Mike Leghorn <[log in to unmask]> writes:

>Chicago recently was reduced to just one classical station (WFMT) when
>WNIB sold out to Rock'n'Roll about a year ago.  This is a scary trend.
>Why is classical music so unpopular?

Others have made valid points about classical music requiring an attention
span, lack of arts education in public schools (they won't listen to Haydn
if they don't even know who he was) and so forth.  But one thing that
I haven't seen pointed out was that broadcasting has undergone vast
deregulation, thanks in no small part to campaign contributions to the
politicians who did the the dergulating (yet another reason for campaign
finance reform).  Once upon a time, the airwaves were regarded as a public
resource, and regulation was designed (among other things) to preserve
diversity.  The fact is that commercial classical music tends to be quite
profitable.  However, it is less profitable than pop, which is why
commercial stations, instead of making millions with classical, opt
for zillions with pop.

Jocelyn Wang
Culver Chamber Music Series