Desert Island Discs — Will Make You Smile

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Here’s a wonderful article from the Associated Press about the BBC’s program Desert Island Discs.  The program just turned 70 and has had some 3000 guests from royalty to politicians.  In those 70 years, there have only been 4 hosts! Almost 3 million listeners tune in each week to the show, which has stranded royalty, prime ministers and movie stars, as well as scientists, poets and philosophers. Its success is a mark of radio’s enduring popularity in the age of the Internet and high definition TV. Host Kirsty Young: “…  it displays the … Continue Reading

San Francisco Classical Still in Flux

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From Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com: the classical listening community and the displaced adult alternative community are both unhappy in San Francisco. First of all KUSF listeners are still bummed about the way Entercom and USF dumped their adult alternative programming with no warning and moved KDFC to the KUSF frequency at 90.3.  It’s sort of convoluted. …the new Classical Public Radio Network, associated with L.A.’s KUSC (91.5), would take over the classical franchise from Entercom and run it on 90.3, as well as an FM up in Santa Rosa (Angwin-licensed 89.9). But it’s … Continue Reading

Like Classical Radio? Move to Finland.

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According to an online Helsinki news source, 8 percent of Finnish people listen to classical music (and jazz) radio, and they listen an average of 3 hours and 8 minutes a day.   You can compare that to an American station.  I’m not sure of the average time spent listening [TSL] — maybe somebody can find that number for me — but take KING-FM in Seattle, for example, my local station, and the weekly cume is 3.5 which is high for us.  The Finns love music, and these stats are proof.

The BBC Takes the Lead

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It’s not so common anymore to see a classical radio station lead a major arts festival, but the BBC is doing just that.  You can read the full story here. Leading up to the the London 2012 Festival and the Cultural Olympiad, the “Beeb” has more than 100 live performances taking place across the UK on the weekend of March 3-4. Built around classical and orchestral music, but also featuring jazz, folk and world music, Music Nation will see thousands of musicians and audiences experience world-class performances, community projects and workshops in venues and public … Continue Reading

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