Banditman wrote
I haven't read the article yet, but did they consider the possibility that most of what people would consider "good" music is unlikely to be played on a mainstream radio station, so unless the (I'll be diplomatic) "older listeners" are streaming online music and searching for it - something hard to do if you work a 9-5 and pay bills, unlike most teens or students - they're not likely to get exposed to good current music?
I think the mainstream radio (and, for music, TV) are geared to two markets. One is the young folks with lots of disposable income. This is where Radio 5 and Highveld (and etc) are pitched. Then there's the older folks who have got the kids out of the house and now want to make up for the wild youth they missed and buy a Harley and a Les Paul. That's where Mix FM and Solid Gold Sunday are pitched. In between there's not much, so I think that unless you're inquisitive about music and seek out new things (or try to make sense out of current pop) you live on memory for a while and then you get the kids out of the house and your memories get reinforced.
I like to think I'm always open to new music and that I've continued to expand my listening repertoire, but sometimes I have doubts. I am a bit allergic to much of what is now called "classic rock" but I didn't like a lot of it in real time anyway.
We aren't well served by public radio here in SA. We once were (and not so long ago). SAFM used to have Richard Haslop's almost bewilderingly varied late night show, and the eclectic Bruce Millar during the day, but these days it's pretty bland.
In the UK they have fabulous late night shows from the likes of Bob Harris and Tom Robinson - you have to seek them out, but they're there if you want to go looking for something that will broaden your horizons. In the USA they have the excellent NPR which has great musical shows that seem to deliberately go for the stuff that all the big commercial networks couldn't be arsed about.
