Read this: 27/12/2019 Radio 4 Feedback

BBC sounds music Radio podcasts hello, this is the season of Goodwill towards all shame on U controller of radio 3 why what's he done make changes to our much-loved schedule, that's what it feedback this week.

I'll be the controller of radio 3 why he made those changes and how he sees the stations role, we have to provide ways in but in the end.

Will do the people who play the full length works the Falcon once you find something to go into in-depth.

I really do see that as a job description Asimov Radio 3 sister network as well.

I'm a big fan of radio for however.

I find that whenever I switch on already is Radio 4 turning into for extra a station of repeats.

I'll be talking to radio and podcast critic, Miranda

About the future of BBC speech radio certain strands on radio for a quite podcast and I would say shortcuts this one I think if you put all the shortcuts together and marketed it properly that is a great podcast like program that people would get into and have you managed to get a mother and a daughter out of their comfort zones that the comedy was really forced and not appropriate to the subject matter find out which podcast they were referring to.

The first after the exhaustion of Christmas what could be better than sitting back and enjoying the sounds of BBC Radio 3 from classical to experimental music jazz sound art and electronics as well as helping with slow radio content it all there, but there has been some discord in recent months about changes that have been to a familiar schedule to be able to put your points to Andy with a controller of radio 3.

Thank you for joining is almost 5 years before the mast I need anything any radical changes required.

No, I think we just continue to develop and deepen our curation of music our presentation of Culture our Billy amazing cultural things available to as many people as possible.

That's why it's important that every night.

We have a live concert from somewhere around the country or around the world and we can bring into.

Rooms things that it might be difficult for you to get to they done all of this as other radio network controllers against reducing budgets real terms.

This is continuing isn't it? So you have plans and would like to do but always you have the shadow is no more money.

There's no money and we got to make the Money Go believe I was weak and that's what it's a constant thing in all radio networks and driving some changes for example if you look at the schedule changes that you brought in a little earlier this year presumably cutting cost was an element anyway, and we used that opportunity of having to make savings too kind of look at things and bringing a bit of creative renewal tickling the experimental and end of things that night and the things that of course the moment you change anything there is a reaction of them was at some of your changes particularly when it came to Jazz is Pauline Chapman so very disappointed to see the end of Geoffrey Smiths jazz.

He's such an

And these programs cover the whole breadth of jazz to find that it's been axed is shocking it's a great program Brian Mitchell I'm wondering why Radio 3 taken off all the interesting late night music such as jazz now late Junction and music planet and replaced it with the musical equivalent of Bedtime coco actually, I'm not wondering it is certainly another cost-cutting exercise because playing stuff from an archive cost less than paying present a new music performance fees so I'm with someone happy listeners.

Are you unhappy with the Curse that you had to make late night.

We had to make savings.

I think we used it as a platform for creating a very deliberately so I know that any change to schedule always will cause consternation and listen.

It's something I've been that kind of list of myself over the years if we go to Jazz

We've still got a really good range of jazz programming across Radio 3 from the the heritage as if you like on jazz record requests to a new program freeness which is affecting the real cutting out of the current British Gas scene and he said that's much more general and I'm sorry that we had to rest Jefferies program, but you haven't heard the last of Geoffrey on the network because he's a wonderful broadcaster, and I really want to say actually for further he's done on Radio 3 as next presenter of jazz record requests himself.

We've taken the decision to rest up and you haven't had the last of Geoffrey Smith and presumably you would not agree with Brian Mitchell when he says that is Brighouse with the musical equivalent of Bedtime coco now.

We have not hour late nights and remains a home for experimental music with changed the way we've done it, but I think the mix remains hectic.

It's pretty things together that might be surprising and it's taking the spirit of the original late Junction and forward to get a fresh and we still got let junction on Friday evenings and expanded slot.

Unclassified night tracks freenas the new job so that I mentioned that we got the new music show and all that involves live performance special commissions retreating from going forwards and Radio 3 and we never well well well things have introduced new things of interest as a program called sound of gaming which goes out on Saturday afternoon when I talk too early this year to the control.

He said he was actively considering introducing gaming music in the future on the prawns, but listen rod Ellis has his reservations the idea underlying founded gaming fundamental in the sun and the Essential nature of computer game music which consists of Fragments of Music and Arts to the individual actions and selections made by the player which anything with an exhaustive list of all the pathways fluid game which would be impossible and then possibly tedious will fail to capture perhaps Radio 3 should have confidence in the art form.

Supposed to be set up to celebrate rather than relying on Moses diversions that obscure it silent David walliam.

