Drop WABE’s classical music block? Spacey says yes
September 25, 2008 at 3:32 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsJust like changing Georgia’s Sunday liquor laws, every couple years a group of NPR-addicted folks bring up the idea of urging WABE, Atlanta’s public radio godsend, to drop its six-hour afternoon block of classical music and replace it with more news. Independent-bookstore owners and dentist offices shore up their resources and successfully quash the uprising. And Lois Reitzes, she of soothing voice and limitless classical music know how, continues to guide us through the day.
Local new-media maven SpaceyG wants to start another insurgency.
I can’t take it any more… 6 hours of classical music programming a day at WABE = 6 too many. Apparently I’m not the only one. So I started a Facebook Group called 6 Hours A Day = 6 Too Many! Please join the group if you’re on Facebook. And let’s let WABE know, by Fall Pledge Drive time too, that we’re very unhappy out here on the receiving end of the airwaves with being held hostage to 6 hours of tedious classical programming a day… especially when we could be hearing some news and talk and other more timely and progressive PUBLIC programming.
I’d be careful, Spacey. Don’t you know Reitzes is part of Atlanta’s Jewish Radio Mafia?
September 25th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Oh no worries, my daddy will buy me a radio station if it comes down to it.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I started the Facebook group, 6 Hours A Day = 6 Too Many! at 9:44am today. The group now, at 4:06pm the same day, in a mere 6 hours, has 50 members. Lois Of The Syrupy-Voice Shire will soon know the power of the dark side of the Internets. Or the Moon Pie, whichever comes first. (Slim Chance is playing the Star Bar tomorrow night, FYI.)
September 25th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
If you have a High Definition (HD) radio, you can get the all news/talk stream from WABE, in addition to all classical, the regular broadcast programming, and NPR’s spanish offering. These four streams are available through WABE’s single frequency via HD radio.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Dude, then we’d have to go out and buy more shit we don’t need. When all we need to do is wrest control of WABE programming away from Lois Reitzes and the APS board and the numerous other burdensome bureaucrats and lumbering, fatass stooges. Your way is far too easy and simple.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
As much as I like the HD Radio solution, those things really need to come down in price and become ubiquitous before it’s a workable solution.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I kinda like the music, but then again, I’m a composer. (No, seriously. I teach music theory and composition down at a local university that rhymes with Dayton Date.)
Having said that, I’m also a news junkie; I wouldn’t weep too hard if the amount of music was throttled back some. I do want to give a shout-out to WABE for playing so much American music on Constitution Day (9/17), though. That was a classy gesture.
WF
(who is also a band geek – I wish the “Summer Winds” Tuesday night radio show was year-round)
September 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I listen to the radio in my car, and ripping out my manufacturer stereo for an HD solution is just not practical. They need to make the classical move over to an HD only station.
September 25th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I think the 6 hour music window is great. It gives me a chance to listen to pieces of music by composers that I am not familiar with. I realize its not for everyone if that’s not your style of music. And I also like the news and talk shows as well. In short, I like it just the way it is.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I’ve always loved that program “Between the Lines.” I sure hope you all aren’t trying to get rid of that.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
What is more important, journalism or art?
Should Creative Loafing fire Curt Holman and hire back Scott Freeman?
Should they devout a whole cover story to the Alliance Theatre’s extensive relationship with the plays of August Wilson when that space could be given over to another Beltline update or profiles of all the major judicial candidates?
Should Atlanta have one of those Newseums displaying front pages of hundreds of newspapers and hosting ongoing lectures and events by leading journalists? And should we tear down the High Museum to make room for it?
Should a local public radio station be simply an un-reflexive streaming of the NPR news feed or is it allowed some localized variation?
If an umpteenth performance of a lesser Mozart symphony can be criticized as only questionably educational, can’t an umpteenth panel discussion by left/right panelists over that hour’s latest snap poll be found only questionably informative?
What is the best way for a public resource to balance its multiple missions?
And does SpaceyG even acknowledge such questions?
