Whistling in the wind as simple as ABC

Dear !!!!!

Thanks for getting angry enough to burst into print with what is a more appropriate response to my original email. Your email also reveals a lot about the ABC and I share your obvious concern that it could and should be addressed by ABC management. I am sure I am not alone in wanting to support you in your efforts to penetrate the mind sets and machinations of the ABC in order to improve this tax payer funded public service. So please look upon me not as a pest but as a co-conspirator.

To comment upon your response (and please, do not feel obliged to answer)

1. 'Radio National does use standard responses for listener correspondence' - If this is policy clearly the ABC is not interested in public comment. That being so, I would suggest the ABC does not invite the public to make contact.

2. 'I am not privy to the reasoning behind management decisions' - And neither are the public (further proof you and me are on the same side). It's a sad commentary that ABC management are seemingly so aloof that even their own front line staff haven't got any idea what management are doing and why.

3. '… it is a matter of resources' - see #1. There are obvious cost savings to be made by cutting off public contact.

4. '… I would be able to write a more personal reply such as this one' - for the public who take time to write in - Oh Happy Day!

5. '… standard responses provide a consistent reply' - of course they do. But if #1 cannot be implemented, choose just one standard response which could be used in all situations - eg.' The ABC is not interested in what you have to say. So sod off you bloody nuisance'. This could be computer generated in every situation and not be a drain on resources.

6. ' There are other shows such as The Quiet Space' - Let us be quite clear. This programme is not music. It is torture. It is inane. It serves the interests only of the weird and bizarre. Its monotonous drone often jolts me from a sound slumber. It is an example of what is the worst of ABC radio. This type of 'noise' never gets airplay on any other radio station worldwide and you would need to ask yourself why that is. I suspect it is management pandering to a long serving staff presenter that is given his moment of insanity in lieu of a salary increase and generous retirement pension package. This is one of just two* so called RN 'music' programmes that is NEVER replayed during daylight hours - and for good reason. If this programme was ever replayed during daylight instead of just past midnight when most are asleep, your incoming public comment would overwhelm you. The public comment wouldn't be pretty. For inanity it is closely followed by Sound Quality* - another programme presented by someone I presume whom management probably would have preferred to pension off years ago!

Don't be discouraged - you have friends on the outside who would like to improve your lot. Best of luck in the ABC.

Kind regards

Geoff Ellis

-----Original Message-----
From: Radio National Enquiries [mailto:info_rn@your.abc.net.au]
Sent: Monday, 29 October 2012 5:51 p.m.
To: 'tarps'
Subject: RE: Music

Dear Geoff Ellis,

Radio National does use standard responses for listener correspondence, similarly to other organizations in the media. There are several reasons for this; firstly, I am not privy to the reasoning behind management decisions and could not possibly provide an accurate or adequate response to our audience's queries in this respect.

Secondly, it is a matter of resources. If there were more of me I would be able to write a more personal reply such as this one, but unfortunately, there isn't! It would be impossible for me to reply to each email personally with a unique and individual answer to each one.

Thirdly, standard responses provide a consistent reply and reflect a more reliable answer to our audience.

What you call " Afro-Asian music" is actually a genre (or rather a huge cluster of genres) on your list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_music

Past positive feedback from listeners by phone, email and post has indicated how popular it is, and what an important role RN has as the virtually the only radio outlet for it in this country. Lucky Oceans and Doug Spencer are two very popular presenters and have a large following

However, due to the introduction of the Inside Sleeve on weekday afternoons, you are already hearing less of this genre and more new (Western) music. The genres include alternative folk, rock, pop, retro-rock, ballads, acoustica and electronica of various sorts. There is a heavy emphasis on new Australian artists, but not to the exclusion of international music.

There are other shows such as The Quiet Space, which provide even more specialisation.

Further afield as I have mentioned there is ABC Jazz, ABC Country, ABC Dig, ABC Classic and Triple J stations, all with a variety of genres from Bluegrass to Musical Theatre to Jazz to Religious music.

Playing commercial pop, "Classic rock of the 60's 70's and 80's", top 40, "easy listening" etc is probably not consistent with the expectations of our audience and these genres are already present at saturation levels in the world of commercial radio.

For ratings please refer to the Nielson website. It's always been publically available.

http://www.nielsen.com/au/en/news-insights/press-room/2012/metropolitan-radio-ratings-survey-5-2012.html

Thank you for your additional feedback, which I shall pass on to management.

regards

Radio National Listener Enquiries

(02)93332821

info_rn@your.abc.net.au

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational

http://about.abc.net.au/

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-----Original Message-----

From: tarps

Sent: Monday, October 29, 2012 5:28 PM

To: Radio National Enquiries

Subject: RE: Music

Thanks for the impersonal stock standard answer that neither addresses my comments nor assures me that the ABC give a hoot what their listeners think. The fact is that contrary to your claim, the ABC does not offer 'a comprehensive range of music' across all networks. I do listen to Classic FM but cannot access Country and wouldn't bother with JJJ. By default is the ABC suggesting RN caters for all other music genre?

The following link will provide you with a basic list of various genre - http://musicgenreslist.com/ - most of which never get an airing on ABC. As I indicated in my previous email, whoever puts together music programmes on RN has an unhealthy predilection for Afro - Asian music and other weirdly alternative stuff which could not reflect the cultural interests of its diverse audience.

I have often heard the comment that RN is not the place for music. I agree. I don't expect RN to satisfy all listeners as that would clearly be impossible. However I would expect RN to at least make an attempt to satisfy the taste and interests of as many listeners as they can. I challenge the ABC to prove what is played, is what your listeners want. You must have research. The ABC must have some form of rating that shows how many listen to each of your programmes. Share it. I suspect there is nothing to show that supports your assertions. Prove me wrong.

Or should I really be grateful having what RN is willing to dish up!

Geoff Ellis

-----Original Message-----

From: Radio National Enquiries [mailto:info_rn@your.abc.net.au]

Sent: Monday, 29 October 2012 2:09 p.m.

To: 'Geoff '

Subject: RE: Music

Hi,

Unfortunately, it is not possible to satisfy all our listeners as radio is such a subjective and personal medium. Music is also a matter of subjective taste, and RN prides itself on finding music which challenges and inspires.

I'm sorry that you do not appreciate so many of our presenter's choice in music, but others do. You will find a comprehensive range of music across all ABC radio networks as a whole, from Classical (Classic FM) to Country western (ABC Country) to Heavy metal and hip-hop (JJJ)

Thank you for taking the time to express your views, I hope that you can continue to appreciate Radio National.

regards

Radio National Listener Enquiries

(02)93332821

info_rn@your.abc.net.au

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational

http://about.abc.net.au/

======================

To search our website effectively go to http://www.google.com and enter:

site:www.abc.net.au/radionational

followed by the terms you are looking for. To search for an exact phrase place it inside quote marks ("") ======================

-----Original Message-----

From: Geoff

Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2012 7:10 PM

To: Radio National Enquiries

Subject: Music

Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by Geoff (tarps2011@gmail.com) on Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 19:09:49

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comments: I don't know if anyone there has overall responsibility for music but I would be interested to know why there is an ongoing obsession with Afro, Asian and alternative music on RN. I know you may suggest you need to reflect our cultural diversity but then where is the balance?

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