The Issues
CBC Management planned the demise of the CBC Radio Orchestra
CBC Radio Music ended the life of the CBC Radio Orchestra with the stroke of a pen, with no consultation with Canadian taxpayers who fund the CBC, and no consultation from CBC Radio2 listeners. We Canadians pay the CBC to uphold its mandate of providing distinctively Canadian content, that “contribute[s] to a shared national consciousness and identity”. The orchestra is an integral part of Canada’s cultural mosaic and an important contributor to our unique and rich cultural heritage. CBCRO supports up-and-coming Canadian musicians and composers whose contribution helps define us as Canadian.
The CBC Radio Orchestra is more than an ensemble of great musicians - the orchestra has a legacy. CBCRO continues to grow and enrich our culture. This cultural legacy should not be ended by programming decisions, or budgetary concerns. If Canada’s decision-makers believe that the only culture of any value is culture that is saleable, marketable or easy, then we are not in a country: we are in a shopping mall.
Read more about the issues on our blog. Our archive blog from March 30 to April 21 can be viewed here.
CBC Radio2 Restructuring Abandons Listening Audience & Canadian composers and performers
CBC Radio2 has provided classical music lovers from coast-to-coast a place to call their own for decades. Many popular Radio2 programs have been eliminated or will soon be eliminated by the CBC Radio2 restructuring. CBC Radio Music does not seem to be in touch with its listeners, and wants to “lighten” the options available, distributing the classical budget to showcase more jazz, pop, and contemporary music. Programming changes have resulted in the demise of the CBC Young Composers Competition (a showcase for up-and-coming Canadian composers), the CBC Young Performers Competition, and the elimination of the CBC Record label’s classical music budget. The proposed programming cuts for the fall of 2008 will drastically reduce classical music content and production, limiting it to the 10 am to 3 pm time slot.
Classical music and the music of contemporary Canadian composers is enjoyed by Canadians from all walks of life. CBC Radio Music is not listening to its listeners.
The report on which these changes have been made can be downloaded here. A critique of the report by composer Janet Danielson, secretary of the Canadian League of Composers (CLC) can be seen here.
CBC Radio 2 advertising budget several times more than budget for CBC Radio Orchestra
The CBC has spent more on advertising their new Radio 2 than several years of operational budget of the CBC Radio Orchestra. The Stand On Guard for CBC Coalition is watching. See observations of the fall ad campaign here.
MORE READING
Chronology of the elimination of art music on CBC Radio here.
Background on the CBC’s history of fostering new ensembles, composers and orchestras through proactive production activities as seen through the eyes of Walter Pitman in his biography of choral conductor Elmer Iseler.
Read about the people who are responsible for these changes on our Profiles Page.
Read some background information on the Head of English Services, Richard Stursberg here.
Read more about the issues on our blog. Our archive blog from March 30 to April 21 can be viewed here.
And…you can Dig Deeper, reading about other actions of government, past reports, etc. that affect public broadcasting.
Our Mission
Restore the CBC Radio Orchestra within a revitalized CBC Radio.
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