Here in RI, we used to enjoy the old programming schedule – the mixture of talk and radio.

But now, forget it. From my point of view, I used to tolerate the often one-sided NPR news and editorials. Without the music, GBH isn’t GBH.

What will happen when the big-time underwriters learn of the diminishing listener audience?

rb

” … What does this [the WCRB acquisition] mean to WGBH’s classical music listeners and supporters?

> You can count on the same thoughtful, engaging presentation of the best in classical music by our knowledgeable hosts.

> The additional hours will allow us to expand the scope of our service, maximizing WGBH’s alliances with the area’s premier performing organizations.

> New opportunities to optimize the use of our state-of-the-art Fraser Performance Studio here in Brighton.”

Items 2 and 3 sound almost too good to be true. Would John Voci be willing to sign a blood oath, in public, as to the particulars?

Item 1, on the other hand, makes the blood run cold. Or mine at least. I cannot forgive WGBH for its willingness to let yammering “personalities” interpose themselves between music and listener. Did we — do we? — really need the blood-curdling note of bogus enthusiasm that Ron Della visits on BSO broadcasts? And would it have been too much for Richard Knisely to prepare himself for interviews or, when the last note of a live performance has barely died away, to keep himself from exclaiming “Sheer mysticism!” or some such. The explanation is clear: these people cannot hear themselves.

In documenting Boston’s abundant concert life over the years, WGBH has been a musical good citizen of the highest order. It has helped give the musical community a sense of itself.

Which makes the shortcomings I’ve mentioned all the more regrettable. They would not be tolerated in European radio. Anyone who has discovered the world of Internet streaming broadcasts can attest to this.

Two cheers, then, for what WGBH says it will be doing. The rest needs work.

rb

PS I will now toot my own horn. The programming ideals Joel Cohen gives voice to above have indeed been realized — elsewhere. I know of no better guide to same than http://theairthisweek.blogspot.com. Its compiler, who covered classical music for the Globe for three decades, may be assumed to know what he is doing.

The results after the switching WGBH/WCRB for December 2009. WBZ AM 5.6 – (for reference)
WGBH: 0.9 -
WBUR: 4.5 +
WCRB: 2.9 +

When I was broadcasting on Cape Cod WFCC full time classical(1989-1995)my weekend ratings for the Cape Cod Market were between 5 and 8.1. Why? I did not program classical music to myself, had a full knowledge of discography both historical up to current recordings, refused to be snooty(WGBH AM was “If it ain’t French it’s piano!), did not take minutes to beging speaking(Lurtsema), did not suffer from “one-lung” delivery,(WGBH 12 to 4 PM) put chamber music programming secondary, orchestral music primary. Finally, “One does not air music played by the Iceland Symphony when you can choose the same played by Munch and the BSO, for example…
It is simple to build and keep an audience when you know what to do ansd what to say and how to say it. Where I or any of my WFCC associates at WGBH instead of WFCC today, ratings would be much higher and WGBH would be full-time classical music with rating oh so much higher than 0.9%!

With deep regret and sadness we are discontinuing our WGBH membership, which had been a joy to us since the early 90s.

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Wasting 100,000 watts….
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89.7 was the only FM station on the east coast with 100,000 watts of output power. It was given a special dispensation from the FCC to have doubled the power of any other station on the east coast.
I believe it was due to the fast that it was in the under-populate range of the “educational” range of the then new FM spectrum. I believe it is also a clear channel, meaning no other stations are allocated the 89.7 frequency for hundreds of miles therefore no signal contention in fringe area. (I think the first to the west is Hobart college station in Geneva, NY).

I appreciated GBH’ attention to audio quality and for years they would under-modulate their signal to provide headroom for dynamic range instead of compressing or limiting. Yes, this made them more susceptible to noise but it was worth it. My ears could not, and still cannot, tolerate listening to CRB (I’m too far away to receive HRB and can’t comment on its fidelity (to both sound and artistic integrity)).

Broadcasting talk programs that are carried by every other NRP station in the northeast is being a negligent steward of the precious resources of clear channel and extraordinary output power given to WGBH/89.7. I think the coverage map above is very conservative.

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Musical education is lost
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I am not musically trained as most of you who are reading my comments. A lot of my musical awareness came through insightful analysis offered on GBH through the years. This was not simply canned liner notes or reading somebody’s class notes read by an announcer. The people behind the mic were practitioners who communicated interest, excitement, passion and infused that into me.

Musical education has been overrun by musical entertainment; I suppose that’s what sells .

I sensed the end of GBH as an expository present with the passing of Robert J. I do not know the inner politics (but I’m sure it’s butt ugly) but the first thing that changed was providing detailed information about the recording, performance, the environment, and most importantly to me, the recording identifier (This is minimalist audiophile recording on the Dorian label DOR-90117).
I scream and yell, even to this day, when a piece ends and the announcer does not tell me the recording information!!!

I am appalled to read the comments above about the degradation to canned programming from quality original material. Please note, there are many good programs that originate from MPR/APM. I was always sad that GBH never carried “Pipe Dreams” and I was too far away to get it from MPR.

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Put the talk on 99.5
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I appreciate the desire to provide “classical” music 24 hours a day and not divide it up with Jazz, Ethic, and Folk (rest in peace). Dedicating one of the frequencies for that purpose seems like a reasonable idea. Wasting the high quality, high power, clear channel frequency for talk, and the same talk hear on many other stations in the area, is a foolish and terrible waste of precious resources. Others above have already made great comments on the loss of “classical” music coverage and audience regarding 99.5.

Voice and monophonic material will be well served on 99.5 frequency (and compression) and will overcome many of the signal problems very well. Shift all the talk to 99.5 and put all the music back on 89.7. Gee, what a waste – broadcasting talk material over 100,000 watts of clear channel that I can also get on a local college NPR station a few towns over.

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Stop trying to crush BUR
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Hey, GBH, success does not have to limited to you. Grow up and get over your idiotic competition with BUR. Long ago, when NPR first came into the picture you claimed to be Boston’s NPR station.
Then BUR grew in stature and began producing original material and then called themselves “Boston’s NPR new station”. Okay, they needed a way to differentiate themselves from you. That seemed to ruffle your feathers and you retaliated by calling yourselves “Boston’s arts and culture station” (as in “we’re not that low life ‘news’ dribble”). Okay, you differentiated yourself from BUR in a good way. Now you have devolved and now call yourself “Boston’s NPR station”. Hello???

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Conclusion
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GBH, be great again based upon what once made you great. Yes, you need to evolve but please do so with intelligence, quality for material/music and fidelity. Music intelligence is important to our lives and you are a great vehicle for communicating that awareness to the diverse public. Most musicians have all this stuff in their heads, in their private collections, or live it every day. While “they” appreciate your former glories, “they” can probably do without you. Those of “us” less musically fortunate or less directly involved need your musical offerings and enlightenment.