September 26th, 2008 at 12:40 am
I could take the classical music if there were specific shows dedicated to avant guard classical, or something like that. Also, if we get more news, does that mean I would have to listen to more of the unbearable “This I Believe” segments. If so, then fuck it.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Brian, I somehow doubt journalists would appreciate being confronted with such bullshit questions. You’re making a lot of comparisons that are frankly irrelevant.
The question surrounding WABE is one of how — as a public radio station — it can best serve its audience with the sort of quality programming that public radio is known to provide.
If you were to ask me, some of the music programming matches that mission very well — Harmonia, Hearts of Space, Thistle and Shamrock, etc. The daytime classical programming never struck me as the sort of music programming that strengthens WABE’s mission.
The HD radio solution actually presents a superb opportunity for those who want to keep the daytime classical programming going. The audiences who are well-served by it are actually the same audiences that would be most capable of switching to HD radio. Therefore, that’s where the classical music is most appropriate.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:41 am
When the volunteer DJs don’t mis-time their smoke breaks and go to dead air, 88.5 airs two fine talk programs during the week — Dialogue at 10 AM on Mondays and Commonwealth Club at 10 AM on Wednesdays.
89.3 features a good bit of afternoon agitprop for those who can handle their more-than-occasional incoherence.
Any other good daytime talk options on the dial? I’d love to know.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Instead of airing more national and international news and talk, I’d far prefer a full hour of local news daily.
I’d also appreciate a one hour daily talk show about local issues — something like Kojo Nnamdi’s show on WAMU in Washington, D.C., or Warren Olney’s Which Way L.A. on KCRW in Los Angeles.
WABE has several excellent journalists on staff. I’d like it if they had more on-air time.
A big factor no one has discussed is $$$.
Journalism and syndicated public radio programs cost more money than classical music.
Would it make any sense for WABE to alienate their classical music audience (and lose their pledge money) just to add news programs whose audiences are migrating online?
Six of the top 25 podcasts on iTunes this morning are public radio news/talk programs.
Why should WABE spend tens of thousands of dollars to buy more news/talk when anyone with a $50 iPod Shuffle can download it for free?
September 27th, 2008 at 7:59 am
“Brian, I somehow doubt journalists would appreciate being confronted with such bullshit questions.”
And yet musicians and their audience have to put up with all this anti-art bullshit and remain polite? Thomas Wheatley makes snarky comments about dentist offices and we should just practice our scales?
“The daytime classical programming never struck me as the sort of music programming that strengthens WABE’s mission.”
Classical music on WABE is the backbone of music education in this city. It’s the first and often only exposure to serious art music students throughout metro Atlanta receive. It’s an essential audience development tool for the Atlanta Symphony, Opera and Ballet plus numerous chamber groups, church choirs, student and community ensembles. For the music and arts scenes in Atlanta, WABE is vital.
“The HD radio solution actually presents a superb opportunity for those who want to keep the daytime classical programming going. The audiences who are well-served by it are actually the same audiences that would be most capable of switching to HD radio. Therefore, that’s where the classical music is most appropriate.”
Actually Joe, this is a recipe for elitism. You imply the classical repertoire is only for the privileged aristocracy–the well-healed Lexus Leaders that can afford HD. Do you think there’s an income level below which Beethoven can’t be appreciated? Taking art away from the public is hardly appropriate.
No one is truly holding SpaceyG hostage. I’ll point out Atlanta’s second NPR affiliate WCLK 91.9. There, in addition to the highly educational Jazz Profiles, she might listen to news and public affairs shows like Tell Me More and News & Notes. But being adventurous enough to explore the dial might take some imagination and curiosity. How could we possibly foster that?
September 27th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Brian hon, I’m all over the left of the dial in the ATL. Word. Have been for decades… that’s how ancient I really am, and I’ll be all over you too if you keep up your silly nonsense. Just ask Andy Shay…
Anyways… getting to the point… the whole point of the Facebook group endeavor is just as it says… 6 Hours is just too much.
