Classic FM - on balance a good or bad thing for classical music?.....

[ahinton]

But to answer the thread title question: on balance, neither good nor bad for classical music. Some aspects questionable, some aspects encouraging. Balanced, IOW.

Much of the downside isn't to do with Classic FM:

Michael Fabricant MP has suggested* Classic FM is more successful, therefore better, on the grounds that it is a commercial success, having many more listeners than Radio 3. And that view is echoed mainly by people who don't like classical music anyway. It enables them to call Radio 3 'elitist' because it is quite wrong to cater for minority interests out of public funds. They listen 6 hours a day as long as they don't have to concentrate all the time, but they won't listen for 40 mins if it requires their undivided attention. And the BBC would rather they listened 6 hours a day …

* "Does the right hon. Gentleman believe that Classic FM would be the success it is if it were organised by the BBC? I think not. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I hope that Radio 3's shift in policy will mean that our public sector classical station now starts to provide a service that attracts listeners, as well as attracting public funds." [Hansard 1995]

But what might one expect from a mere fabricant?...

[vinteuil]

But what might one expect from a mere fabricant?...

... a better hairpiece -

https://doveruk.s3.amazonaws.com/user-files/5922-michael-fabricant-2.jpg

.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Goes without saying, one who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

And, perhaps an exception, my interest in classical, well, any music, started one month before my last class music lesson, before the "O level" choices set in. And I followed up examples from. Dessert Island Discs, 100 best tunes in the record library, and then by noting the upcoming concerts on the Third service/R3.
No doubt I'm in a small group proving the rule by exception. But I'll always value and support libraries and Radio 3.......

[french frank]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/may/15/houseofcommons.politics

... a better hairpiece -

https://doveruk.s3.amazonaws.com/user-files/5922-michael-fabricant-2.jpg

.

[Serial_Apologist]

But what might one expect from a mere fabricant?...

Not a round 'ed opinion...

At least Classic FM doesn't pretend it is introducing new audiences to classical music the way in which Radio 3 pretends that the lighter fare (Breakfast etc) acts as a gateway to more in-depth listening, when the latter takes up less and less of Radio 3's schedules.