You forget how much this country genuinely hates young people until the entitlement of something like Concert FM gets challenged

By
Martyn Bradbury
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50
2798
You forget how much this country genuinely hates young people until the entitlement of something like Concert FM gets challenged.
Why shouldn’t youth have commercial free radio where toxic consumerism isn’t rammed down their throats? Adults get it with RNZ & Concert FM – why aren’t young people given the same respect?

Listening to Boomers tell me replacing their precious Concert FM for a commercial free youth station is a ‘neoliberal agenda’ is like being lectured by Trump on feminism.

Boomer privilege has never sounded so audacious.

The old Kiwi FM stations (which were the old Channel Z frequencies) have been decommissioned for some reason leaving few options for anything new so there has to be some rationalisation of what little public broadcasting infrastructure we have left.

A youth station that can act as a place for music and a sense of shared identity would be crucial for young people.

Look at their suicide rates, their depression rates, the reality of climate change and its impact on them. We decry the use of social media and fake news, a youth brand would be a trusted source of information.

All those things are incredibly beneficial and positive for young people and if the cost of gaining that is Concert moving to AM, then so be it.

If Concert can be saved, great, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of an idea that is beyond due.

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50 COMMENTS

  1. You assume “young people” don’t listen to the Concert Programme. Our granddaughter, aged 16, who plays the trumpet, has urged us to protest against the closing of the Concert Programme. She’s one of many who want to keep listening.

  2. Here at the little Red Bookshop..we listen to Concert FM all day everyday..when were not listening to something alternative (for want of a better label), or Jazz, God help us, even Free Jazz, or classic punk, or Motorhead, or something like Sleep (Trio) or something like Lungfish, or anything really, because we like music.
    For me Classical music was my first escape from depression and the bleakness of the teenage years..next came something daft like the Sex Pistols..but there you go…
    And only a dunder head arbitrarily dismisses any whole genre of music.
    Interestingly, half the comments complimenting the Classical are from the younger folk…the Boomers and half the X’s are too busy trying to convince themselves they like Lorde, or are saving up to go to Elton john at the Mission Concert.
    The world is full of sources of music…all sorts, all easily accessed, why on earth would they shut down the best source of interesting Classical music in NZ??
    And why on earth would someone support that.
    Lets make the airwaves smaller..good grief..how very woke..

  3. I take it you don’t listen to National Radio otherwise you might be familiar with youth oriented shows like mixtape, music101, song crush, adventures in musicland etc?

  4. So no Martyn. It’s not an either or. No one should be shafted by RNZ s non inclusive policy. Right or left testicle Martyn? Oh wait … Lol.

  6. Totally agree with you Martyn, I was annoyed (once again) by the vindictive nature of commenters on your other post. Bloody whinging Boomers think theyre entitled to everything their way. Get a grip old people you are stuck in yesterdays world. Get some CD’s or YouTube your favourite Concerts online, its all there and free. I work with young people who listen to radio all day via headphone/ear protectors. Im a Boomer myself but I like young people, this world would be bloody grim without them. Not a single day goes by when I don’t grimace at some Boomers disgraceful attitudes. This very site is becoming infected by right wing oldies crapping all over everyone not of their views.

    • “work with young people who listen to radio all day via headphone/ear protectors”

      Obviously the type of music they like is well catered for then?

      “Get some CD’s or YouTube your favourite Concerts online”

      Not all people have access to an unlimited data high speed internet connection, particularly poor young kids. So those kids who are underprivileged now have a free source of great music and culture cut off – good one!

  7. Snoop Dog, Kanye West, Cold Play, etc hardly need taxpayer funded endorsement and promotion.

    The same reason why we have taxpayer funded FM is the same reason we have public museums, libraries, ballet, symphony orchestras etc.

    If we do away with Concert FM, we reduce the access of under-privileged young people to the arts. Rich kids are encouraged into it through parental pressure, through having access to high speed internet, and the best speakers etc.

    Actually nationally funded radio should be going out to actively promote the arts, particularly classical music, which stands at the very pinnacle of human endeavour and achievement. Indeed the very reason why classical music is not that popular among the young here is it has not been packaged and commercialised. But it should be promoted in other non-commercial ways. Study are study have demonstrated the benefits of an appreciation of classical music, let alone its performance.

    Imagine if all countries had the same attitude to classical music as what is displayed here- in a generation or so people would almost forget the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, and that would be an appalling tragedy.

    Thank god we have countries like China, Russia, etc who esteem classical music and who pass it down generation to generation for the benefit of all humanity.

    • Yes. Hooray for China and Russia. Esteemed protectors of freedom of choice and human rights. Despots and tyrants listen to Beethoven and Mozart too, but ‘thank God’ they pass their exquisite taste in music to subsequent generations or we’d all be doomed.

