[BC] Classical Radio (was Digital Interference)

[Steve]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Orban" <rorban at earthlink.net>
To: <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 7:03 PM
Subject: [BC] Classical Radio (was Digital Interference)

> IIRC, when KKHI finally disappeared, KDFC's ratings immediately increased
> to almost exactly the sum of the ratings of the two stations prior to
> KKHI's format change.
>
> Ironically, back in the days of KDFC's "so stiff it sounds embalmed"
> presentation, the music programming was more eclectic and interesting than
> it is now. Some of the tapes that Steve Waldee prepared (in the '70s) from
> his collection of around 5000 classical LPs introduced me to worthwhile
> music that I never have sought out on my own.

Steve Waldee was incredible. Great voice...Incredible programmer. I tried to
make things sound just a little less stiff during my tenure.
>
> KDFC is programming for ratings and is getting very good numbers.
Moreover,
> I give it credit for being much more involved with the San Francisco
> performing arts community than it ever was under Ed Davis.

Yes. Ed didn't think all that was required and didn't want to spend the
money to do it. He was cheap if you remember. LORD was he cheap. Owned half
of Sausalito when he died. :) Helen was left in good shape I'm sure. This,
without the sale of KDFC.

> There is obviously a big audience for the "classical music as the new
Beautiful
> Music format," not intended for attentive listening. If I were programming
> a commercial classical station today, I would probably go in the same
> direction because it provides a viable alternative to "smooth jazz" for
> listeners who want something soothing in the background during their
> workdays. Nevertheless, listening to single movements from symphonies and
> concerti, pulled raw and still bleeding from the complete works, is not my
> personal cup of tea.

OK. I'll buy that. You can excerpt movements as single pieces in morning
drive since the time listening is so short, as you well know.

> San Francisco needs a non-comm classical station (like Sacramento's KXPR,
a
> 100KW flamethrower that is a delight to listen to) that serves the more
> serious listener. Judging from the reception that contemporary and
> "difficult" works get at live SF Symphony concerts, I am convinced that
> there is an audience for this kind of radio in SF, although I am sure it
> would never get KDFC's ratings. But serving audiences that are
under-served
> by commercial radio is the whole point of non-comm radio, isn't it? Or at
> least it should be.

Absolutely!!!

I totally agree with everything you have to say. Yes, the sum total of KDFC
& KKHI ratings are just about what they are today. The San Francisco
atmosphere, culture mix, etc. makes it a snap to do Classical radio.
Couldn't do it anywhere else. In fact, QXR in New York doesn't perform the
way I think it should given the population. There may be other factores at
play there that I haven't looked into as I don't do New York. Turned it down
once already.

Steve