World of Music to be cut

[judith]

On a happier note here in Turkey - You Tube is finally back after a two-year ban! - Hip hip hooray - a tad less foolishness in this neck of the woods today!

That's good news. I'm glad you are able to watch Youtube, particularly after the news this thread brings.

[jayaram]

I'm devastated by this.
There used to be a lot of music, including Western Classical Music and humour (Just A Minute) and many other delightful programmes on the World Service.
It would have been one thing if their loss was all that happened. Actually, even the news services have dwindled. How many full time correspondents does the Beeb have in Asia now, for instance?
Murdoch 30 - BBC 0

[Rob Hall]

They appear to be repeating an awful lot on the World Service nowadays to fill up airtime, much more so than I recall in the past.

[birthschoolworkdeath]

I have listened to the WS for many years travelling throughout the world. The long-term trends is unfortunately to a more and more hurried delivery, (recycled) news now not just every hour but every half hour. I'm not sure where this comes from but I like to blame on the influence of "rolling news channel"s such as CNN etc. World service radio is becoming more and more like Word Service Tv - the watching of which just makes me nervous.
You get the impression that the "managers" are not listeners.
The World in "World Service" used to be very important - with programmes such as Outlook (rescued by Terry Waite (sez) ) and WOM providing access not worldwide stories and music you'd otherwise never hear - just as an example. I wait with baited breath to see what WOM will be replaced with - more news?

[Jamie Renton]

You get the impression that the "managers" are not listeners.

I think that's the problem in a nutshell. Not just at the World Service, but BBC Radio London, Radio 2 ...

[RussellC]

I thought this reported quote in the Guardian on 20 December by the actress playing Aung San Suu Kyi, on meeting her subject said a lot and was a sufficient case to review the decision to cancel 'World of Music':
[Michelle] Yeoh told the Guardian: "The first thing we did is hug and I thought you are really skinny, man. One of the first things she [Suu Kyi] said was 'why doesn't the BBC world service have more music?' "

Suu Kyi is surely one of the World Service's most celebrated listeners. Now that control of the World Service is supposed to be transferring from the Foreign Office to the BBC, this should give the BBC the opportunity to review the programme closure decision. They should realise that for a successful world station, you need a range of programmes to attract listeners, not just news, current affairs and factual. The cost of a 30 min music programme per week must be relatively small compared to the same time for a rolling global news station.

I'll be telling the BBC the same thing.

[uiwangmike]

I'm wondering why the new year's day program (commemorating World Braille Day) hasn't been made available on i-Player. Is there to be a gradual withdrawal?

[john poole]

I'm wondering why the new year's day program (commemorating World Braille Day) hasn't been made available on i-Player. Is there to be a gradual withdrawal?

Several other World Service programmes from 1st January still claim to be "coming soon" on i-Player.

[Raj]

this is terrible news - am so sad. I just came to know that the programme on the 26 March 2011 is the last. I would have stayed up until 2am to listen to the sound of the world programme in Mauritius. It was so exciting to discover tunes and music from all over the world and to listen to the calm voice of Charlie. After the death of Charlie, I was still loyal to the programme presented by Mark Coles. It is a sad day for music lovers.

[DJ Socrates]

Hey everyone!

Set up a Facebook Page to bring back World of Music

http://on.fb.me/WorldofMusicFanPage

Mark Coles has just become a fan as well... Let's spread the word! It might help and even if it doesn't change the BBC's mind it's a good opportunity to get the voice of the listeners & fans out there heard: We want World of Music back on air!

[Chris P]

thanks for this,DJ Soc, and for putting a link to this SOTW forum on the fb page.
I hope everyone here has visited & considered 'joining'
http://on.fb.me/WorldofMusicFanPage

[Philellinas]

I note that the World Service are trumpeting the arrival on April 16th of a "new" world(-weary) music programme called "World Routes". Could this be repeats of the programmes already broadcast domestically on Radio 3? I suppose it's some consolation for listeners to "A world of music" but not much. If you freeze the BBC's licence fee and expect them to fund the World Service as well something's got to give. I hope I'm wrong...

[kastamonu]

I heard yesterday on BBC World Service that there may be a re-think on the 16% cut for the World Service - hopefully that will mean more world music (or maybe the World of Music might return??) Probably doubtful. I did listen to World Routes last week by the way - I enjoyed the Fado singer but the Arabic lady was marvellous & so different to anything I'd heard before. Thanks for that update!
Bests,
Pauline.

[uiwangmike]

I note that the World Service are trumpeting the arrival on April 16th of a "new" world(-weary) music programme called "World Routes". Could this be repeats of the programmes already broadcast domestically on Radio 3?

Turns out it is, but that's not to say that the first one wasn't a pleasure to wake up to this morning. It' s a repeat of a recent R3 program (nearly an hour long) recorded in Argentina about chamame, with Chango Spasiuk and a couple of other great accordionists, Sergio Tarnovsky and Tilo Escobar.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00fz81w#synopsis

[AnnePlanetegypt]

Hi if you like arabic music and singers Planet Egypt are launching live arabic music on to the London scene! Friday 13 May . [http://www.planetegypt.co.uk/live_music_events.shtml]
At Darbucka
182 St John Street, London EC1V 4JZ Nearest tubes: Farringdon, Angel or Barbican
Plenty of Nearby Parking.

Price £15 in advance/£20 on the door
Tickets
Book now on line see here http://www.planetegypt.co.uk/live_music_events.shtml

Artists
Lebanese Supremo, Singer Abdul Salam Kheir
Yasmin Alfyha: A big Syrian singer
Sheikh Taha on the Accordion
Emad Shakir on the Org
Sherif on theTabla and Req
Ibrahim A on the Req and Tabla

Contact: Anne White
Planet Egypt http://www.planetegypt.co.uk/
Email: anne@planetegypt.co.uk
Facebook Planet Egypt - Bellydancing Parties
You tube channel : Planetegypt