Kevin Sutton: >NPR has a duty to serve the entire public. Not just the high brow members >of this and other mailing lists. I don't mean to lecture (and since I >make my entire living as a professional musician, I think that I have >some authority to make this statement), but music simply doesn't interest >everyone. There is a diversity of opinions, a diversity of talents and >interests, and several million paying customers to entertain (yes, that's >what I said, entertain) in the listenership of National Public Radio. No disagreement there- the problem is that many stations are eliminating all classical music, and for that matter, all jazz. That is true of WBUR in Boston. WGBH in Boston has mixed programming- that's fine. All of its classical programming happens to be home grown. Kevin has it turned around- classical music (characterized by Kevin with striking originality but lack of accuracy) as the work of dead white guys, is often dropped completely- that has been well chronicled.And most of us don't just listen to music- that is a misrepresentation.. I recall having read a book or two lately. And painted a picture or two. And I don't feel particularly unique. Music on the radio is a unique resource because it is available to everyone, even those who don't have an enormous number of cds. It can open doors and ears. Incidentally, I strongly recommend that listers take a look at the many really excellent blogs on classical music, many of which are run by live guys and girls- no knowledge of skin color. Most have very wide musical interests. You can start with Alec Ross - he lists a host of others, many run by living, breathing composers. Bernard Chasan