Classical Radio in the News

Some good news and some bad news on the classical radio front:

Peter van de Graaff, the congenial host of the Beethoven Satellite Network, has won the Karl Haas Prize for Music Education from KXMS in southern Missouri.  You can read about it here.  

A practicing classical baritone and a competent linguist, Peter’s command of the complex raw materials of classical music radio hosting has enabled him to fashion a first-rate service imbued with rare, relaxed charm.

The prize is given annually by The Klassix Society/Friends of KXMS to honor and promote music educators who make a difference on the air.

Dire News in the Netherlands
Tom Service on Classical, a blog at guardian.co.uk reports that the Hague is planning to withdraw suppport for the Netherlands Broadcast Music Centre in Hilversum.  That would end the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, the Netherlands Radio Choir, and the Metropole Orchestra, three European powerhouses on European radio and on CDs.  This drastic cut will put hundreds of musicians and broadcasters out of work in Holland.

There’s a lot to be said for the American funding model.  As difficult as it is, at least the government can’t cut it.  Just imagine if all of our public radio stations were dependent on the vicissitudes of politicians.

Debra Aliano, KVNO
Former General Manager of Omaha’s classical station KVNO, Debra Aliano, passed away on Saturday after a battle with stomach cancer.  She was 57.  Aliano played a leading role in building a strong public classical music station in Omaha for the ten years she was manager.  She was a strong advocate for robust fund-raising to keep classical music alive on the air. 

Tampa’s Classical Station Not on the Air Yet
When Tampa’s dual-format WUSF bought a second frequency, WSMR, to air 24 hour news/talk on one and classical music on the other, they thought it would be a smooth transition.  Well, guess what.  They made the switch to all-talk on WUSF, but lo and behold, WSMR had transmitter problems and weeks later they still are not on the air, except on HD and online.  I just deleted my cynical comments but would add that I hope they’ll let us know when they get it fixed.

VPR Extends its Service to 92,000 More Listeners
Vermont Public Radio has just extended its 24-hour classical service to a wide area of central Vermont via frequency 102.1, WVXR.  VPR is one of the best-kept secrets in classical radio, and now a lot more Vermonters will get to hear it.  A perfect accompaniment for viewing the gorgeous fall colors or on those winter days while enjoying Vermont maple syrup on your waffles.

Undoing Some Silliness in Congress
Wisconsin congresswoman Tammy Baldwin has introduced a bill to fix the ridiculous rule in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 that limits the number of consecutive tracks or says a station cannot play a whole CD within a three-hour period.  Of course the rule makes no sense at all for classical stations, so they have had to ignore it and break the law.  But congresswoman Baldwin’s bill, the Public Radio Music Enhancement Act of 2010, H.R. 6307, will exempt classical stations from that rule.  You can read more here.