  8. Theres an important point being missed by ALL the coverage on this – The frequencies are there for Youth Network without touching RNZ Concert – between 101.8 MHz and 102.5 MHz is reserved for a public broadcasting network. It was reserved when the upper FM band was opened up for broadcasting, along with 101.0 to 101.7 (RNZ National FM), and 103.4 to 104.1 MHz (Pacific Media Network/Niu FM).

    A few months after Kiwi FM’s launch, it’s Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch frequencies were moved from the old Channel Z Frequencies (91.7 in Wellington, for instance) to spots in that reserved public broadcasting network (eg 102.1 in Wellington), and the old Channel Z frequencies were free for Mediaworks to use for other networks. In Wellington, 91.7 became The Edge.

    There’s also another un-used reserved network between 102.6 MHz and 103.3 MHz, which I understand is reserved for a nationwide Maori radio network.

    Yeah, it needs some more money to get transmitters to fire-up 101.8 to 102.5.. and the Youth Network may need to be phased-in as transmitters are added over a few months, but the point is that it doesn’t *have* to be Youth or Concert on FM – there’s room for both.

    • Good to see facts and figures instead of boomer bashing. Fraid I can’t agree with your stance on this one Martyn.

    • My last reply to you @Glenn disappeared up its own arse. Normally I keep a copy, unfortunately – this time not.
      BUT you are correct Abso FUCKING lutely. There is room for Concert FM as it stands (AND actually for improvements in certain areas) AS WELL AS a ‘Yoof’ Network.
      Just not the will or for anything that doesn’t have a commercial return.
      But as I’ve also said – there’s a history to all this. Whether its the demolition of Broadcasting House in Wellington, the wasted opportunities for Avalon – which is now like a bit of a relic, to hiving off other bits to benefit Skoi Sutty, to the commons’ assets being purloined for an earn, to various ideologically-driven policies that now mean it’s become such an effort to provide for a population knocking 5 mill with 3 on Air radio Networks, and a couple of FTA non-com ones.
      I really don’t see it improving soon unless a few politicians get a grip of themselves.
      The only good thing I’ve heard this week is f-f-f-f-f-f-Faaa-f-f-f-f-Foi suggesting NZonAir will be retained.
      I acknowledge f-f-f-f-f-f-Faaa-f-f-f-f-Foi has a lot on his plate. So did t-t-t-t-t-Twyford AND j-j-j-j-Jacinda.

      Also a shame Jane Wrightson is standing down – whether or not you’re disillusioned wannabe guitar plucker who couldn’t get funding for a vid, a serial applicant that’s been turned down, or your perception that some people seem to get all the luck.
      She had a few good ideas such as funding streams – probably the most important of which now is to do with ‘platform. We could actually build on NZonAir as a lead agency – its the bridge between public service broadcasting and the commercial imperative

  9. I don’t know but FM apparently gives a better sound.

    Before the volume on my Sony transistor went ape-shit I used to listen to Concert FM before sleep. I prefer Jazz but when it wasn’t potboilers it was good.

    One or the other seems pale on the part of this pale gummint.

  11. Seriously?????????????????? Why is it either/ or? Why can’t we afford indeed have both?
    This looks like the decision making of bean counters. Tone deaf, talentless and can’t boogie certified cretins!

  12. Okay, Bomber, I am a music teacher and it’s time to take you to school on this one. Firstly, I am not a Boomer, I am Generation X, like you. I am from a working class town in England, my grandad was a coal miner, my mother a seamstress and my dad a postman. I developed a love of classical music on my own (no old rich, white people were involved), paid for my own flute lessons once I left school and was working as an apprentice, before studying music as a mature student and becoming a music teacher. Is that working class enough for you? Yes, I have worked my way up to middle-class status and I can only apologize for the accident of birth that gave me white skin. Please forgive me.

    Maori TV/Te Reo receives more public money than RNZ and I fully support their role in maintaining this important part of our nation’s culture – it is a vital part of public service broadcasting. RNZ Concert deserves the same treatment for the same reasons.

    Classical music is not the preserve of old, white, right-wing racist boomers. When I taught in South Auckland, I took my Polynesian and Maori kids to see the APO on many an occasion and the students loved it. I am now in another school and the majority of my orchestra and choir members are Asian, especially Filipinos from blue-collar families. Classical music is a vital outlet for a large number of students who are not merely inclined to sport. Everyone is different, after all.

    I fully understand your frustration with RNZ after they wrongly blacklisted you for speaking the truth. Wear that as a badge of honour, Bomber. However, that is not a reason to despise the whole network and the amount of good that it does for NZ. If we work together then we will hopefully again see a public broadcaster that allows your views (and a full spectrum of all views) to be heard.

