BBC jazz coverage criticized

[brownie]

From Music Week..

BBC Jazz

Wish a similar debate was held in France where the jazz radio coverage by the state-owned Radio France is not what it used to be!

[ghost of miles]

Sorry to hear about that, Brownie. Somewhat related, a friend of mine commented on his Facebook page yesterday that one of the XM jazz stations has been playing the exact same playlist, day after day. Nice! How jazzy...

[clifford_thornton]

Well, maybe they'll have an Emanem/Psi night on Tuesdays.

[sidewinder]

It hasn't been the same since Saturday afternoons on Radio 3 were decimated !

[Brad]

Sorry to hear about that, Brownie. Somewhat related, a friend of mine commented on his Facebook page yesterday that one of the XM jazz stations has been playing the exact same playlist, day after day. Nice! How jazzy...

That't not exactly true, assuming he's listening to Channel 70. However, they do tend to repeat things here and there.

I actually find that to be more of a problem on their Classic Vinyl station (60s rock).

[Jazzjet]

From Music Week..

BBC Jazz

Wish a similar debate was held in France where the jazz radio coverage by the state-owned Radio France is not what it used to be!

Here's the page on the UK Jazz Services site where you can download the report ( by Stuart Nicholson and others ) on the BBC's Jazz Policy and Structure in the digital age.

BBC Jazz Report

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

From Music Week..

BBC Jazz

Wish a similar debate was held in France where the jazz radio coverage by the state-owned Radio France is not what it used to be!

That is REALLY sad. Back in the summer of '65, I worked night shift in a small manufacturing firm and we used to have the radio on all night. After 2AM, when the BBC closed down in those days, we'd switch over to a French station (don't know which). Couldn't really listen to the announcements, though, in fast French. One Friday night/Saturday morning, I heard this tenor player who just HAD to be John Coltrane, though I'd never heard him before, only read about him. And I just left my work and listened. And they played THE WHOLE OF "A LOVE SUPREME". Now, that's jazz radio!

Needless to say, as soon as I got off work, I was off into town, breakfast at Joe Lyons, then round to the jazz record shop - "I just heard this thing, which I'm sure was by John Coltrane, and it went on forever."

"Oh, they all do," Ken said. "But it might have been his new one."

MG

[brownie]

A report on the debate from the Guardian

[A Lark Ascending]

I recall the Jazz Services report from ten years back which covered much the same ground - the statistic that stuck in my head was that jazz and opera had a similar audience size yet radio time and Arts Council funding favoured the latter many times over.

Let's hope this push has some results.

There is a relatively easy solution which would not just leave classical coverage on Radio 3 untouched but might even increase it!. Put one of the digital stations over to non-pop, non-classical music. Jazz could share it with blues, world music etc. There would still be room for more radio jazz than most of us have time to listen to.

Of course, the problem would be diverting some of the funding currently lavished on classical music. I suspect that is the real reason the Beeb is unwilling to move in that direction.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Bev Stapleton

[Shrdlu]

The bbc jazz coverage has always been very limited.

But who cares? There are zillions of online stations, 24/7. And, best of all, we can get the stuff at home, and listen to what we want, when we want.

Best aspect of bbc radio is that they use Pete Tong and Dave Spoon. They play a lot of junk on air (they have to, as it's a pop show), but they are actually top-quality electro house producers - and not just funky house, I mean serious listening stuff too. (For example, Dave Spoon's instrumental remix of LXR vs Andrea Doria's "Freak Me", which is very dry electro.)

[A Lark Ascending]

The bbc jazz coverage has always been very limited.

But who cares?

Outside of the UK, I'd be surprised if many people care (except perhaps businessmen who'd like to get their hands on it and use the airtime for more 'profitable' use!)

British musicians care very much (we have a regular poster here whose music is getting exposure in those limited time slots). Look at the point in the Guardian piece about UK jazz musicians being below the minimum wage. More jazz on UK radio, more stable careers for musicians, a more vibrant jazz scene for we Brits.

Not of consequence to most people outside of the UK (apart from those who do recognise the marvellous jazz musicians operating here); but of great importance here.

[Jazzjet]

The bbc jazz coverage has always been very limited.

But who cares?

Outside of the UK, I'd be surprised if many people care (except perhaps businessmen who'd like to get their hands on it and use the airtime for more 'profitable' use!)

British musicians care very much (we have a regular poster here whose music is getting exposure in those limited time slots). Look at the point in the Guardian piece about UK jazz musicians being below the minimum wage. More jazz on UK radio, more stable careers for musicians, a more vibrant jazz scene for we Brits.

Not of consequence to most people outside of the UK (apart from those who do recognise the marvellous jazz musicians operating here); but of great importance here.

Not least because we all help fund the BBC. The disproportionate funding given to classical music is probably partly the legacy of Lord Reith, whose distaste for jazz ( among many other things ) was legendary.

[BillF]

Not least because we all help fund the BBC.

Good point, Jazzjet! How far does the all-classical Radio 3 respond to the tastes of licence fee payers as a whole? (Not that jazz would benefit from such an analysis!)

[A Lark Ascending]

The Reithians would have argued that it was democratic to give classical music a dominant slice of the cake as the aim was to cultivate the public towards finer tastes!!!

[BillF]

The Reithians would have argued that it was democratic to give classical music a dominant slice of the cake as the aim was to cultivate the public towards finer tastes!!!

Doesn't cut much ice in 2010!

[A Lark Ascending]

The Reithians would have argued that it was democratic to give classical music a dominant slice of the cake as the aim was to cultivate the public towards finer tastes!!!

Doesn't cut much ice in 2010!

I suspect it's the cover story for the vast amount poured into Covent Garden, even today.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Bev Stapleton

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The Reithians would have argued that it was democratic to give classical music a dominant slice of the cake as the aim was to cultivate the public towards finer tastes!!!

Doesn't cut much ice in 2010!

I suspect it's the cover story for the vast amount poured into Covent Garden, even today.

No, I'm pretty sure the cover story is that:

a) it's good (which I suppose is undeniable); and

b) it costs so bloody much to put on an opera, that if prices that reflected this were charged, nobody at all would go.

So, the way to secure huge subsidies for live jazz is to have lavish costumes and scenery, dancers, a chorus and a temperamental lady singer. From what I read here, there are plenty of the latter in jazz.

MG

[A Lark Ascending]

One of the most frequent excuses...sorry arguments...for the excessive imbalance towards opera is that if it was not supported it would collapse; this would be a disaster as no civilised country can hold its head high without an opera house of international repute.