R3 on the Proms

[Ferretfancy]

The figures: Doesn’t the rating always go back to ‘normal’ after the Prom quarter, and doesn’t it suggest (if not prove) that the Proms are no converter? Unless the newly concerted all flock to CFM after waving flags and singing Rule Britannia.

Better media coverage to whose benefit?

A great many people come to the Last Night, Promming in the Arena and Gallery who don't attend any other concerts during the season. They do this by asking regular day ticket buyers to give them their their ticket stubs. If you have half a dozen stubs from the season, you can buy a standing ticket for the Last Night.

Many season ticket holders don't come to the Last Night,either because they don't like the programme,the jingoism, or because they resent the unruly behaviour of the newcomers.

This sounds a bit snobbish, but that's not my intention, It's simply that the Last Night has become separate from the rest of the season's offerings, and I doubt whether the new visitors would ever wish to be persuaded to come to hear more solid fare. I've even been asked by visitors from overseas who have bought a day ticket for, say, a Mozart concert "When do they bring out the flags and sing Rule Britannia ?"

[Honoured Guest]

It doesn't have have anything to do with Radio 3 … In this case it has to do with Radio 1 (remember last year there was a 6 Music Prom [ed: and this year]; then there was the Urban Classic Prom. Plus a handful of Radio 2 Proms most years - though not officially 'branded' as such.

The thinking is that if these new audiences attend a Prom, they'll be back the following year for some Beethoven and Brahms. I'm not sure whether figures are available for how many conversions there are to regular Proms-going. But that isn't vital: the Proms get much better media coverage if they include high profile pop-Proms.

The Radio 1 Prom is an orchestral homage to club dance music, (not to pop music). On Radio 1, Pete Tong plays club sounds, not orchestral celebrations of club sounds. Any incidental future experimentation with classical orchestral Promming is surely secondary to the intrinsic worth of this orchestral happening.

[doversoul1]

ff and Ferret

My apologies for being too brief. What I meant to say was:

If the thinking behind these recent Proms’ programming is to educate the masses, I assume, to become interested in classical / art music, and if this thinking were successful, wouldn’t those newly eddycated masses tune into Radio 3 to hear more of their latest interest, thereby sustaining or even raising the next quarter’s ratings?

Ferret
I simply meant ‘after the Proms are over’.

The Radio 1 Prom is an orchestral homage to club dance music, (not to pop music). On Radio 1, Pete Tong plays club sounds, not orchestral celebrations of club sounds. Any incidental future experimentation with classical orchestral Promming is surely secondary to the intrinsic worth of this orchestral happening.

I very much doubt that the club dance music fans feel in need of any homage from the world of classical music. That thinking is plain patronising.

There is so much dance or dance-related music in classical music that we hardly hear. There really is no need for the orchestra to try putting on the leotard that doesn’t fit as if there were nothing else to do.

[french frank]

The Radio 1 Prom is an orchestral homage to club dance music, (not to pop music). On Radio 1, Pete Tong plays club sounds, not orchestral celebrations of club sounds. Any incidental future experimentation with classical orchestral Promming is surely secondary to the intrinsic worth of this orchestral happening.

The phrase 'high-profile pop-Prom' (hyphenated) refers to Proms which have a high profile because of the nature of the popular music (nothing to do with 'pop' as compared with 'rock'). Your comment does not nullify any suggestion that such music as is contained in the Prom has an equal right to be heard on Radio 1 (i.e. with Jules Buckley) outside the Proms season. Does it?

When you say, 'Pete Tong plays club sounds, not orchestral celebrations of club sounds', quite so. But the Proms do not play 'orchestral celebrations of club sounds'; except by virtue of the fact that someone decided to include it - as it could be decided to broadcast it on Radio 1. Not least because that's where the audience is most likely to be found. Then it could certainly be said that 'R1 plays orchestral celebrations of club sounds'.

[Honoured Guest]

Not "leotard" dance music - Ibiza club dance music.

[Honoured Guest]

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[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[french frank]

Not "leotard" dance music - Ibiza club dance music.

Yes - so what's wrong with it being on Radio 1, with Jules Buckley?

[Honoured Guest]

Yes - so what's wrong with it being on Radio 1, with Jules Buckley?

The Radio 1 Prom is being broadcast on Radio 1 (because it's the Radio 1 Prom) and on Radio 3 (because it broadcasts all the BBC Proms).

[french frank]

The Radio 1 Prom is being broadcast on Radio 1 (because it's the Radio 1 Prom) and on Radio 3 (because it broadcasts all the BBC Proms).

Sorry, if you look back to what I said earlier, 'it' does not refer to the current Prom but to performances of such music with Mr Buckley on a regular basis. Why a one-off Prom when Radio 1 does not cover Proms-type material?

What is the purpose of having one isolated Prom in a season for a completely different, non-Proms audience?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Radio 1 Prom is being broadcast on Radio 1 (because it's the Radio 1 Prom) and on Radio 3 (because it broadcasts all the BBC Proms).

An argument that is completely logical - for those who are gullible enough to believe the BBC is always right.

[Pulcinella]

The Radio 1 Prom is being broadcast on Radio 1 (because it's the Radio 1 Prom) and on Radio 3 (because it broadcasts all the BBC Proms).

Wrong again!
As in some previous years, Radio 3 does NOT in fact broadcast ALL the BBC Proms.
This year, Radio 3 is not broadcasting Prom 3, though it is being recorded for future broadcast on Radio 2.

[Bryn]

Yes - so what's wrong with it being on Radio 1, with Jules Buckley?

Well, for a start, it gives those who would like to listen to it the rare opportunity to avail themselves of Radio 3's HD Sound offering via the iPlayer. Radio 1 is restricted to 128kbps HE-AAC while Radio 3 gets 320kbps LC-AAC.

[doversoul1]

Well, for a start, it gives those who would like to listen to it the rare opportunity to avail themselves of Radio 3's HD Sound offering via the iPlayer. Radio 1 is restricted to 128kbps HE-AAC while Radio 3 gets 320kbps LC-AAC.

Who do you think ‘those who would like to listen to it’ are? Audio enthusiasts (i.e. those to whom sound quality is the prime interest and not the music)? If that is the case, it seems rather an excessive service Radio 3 is expected to be obliged.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Who do you think ‘those who would like to listen to it’ are? Audio enthusiasts (i.e. those to whom sound quality is the prime interest and not the music)? If that is the case, it seems rather an excessive service Radio 3 is expected to be obliged.

Not at all. 320kbps should be the minimum for digital broadcasting, never mind the iPlayer. Bit-rates are diluted for one reason only: they can squeeze more more-of-the-same "popular" channels on to the same wavelength. If they broadcast at 320kbps, there might be some justification in phasing out FM.