Radio 3 reaches its nadir

[french frank]

Children in Need occurs every November. Red Nose Day is in March (SM-P donned said article and learnt the 'cello Ground of the Pachelbel Canon this year).

That solves that point, then. The Justin Bieber song (also arranged by Steve Pycroft) was for Comic Relief. Will this become a twice-yearly spectacle (auricle?)

[Hornspieler]

Ye reap what ye sow.

All these messages decrying what is happening to Radio 3 and nobody is bothering to listen to what is on offer now.

Take a look at the Performance thread. How many replies are there to the OPs promoting forthcoming broadcast performances?

Usually less than half a dozen.

Were it not for the likes of salymap, JLW, Petrushka and Ams51, nobody would know that these broadcasts had taken place.

Hornspieler

[Richard Tarleton]

HS, I don't think there is necessarily any argument over Performance on 3. As has been remarked before, lots of people may listen without necessarily feeling they have anything to contribute. I can see what's on from the Radio Times. I comment on lunchtime chamber concerts whenever I feel I have anything to say. That is not relevant to what has happened to R3's output during much of the day, and where concern has been focused. For example, there has no lack of support on this forum for EMS (I've never seen you comment on that) and a fat lot of good that has done

[teamsaint]

Listening patterns have changed, HS.

and , though there are some great evening concerts, the repertoire can be pretty predictable at times.
Last year, IIRC, there was the Proms Beethoven cycle, followed by another one in late September !

In some way we are blessed with a vast array of musical choice now, in a way which was unthinkable only 10 years ago.
Its a big challenge for music radio, as Tony Hall has pretty much accepted, but I'm not sure that R3 , for instance, is rising to the challenge.

For instance, if I am interested in Early music, its an absolute doddle to go and hear a massive variety online. But good informative information, of an educative, accessible entertaining kind, is not so easily found, although there is much out there. The EMS seemed to be doing a pretty good job in that regard.

Shows like EMS, Discovering music, COTW are surely an area where strengths need to be developed, both to ensure audiences, and that remits are being met?

[french frank]

Ye reap what ye sow.

All these messages decrying what is happening to Radio 3 and nobody is bothering to listen to what is on offer now.

Are you saying the forum members are responsible for what's happening to Radio 3? It doesn't mean no one at all is listening to the concert. It doesn't even mean that no forum members are listening. They're just not posting comments.

[Don Petter]

Some of us always used to listen to R3 during the mornings. (It depends on family and daily patterns.)

That has become a no-go area, hence few comments.

[EdgeleyRob]

Some of us listen,but feel a little out of their depth posting amongst the heavyweights.
The Classic FM evening concerts are sometimes more interesting than the often predictable Radio 3 broadcasts.
How many Mahler 5's do we need ?

[Hornspieler]

HS, I don't think there is necessarily any argument over Performance on 3. As has been remarked before, lots of people may listen without necessarily feeling they have anything to contribute. I can see what's on from the Radio Times. I comment on lunchtime chamber concerts whenever I feel I have anything to say. That is not relevant to what has happened to R3's output during much of the day, and where concern has been focused. For example, there has no lack of support on this forum for EMS (I've never seen you comment on that) and a fat lot of good that has done

Good morning Richard,

Well, I don't normally contribute on the EMS threads because I do not claim to have anything to offer on the subject of early music.

My point is that those who wish the BBC to listen to their complaints and suggestions (and to the complaints and suggestions of others) would be more likely to be heeded if they were to give more indication that they are committed listeners to the whole Radio 3 output throughout the 24 hours and not just one particular area of artistic expression.

HS

Arise, slaves! You've nothing to lose but your chains!

[teamsaint]

just to go marginally off topic...the "Manfred " gets another live evening concert airing this week, only about 3 weeks after the last one.

Now I really like the work, but this is surely very poor programming?

[Don Petter]

My point is that those who wish the BBC to listen to their complaints and suggestions (and to the complaints and suggestions of others) would be more likely to be heeded if they were to give more indication that they are committed listeners to the whole Radio 3 output throughout the 24 hours and not just one particular area of artistic expression.

HS

If we complain about the cabbage each day to the waiter, but continue to eat it, nothing much is likely to change.

At least if we leave it on the plate the chef might eventually realise something could be wrong. (Though some hope with the current chef!)

[Mr Pee]

My point is that those who wish the BBC to listen to their complaints and suggestions (and to the complaints and suggestions of others) would be more likely to be heeded if they were to give more indication that they are committed listeners to the whole Radio 3 output throughout the 24 hours and not just one particular area of artistic expression.

I would have thought that they are more likely to heed complaints and reverse the ClassicFMization of R3 if they start losing listeners. If we all complain about it but keep tuning in, it just gives the impression that we're not really that bothered. I have pretty much abandoned R3 in the mornings; last Saturday's car crash of a breakfast show was just about the final straw. Perhaps if enough people do the same they will think again.

And as for your comment about lack of replies to the forthcoming broadcasts posts, well, what is there to say about a broadcast that hasn't yet taken place ? It's hardly surprising if that is not the liveliest part of the forum.

[Richard Tarleton]

Good morning Richard,

My point is that those who wish the BBC to listen to their complaints and suggestions (and to the complaints and suggestions of others) would be more likely to be heeded if they were to give more indication that they are committed listeners to the whole Radio 3 output throughout the 24 hours and not just one particular area of artistic expression.

HS

Morning HS! I would make the proviso that we have to sleep sometime, in my case (regrettably) during Through the Night

In fact I did more or less what you say - singling out the BBC orchestras and the New Generation Artists programme (as well as the EMS) for special praise - in my letter of 30 September to Lord Hall. I have yet to receive an acknowledgement, but he has been busy

My main point in my letter was to do with something I know a little bit about, demographics and audience segmentation, and RW's flawed strategy therein. I'll keep you posted, if I hear any more

[Richard Tarleton]

If we all complain about it but keep tuning in, it just gives the impression that we're not really that bothered.

How are the figures gathered for radio? We used to have a set-top box that monitored our TV viewing - it had a special remote of its own, you had to tell them who was viewing.

[teamsaint]

How are the figures gathered for radio? We used to have a set-top box that monitored our TV viewing - it had a special remote of its own, you had to tell them who was viewing.

I think its all different these days, RT.....they tell us who is viewing !!

[french frank]

My point is that those who wish the BBC to listen to their complaints and suggestions (and to the complaints and suggestions of others) would be more likely to be heeded if they were to give more indication that they are committed listeners to the whole Radio 3 output throughout the 24 hours and not just one particular area of artistic expression.

Well, since they regard any 'complaints' that don't match what they want to hear (on this forum, for example) as unrepresentative and just a tiny minority I don't think they'll bother with what anyone does or doesn't write here - that wasn't the point of setting up the forum. Except that anything we write about how marvellous something was, they'll quote ...