Annoying R3 Trailers

[LMcD]

The inevitable result is that music is chosen for broadcast for other reasons than the quality of the music . This inevitably means inferior music.

Not necessarily always inferior - in some cases what's really irritating is the frequency with which pieces that have always (arguably) been given their fair share of airtime are now being heard even more often as part of this dreadful 'cross-promotion' campaign.

[french frank]

BTW, I wrote 'BBC Radio 3 Breakfast' in full because someone very lowly has the job of collecting named comments made on the internet or press and presenting them to the Controller (about whose girth and weight I know nothing )

When we used Google Analytics we could see how many visits we were getting from machines in BH. It was lots! But after FoR3 gave up pestering them the visits petered out. That, or a diktat ordered people not to visit FoR3 at all. No longer a Phat Controller, I think.

[kernelbogey]

Don't know where I said that, but my thought was that when a work is on the playlist there should be a better reason for having selected it than: 'Because it ties in nicely with tonight's concert &c'. I don't call that 'curation'.

I recall your saying - upthread I would think - that you harboured the dark thought that the music was being chosen on that basis. It seems to me now incontrovertible that this is so.

Second thoughts, now I've written that. I suppose it fits in with the current sloppy, debased use of the term. The curation should be 'Because it fits well into our knowledgeable, intelligent morning selection from the vast pool of music available'.

'Curation', in its more familiar pre-debasement meaning involved hanging, no...?

BTW, I wrote 'BBC Radio 3 Breakfast' in full because someone very lowly has the job of collecting named comments made on the internet or press and presenting them to the Controller (about whose girth and weight I know nothing )

[smittims]

The inevitable result is that music is chosen for broadcast for other reasons than the quality of the music . This inevitably means inferior music.

[french frank]

French Frank, your suspicion* has become reality!

Don't know where I said that, but my thought was that when a work is on the playlist there should be a better reason for having selected it than: 'Because it ties in nicely with tonight's concert &c'. I don't call that 'curation'.

Second thoughts, now I've written that. I suppose it fits in with the current sloppy, debased use of the term. The curation should be 'Because it fits well into our knowledgeable, intelligent morning selection from the vast pool of music available'.

[kernelbogey]

So far on BBC Radio 3 Breakfast this morning EVERY LNK has included reference to an upcoming R3 broadcast - tonight's concert, Under Milk Wood tributes etc etc.

It leaves me with the distinct impression that now the music is being chosen in order to give the opportunity for a 'talking up' as it's called.

French Frank, your suspicion* has become reality!

* Can't find FF's relevant posting above

[oddoneout]

In my experience, letters sent by 'snail mail' often produce results - or at least acknowledgements - more often and more quickly. However, I've no idea whether these responses are from real people or AI-generated.

Well, given the poor standard of human written letters I've received in recent years I'm not sure it matters! The response is too often a cut and paste of stock phrases, with little if any relevance to the content of my letter, and not checked before printing and posting so errors and poor grammar are all too evident. I've sometimes wondered what, if any, human involvement there has been.

[Serial_Apologist]

In my experience, letters sent by 'snail mail' often produce results - or at least acknowledgements - more often and more quickly. However, I've no idea whether these responses are from real people or AI-generated.

One place that does receive complaints about general lowering of BBC standards is Radio Times, though how many manage to get passed for the Feedback pages is anyone's guess. I have transcribed the odd letter here - usually it has to be said while not about Radio 3 they offer a glimpse of how far and general the decline is recognised. And of course one needs to remember that Radio Times is no longer under the aegis of the BBC, but an independent weekly mag, and is therefore probably even less likely to be heeded by BBC execs.

[french frank]

So - let me get this right - the BBC is needling us in order to reduce needle time ...?

I won't bore the world with my feeble 'artistic'/electronic attempts at humour but Beeb Babble wasn't so much about trails as RW's new script for Morning on 3 being tested by Penny Gore, and filled with station idents, time checks, over to the news and weather (thank you Catriona), headlines again in 30 mins, two free tickets, ring our audience line, details of our competition, 7.22 is the time, forward slash Radio 3, e-mail us, Radio 3 awards for musical chairs, more news, click on playlists, and more...

The final picture has RW saying: "That's fine, Penny, A bit slower and we should be able to cut back on two or three tracks per hour."

This was June 2003 which was about the time I was beginning to find the 'breakfast show' more irritating than entertaining. By the time Breakfast began in 2007 I'd had enough.

[LMcD]

That was the very point of my FoR3 cartoon strip (mentioned previously). I wonder if I can dig it out with the date (it featured Penny G on Morning on 3 and R Wright so quite a while ago).

So - let me get this right - the BBC is needling us in order to reduce needle time ...?

[french frank]

Ah, but more trails means less needle time and therefore lower costs

That was the very point of my FoR3 cartoon strip (mentioned previously). I wonder if I can dig it out with the date (it featured Penny G on Morning on 3 and R Wright so quite a while ago).

[Ein Heldenleben]

Ah, but more trails means less needle time and therefore lower costs

There’s more than a grain of truth in that - also applies presenter’s links. Sure sign of a radio station in financial duress is when they cut the music and up the chat.

[LMcD]

Possibly, but that would still cost 75p plus the writing paper and an envelope. It would have been more practical twenty years ago, when the price was a mere 21p.

While I have a bee in my bonnet about the price of stamps, I will compare the price of postage in 2010, when the Conservative Party won power, and the current price after 14 years of austerity, Brexit and so on:

First Class - 41p/1.25p
Second Class - 32p/75p

In my experience, letters sent by 'snail mail' often produce results - or at least acknowledgements - more often and more quickly. However, I've no idea whether these responses are from real people or AI-generated.

[oddoneout]

You could send it second class - in practice it is often as quick (alledgedly): https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...il-delays.html

That reminds me of birthday cards and a great aunt many years ago. She lived in Largs,(I was in East Anglia) and would not only post in good time but also with a first class stamp. They always arrived after my birthday, and one year took 2 weeks to get to me. Letters sent second class( we exchanged a fair few letters each year) from her invariably only took 3 days or so(if weekends etc didn't hold up) so I suggested she didn't bother with the extra cost for the card. After the 2 week episode I sent letter to some person at the top to complain about the unacceptable service, suggesting they consider upgrading their ox and cart delivery fleet for horse and cart to speed things up. I had an apology letter back, enclosing a book of 1st class stamps.

[hmvman]

I haven't listened to 'Feedback' on R4 for some time (since Roger Bolton days) but have there been any complaints on there about trailers?