Why on earth is record review moving

[Philidor]

I will no longer be listening after decades. Have just sent a complaint. Does anyone understand the rationale for this meddling?

[Belgrove]

… Does anyone understand the rationale for this meddling?

I don’t. But a new Controller, who’s been in post for about a year, probably felt it was time he was seen to be doing something, and move the deckchairs.

[Serial_Apologist]

I don’t. But a new Controller, who’s been in post for about a year, probably felt it was time he was seen to be doing something, and move the deckchairs.

Or the merchandise - as in regular supermarket product re-arrangings, just to make you "experience" products you might well have passed by not noticing through habit. In fact "supermarket" might well be a good description of what Radio 3 has now become.

[LMcD]

I will no longer be listening after decades. Have just sent a complaint. Does anyone understand the rationale for this meddling?

If, as has been suggested, it's important for the new Controller to be seen to be doing something, why not 'promote' Tom Service, who - at least according to the announcement from the BBC Media Centre - 'is one of Radio 3's best-loved voices' ?.
I would say that Radio 3 now resembles Arkwright's shop in 'Open All Hours' rather than a supermarket.

[Retune]

Apparently because listeners are demanding that the BBC tackles the big questions, and they can't wait until the afternoon for this vital service:

'As well as a fantastic classical music playlist, there will be news reports and short features, including a fun new bite-size feature where Tom and guests unpack the answers to questions you've always wanted to ask: this week Tom asks why music gives us goosebumps.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xw7w

[Serial_Apologist]

If, as has been suggested, it's important for the new Controller to be seen to be doing something, why not 'promote' Tom Service, who - at least according to the announcement from the BBC Media Centre - 'is one of Radio 3's best-loved voices' ?.
I would say that Radio 3 now resembles Arkwright's shop in 'Open All Hours' rather than a supermarket.

Ok, I'll go with that!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Apparently because listeners are demanding that the BBC tackles the big questions, and they can't wait until the afternoon for this vital service:

'As well as a fantastic classical music playlist, there will be news reports and short features, including a fun new bite-size feature where Tom and guests unpack the answers to questions you've always wanted to ask: this week Tom asks why music gives us goosebumps.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xw7w

“Fantastic “ , “ unpack” , “bite -size “ . That press release was written by AI with the instruction to use as many cliches as possible.

[french frank]

I will no longer be listening after decades. Have just sent a complaint. Does anyone understand the rationale for this meddling?

The reason is probably the same as for removing the Proms from BBC Two and broadcasting even the lighter concerts on BBC Four: that reason being that BBC Two will get more viewers if it drops the Proms and replaces them with more popular/populist evening programmes. So Radio 3 will get more listeners for a general 3-hour music programme (à la Essential Classics) and the more specialist programme gets hived off to Saturday afternoons.

The afternoon programmes already get considerably fewer listeners, and on a Saturday afternoon I imagine there is even more alternative competition than during the week. This was the reason why CotW lost its 9am slot, ie that a programme like Essential Classics would get more listeners than CotW which after the easy ride of the breakfast programme causes listeners to turn off.

Also note: Breakfast, Essential Classics and Private Passions (rated as an 'entry level' programme) have all been extended by 30 mins, while Record Review is reduced to 2 hours..

[DoctorT]

Just spent a lazy Saturday morning listening to Record review, as I have on most Saturdays since the 1970s. Alas no more, Sounds notwithstanding. An exemplary BaL today too

[Serial_Apologist]

The reason is probably the same as for removing the Proms from BBC Two and broadcasting even the lighter concerts on BBC Four: that reason being that BBC Two will get more viewers if it drops the Proms and replaces them with more popular/populist evening programmes. So Radio 3 will get more listeners for a general 3-hour music programme (à la Essential Classics) and the more specialist programme gets hived off to Saturday afternoons.

The afternoon programmes already get considerably fewer listeners, and on a Saturday afternoon I imagine there is even more alternative competition than during the week. This was the reason why CotW lost its 9am slot, ie that a programme like Essential Classics would get more listeners than CotW which after the easy rise of the breakfast programme causes listeners to turn off.

It all seems very odd and "random" to choose a fashionable word why the BBC should want more listeners on her rather than there, for thjis particular popularisation or unpopularisation, or there rather than here. In the end there does not seem in an objectively measurable sense any rationale that can be worked out - today it will be showery, tomorrow the stock markets will go into reverse. The variables are incalculable. Wouldn't it be best to just stop messing?

[Retune]

“Fantastic “ , “ unpack” , “bite -size “ . That press release was written by AI with the instruction to use as many cliches as possible.

They probably trained it on interviews with the new boss:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/26/a-james-bond-night-radio-3-boss-sam-jackson-shakeup-jools-holland

'This former boss of the commercial radio stations Classic FM, Smooth and Gold is also wearing a high-wattage smile. He uses the word “unpack” a lot and “brand”. He is a radio controller for our age.'

The last sentence is probably, sadly, true.

[french frank]

It all seems very odd and "random" to choose a fashionable word why the BBC should want more listeners on her[e] rather than there, for thjis particular popularisation or unpopularisation, or there rather than here.

If 'there' is ClassicFM it makes BBC sense cf the letter in RadioTimes saying R3 has improved greatly so 'Goodbye Classic FM'. When Sam Jackson was at CFM he'd have been complaining about it.

[Retune]

After reading the other thread about the R3 spinoff station, it all suddenly makes sense. Butchering the Saturday schedule is designed to create an enraged audience who will turn to the new 'calming classical service to 'unwind, de-stress and escape'.

[Ein Heldenleben]

They probably trained it on interviews with the new boss:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/26/a-james-bond-night-radio-3-boss-sam-jackson-shakeup-jools-holland

'This former boss of the commercial radio stations Classic FM, Smooth and Gold is also wearing a high-wattage smile. He uses the word “unpack” a lot and “brand”. He is a radio controller for our age.'

The last sentence is probably, sadly, true.

The language we use is so revealing about the way we think isn’t it? I am not sure they can even be separated- but then I tend to think in words . Use of cliché so often means that very little real thought has taken place. That doesn’t matter if you are ordering a home delivery but it does when you’re talking about a complex culturally rich institution. It’s the effort to sound like a U.S. businessman that’s so dispiriting . The thing is he thinks it’s impressive.

[LMcD]

Apparently because listeners are demanding that the BBC tackles the big questions, and they can't wait until the afternoon for this vital service:

'As well as a fantastic classical music playlist, there will be news reports and short features, including a fun new bite-size feature where Tom and guests unpack the answers to questions you've always wanted to ask: this week Tom asks why music gives us goosebumps.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xw7w

'Hi there, Tom - just a few quick questions, if I may.
1. What's it all about?
2. Why are we all here?
3. Where are we all going?'