Bloodless Coup

The funny thing is that classical music stations have been disappearing across the country whether NPR or commercial. Houston lost it's only full time classical station last year, and many NPR stations including Houston's and D.C.'s have greatly reduced music during peak hours.

Classical music buffs can now find what they want on the internet or their own iPods, so they aren't forced to rely on radio.

Journalism is rarely worse than when it is trying to appear balanced rather than actually being balanced.

Well I'd say journalism has no business being balanced to start with - I'd like my news to be facts and honest analysis, not competing (and often mendacious) arguments from (just) two perspectives.

But as to your main point, it does seem kind of strange that this guy wants government-funded classical stations when it would appear that market forces won't support them. Is everyone on that side of the aisle giving up on a belief in the market and small government?

Beyond that it's not like you can't hear a lot of classical music on many public stations. True, it's not 24/7, and it's not in all places around the country, but there's some of it. And thankfully there are people running good internet radio stations who can provide listeners with music they wouldn't otherwise hear. :)

The shift from classical music on NPR was largely made on the guidance of a consultant. I can't remember the whole deal - the New York Times did a big Sunday Arts section piece on it some months ago - but basically they did some focus group stuff, and found that the nationally syndicated NPR programs got more bang for the buck. Lots of people like them, and they are cost effective. It's not that no one liked the classical - and jazz...don't forget Pittsburgh - format of public radio, but that they were in the minority (though as I recall, a decent sized minority). That combined with the makeover consultant's view that NPR should move away from music, and voila!