tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9284635.post116558231640670641..comments2023-10-19T10:21:32.190-05:00Comments on In Other Words: Saturday MatineesPaul Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00974655628067266530noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9284635.post-1165633457777735182006-12-08T21:04:00.000-06:002006-12-08T21:04:00.000-06:00One thing about the potential move to Sirius I don...One thing about the potential move to Sirius I don't think I have heard <I>anyone</I> discuss, and I must describe the economics of a move to Sirius.<BR/><BR/>The model for satellite radio is very similar to cable television. In a cable television service model, each channel charges the provider a per-subscriber fee. <BR/><BR/>Such is the reason for annual rate hikes, as Disney tacks on another dollar to the fee for ESPN, this time to move NASCAR's prestigious Allstate 400 to ESPN, while giving the battling IndyCar and Champ Car series exposure on ABC during the summer, while NASCAR gets nothing during the regular season in their section. (As an aside, this gives the Allstate 400 the least-watched event of the three at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; the 500 is on ABC and the USGP on Fox.)<BR/><BR/>Each channel charges the cable firm a fee for every subscriber to get the channel. <BR/><BR/>The Metropolitan Opera is looking at Sirius as a revenue maker; they can charge a decent per-subscriber fee for Sirius to put it on "basic" satellite radio. The contract is with 5 million subscribers, and if the Met can charge Sirius a 50 cents per subscriber fee, that's $2.5 million there. Add some ads during certain shows (not performances, but magazine features, et al) and advertising through other Sirius channels, it could be a huge revenue maker.<BR/><BR/>This model is similar to cable television.<BR/><BR/>Just for the record, the South Carolina Philharmonic had over 2,200 for the recent performance of Handel's <I>Messiah</I> and 2,400 (full) for January's <I>Mozart Makes a Wish</I>. The Mozart event had a next-week broadcast on public television, and the <I>Messiah</I> is slated for broadcast on Christmas night on public radio.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the numbers were great, but I wonder what will happen.<BR/><BR/>I saw a promotional brochure for our church's Christmas programme (which I am not participating) and saw the emphasis is on the teens dancing to pop tunes. The singers, who are singing to karaoke, are a small role when you consider the leader loves pop dance. There are more people concerned that the switch to karaoke pop is ruining church music because we are no longer developing anyone to sing or play music.<BR/><BR/>After church on the day after <I>Messiah</I>, I talked with a friend who said the church was not developing young musicians such as what is needed for big projects. That morning, the music came from kids dancing to another modern rock tune. I questioned the leader's commitment to our music programme with his visits to non-music events and having teens dancing to pop/rock treated as church music, and how our choir has been mistreated, and how he will not develop church musicians. I also asked if 25 years of MTV has influenced younger generations to dispose of centuries of church music in favour of trendy pieces which fall quickly. <BR/><BR/>That proved its point Sunday night as I had free time to prepare for my voice lesson. One teen came to my and said teens didn't want classical music because it did not have a beat, and they only want to dance to pop/rock and hip-hop tunes for church music because skill is not a necessity. They do not want to sing in church. <BR/><BR/>Such trends are hurting events such as symphony orchestras and operas.<BR/><BR/>Church Music is not seeing a group of popular teens dancing to a pop tune off secular (not Christian) radio, which is favoured by the big labels, and nothing else. Music is not singing to a karaoke disc of rock tunes off the positive hits station. We aren't teaching anything anymore because of the Dewey Education System. It's clear our music minister is currently turning away from music and focusing on trends. At this rate our church choir will die quickly and the rise of the latest rock/pop tunes will become the only music in our church. That isn't good.<BR/><BR/>This affects classical music in all counts and has led to some kids in church publicly blasting me.Bobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02366544608847776006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9284635.post-1165629403294362182006-12-08T19:56:00.000-06:002006-12-08T19:56:00.000-06:00Cathy,I think you're exactly right. While I share...Cathy,<BR/><BR/>I think you're exactly right. While I share Drew's belief that this can be good for Met fans as a whole, it also ensures that opera will continue to be seen as an "elitist" institution for the arts and croissants crowd. Which is a pity.<BR/><BR/>MitchellOur Wordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188506164399989250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9284635.post-1165590959187618922006-12-08T09:15:00.000-06:002006-12-08T09:15:00.000-06:00Drew: I could not agree more. I, too, developed ...Drew: I could not agree more. I, too, developed my love of opera listening to the Saturday Met broadcasts.<BR/><BR/>It is a sign to me that I did not even realize that tomorrow is the season debut! I have adjusted my sources for opera. I listen to the Sirius station or I can occasionally catch a production via Internet Radio stations.<BR/><BR/>I wish more companies (including our local MN Opera and MN Orchestra) had more productions broadcast.<BR/><BR/>The loss of the MET broadcast on public radio will ensure that the fan base remains higher income. Eventually, it will become even more exclusive and inaccesssible.Cathy_of_Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16795566831031491371noreply@blogger.com