Comments on: A New Frequency In Boston Public Radio News http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape WBUR is Boston's NPR News Station, featuring NPR news and programs such as Car Talk, On Point, Here & Now, Only A Game and Radio Boston. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dan http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-8992 dan Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:46:55 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-8992 How the mighty have fallen. WGBH is doomed with crippling overhead and radio programs that sound like Geraldo Rivera on home-made whiskey. Who in the WORLD are these consultants, and who actually pays for this insane advise? How the mighty have fallen. WGBH is doomed with crippling overhead and radio programs that sound like Geraldo Rivera on home-made whiskey.

Who in the WORLD are these consultants, and who actually pays for this insane advise?

]]> By: Sue Rabut http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6891 Sue Rabut Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:45:24 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6891 I'm FURIOUS with WGBH for relinquishing the classical format on 89.7.I will never give them another cent. WGBH's signal (formerly WCRB 99.5) is inaudible and static-y in my section of Boston and, I can't get it at all past about Framingham on the MA Pike. WCRB's selling the signal to the country station a couple of years ago was a big mistake. That is most likely why they lost major listenership and went out of business. There is now effectively only one classical alternative on the entire dial, except for Harvard radio which is my new station since abandoning WGBH. Harvard does a GREAT job, and plays music which isn't the usual 20 pieces we are all sick to death of. (I am a professional musician) I have always relied on WBUR for the news, that is, after THEY abandoned the classical music programming, which in my opinion was far better than WGBH's. I admire the Washington state model in which the two public stations complement one another and listenership has gone up at both. Why is this incredibly intelligent and monetarily successful model not being embraced by WGBH? They are making a TON of enemies in the professional classical music community in Boston. And the redundancy at certain news times is so ridiculous, as others have pointed out. This situation just reminds me of today's economic climate which is geared to price of stock, NOT customer satisfaction. Today's CEO's are trained to think about one thing only, the sacred "Bottom Line". And they will trod over workers, customers and even their own reputation to meet some industry standard of financially viable, based on very short range criteria. It is a sad trend, and speaks to a set of values which I do not share. I’m FURIOUS with WGBH for relinquishing the classical format on 89.7.I will never give them another cent. WGBH’s signal (formerly WCRB 99.5) is inaudible and static-y in my section of Boston and, I can’t get it at all past about Framingham on the MA Pike. WCRB’s selling the signal to the country station a couple of years ago was a big mistake. That is most likely why they lost major listenership and went out of business. There is now effectively only one classical alternative on the entire dial, except for Harvard radio which is my new station since abandoning WGBH. Harvard does a GREAT job, and plays music which isn’t the usual 20 pieces we are all sick to death of. (I am a professional musician) I have always relied on WBUR for the news, that is, after THEY abandoned the classical music programming, which in my opinion was far better than WGBH’s. I admire the Washington state model in which the two public stations complement one another and listenership has gone up at both. Why is this incredibly intelligent and monetarily successful model not being embraced by WGBH? They are making a TON of enemies in the professional classical music community in Boston. And the redundancy at certain news times is so ridiculous, as others have pointed out. This situation just reminds me of today’s economic climate which is geared to price of stock, NOT customer satisfaction. Today’s CEO’s are trained to think about one thing only, the sacred “Bottom Line”. And they will trod over workers, customers and even their own reputation to meet some industry standard of financially viable, based on very short range criteria. It is a sad trend, and speaks to a set of values which I do not share.

]]> By: Ronlad Johnson http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6232 Ronlad Johnson Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:45:25 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6232 Paul La Camera's whiney voice is sooooo annoying. He should not be on air, "thanking" people and begging for money. A major turn-off. Paul La Camera’s whiney voice is sooooo annoying. He should not be on air, “thanking” people and begging for money. A major turn-off.

]]> By: Anna York http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6124 Anna York Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:37:26 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6124 With regards to Jeff Boudreau's comment about WUMB, perhaps WUMB should change to all classical music. The classical radio station that WGBH bought can't be heard south of Boston, but WUMB's station can be heard on Cape Cod. With regards to Jeff Boudreau’s comment about WUMB, perhaps WUMB should change to all classical music. The classical radio station that WGBH bought can’t be heard south of Boston, but WUMB’s station can be heard on Cape Cod.

]]> By: Tom http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6099 Tom Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:52:19 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6099 Almost everything on WBUR and WGBH is available via the internet and iTunes podcast No pledge drives, no interruptions, no breaks, all free ! Almost everything on WBUR and WGBH is available via the internet and iTunes podcast
No pledge drives, no interruptions, no breaks, all free !

]]> By: Mike M http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6095 Mike M Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:12:11 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6095 BOOO! Why would they take away my classical music? First WBUR, then WGBH! ARgh! BOOO! Why would they take away my classical music? First WBUR, then WGBH! ARgh!

