Our Mailbag

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 17, 7 November 1930, Page 31

Our Mailbag

Intolerance. "J AZZ and popular music is littering the air and insulating the public in general. If modern dancers must have dance music, then it should be confined to the dance hall." That is one person’s opinion, and undoubtedly he or she will find hundreds to agree. But--Several B class stations give a request hour one night each week, and anyone may request any type of musical programme from symphonies to blues. With what result? The first thousand requests received for selections to be played during this programme showed overwhelmingly the demand for dance numbers and sentimental ballads. Are these people to be denied their pleasure simply because someone else thinks that type of music is not good enough to be enjoyed? Do you blame the broadcasting stations for catering for the public? The theatres, the moving picture house satisfy the wishes and demands of the public, and if an enters prise is to be successful the customers must be pleased. When the publie changes its view on music and makes its demand heard, the broadcasting stations will make the change very quickly. Until then one may expect to hear many hours of crooning lullabies sung by tenors, and hot blue numbers. by women baritones, and fast, syncopated dance music played by popular dance bands. A simple twist of the dials and you do not have to listen to something which is offensive to you, although enjoyable to someone else. It is not necese sary to deprive others in order to eniow

yourself.-Spence

R.

Ellis

(Okato).