The FoR3 Blog
Barely worth a mention
This quarter’s listening figures were unremarkable for Radio 3 and nobody much has remarked on them. Up quarter-on-quarter, down year-on-year. Listening hours were down on the quarter and on the year – so an average number of people tuning in but not listening for quite as long.
The BBC press release appears to get its figures slightly wrong: “The network’s share is 1.2%, from 1.1% last quarter and 1.3% last year.” In fact the share this quarter was 1.1% not 1.2%, a fraction lower than last quarter; and a year ago the share was 1.2% not 1.3%. What is 0.1% among friends? Well, this quarter it would work out at about 1,032,842 listening hours per week, which in Radio 3′s case is quite a lot.
Three quarters on from the controversial changes – or schedule ‘refreshment’ – of September 2011, in the wake of the Trust’s go-ahead to Radio 3 management to go downmarket in search of more listeners, and the figures show a big drop from the rather good results in the same period last year.
The Breakfast figures have shown a recovery from last quarter’s slump, but the sample each quarter is very small (only about 25-35 people) so fluctuations occur for no obvious reason.
Details (average weekly): Reach 2.038 million, listening hours 11.378 million, share 1.102%
I suppose that I ought to comment on the new BBC Radio 3 website, Eusebius.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/
The simpler, the better? As for the remaining Friends of Radio 3, I suppose that it is worth asking what is still worth a mention?
Whatever happens, Eusebius, don’t give up and don’t despair. We shall leave this world a better place than we found it.
Oh well, Eusebius!
http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?6223-Do3-16-Sept-Tamburlaine-8-30pm
Barely worth a mention, after all! Three cheers from kleines c.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mnscl
It is barely worth a mention, Eusebius, as Drama on 3 rarely gets many listeners. This Sunday evening, we’ll lead you to the stately tent of war, where you shall hear the Scythian ‘Tamburlaine’ threatening the world with high astounding terms, and scourging kingdoms with his conquering sword. I introduced the play on the R3OK discussion forum, for my sins, I do not contribute to discussion on the Radio 3 Forum, but thought that FoR3 might appreciate a link:
http://www.r3ok.com/index.php/topic,3938.msg131143.html
This is the first in a series of three plays from BBC Radio 3 which portray the ruthlessness and dilemmas of absolute rule. I quite like the theme, as it is still pertinent, so it could be worth following. As for Radio 3 itself, I would encourage everyone to discuss such important ideas further. All the best, c.
… I sat upon the shore
Fishing, Eusebius, with the arid plain behind me
Shall I at least set my lands in order?
London Bridge is falling down falling down falling down;
BBC Radio 3, the BBC and the whole of society, too?
Poi s’ascose nel foco che gli affina
Quando fiam ceu chelidon—O swallow swallow
Le Prince d’Aquitaine à la tour abolie
These fragments I have shored against my ruins
Why then Ile fit you. Hieronymo’s mad againe,
Friends of Radio 3, kleines c, too.
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata.
Shantih shantih shantih
(with apologies to T S Eliot)
That raises one interesting point, little c (though as to which planet you’re on, I have no information):
“[Radio 3] is disconnected from the mainstream.”
Let’s accept – argumenti causa – that this is a bad thing and should be remedied. There are two solutions for the BBC: either the mainstream, in all its vastness, should regularly find some space for the Radio 3-like content. The BBC Trust seemed to think so when it wrote, “While Radio 3 is the BBC’s classical music flagship, other BBC services have a role to play in making great music accessible to audiences.” With which FoR3 can heartily concur (indeed, we suggested it to the Trust). But will it happen?
Alternatively, Radio 3 could be changed in order to resemble the mainstream more: Breakfast shows, high profile presenters with general topical chat, listener participation, less information, more entertaining ‘fun’, celebrity guests. But will it happen?
Does Radio 3 itself Stoop to Conquer? Or is its music taken forth to conquer the mainstream world?
Philadelphia, here we go! Alas, I cannot recommend the Donmar’s play to any friends, or enemies, of Radio 3, although to be fair, the audience, and critics, were ecstatic at the weekend.
I don’t know whether you ever get that feeling, Eusebius, am I living on a different planet, am I thinking on a completely different wavelength, am I just disconnected from everybody else? Barely worth a mention, of course, but I guess that this is part of BBC Radio 3′s problem at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It is disconnected from the mainstream.
On reflection, of course, this is no bad thing, Eusebius. Why would anyone want to be connected? There is a simple answer, I suspect, although it raises ever more questions. Because it is so good. A good message for the BBC today?
I am reassured to discover that I am finally ‘in tune’ with Eusebius and the legendary ‘Friends of Radio 3′. As for the Olympics, the Cultural Olympiad and everything else, 2012 is an interesting year from a cultural perspective.
Curiously, I have found myself celebrating Shakespeare and theatre more than music and sport. Last night, we all went to see ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come!’ at the Donmar Warehouse.
http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/pl146.html
Up the street, I can also recommend something at the British Museum.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/shakespeare_staging_the_world.aspx
Barely worth a mention, I know, but I commend it to all friends of Radio 3. All the best! c.
“Just up your street?”
You might guess, little c, that Schumann would be more likely to ring my bell as far as the Romantics are concerned, in a gloomy, introspective way …
This year I’m afraid the Proms will come and go without my presence.
Yes, Radio 3 should be for anyone who wishes to increase their knowledge of music – and we must all keep up with it if we can!
Barely worth a mention, enjoy tonight’s prom (27), Eusebius, and everyone reading FoR3 (blog).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2012/august-03/14314
I should announce that unfortunately, fortunately for some, kleines c will not be able to attend this particular prom, but we shall certainly catch up online. I am always interested to compare and contrast a live performance with radio, television and other platforms. Wagner & Bruckner are two romantic heavyweights, Eusebius. Just up your street?
RAJAR figures may be barely worth a mention, Eusebius, but due to unprecedented demand from around the world, we have just been discussing BBC Radio 3 down the market.
http://www.r3ok.com/index.php/topic,3741.msg130058.html#msg130058
So is Radio 3 welcome in Smithfield, London’s meat market? Not many people listen, but yes, it has received unexpected praise at Smith’s of Smithfield over Friday brunch. Perhaps the legendary ‘Friends of Radio 3′ (FoR3) should pay a visit, Eusebius?
http://www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk/
On a more serious note, what is the market for BBC Radio 3 in the twenty-first century? Is it kleines c in the market of Smithfield? Is it the artist in some studio? Is it the Oxbridge don in a metaphorical ivory tower? I should like to think that Radio 3 as much for me as for any academic or artist. Are three (R3) markets enough (commercial, academic and artistic)?
http://beta.bbc.co.uk/radio3
On reflection, R3 has to be for anyone who wants to learn about music, the wider arts and society. So there has to be a fourth market: 3 school. Them and Us!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0144txn
Cheers, Eusebius!