I too actually like classical. After an hour or so though, I’m ready to move on to something different. Spending a lot of time in SC, I know that NPR has tons of fine programming they (WABE) can offer/purchase, because even the rednecks in SC, whether gub’mint bureaucrats or private donors, are able to support the highly-functional SC public broadcasting system. Go figure! So it can be done by those even lower on the food chain than us here in GA.
Of course, I’d prefer that WABE spend time, effort, staff, gear, and money (ours) on creating original, local-specific talk/news/music content, with say, the assistance of the fine folk at CL for starters.
Being held hostage to 6 Hours of public airwaves time of just classical is absurd. What if we took those classical music lovers (how many are there really when it comes down to it?) and made them listen to 6 hours of rap every morning? Not right, eh?
Please join the Facebook Group. We have 60 members already, and I even received an anonymous letter of support, with some excellent suggestions in it, from someone on the inside at WABE. They TOO want change, and it seems they are quite impotent to move forward without our help. I’ll paste the anonymous letter below. Cheers, and best of luck to you and yours with your gas huntin’ this weekend.
LETTER:
Hi there,
Please forgive this coming from an anonymous Email, but I would certainly piss off the highers-up here at WABE if I attached my name to this message. First, thanks for making the Facebook page you made. As a person inside WABE, I can say we ALL TOTALLY 100% agree that this station needs to do more news. NPR has great programming, and most other NPR stations provide this for their listeners. But I thought you might like to know why we have six hours a day of classical music. In one word: MONEY.
After Morning Edition goes off the air and we start broadcasting classical music, our listenership numbers go into the toilet. But, ironically, it is these loyal few listeners who support the station. And in a BIG way. Unfortunately, until people start being more vocal with their demand for more news/current affairs programming, and making sure the management realizes the money attached, things will not change. Not supporting the station is the wrong thing to do. When pledge comes up, call in and donate–but donate a SMALL amount, even if just a few dollars. Be sure to say that if your voice was heard, and there was more news (local and NPR), you would gladly give more. Believe me, if even just a handful of people do this, the highers-up will take note.
WABE has a small but talented news operation. Every person wants to do more, but we’re constricted.
I applaud you not lambasting the people who work here. They’re a great group, and we’re just as frustrated as you are. But we believe in what we do, and we need our listeners as our allies, not our enemies.
I hope you’ll post this to the group on Facebook. And one final note, Lois is really a very nice person who devotes all she has to our station. Strange as it may be, too, she REALLY talks that way, off the air too!
September 27th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Brian,
I didn’t get a chance to comment earlier, but you raise excellent points. And if I may, I want to take a snark-free moment and be clear that I’m not knocking the classical fans. I’m one myself, and I work in neither a dentist’s office nor an independent bookstore.
Are the arts important? Damn right they are. A couple weeks back at Aurora, I eavesdropped/overheard a conversation between two artists. One said in tough economic times like we’re facing, all art tends to take a backseat to talk of productivity and growth, all without taking into account the unmeasurable “return on investment” art provides and establishes a foundation to vibrant communities. It’s a travesty, he said. And I agree with him.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
“Classical music on WABE is the backbone of music education in this city.”
That is just sad. I would hope this city can do better than that.
“It’s an essential audience development tool…”
Audiences are developed by presenting the art in the most boring way possible? I’m very much a fan of classical music, but that’s not because I listened to daytime WABE as a kid. In fact, I was in class at the time. This idea that WABE daytime could be seen as the best possible audience development tool Atlanta could possibly have just doesn’t strike a chord with me, no pun intended. Where do you get your research from to make such a ludicrous argument?
“You imply the classical repertoire is only for the privileged aristocracy–the well-healed Lexus Leaders that can afford HD.”
Wrong. Don’t turn things around like that. I imply that those who listen to that programming already are the well-heeled who can afford HD radio.
By the way, my boss is a Lexus leader, and he can’t afford to buy an HD radio. Well-heeled, he ain’t.
“Taking art away from the public is hardly appropriate.”
If you think a radio is an adequate substitute to the sort of live human contact and guidance it takes to develop audiences, then you’re already doing a fine job of taking art away from the public.