    As for classical music being right wing . . . Beethoven was a true believer in the freedom of all and a staunch opponent of oppression (look at how furious he was when he saw that Napoleon had made himself emperor of France), Copland was a victim of McArthyism due to his socialist leanings, Debussy’s spirituality is a guiding light to all. Classical music is awash with lefties.

    We need RNZ Concert in the same way that we need Maori TV/Te Reo and Te Papa.

    There are other FM frequencies for a youth music station.

    There is money for all of this.

    Getting rid of Concert is akin to burning the books.

    Please support the arts on this one, Bomber. We will only be poorer as a nation without RNZ Concert.

    • The arts shouldn’t take away from the rest of the economy but it should be endowed with generic us gifts and treasure. The arts is an important indicator of a healthy economy. The arts make the cakes that people eat and produce the music people listen to when they’re not busy at work. So as the economy grows stronger and more powerful so to should the arts grow in size. I guess it’s not the answer you’re looking for but if we don’t take it to young people then the economy may not turn out as good as it could have.

    • Kiri Te Kanawa is another despicable boomer!

      The likes of Kiri Te Kanawa, is clearly taking the rights of music away from the youth like convicted bribes for NZ drivers licenses, Lovepreet Brar who are clearly far more popular with our growing criminal youth!

      “But since the scam was uncovered, Brar has become a YouTube sensation, starring in videos that attract millions of clicks and often involve guns, flash cars and women.

      One of his videos, titled Jail, shows Brar at a mansion surrounded by prestigious cars.

      But since the scam was uncovered, Brar has become a YouTube sensation, starring in videos that attract millions of clicks and often involve guns, flash cars and women.

      One of his videos, titled Jail, shows Brar at a mansion surrounded by prestigious cars.”

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/114283545/bribes-for-driver-licences-deportation-order-issued-for-star-witness-and-youtube-sensation

      Or another one of NZ’s youth’s convicted hit and run driver (that killed another youth cyclist) Rouxle Le Roux, made fun with videos about her predicament on social media.

      “In an Instagram story, Ms Le Roux gleefully walks past/along the street near the Mount Eden Correctional Facility.

      The video shows her smiling, poking out her tongue and using a love heart face filter before waving at the building.

      On Sunday, the now convicted criminal captioned an image with “the world is literally our oyster and I cannot contain my excitement to explore it”.”

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/12/woman-who-killed-boy-with-car-joked-about-having-to-catch-bus-on-instagram.html

  13. If they wanted a youth station, why not bring in new staff.

    When the left are championing 18 jobs being made redundant (and probably the more experienced, more expensive people) then we have a problem!

    I’ve heard that Chinese youth are quite partial to classical music and and we have an ageing population which with demographics and 10% of NZ immigration is aged parents is also increasing. So in commercial situations, growing market place they are about to shit on for their neoliberal agenda.

    • Online doesn’t have journalists and targeted research. RNZ essays into contemporary artists is a skill set that’s missing ever since the Compack Disk cover booklets disappeared. For those wondering what a compact disk is, it’s something old people did.

      I spent hours going through those booklets, and I’m sure your people will find the same knowledge on an RNZ youth station.

  15. “You forget how much this country genuinely hates young people until the entitlement of something like Concert FM gets challenged”

    …how much this country hates young people…? No, it doesn’t so speak for yourself.
    And fuck yes! Leave Concert FM Radio alone. What dip shit came up with the idea to fix what ain’t broke?
    It’s lovely to roll the dial past the commercial cacophony of the tree-top screeching’s and verbal faeces flinging’s of an army of devil-fingers giving bling-swingers to settle on Concert FM. It’s always been there, an oasis of yakking-ad free dulcet tones to sooth the constantly assaulted defences of what should be the peace and sanctity of the mind.
    Simply give the hallowed youth an add free FM signal of their own and encourage them to let rip without the psychologically brainwashing influence of turning good coin to make a little mike hoskings Ferrari.