Introduced gaming music well first of all we celebrate and considerate about all kinds of music and video games music it's one of the fastest growing genre in terms of what Orchestra recording and what audience is listening to but as normal while playing a game and there's that kind of context and the sound of purring as part of a series of programs that take music designed for another purpose advert Concepts and we got the sound of film sound of Dance it's worthwhile looking and for crowning video games music in this way and having well for most BAFTA winning composers Jessica Perry to help guide us through it and presented solicitors and see what they say.

It's fragments in presenting the music as the composer might have originally composed it and registries always curious listeners who want to explore.

Had very positive feedback from it can be with them from programming to as it were presentation who Goldie I actually like the recent refresh on Radio 3 late evenings, but slightly desperate attempts to rebrand as something woohoo dangerous and edgy doesn't sit nicely betsee Parker has a very long time listener to Radio 3.

I would like to make some heartfelt observations my main concern with Radio 3 is it seems to be trying to be a combination of Radio 2 and classic FM in the morning? I'm most of my pals find the whole business of emails etc from listeners being read out quite detrimental to the music outfit Radio 3 is unique in the world.

I still love it David Waterworth I love the range of music on late night Radio 3 and to some extent.

It is still there it seems a shame to spoil it by wrapping it up in such multi packaging.

Me too much Swansea packaging.

I don't recognise that and to turn to bettys point.

I mean I'm very glad that she still loves Radio 3 and we do have a degree of listening into action in a couple of Andy jazz record requests from the longest lasting request shows on radio and think I'm always looking at you know where we've got the mix.

Is that right because we know someone else's like it there like to be part of it and welcomed in that way and some listeners like Betsy don't like that.

So we have to get the right balance and in terms of the presentation of late night.

I mean we're not to getting with dangerous and now I think we've always been done the synergy and what we try to do in the after dark zone is set this time that it's dark.

Even listening a different way before you've been to speak to you about it.

I'll have a look at that, but that's not our intention, but let's look the question of scheduling Christopher Stiles has this to say I'm a big fan of Radio 3 a frequently switch off.

Radio 4 however on a few occasions I switch channel only to be confronted by something similar on three sections such as Radio 4 schedules the Dark Horse and yes, we do try and co-ordinate with our colleagues particularly Radio 4 so that we not commissioning similar arts programs and particularly not pulling them out at the same time as you might get things wrong that might be late substitutions and where we do get that wrong.

I apologise looking forward in 10-years time.

Do you have any doubt that radio through will still be needed but the market will not provide Radio 3.

I think Radio 3 provides something unique in the world.

It's been said that Radio 3 the envy of the world because of its mixture of music intelligent talk drama, but the way people looking at the moment my colleagues from abroad.

They actually saying the way your modernising that offer and providing access points is something we.

I'm from I think something like Radio 3 will be important in 10-years time.

I think it's important to the kind of society.

We are I think having a place where you can take time out the world listen to something in-depth.

Get a new perspective on the world is really important.

That's a job that Radio 3 does I think that's a job for all time.

Bye thanks to Alan Davie the immortal Radio 3.

This is the last program of the series but please tell us about the issues.

You'd like us to cover in an experiment which begins in February as well as what excites and irritates you about BBC Radio and of course those podcasts.

This is how to get in touch you can send an email to feedback at bbc.co.uk or write a letter the address is feedback PO Box 67234 London se1p 4ax you can follow activity on Twitter by using at B&M

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It's time to hear from her mother and the daughter by tweekacore asking to BBC Radio listeners to step out of their comfort zone's and listen to a program that would normally be on their radar this week.

We have mother and daughter Sally and Amy and from Fareham in Hampshire thanks very much for joining us and Sally festival.

What are your top three in programs? If you were stranded on that mythical desert island 3 programs would be from our own correspondent usually presented by Kate Adie dead ringers, which I really love on a Friday evening and In Our Time presented by Mel

Guests I know me you're in your 20s and that is well below the age of the average Radio 4 listening.

What would be your top 3 if you were also on that goes down but unfortunately without your mother say mine would be at the Now Show then also any questions, but most importantly Desert Island Discs I have already considered my in the future.

We may come back to you for that, but not at this moment.

We've had to listen to BBC podcast or an episode of your dead to me subtitle.

Don't Byron sensor valve on BBC sounds about basically? It's taking an individual from history and in this instance.

It was Lord Byron obviously very well known as a poet of his time and then looking at different aspects of his life talking about his work as well.

Background trying to present it in a jaunty way, that would be acceptable and easily assimilated by the audience because the people that This podcast to Horrible Histories no, I said it definitely wasn't aimed at children and the subject content.

I don't think was suitable for children complex love life.

Shall we say Amy who do you think this programme was for was it to you but I don't know if it was for me or a slightly older listening.

I mean the aim of the podcast is people who don't necessarily like history.

