11.16.2009 4:43 pm
Funding should be found to save KFUO
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I’ve been an avid listener of KFUO for fifty years. It is devastating to hear of the sale and such a great loss to those who love Classical music.
Letters I’ve sent to the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod have produced polite responses. They are not listening to any protests.
Is there any movement in our area to continue broadcasting music from the STL Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera, visiting virtuosi, continuing interviews with local and international classical musicians, etc?
In this time of economic stress, funding is extremely limited for any enterprise but I hope, somehow, that some effort may start up to save this community asset.
Don Burgett
Lebanon
–Finally, a reasoned look at the situation. If it is so important to so many people, they will find a way to have their classical music station. If not, then I suggest an I-pod, or digital radio. There are innumerable classical stations available if you know where to look.
It’s not as simple as money. The LCMS did not let any other buyers even bid on the station. It is possible to contact the FCC and protest a change in who owns the license to broadcast. If they don’t have the license, it doesn’t matter who owns the equipment.
Dr. Debunk is wrong as usual. When you are driving, if you don’t have satellite radio, it will be impossible to get anything besides rap music, bad 70s rock music, or sports radio. That is why it is important that KFUO be allowed to continue as a classical radio station. Sure, at the office or at home, you can get internet classical radio stations, but that is impossible in the car.
TJ,
–You are correct about the satellite radio. I mis-spoke on that, of course I meant satellite radio. My bad. Even I make mistakes, and am not too proud to admit it when I do.
BTW TJ,
–You fans of KFUO should put your money where your mouth is. If you are so sure that commercial classical radio has a market that will pay off for advertisers, then get a group of investors together and start one.
–It is still, at least for now, a free country. You, or govt entities don’t get to tell businesses what to do with their investment.
–Oh…wait…maybe we’re not such a free country anymore…
A bit of yang to offer you in your hour of ying; JC is gone.
JOY FM the purchasers of the 99.1 station have stated on their website their recognition that there are people out there who would like to keep classical music on the air. Their statement was that they are willing to help if it be possible, they are selling the two stations they have 94.1 and 97.7 and referenced the fact that they would be willing to work with someone whose purpose supported that. This was not a commitment but it was a willingness to help.
At the end of the day it comes down to business and income. As one listener alluded to, it takes support. JOY FM is a listener supported Christian station, the support of the listeners made it possible for this move. The classical listeners may need to form their own listener supported outlet to keep their music on the airwaves
“It is still, at least for now, a free country. You, or govt entities don’t get to tell businesses what to do with their investment.”
Neither the letter writer nor anyone else above suggested otherwise. Guess that was a preemptive debunk? Or at least not a slam debunk.