THE RADIO WORLD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 9

THE RADIO WORLD

WHAT LISTENERS WANT

NEW YORK OPINION.

Certain facts regarding popular preferences in connection with radiocast music as just made public by Arthur Williams, vice-president of commercial relations of the New York Edison Company, will doubtless by a suprise to some. The information referred to was obtained by the company in connection with the “Edison Hour,” which is radiocast weekly from station WRNY, New York. By tho method used 4800 radio listeners cast 79,800 votes in regard to fifty composers and eighteen types of musical compositions. ’ The opinions registered are both significant and surprising. The first ton composers in order of choice are: Ludwig van Beethoven Franz Schubert, Victor Herbert, Richard Wagner Felix Mendelssohn, Fritz Kreisler, Franz Liszt, Charles Gounod, Peter Tchaikovsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The first ten compositions are: Overture to “Tannhauser ’’ Wagner; “Poet and Peasant” Overture, von Suppe; “Marche Militairc,” Schubert; Fifth Symphony, Beethoven; “Unfinished Symphony,” Schubert; Ballet Music from “Faust,” Gounod; Meditation from “Thais,” Massenet; “Liebesfreud,” Kreisler; “H.M.S. Pinafore,” Sullivan; “Nutcracker” Suite, Tchaikovsky. One of the significant things shown in the questionaire, which seems to indicate that the tastes of listeners everywhere are alike, is that the relative positions of the leading composers and compositions were the same for each thousand of the questionaires tabulated. The space left on the questionaire for remarks provoked lively comment. The men had more to say and were more positive in their opinions than the women. Thirty asked for jazz and 135 denounced it in no gentle terms.

In the few questions appended concerning the radiocasting of household matters the women indicated a preference for talks relating to cooking. These figures may be studied with profit by the makers of radio musical programmes. They indicate plainly that radio audiences are in no respect different in their tastes from those that gather to hear music in symphony halls or in public parks, where- band concerts are given. Tho people of all grades' of society prefer the best music. They call for it in their requests. They show their enjoyment of it in the vigour and spontaneity of their applause. Particularly as indicating the trend of popular taste would it be well for radiocasting companies to ponder on the -fact that on the Edison questionnaires while thirty persons asked for jazz there were nearly five times that’number who warmly objected to that sort of composition. It is made perfectly plain by the votes sent in that efforts to raise rather than lower popular taste in music through radiocasting will meet with hearty response from the listening public.

PROGRAMMES FOR TO-NIGHT.

IYA, Auckland —6 p.m.: Children’s hour. 7.15: News and reports. 80: Chimes Relay of overture from Strand Theatre Orchestra, under the direction of Eve Bentley and assisting artists. Weather forecast. Organ recital and vocal selections—Mr Arthur E. Wilson and assisting artist, organ and vocal selections.

2YA, Wellington.—Silent day.

3YA, Christchurch.—6 p.m.: Child

reu’s hour—Uncle Peter and Mother Hubbard. 7.15: Addington stock market leports. 7.30: News and reports. 8.0: Chimes. Relay of orchestral selections from Grand Picture Theatre Orchestra under the direction of Mrs Black (by kind normission of tho management), and assisting artists.

4YA. Dunedin.—Silent day.

2BL, Sydney.—B p.m.: Brodcasters Topical Chorus The Leone Vocal Trio. Selections by the Cantorburv District Baud, dance music by 2BL Dance Band. Mr Claude Holland (light comedian).

3LO Melbourne.—7.ls p.m.: Mr L. C. Bartels will speak on “Irrigated Agriculture, Watering Lucerne.” Mr Clarence Weber, “Health Talk”; Captain C. H. ’Peters on “Books.” Artists: Harold Elvins, Grace Jackson, Senia Chostiakoff, Marie Lawton, Yetty Landau, Newport Workshops’ Band. Concert from Farewell .Social, Joe Aronson and his SyncoSymphonists.

4Q,G Brisbane.—B p.m.: The first portion of the programme will comprise threequarters of an hour’s music by the Hamilton quartette. 'Chis will be followed by a programme from the studio of Mrs Croft.