Kevin Sutton wrote:

>Dr. Chasan makes comments along these lines rather frequently.  I would
>contend that News and Chit-chat as he calls it, are a fundamental
>ingredient for a healthy and informed society.
>
>After all, what is it we do here in this very forum but exchange news
>and chit-chat about music?
>
>I wonder what Dr. Chasan's opinion would be if NPR offered a talk program
>dedicated to the promotion of classical music.

Well, I guess, to some extent, that is my point as well.  For me, this
email forum helps to fill some of the gap left by what has happened to
classical radio.  I think of programs like Car Talk and Prairie Home
Companion.  These are programs one "listens" to.  If you are a fan of
the program, you remember when they come on and you plan for it.  Much
of Classical radio, what little is left, rarely offers that sort of
programming, it is just "there."

Growing up, every week I would scan CUE magazine (I wonder what ever
happened to them) and look at the radio listings and plan what I wanted
to hear.  I would often be sure to have my tape recorder ready as well.
I wish I could have afforded more tape!

When I was broadcasting I recall complaints about "too much talk." I
wonder if it had to do with the quality of the talk, or how people had
come to think about classical radio.

Karl