Joe Gallant writes:

>Once upon a time, public radio provided a modest alternative to the regime
>of Commercialist Realism, as it does in Europe.  Alas, in the 90's, many
>NPR stations stopped broadcasting of music of any kind, except for the
>little bluegrass number at the start of "Car Talk".  Does anyone know why
>NPR abandoned us to the regime of muzak?

Newstalk radio has a relatively high and attentive listenership.
Classical radio's listenership is relatively low (about 10%--or it was,
back in the mid 80's, according to the then-current national Arbitron
summations).  We are a nation that doesn't believe in government-supported
arts; so it's understandable that NPR and/or public radio stations would
try to broadcast a format which remained outside the commercial norm,
yet brought in the largest listenership and dollar value it could.

Barry Brenesal