Classical Music Radio Icon Passes

Arthur would have scoffed at that title. Icon. He wasn’t much for titles, mantles, or even accolades. Too “effete”. He hated pomp or ceremony. Loathed pretension. Back in the late 90’s, the title “Chief Announcer” was suggested to Arthur at Minnesota Public Radio, and he smiled deliciously. That smile spoke a thousand words and you could hear it on the radio. Arthur had been the godfather, mentor, muse, and yes, chief for almost 40 years, not just at MPR, but to countless other broadcasters, and especially his audience. An official title was completely unnecessary.

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Out With The Old, In With The New

Peace or Victory? Let's hope for both...

I’m all for change. Change is good. Winston Churchill said, “There is nothing wrong with change, if it’s in the right direction.”

Everybody loves a good list, especially at the beginning of a new year. So, as we look to improve our stations this year, what comes to mind in terms of what you’d eliminate, or stop doing, and, what would you add to the mix? What needs to change?

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Acts of God

Given overall economic hardships, dwindling government funding for the arts, a distracted and over-stimulated audience, community malaise, dizzying media environment, must we in the arts also factor in “acts of god” when considering our long-term planning?

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Music Writing and Classical Radio

The death of classical music is not only an old topic, but broad as well. Looking at a few recent posts on classical music blogs, the discussion appears to be focusing more on specific aspects of classical music’s supposed morbidity.

Anne Midgette (blogging at the Washington Post’s Classical Beat) wonders whether the classical CD business is dying, and in response British music commentator Norman Lebrecht wrote that ways of communicating about classical music are disappearing.

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