programme had a respect for the listener that is not now so rigorously upheld; this is the fault not of the music production staff (though it could do much more to fight philistinism) but the responsibility of the BBC's regime.

No, not a quote from a forum member, but Robert Simpson writing in 1981 (The Proms and Natural Justice). God only knows what his opinion would be of the latter-day offal, sorry, offerings ...

[french frank]

When you hear about 'moving with the times' it's good to be given a perspective on how the times were/are changing.

[old khayyam]

Having read some earlier posts regarding 'what this thread is about', in order to exorcise these ghosts i'm forced to spell it out: As the link provided shows quite clear, we have more than ClassicFM to fear, for that commercial station all the while has perpetrated nothing but an American style. It is worthy of note, when considering the bland, that Americans seem to come hand-in-hand..!

[Don Petter]

Having read some earlier posts regarding 'what this thread is about', in order to exorcise these ghosts i'm forced to spell it out: As the link provided shows quite clear, we have more than ClassicFM to fear, for that commercial station all the while has perpetrated nothing but an American style. It is worthy of note, when considering the bland, that Americans seem to come hand-in-hand..!

It should be pointed out that if it is an American style, then it is that of their pop presentation.

The American style for classical programmes is much more akin to our 'Through the Night', with brief (and often amateur, which may amuse or annoy) introductions and no listener interaction.

[old khayyam]

It should be pointed out that if it is an American style, then it is that of their pop presentation

Sadly, it is always the lowest common denominator that gets exported.

The American style for classical programmes is much more akin to our 'Through the Night', with brief (and often amateur, which may amuse or annoy) introductions and no listener interaction.

In the British style, the announcer's input doesnt have to be brief (or entertaining) as long as it is well-informed and not being read from a card. At R3 we are oftentimes used to quite lengthy discourse between pieces, depending on the style of the programme, by someone who has wide knowledge in the field. Madness to think this used to be the over-riding qualification for the job of presenter!

Americans seem to enjoy crying 'racism' when these issues arise, but nevertheless, the co-incidence of the cheapening of BBC output and increase in Americanism cannot be denied, and is worthy of discussion.

[kernelbogey]

Americans seem to enjoy crying 'racism' when these issues arise, but nevertheless, the co-incidence of the cheapening of BBC output and increase in Americanism cannot be denied, and is worthy of discussion.

I'm unwilling to accept that this is about 'Americanisation' per se. Surely what's behind all this is a broadcasting mix that is designed as background noise which listeners will keep tuned to - and therefore expose them to as many adverts as possible. (It's commonplace to hear workmen, delivery drivers et al with this kind of station - though not 'classical' - on continuously. A cafe-restaurant near me which would consider itself upmarket has CFM on continuously.) Arguably this is 'Americanisation' to the extent that it's about the dominance of commercial values.

What's puzzling here is the clear intention of the R3 suits to offer this style of 'classical' station in the mornings, as though that's also its function - to keep listeners listening continuously. I don't get it.

Arguably the style of classical music broadcasting which I know from Austrian and Italian radio is even more bland, with the work, movement time signatures ('Andante' etc) and performers the only announcement or back-announcement. This is TTN style reduced to a minimum. I'd prefer that in the morning to what we have now.

[french frank]

What's puzzling here is the clear intention of the R3 suits to offer this style of 'classical' station in the mornings, as though that's also its function - to keep listeners listening continuously. I don't get it.

The concept - the original concept of the Third Programme - that people might carefully select the programmes they want to listen to ('make an appointment with the radio') is now accepted as outdated, part of the past that you can't turn the clock back to. And a lot of people who criticise the style of presentation here do seem to have fallen in with the ubiquitous music habit. Yes, it does stem from commercial radio where the longer people listen for, the more adverts they hear. Hence the importance of listening 'share'.

Long programmes, minimally differentiated, keep people listening. I think there should be more variety in the programmes, encouraging people to switch off . It doesn't mean they have to switch off, just that they remake the intention to listen to the next programme each time rather than drifting on for hours on end. It must become background music for a lot of the time.

[aeolium]

encouraging people to switch off

They've definitely managed that part of it very successfully with me, ff - not so good on the variety of the programmes though

[old khayyam]

A cafe-restaurant near me which would consider itself upmarket has CFM on continuously

Actually, i would welcome such a thing, esp in a cafe. From my experience, even in the highest quality restaurants, if there is any music at all, it has a beat in it.

In fact i would hazard that 90% of restaurants would be 50% better with a change of music.

[cloughie]

Actually, i would welcome such a thing, esp in a cafe. From my experience, even in the highest quality restaurants, if there is any music at all, it has a beat in it.

In fact i would hazard that 90% of restaurants would be 50% better with a change of music.

Or no music at all!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Or no music at all!

[Don Petter]

[Nick Armstrong]

[Bax-of-Delights]

Non-viewers of R3 Facebook page will be delighted to know that new pictures have just been uploaded for everyone to see of Andre Previn and Sean Rafferty in a studio love-in before their talk the other day .

Unfortunately Andre has been yclept "Andrew" in the tag. I suppose its one better than being titled "Preview".