[From the 1/30 SFCV.org]

   KDFC, "the" classical-music FM station for the San Francisco Bay
   Area, is changing hands, and chances are things will go from bad
   to worse.  Under Bonneville International, KDFC dropped Metropolitan
   Opera broadcasts and it provided next to nothing in vocal music
   ("people in San Francisco are not interested in opera," somebody
   at the station once told me), driving music fans up the wall
   with Muzak-like programming, of individual movements, and of
   "soothing music." (On the plus side, KDFC has continued broadcasting
   San Francisco Symphony concerts.)

   The new owner is Entercom Communications, which is swapping its
   stations in Seattle for KDFC, KMAX-FM and KOIT-FM in San Francisco.
   KOIT ("Lite Rock, Less Talk!") was singled out in the announcement
   as the major prize: "The opportunity to enter the fourth largest
   market with a station group let by KOIT, one of America's strongest
   radio brands, was incredibly compelling," according to Entercom
   CEO David Field.  Being compelled by "lite rock" doesn't augur
   well for Mahler, especially his vocal works.

   A year ago, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer singled
   out the 103-station Entercom Communications Corp.  in alleging
   widespread violations of statutes prohibiting pay-for-play
   activities by programmers.  "By accepting secret payments in
   exchange for airtime, Entercom compromised its radio programming
   and violated state and federal laws," Spitzer said.  "What makes
   this case especially egregious is the extent to which senior
   management viewed control of the airways as an opportunity to
   garner illegal payment from record labels."

   Based in Bala Cynwyd, PA, Entercom is the fourth-largest radio
   conglomerate in the country.  Last month, it paid $4.25 million
   in penalties to end Spitzer's investigation, but without admitting
   wrongdoing.  Entercom and Bonneville will operate the Seattle
   and San Francisco stations under a time brokerage agreement,
   closing the transaction later this year.  KDFC (www.kdfc.com)
   is asking listeners "to let the new owners know how you feel
   about classical music on the radio."

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
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