[BC] Classical stations...

[Steve]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rich Wood" <richwood at pobox.com>
To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] Classical stations...


> ------ At 12:23 PM 12/29/2005, Burt I. Weiner wrote: -------
>
> >Not to long ago i was having a discussion with the owner of a local
> >classical station who believed that the audience for classical music
> >was old and dying off.  I challenged him to go to the Hollywood Bowl
> >on any classical night and see just how full the seats are and just
> >what the median age is.

But Burt is in L.A.! Do the math. In L.A.'s population you have enough
people to fill the Bowl even if they were doing a Polka-Fest.

> The biggest threat to Classical formats is Wall Street. If you can
> make more money, even in the short term, you're supposed to do it.

Yep. You have to be a bit (heck, a lot) of a philanthropist if you own a
Classical music station. Greed has to be out of the equation as you'll never
turn the profits as do other formats.

The point I'm trying to get across (and nobody even seems to be moving a
muscle) is we started losing listeners because those kids didn't have the
exposure we (now) 50+ did. There was nothing behind us to fill the void so
that is one of the reasons (along with the bean counter observation you make
with the reference to Wall Street) we lost so many stations.

The 100KW flame thrower at 101.1 I worked for in Dallas (WRR) is owned by
the City of Dallas. (I believe they are the last municipally owned broadcast
stations in America, not sure on that one though). One day...just one day
the right amount of money is going to be thrown down before the Dallas City
Council and if the timing is right they'll see they now have $150 or $200
million (or whatever is offered) to fill all the potholes and not have to
mess with the tax base. I don't believe it's a matter of IF but WHEN. If
that property ever starts costing the City a dime that will be it.
Unfortunate but true.

There is a Classical support group called The Friends of WRR (having worked
in Dallas you're probably aware of them Rich) and they've held up so far but
the challenges have not been that great. One day they will be tested to the
hilt. Sad day when that happens. (my P.D. for WorldSpace is in Dallas for
the holidays and called me last night and told me how bad they sounded) It
would still be a loss no matter how you look at it.

Steve