Classical music fans to protest CBC Vancouver and CBC Montreal
CBC Radio Two listeners opposed to the changes to the network, specifically the reduction of classical music, are planning to march on the CBC Vancouver building Tuesday morning.
On Friday morning, a similar group is planning to protest at Maison Radio-Canada, the CBC Montreal building.
“The CBC has been taken over by a group of people dedicated to removing nearly all Classical Music,” the Vancouver group’s description reads. “They feel it is old fashioned and irrelevant to the ‘new demographic’ that they wish to attract. We feel this is misguided at best, suicidal at worst.”
Another group has been started to launch an email campaign campaign.
UPDATE: It is reported that the Music School at UBC is asking faculty to cancel classes and go with their students to the demonstration.
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I’m indifferent about this, quite frankly. I liked to listen to CBC Radio 2 because it had different music. Now it sounds like they’re aiming to become an ‘adult contemporary’ station. Not a bad idea if the goal is to simply increase the number of listeners and decrease the number of picky music fans like me.
Fortunately illegally downloading music is easier than ever, and that is thanks to the music industry. Major labels and major radio stations have steered clear of smaller-market genres of music for the better part of the last decade in favour of popular music that has wider appeal. It’s actually difficult for me to find classical music for sale in my small town music store. I used to like CBC because it generally didn’t follow this trend and it catered to a dedicated audience.
Anyways, it doesn’t really affect me, because I have broadband internet and a big hard drive. Most of these ‘niche’ music fans have computers nowadays, and once the legitimate lines of distribution get cut off the easiest and most satisfying way to get what you want is to engage in wanton copyright infringement! Why would I listen to light jazz for an hour, waiting for a Rachmaninoff or Stravinsky or Mozart piece, when I can download it in a minute and listen to it right away? I can finally get rid of my clunky 1970s radio.
CBC might think all genres of music are great so therefore having an incredibly diverse programming schedule could sound good to them, but I’m guessing many CBC fans have… how do I put it… narrower tastes!
Because of the relative spontaneity with which this protest is being organized, the particular time of day, and the fact that this protest has no permit as a public gathering, I’m not sure that you should expect much of the Vancouver event.
joeposts: There is so much more to CBC than simply a means of listening to classical music. The fact that it is available nationwide on FM, that there are hosts that promote artists, select music, and discuss it, makes the experience a truly special one. Finding classical music on the internet is not a suitable alternative to Radio Two. I have to object to the idea that CBC’s “classical” content alone can be described as narrow. Although I can’t speak for other listeners, my taste in music goes far beyond what you describe as CBC’s typical content. Click on my Website link if you want proof of that.
I do believe you should schedule a second protest for this Saturday because many people will be at work this Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. That’s the exact reason why I am so upset about CBC FM’s proposed changes – the little classical music they will play will occur when most people are working and busy. I also think maybe you could get a musical “play in” going where you play music outside to draw public attention and collect donations to fund a lobbying campaign which will at the very least shame the CBC top executives. I’ll be happy to donate to such a campaign if you can get it started.
Good Day,
I certainly agree with the comments of Karl Schroder of Nepean, as expressed in the Citizen of 01 April 2008. I too am upset that CBC Radio is eliminating much appreciated classical music programs. There is no doubt in my mind that the standards of education and enlightenment once upheld by the CBC have been dropped in favour of repetitious mundane broadcasting which they hope will lure more listeners to their station. I, like many of their long time listeners, will not be part of that group.
In addition to the excellent music broadcast on Musique en Couleur 97.1 fm, a wide variety of classical and semi-classical music can be heard on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 via the Internet. Alan Titchmarsh hosts a very enjoyable two hour program commencing at 18:30 GMT each Sunday evening (currently 1:30 Sunday afternoon here in Ottawa) and for those who can’t tune in at that time, the program is accessible at any time for one full week following its airing, as is the case for many of the excellent programs presented on the Internet for both BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3.
As a significant portion of CBC’s funding comes from federal grants, we as taxpayers are concerned regarding the ongoing erosion of quality programming at that facility but unfortunately our expressed concerns are continuously ignored. Perhaps our monetary contribution via the federal government should be reduced.
Edna – Ottawa