If you were to invite some acquaintances to listen to daytime classical on WABE, what do you suppose the likelihood would be they’ll come join you for a live performance afterward? uh huh.
It is very much a travesty that art is so often the first thing on the chopping block when budgets are crunched, and the last line item to be restored when times are good again. However, if the daytime classical programming is seen primarily as an audience development tool, then it is way past time to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Developing audiences is essential to the survival of art on the budget — and as far as I’m concerned, your defensiveness, Brian, of the daytime classical programming reflects a remarkable lack of concern for making sure every dollar spent on developing audiences is spent effectively. That’s a lot of art money to spend, too. You can’t think of a better way to spend it?
September 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I’d take this debate much more seriously if it wasn’t a platform for publicity-hungry shrew Spacey Gracey to draw more attention to herself. I still chuckle when I think about her tearful outrage at being left out of CL’s cover story list of 5 Atlanta bloggers.
Besides, if you don’t like WABE’s schedule, then listen to something else. It really is that simple.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Grayson:
Your envy of South Carolina is, well, interesting. I hold nothing against the Gamecocks, but Atlanta is its own place. I’m old enough to know that WABE has been Atlanta’s classical music station for decades, even before Boyd Lewis was doing hilarious opera summary promos for Arnold Rosenberg’s show and local jock Jonathan Phelps was the voice of the Hartsfield tram. Seems to me there’s a bit of gentrification going on. Y’all want another Starbucks and the only place you can think to put it is at the quiet local music store.
No one’s holding anyone hostage. Do your arms go numb at nine? If audience size is your argument let’s chuck it all and put Neil Boortz on.
I’m not surprised a news staffer wants more news. I do admire their journalism. But art matters too.
Thomas: I appreciate your comment and respect your work.
Joe: I’m absolutely gonna turn things around on you. Nobody owns this repertoire and it’s for anyone to discover–so long as it’s there. A band student in SWATS ought to be able to stumble across Starvinsky’s Rite of Spring and be blown away. A new mother in Mableton ought to have a shot at the Mozart effect. But there’s a better way to spread interest in music than playing music? Taking it off the air for most is a win-win for all?
I am defensive towards art. It deserves it.
October 13th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Huh? Getting rid of Classical music would be _reducing_ diversity on Atlanta’s airwaves. Name another local broadcast station with 100% midday classical programming.
I like the classical music. And as mentioned in the original posting above, I pay for it.
I don’t want to hear yammering politicized crud in the mornings – the airwaves are already full of it. If I want that kind of entertainment, I can listen the the whole spectrum — from that venomous whackjob guy on 920, to Boortz on WSB to Pacifica News on WRFG (viva la revolucion), to the UFO report at night on 640.
Since you listen to stations on teh Internets, you can listen to the alternate NPR web feeds streaming on WABE’s own site. Or Maryland Public Radio, or, Bog help us, Georgia Public Radio.
Just because I can’t stand contemporary Country or HipHop doesn’t mean I want those formats off the air. Getting rid of Classical on WABE would kill one of the few remaining unique voices in Atlanta.
(And if WMLB solicited donations, I’d send them a check, too)
(I originally posted this reply on http://mostlymedia.wordpress.com)
December 16th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Having just moved to Atlanta from the Northeast, I concur that WABE blows in a big way. I was driving outside of the city, and I heard GPB near Athens and though, “What a great station.” OF course, for some reason (can someone explain), GPB is not available in Georgia’s largest city, and instead I get WABE, which after 1 short month, I refer to as “turd NPR”. At home, I only listen to the radio on the internet, tuning into WCYY, WGBH or WNYC instead, and I load up my ipod with NPR news podcasts to make sure I don’t have to suffer through Lois Reitz (or whatever her name is). For a major metropolitan area, Atlanta has one of the truly worst NPR stations I’ve ever had the misfortune to listen to.
December 16th, 2008 at 9:19 am
As another comment, I wish Atlanta has 2 NPR stations – one for the classical all day and one for news all day. You could make the all news/talk station an AM (like in New York). Of course, this requires more coin than WABE probably has, and until the station becomes more tolerable, I won’t be giving any money…