]]> By: Karen http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6075 Karen Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:29:20 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6075 I'm having a hard time understanding why WGBH is competing, now working with, WBUR especially sine the programming will be nearly identical. And besides, don't program podcasts make choosing between two different radio stations irrelevant anyways? I’m having a hard time understanding why WGBH is competing, now working with, WBUR especially sine the programming will be nearly identical. And besides, don’t program podcasts make choosing between two different radio stations irrelevant anyways?

]]> By: Chris Devers http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6071 Chris Devers Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:45:09 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6071 Early predictions & observations: * NPR frequently gets accused of having a liberal bias, but with WBUR, I've never been able to pick up on it. To me, it's just a good, solid, informational news station. So far, that hasn't changed. * Something needs to be done about the pledge drives. Either come up with new strategies, or coordinate to have them during the same periods, or something. Didn't WBUR just have one right before Thanksgiving, 3 weeks ago? Promising that this one is "the last pledge of the year" isn't encouraging when it's December 18th and January is just a couple short weeks away. Listeners are just going to bounce to the station that isn't groveling for money if it's all the same shows anyway. * Since WBUR has been having pledge week again, I've been listening to the WGBH shows on the way to & from work this week. Maybe it's just the editorial angle of "The World", maybe it's the fact that the Copenhagen climate change conference is this week, but what I'm hearing on WGBH seems *much* more liberal than anything I ever hear on WBUR. And *I'm* a liberal: I don't mind hearing voices that echo my personal view of the world, but I also want to hear any reasonable counterbalance to that on the other side (or, gosh, not put everything on a simple left-right spectrum. * My prediction: if neither station blinks and they keep plunging ahead as competing, overlapping NPR News stations, then WBUR ends up taking the "CNN" role of centrist, mainstream news coverage, while WGBH takes the "MSNBC" role of left-leaning coverage, as a counterbalance to right-leaning talk shows on the commercial end of the spectrum. Early predictions & observations:

* NPR frequently gets accused of having a liberal bias, but with WBUR, I’ve never been able to pick up on it. To me, it’s just a good, solid, informational news station. So far, that hasn’t changed.

* Something needs to be done about the pledge drives. Either come up with new strategies, or coordinate to have them during the same periods, or something. Didn’t WBUR just have one right before Thanksgiving, 3 weeks ago? Promising that this one is “the last pledge of the year” isn’t encouraging when it’s December 18th and January is just a couple short weeks away. Listeners are just going to bounce to the station that isn’t groveling for money if it’s all the same shows anyway.

* Since WBUR has been having pledge week again, I’ve been listening to the WGBH shows on the way to & from work this week. Maybe it’s just the editorial angle of “The World”, maybe it’s the fact that the Copenhagen climate change conference is this week, but what I’m hearing on WGBH seems *much* more liberal than anything I ever hear on WBUR. And *I’m* a liberal: I don’t mind hearing voices that echo my personal view of the world, but I also want to hear any reasonable counterbalance to that on the other side (or, gosh, not put everything on a simple left-right spectrum.

* My prediction: if neither station blinks and they keep plunging ahead as competing, overlapping NPR News stations, then WBUR ends up taking the “CNN” role of centrist, mainstream news coverage, while WGBH takes the “MSNBC” role of left-leaning coverage, as a counterbalance to right-leaning talk shows on the commercial end of the spectrum.

]]> By: Jeff Boudreau http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6061 Jeff Boudreau Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:12:46 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6061 Correction, “Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH” was created 11/7/09. Correction, “Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH” was created 11/7/09.

]]> By: Jeff Boudreau http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6060 Jeff Boudreau Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:07:38 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6060 Since Ms. Teehan introduced WUMB into a thread about WGBH's programming changes...... 1. To learn more of WGBH's program and format changes impact opon the Boston-area folk and blues communities, read "Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH" - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201481030324&ref=ts a facebook group created 11/7/08, when news of the demise of the programs were posted to NEFolknRoots - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/message/8578 2. Ms Teehan's (1) suggestion ("The folk and blues community will just have to tune in to WUMB 91.9, the other public radio station in Boston"), may be true for the wee hours or weekends, when vestiges of those genre can be heard. But many in the Boston folk and blues communities have given up on WUMB (2). About two years ago WUMB switched format from those genres (actually folk and roots, as still mandated by its mission statement on the office of enrollment website) to "music mix", which is some kind of federally-mandated hodge podge that includes a lot of rock, contemporary country and pop-folk. WUMB's Monday-Friday evening programming, some 20 hours/week, is the broadcast and repeat broadcast of "World Cafe", produced by pop station WXPN and syndicated through NPR - http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=39&agg=1 At the time of the folk-to"music mix" switch, "World Cafe" replaced locally produced programs. WUMB's Monday-Friday daytime hours are filled with songs selected by a music director who has a AAA background (WBOS, WZLX), many of which are played over and over and over and over again ad nausium. That is NOT folk programming. Unlike Naomi Arenberg, Brad Paul and Brendan Hogan, who produced their own programs, WUMB's "on-air personalities", two of whom have >30 years folk experience each, do not have the freedom to produce their own shows and are reduced automatons repeating the same scripted lines about the artists and songs played. What a waste of talent! 3. If one wishes to listen to true folk, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, Cajun and zydeco programs Monday through Friday daytime, I suggest using the NEFolknRoots calendar - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/cal as a guide. Jeff Boudreau Independent not-for-profit folk concert producer http://notlobmusic.googlepages.com (1) Ms. Teehan has a vested interest in WUMB, as UMass Boston vice-chancellor or enrollment, she is the station’s boss. (2) WUMB’s Arbitron numbers continue to decline – Sep-09 0.4 59,300 Oct-09 0.3 44,300 Nov-09 0.2 33,500 Source - http://www.radio-info.com/site/markets/grid/boston Perhaps if Ms. Teehan and WUMB created a forum similar to this one to allow members of the folk and roots community to freely and publicly express themselves, and took the community's input seriously, WUMB's Arbitron ratings would not be shrinking. Since Ms. Teehan introduced WUMB into a thread about WGBH’s programming changes……

