New r3 schedule and how it affects this particular part of the forum...

[Quarky]

There is a petition
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/communit...ction/?tPZSfob

I have signed the petition, because I have listened to LJ regularly over the past few years.

However, that's not to say matters can continue as they are, with R3 suffering a 20% drop in listeners over the past two or so years, so I gather.

Drastic action is required, but is cutting a popular programme the way to do it? There is a time space of a few months before the axe falls, and I'm sure there will be a full discussion of the issues and alternative solutions in the meantime.

[french frank]

and also your point about "airy fairy ambient easy listening" - which was why I made the points about the wide variety of music that LJ has played over the years and that, despite your disapproval, LJ has enjoyed nearly a 20 year run. Any clearer?

Yes - though the comment about “airy fairy” whatevers was a reference to this new programme being proposed, not LJ. I can’t remember how it was described off-hand. (On holiday. In France atm and finding posting on phone a bit painful).

I could quote a BBC annual report of 20 years ago to support the comment about LJ,n my view, not being a good fit. Something about the “new” LJ playing music, I quote, ‘not associated with R3’. And along with Andy Kershaw taking up the late evening listening slots to attract a new listenership. And at the same time depriving the existing listeners who were the last to benefit from the Listen Again facility.

[french frank]

‘Neo-classical and ambient’ is Elizabeth Alker’s prog, and the new one is classical ‘for late night listening’ which is vaguer. Plus a CBH show to introduce new listeners to something or other

[johncorrigan]

I'm glad that there is at least some support out there for Late Junction as it stands. There's nothing else quite like it on the airwaves and while it is not perfect it has some fine and enthusiastic broadcasters attached to it.
Much more difficult to present a case for 'Music Planet'. Since Kershaw arrived on 3, with all the associated horror from the R3 lobby of the time, it has been put up with, at best, but there have been some great broadcasters associated - Kershaw himself, Charlie Gillett, Lucy Duran, Mary Ann Kennedy to name four. The cancellation of World Routes was sad enough, made all the worse with the associated loss of Dr Duran. But since then there has been little investment in the staff. Lopa Kothari is only intermittently any better than alright, and Kathryn Tickell, though the preferable presenter of the two for me, wouldn't have me racing out to buy any of her suggestions.
Unfortunately I find it difficult to express sadness about the depletion of world music on the channel in this reshuffle - in some ways I understand why it has been shoved to the extremities, because it's really been pretty poor fare this last couple of years, and sadly I'm not even sure it is a suitable replacement for Geoffrey Smith.

[MrGongGong]

It would fit 6Radio!

It might
but it fits R3 fine
(and I can't listen to R6 in my car anyway)

[oddoneout]

A few folk have signed a letter...

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/19/radio-3-cuts-threaten-musical-ecosystem

[Globaltruth]

A few folk have signed a letter...
https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...ical-ecosystem

Thanks oddoneout, just about to post same link, which objects to ALL the proposed cuts.... the petition about LJ now has about 4500 signatures.

Wondering if any of this will have an effect.

[johncorrigan]

Thanks oddoneout, just about to post same link, which objects to ALL the proposed cuts.... the petition about LJ now has about 4500 signatures.

Wondering if any of this will have an effect.

It's a very well written letter with some fine names on there - let's hope so.

[LMcD]

Thanks oddoneout, just about to post same link, which objects to ALL the proposed cuts.... the petition about LJ now has about 4500 signatures.

Wondering if any of this will have an effect.

I'm happy to sign, but....the closure of our local Marks and Spencer has been confirmed even though a local petition gathered some 8000 signatures and a local delegation were granted a meeting in London with senior M&S management. One friend of mine even got a detailed personal reply from the M&S chairman. Unfortunately, the people who make these decisions usually regard any change of heart as a sign of some sort of personal or corporate inadequacy. (Any reference to current political events - or should that be non-events - is purely coincidental, although the underlying attitude is the same).

[cloughie]

Unfortunately, the people who make these decisions usually regard any change of heart as a sign of some sort of personal or corporate inadequacy.

...and the BBC prefer to keep digging the hole rather than ever own up to getting it wrong!

[LMcD]

...and the BBC prefer to keep digging the hole rather than ever own up to getting it wrong!

I wonder why the name Bernard Cribbins has suddenly come to mind? Perhaps the LJ decision was masterminded by 'the bloke in the bowler hat'.

[oddoneout]

I'm happy to sign, but....the closure of our local Marks and Spencer has been confirmed even though a local petition gathered some 8000 signatures and a local delegation were granted a meeting in London with senior M&S management. One friend of mine even got a detailed personal reply from the M&S chairman. Unfortunately, the people who make these decisions usually regard any change of heart as a sign of some sort of personal or corporate inadequacy. (Any reference to current political events - or should that be non-events - is purely coincidental, although the underlying attitude is the same).

It's my opinion that 'changes of heart' only come about if the body concerned hasn't already implemented the decision, and has factored in the possibility/desirability of seeming to bow to public opinion.Just enough 'changes of heart' get through to keep folks thinking that it's worth trying (good PR). Trouble is the balance has gone too much the wrong way in recent times and any supposed consultation, whether on business decisions such as M&S or local/national government policy( eg planning), is viewed as box ticking and participation a pointless exercise. This of course makes things much easier for those wanting to implement such decisions - job done.

[cloughie]

I wonder why the name Bernard Cribbins has suddenly come to mind? Perhaps the LJ decision was masterminded by 'the bloke in the bowler hat'.

Probably not as he’s obviously still around to make the next bad decision, digging another hole to fix something which is not broken.

[Jazzrook]

Thanks oddoneout, just about to post same link, which objects to ALL the proposed cuts.... the petition about LJ now has about 4500 signatures.

Wondering if any of this will have an effect.

The LJ petition has now over 5000 signatures.

JR

[Jazzrook]

Miranda Sawyer's Observer article on Late Junction:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/mar/24/late-junction-radio-three-changes-review

JR