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