Controller, BBC Radio 3

[smittims]

This suggests Melvyn may have got in a rut after so many years, perhaps too set in his ways to change. Think of Patrick Moore.

[oddoneout]

This suggests Melvyn may have got in a rut after so many years, perhaps too set in his ways to change. Think of Patrick Moore.

Not helped by being a Beeb "go-to" - the driver that sends a vehicle down the same route repeatedly, thus causing the ruts?

[JasonPalmer]

Radio 3 is mainly a classical music station, that's the remit....

[Hitch]

No, of course it doesn't. But the difference lies in the individual's reaction: for me, there isn't enough left of what I valued to make Radio 3 a 'radio station': it's just occasional programmes or items which don't make Radio 3 of enough general interest to bother with. I have other interests. I don't want background listening at all: I prefer silence - but that's just me. But my feelings and the feelings of listeners like me were the incentive for setting up FoR3 - and later this forum - 20 odd years ago. It's disheartening to find people are forgetting that, shrugging and putting up with things - or never knew about them in the first place.

Unfortunately, people do forget or, as you say, never knew in the first place. The penny-pinchers and "popularisers" have cut us off from the past. In this case, "Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it" does not apply. FF, would it be asking too much if I wished for a sticky post in which you explained what it is you want to see return to R3?

[french frank]

FF, would it be asking too much if I wished for a sticky post in which you explained what it is you want to see return to R3?

To treat that suggestion with an excess of literalness, I don't really care what R3 broadcasts as I no longer listen (but clearing up after the builders, I found a drawerful of mini disc (who remembers them?) recordings of Drama on 3. Picked out at random: The Fire Raisers by Max Frisch, Daughter of the Air by Calderón, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, Mr Puntila and his Man by B Brecht, Schiller - Don Carlos, Volpone by Ben Jonson and there are loads more). These date from the 90s to 00s.

I would characterise what we argued for as a lightly updated version of the Third/early years of R3: the same genres of classical music, jazz, features and talks on contemporary topics of interest to a general (R3) audience. We included world music too when that was introduced. But a key factor was how everythings was geared to R3 listeners, not "What do we have to broadcast and how do we broadcast it to appeal to a new kind of listener who doesn't necessarily want what's currently on offer." In other words, we weren't arguing for anything very revolutionary but the BBC had its own aims and agenda. By the time we got to Tearjerker, Downtime Symphony, Unclassified, This Classical Life, Classical Fix et al the battle was over.

[JasonPalmer]

I would like all the singing to be in English but I understand it unlikely, just pick and mix frank. That concert on Wednesday was well reviewed and I enjoyed listening to it via the web on my iPad with headphones.

[Pulcinella]

Sunday Times take:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-radio-3-ready-for-change-7kp7qwmjn?shareToken=9676c1f7d4167106fec47c007dcb196e

[smittims]

I baulked at her title : is Radio 3 ready for a change? What , yet another one?

As for our not needing to fear dumbing-down: well, we'll see. I'd like to give Sam a chance , but these could be famous last words.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sunday Times take:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i...c47c007dcb196e

It seems to me that the opinions canvassed by the journalist writing this are a pretty fair summary of opinions on this forum - a desire for more substantial fare in the morning for example.

[Pulcinella]

It seems to me that the opinions canvassed by the journalist writing this are a pretty fair summary of opinions on this forum - a desire for more substantial fare in the morning for example.

Yes.
I wonder(ed) who she is and where/how she gleaned the information.

[french frank]

Yes.
I wonder(ed) who she is and where/how she gleaned the information.

This is who she is. Plenty about the arts/books, nothing to see here about music. I think it's right to say she could have spoken to some of our forum members - and not others! - but I don't think she has much personal experience of the station. "Go on any forum and you will find someone griping about non-RP presenters and too much “woke” programming." Yes, can't stand that Rafferty's accent and all the woke stuff on Composer of the Week. And most people agree with me Seriously, I don't think this forum has ever had anything but the odd zealot complaining about non-RP accents, and never an anti-woke gripe.

Like smittims, I'll wait to see what direction SJ takes: it's one thing to complain about R3 'aping' CFM when you work for CFM. Not necessarily seen in that light if you work for R3. But how could anyone write: "They [R3 devotees] see big bands, musicals and swing as the remit of Classic FM, Scala and even Radio 2." These 'they' may see such music as the remit of R2, definitely NOT CFM. Nor Scala. CFM is much too purist!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes.
I wonder(ed) who she is and where/how she gleaned the information.

Well she didn’t contact me. “Canvassing opinions from devotees” sounds a lot more impressive than “scanning the Radio Three Forum” but then I’m a bit cynical and have some insider knowledge of how journalism works .I would be hard pressed to find more than 3 acquaintances who listen to Radio Three - no to be honest I can’t think of anyone these days . It might be a lot easier in the Times newsroom.

[Old Grumpy]

..."irritated by jazz crashing classical shows"...

What about opera crashing jazz shows?

[Pulcinella]

What about opera crashing jazz shows?

You could have pitched her (a term that's new to me) about it:

I prefer pitches via email around midday (between 11am and 2pm). I do not respond if I'm not going to cover the story you pitch me.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

You could have pitched her (a term that's new to me) about it:

That's another one for the "words that set your teeth on edge" thread. Horrible!