KUSC Listeners Ready to Face the Music

Regarding the commentary “Praise and Lament for the Future of KUSC” (Calendar, Oct. 2), music critic Mark Swed misses two truly significant points: First, he says plain old, no-frills classical music is available “if with advertisements” on KKGO. But the whole point of supporting public broadcasting, to many of us, is to escape from troglodyte commercials (the recent, ever-increasing expansion of underwriters’ acknowledgments on public broadcasting is extremely threatening).

Second, he lauds just-resigned KUSC head Wallace A. Smith’s emphasis on “personalities.” But one listens to a music station for music, not “personalities.” Let’s breathe a sigh of relief that all that talk, talk, talk will be replaced by . . . music.

SAMUEL W. GELFMAN

Los Angeles

Mark Swed’s commentary concerning Wally Smith, Bonnie Grice and KUSC was interesting but I believe wrong when he speculates that she became a victim of sexism by offending an “old boys’ club” that preferred male announcers. I was a longtime listener of KUSC until the programming went out of control.

I believe that Grice has much to offer, but not as a regular deejay on a classical music station. I found her program comparing different recordings of classical pieces to be fascinating and informative.

I found her unctuous announcing style on her regular daily program to be nauseating. I like many types of music, but not mixed together, and not at the expense of a classical format.

I am looking forward to again subscribing to, and listening to, KUSC.

CAROL SCHNEIDER

Granada Hills

When Bonnie Grice leaves KUSC, her absence will be dearly felt. Although her programming has been wrapped in controversy by some listeners, it has also been admired by others. I have been a subscriber of KUSC for 20 years and a volunteer for the last four years.

I’ve been aware of the fact that Grice’s shows have always out-produced any other weekday shows in attracting contributions to the station. The support that she garnered through her introduction of female composers and artists is unparalleled in any other format or station in our community.

Time will tell how the new format will fare and whether those persons so eager to complain about programming in the past will finally support the change to an all-classical format.

SIDNEY C. SINGER

Los Angeles

(Editor’s note: Grice had resigned effective Oct. 31 but she said Thursday that the station’s new manager ordered her to leave without warning on Wednesday.)

Although I didn’t like the ascendancy of personality over content at KUSC, what bothered me most was that the station became ignorant and careless: talking over the music, playing only the “pretty” parts and mispronouncing names is intolerably disrespectful to the artists and the audience.

When I wrote to Wallace Smith about my concerns that the station was sacrificing music at the altar of market share, I was told, in so many words, that I was no longer part of the “target audience” and that my subscription would not be missed. It appears that it was.

Are we lovers of great, complex and challenging music an ossified intellectual and cultural elite? Some of us. But we are indeed a passionate minority, and we deserve our radio station back.

Hallelujah. My subscription check is in the mail.

FRED APPLEGATE

Burbank