Classical Radio on the ropes.....

[lglavin@mail.com]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Don <Donald_Astelle@yahoo.com>
>To: B-R-I <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
>Sent: Wed, Mar 24, 2010 4:21 pm
>Subject: Classical Radio on the ropes.....


>There is a BRI list member who constantly touts KING in Seattle as an example of a well run classical station. 
 >Now it appears that KING is in trouble as well, and has to change their business model. 
 >Classical KING FM to become listener supported 
 >http://www.king.org/pages/6544931.php 
 
>"This is the next logical step in our evolution as a great classical station," said Bayley." "KING's founder Dorothy Bullitt built a legacy of great classical programming and innovation at KING >FM. 
 >"That vision worked well for a time, but the handwriting is on the wall," Bayley said. "With all the changes in media in the United States, commercial advertising is no longer a fit for KING." 
 >I guess we are lucky to have WCRB alive and on the air in any form!  


My position is that KING-FM was a WELL-PROGRAMMED station with playlists that it controlled reflecting the real world 
of classical music that one might encounter in performing venues in Seattle, Boston or perhaps even Omaha!  (I use the
term "playlists that it controlled" to separate them from concerts and operas it broadcast as well.  Even during the
worst days of Charles River/Nassau ownership, the Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts provided such a listening
experience.)  If KING-FM's switch to the public model results in  "underwriting messages", such as are heard on WCRB,
Pugettians may not notice the difference.  Something tells me that even as a commercial outlet, KING was not
beset by the many, um, "spurious" advertising messages heard on even generally respectable stations:
"get-out-of-credit-card-debt-without-lowering-your-credit-score"; "trade-in-your-gold-jewelry-for-cash";
"make-as-much-money-working-from-home-as-a-fulltime-job"; etc.