I felt that this was particularly good in a sense that it was extremely informative and gave you lots of quick little things that you might want to run a pub quiz did you know his daughter invented computer programming? He had a bear instead of a dog and I think the comedy at times as a bit too contrived and a bit too.

Anyway buying has always I know he's got this sort of funny thing that he became an aristocrat that actually his Beginnings were quite quite humble one hour of sunlight during the summer in Aberdeen that was way too long at 48 minutes.

Yes far too long.

I agree with Amy in presenting interesting facts, but I didn't find it funny Lord Byron is not funny.

He's not in himself.

So I thought that the comedy was really forced and not appropriate to the subject matter and I actually felt that the program as such would be much more successful.

If it was a really punch may be 15-20 minutes long.

I will to raise looking one as you can see the wonderful story lots of people should know about it and we're going to present it in a way which is more accessible to people on the other.

Hear people don't have confidence in the subject matter.

Don't think that it will appear and have to make jokes about every 2-3 minutes in order to keep the audience with them so on if you accept the alternative viewpoints near me which is yours.

I would go with the latter and say that I just think they were trying too hard and the humour was too contrived and as you said in attempts to make it accessible to a wide audience.

I kind of think they put off what they envisioned to be there key target audience which was perhaps some of my aid and 26 you didn't find it humorous and at the end of all these conversations.

We say are you out of your comfort zone with this and would you listen to another program in the series so Amy first what how to become a form history student.

I wouldn't say that.

I was out of my comfort zone.

However this product of Lord Byron taught me.

It's in very informative things.

I would say that I wouldn't.

Listen to podcast again unless there was a specific topic.

I wanted deeper insight into and I suppose the owner of the podcast apart from getting to the next one the series is in this case to make you go and read Lord Byron so sorry.

I'm in listen to the program.

Would you go and read Byron's poetry ok? Well, I actually study the romantic poets is doing my degree in Lord Byron did feature in that so have looked at some of the poetry and studied it but if I hadn't and look listen to This podcast I don't think I would be I think if there's some cases of the poetry within the podcast that would have inspired me to go away and read it but no and I would just like to say that I had to make myself listen through the use of minutes and for me I had it on his background because I just I really was not taken with this at all and I wouldn't listen to another one so I think the subject matter.

I didn't expect to be.

My comfort zone, but I actually was and I didn't feel comfortable with it at all.

So thank you very much and do let us know if you would like to take part in that feature and go outside your comfort zone.

It's been a tumultuous year for the cooperation with another General Election criticism of his political coverage a constant battle for audience share and questions over the licence fee not the weather over 75 should page but whether it should exist at all BBC Radio been caught up in controversy as well with the withdrawal of BBC services from the TuneIn platform and replacement of the BBC iPlayer app by sounds the push for the younger audience has also seen the diversion of resources into podcasts.

What's been the impact of all this on Radio 4.

This is what some of you have to say David Westwood from Lymington Hampshire I just felt compelled to call you to convert how much ready for as to the quality of my life.

I would pay the whole TV licence fee just for radio for the most recent and joys of listening great lives just William just brilliant.

Leslie Parker I'm a big fan of radio for however increasingly, I find that whenever I switch on the programs.

I have heard already from the day before or earlier in the week.

I'm getting really bored with this constant rehashing what's going on lack of money to find out new material lack of new material.

It looks lazy and the lack of respect for listeners.

This is Ruth Coppard from Sheffield is reassuring to know that just in case I forget things the BBC is repeating things ad infinitum remember the last time.

I heard it yay a programme about refugees from Birmingham heard it a couple of months ago and afternoon.

Play 3 years ago a comedy series.

Yes, not bad, but not great can we please go back to fresh programs, please? We asked a BBC spokesman.

How many repeats there been on Radio 4 this year and whether this represents a percentage in?

Previous years we were given this statement radio for commissions more original audio than any other broadcaster and we rarely get complaints about there being too many sweets repeats have always been part of the Radio 4 schedule with only a slight increase in them over the last decade well with me to discuss the highs and lows of the BBC is the Observer cryptic Miranda Sawyer who writes a weekly review of radio and podcast Miranda before we start that impression that there are more repeats another before it's not an impression too.

I think so, I mean these are quite hard to judge, but it does seem to me that there were a lot more repeats and one could say ok.

That's great.

We are getting more bang for our buck.

You know for a licence fee you get a program the program to listen to it and then because I haven't got organised it's disappeared into the ether 28 days and off it goes so I can't anything ok fine, but I think it's

Difficult because a lot of Radio 4 listeners, put the radio on and they have it going on the whole of the day, so they really will hear those repeats and that's a problem and they would have thought presumably of the repeat would happen or extra which was designed for that.