1. To learn more of WGBH’s program and format changes impact opon the Boston-area folk and blues communities, read “Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH” –
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201481030324&ref=ts
a facebook group created 11/7/08, when news of the demise of the programs were posted to NEFolknRoots –
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/message/8578

2. Ms Teehan’s (1) suggestion (“The folk and blues community will just have to tune in to WUMB 91.9, the other public radio station in Boston”), may be true for the wee hours or weekends, when vestiges of those genre can be heard. But many in the Boston folk and blues communities have given up on WUMB (2). About two years ago WUMB switched format from those genres (actually folk and roots, as still mandated by its mission statement on the office of enrollment website) to “music mix”, which is some kind of federally-mandated hodge podge that includes a lot of rock, contemporary country and pop-folk.

WUMB’s Monday-Friday evening programming, some 20 hours/week, is the broadcast and repeat broadcast of “World Cafe”, produced by pop station WXPN and syndicated through NPR –
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=39&agg=1
At the time of the folk-to”music mix” switch, “World Cafe” replaced locally produced programs.

WUMB’s Monday-Friday daytime hours are filled with songs selected by a music director who has a AAA background (WBOS, WZLX), many of which are played over and over and over and over again ad nausium. That is NOT folk programming.

Unlike Naomi Arenberg, Brad Paul and Brendan Hogan, who produced their own programs, WUMB’s “on-air personalities”, two of whom have >30 years folk experience each, do not have the freedom to produce their own shows and are reduced automatons repeating the same scripted lines about the artists and songs played. What a waste of talent!

3. If one wishes to listen to true folk, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, Cajun and zydeco programs Monday through Friday daytime, I suggest using the NEFolknRoots calendar –
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/cal
as a guide.

Jeff Boudreau
Independent not-for-profit folk concert producer
http://notlobmusic.googlepages.com

(1) Ms. Teehan has a vested interest in WUMB, as UMass Boston vice-chancellor or enrollment, she is the station’s boss.

(2) WUMB’s Arbitron numbers continue to decline –

Sep-09
0.4
59,300

Oct-09
0.3
44,300

Nov-09
0.2
33,500

Source –
http://www.radio-info.com/site/markets/grid/boston

Perhaps if Ms. Teehan and WUMB created a forum similar to this one to allow members of the folk and roots community to freely and publicly express themselves, and took the community’s input seriously, WUMB’s Arbitron ratings would not be shrinking.

]]> By: Kathleen Teehan http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6050 Kathleen Teehan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:18:46 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6050 The folk and blues community will just have to tune in to WUMB 91.9, the other public radio station in Boston. The folk and blues community will just have to tune in to WUMB 91.9, the other public radio station in Boston.

]]> By: Jane Baker http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6046 Jane Baker Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:26:22 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6046 Well said, Sarah Well said, Sarah

]]> By: Jane Baker http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6045 Jane Baker Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:25:14 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6045 How sad that there is no longer any room for folk music. How sad, too, that there is competition between 'BUR and 'GBH--does that mean that we listeners will have our ears constantly assaulted by money ads instead of mostly? It is enough to drive one to CDs all the time! How sad that there is no longer any room for folk music. How sad, too, that there is competition between ‘BUR and ‘GBH–does that mean that we listeners will have our ears constantly assaulted by money ads instead of mostly? It is enough to drive one to CDs all the time!

]]> By: Sarah Bauhan http://www.wbur.org/2009/12/18/pub-radio-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-6044 Sarah Bauhan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:14:33 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=13247#comment-6044 What doesn't get said in this is that WGBH has not only dropped classical music but it's long running folk and blues shows. That's an area where it could have stayed competitive - and been faithful to the"public" part of public radio by providing a vital outlet to the folk and blues world. As a musician and longtime supporter of both GBH and BUR, I think my money will go to BUR only in the future. What doesn’t get said in this is that WGBH has not only dropped classical music but it’s long running folk and blues shows. That’s an area where it could have stayed competitive – and been faithful to the”public” part of public radio by providing a vital outlet to the folk and blues world. As a musician and longtime supporter of both GBH and BUR, I think my money will go to BUR only in the future.

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