Bill Hong wrote:

>Certainly it would be great for us if NPR were to increase their level
>of classical music programming because of this.  But again, there are
>probably more CM programs available than one hears at a typical NPR
>station, because the decisions as to what to program regarding music vs.
>news and chat tends to be made at the local station level.

Re the endowment and your comment above: after WTMI, which had been
Miami's classical station for 20 plus years, was bought by Clear Channel
and converted to "Part 93", the loyal TMI audience approached the local
NPR affiliate, WLRN, and asked to have classical music brought back to
the station.  it had been all but eliminated in favor of talk radio,
folk music and late night jazz and Caribbean music.  John Labonia,
station manager, basically said programming was determined on the bucks
brought in based on listener interest and if we wanted it we best start
donating........at this point we have only Music in America on Sunday
evenings.

The entire classical listening community asked for at least the Met
broadcasts as they were free of charge to the station but the folk music
buffs bring in the bucks so we lost that one as well.

As an aside, when WTMI switched formats, it was done in the following
manner: last classical piece performed: Beethoven's 9th then a two minute
silence followed by a blasting dance tune the first lyrics of which were
"Shut the F__K up and dance"...how pleasant.  Clear Channel is NOT one
of my favouirite companies, this is only one of many reasons why.

Roger Bogda
Miami, FL