[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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