Yes exactly yeah, of course is tight BBC budget, but also it appears to us and moving resources to podcast senate evidence that broadcast programs having budgets trimmed and so on so they gamble at the BBC's making is that he doesn't go to podcasts and invest heavily in it the Next Generation will stop listening to BBC all together if you like kissing at a sensible strategy difficult trying it, but it's doing a bit haphazard and it's definitely moving water as you know.

I have a weekly radio and podcast column.

It's really noticeable to me I go to BBC sounds kind of summary of what's going on in your new podcast everywhere.

Is actually due to Weir broadcasting regulations the BBC weren't allowed to make podcast for a while, so they suddenly can I think it's ok.

We really must do it and it's allied to the launch of the BBC Sounds app, which which I'm sure you would like to talk about let's just ignore that for the moment.

So if you go onto the BBC Sounds app, there are certain topics that are promoted and actually quite a lot and the pretty good.

There's things like that Peter Crouch podcast which is not for me, but it is a football banter kind of program credibly popular and there's a thing called tailenders which is read by Greg James and Jimmy Anderson and fill these things are incredibly popular brexitcast also very good.

There's a fantastic drama serial out now called the whisperer In Darkness II part of another another one called the case of stuff.

That is really really good and also they put immense resources and some of this if you looked at the launch for example of channel 29 which is likely to decide this is R Us to wonder if you have we can.

In the BBC decide to get behind something like that it does a lot of money in terms of its promotion than that was a fantastic program the interesting thing for me about that was it was actually made a little bit like an indie.

So what happened was they had a very trusted producer who is allowed to go away and make that program, but it wasn't particularly fiddled with there wasn't didn't feel like an executive said can you do that opening part again? It was a very personal proper piece of journalism, and I think that sometimes that's where the BBC gets it wrong because if you get the right producers and presenter quite often the same thing you can get really great proper podcast programs, but I think there's some of the other ones that the BBC have put a lot of resources in for instance ratline.

Thought was over exact and all over the shop as we talked to a couple of weeks ago and they didn't know that what Radio 4 how to offer I didn't actually know any of these existed if you ask.

Young people listen to radio for that, that's why I've always had my phone in my hand.

I always listen to a podcast or music as having said that is not advertised anymore, so I wouldn't necessarily think of it when people listen to podcast I name you lots, but if you're talking about the BBC output the Radio 4 output.

I don't think they're aware of that and I think there are ways of saying that output to younger people which could be done.

I mean I don't see why you just don't have a documentary Strand got a very very strong schedule, but that can mean you can get a little bored with a schedule that said you has been for a long time so I know when to tune into things I want to tune into the things I really enjoy on the on the BBC amazing one-off documentaries and they just disappear puff like a puff of smoke a couple of weeks in one place that place and there is one place kind of somewhere if you click through a million x to get there but if you just is used that up and said these are amazing documentaries.

The world that you can click on and you will have like infinite infinite insight across everything and I just think that they don't mind it properly you keep the network, but starting a podcast and Aggregate them together and enable the audience to find them whether they be young all the honestly.

I think it's a slight marketing from home to do think so but you said in the past.

I noticed you said about drama BBC drama.

You said about it's been what did you say stage in Marylebone for years and the drama has become a lot better.

There's a couple of a great American dramas has influenced other drama makers does a drama out now called the whisperer In Darkness which is based on HP lovecraft's so it's spooky it's really spooky and the sounds in it are incredibly real.

It's a really really great piece of work and it uses podcast ropes so when you listen to it, you think oh, this is a pod.

The podcast about real life mysteries and Aziza drama, but it's you so well that it's real and it's not real but it's incredibly real so it's a fantastic piece of drama if you use the form at the median in a modern and correct way rather than just who we are walking into the pub.

That's my feet walking into the pub now hello Christopher how are you today? I mean it's just that we will never last but now there any lessons for the rest of the radio networks doing fairly well.

There's been a lot of shift around things like presenters on network, so you know ready to shed a lot of different presenters 6 Music have a lot of the presenters and that is now settled down and that's really great.

You know I think that's going well.

There's been some really good podcast of come out of five live I think there's been a very interesting podcast that came out of p.m.

On Radio 4 which I would really enjoy it which was simply the ground.

Quarry Park Castle just simply somebody going to the grenfell enquiry and reporting back everyday.

No one else could do that.

No one else could do that.

No one else would do that and I think things like that the BBC has this kind of weight of experience and knowledge and respect you could go to these places and the podcast that is so important my thanks to Observer radio and podcast Miranda Sawyer and that's it for this week and for this year.

Thank you very much to contact us you set the agenda for feedback and we can't make a program without you.

So please do get in touch, but I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year see you in 2020 goodbye.