    National Radio. Just listen to it? National Radio has redefined bland. If it was paint it’d be beige.
    Kim Hill’s brilliant. She’s a talent that’d be a National disaster to lose. So is Jesse Mulligan. He’s got a fabulous radio personality and he’s just plain and simply likeable but dreary Ms Shush aka kath ryan, a person doomed to sounding terminally gobsmacked at the most banal things. I literally, physically can’t listen to her.
    Remember that scene in ‘Men Who Stare At Goats’ ? Where that poor bastard Iraqi guy was locked in a cell and tortured by being forced to listen to the ‘Barney The Dinosaur’ tune under strobe lights? That, to me, is kath ryan.
    It’s this simple, lovers of the comfort of the same in media.
    Our free to air, national and concert FM radio is being commercialised whether you like it or not.
    This gibberish for an urgent and dire need for yoof radio is a smoke screen to allow advertisers into that last bastion of the area in your brains that’s still devoted to free-thinking.
    Look to the French when macron tried to fuck with French worker’s pensions?
    We must do the same to protect our radio from the money fetishists and [it’d] have nothing to do with hating our kids. What bullshit @ MB. Shame on you to foment hate in any form. That’s for people like me to do.
    Here’s what we should tax-pay to have happen.
    A free to air radio and television infrastructure specifically dedicated to youth. But leave RNZ and Concert FM the fuck alone. Just get rid of kath ryan and Jim mora for me would you?

    • The ‘Queen’ is in agreeance, great prose poet of our Lefty time.

      Nat Rad survived National’s not-particularly-rad Radio by bending its backside to non social democrats. A Richard who(?) determined it. He was called the Silver Fox in those plutocratic preferable times. I try not to remember elite-friendly people’s names, but Griffin? Well, pricks of 84, you’ve been disproved.

      Yet, there you sit, not least Steven Mills, who fights back — as the voice of the Left on Nat Rad?! Ye p, Steve, the rich are right.

  16. If only they weren’t whiny little bitches! And if only the showed some respect to their elders …. fuck’em I say. They havent paid their way, probably still living at home, not paying any rent, havent finished school and havent had any life experience with which comes responsibility.

    Somebody better tell these punks about student radio and bfm ffs!

    Its just another woke twatterati juvenile campaign.

  17. Firstly, a youth radio station seems a frivolous priority when this country has plenty of REAL problems that aren’t being dealt with. Problems like schools, universities and the health system not being funded properly.
    And why do we need youth radio when we have student radio stations?

    Second, where else are classical music lovers supposed to go besides the Concert program? (I’m not much into classical music myself, more a pop, jazz and RnB sort of person). As one commentator has pointed out, state funding of classical music is like funding of art galleries – not a bad thing, surely?

    Lastly, I wonder if the author can provide any actual evidence to support his statement that this country “genuinely hates young people”. You might be familiar with Hofstede’s six dimensions of culture? One of Hofstede’s dimensions is “Indulgence” which examines the ways children are socialized. NZ gets a high score of 79 on this dimension, which (according to this guy Hofstede) means children here are encouraged “to realize their impulses and desires with regard to enjoying life and having fun.” https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/

  18. So now you tell me that the fact I want to keep the Concert Program proves that I hate young people!

    Oh that’s pathetic!

    • You might need to start them on I vow to thee my cuntry @manfred. There’s another world cup due in a few years. Oh shit – that’ll coincide with a grand scheme outcome for PSB

  20. Funny thing is if they take away free classical music on FM, it will be the same people supporting such a move, that would be the first to complain about ‘elitism’ and not ‘diverse’ enough etc….

    If you remove opportunity for people to have familiarity with something or to give it a go, then yeah, it does become the preserve of those who can afford it —–like equestrian and yachting.

    But this is much more important than equestrian and yachting. This is about civilization and the preservation and continuation of civilized culture and values.

    • Mark “This is about civilization and the preservation and continuation of civilized culture and values. ”

      Absolutely – our European heritage, often denigrated, sometimes tragic, often lamentable, and also often utterly splendid.

  21. Those people who support this wrong-headed move are really little more than red guards —motivated simply by hatred of anything that seems beyond them

  22. Its misdirection, a manufactured ‘crisis’. Create a problem, make noise, then solve it by offering up a solution and come out looking competent and win-over the pathetic yoof vote?

  23. If listening to yet another below the belt song could cure depression or help lower suicide rates than you deserve a Nivel prize! The fact that the rates are so high is directly related to the unrealistic expectations that are promoted by the modern music culture. The way that are relationships are portrayed, the lifestyle displayed it all affects vulnerable young people and puts unnecessary pressure on them amoung the peers. Do not try to get yourself a higher rating or bring on the praise by using such serious issues as suicide or depression. The science is right against your ignorant mindset -the classical music has a calming and healing effect, where as the modern music raises the stress hormones.

  24. If listening to yet another below the belt song could cure depression or help lower suicide rates than you deserve a Nivel prize! The fact that the rates are so high is directly related to the unrealistic expectations that are promoted by the modern music culture. The way that are relationships are portrayed, the lifestyle displayed it all affects vulnerable young people and puts unnecessary pressure on them amoung the peers. Do not try to get yourself a higher rating or bring on the praise by using such serious issues as suicide or depression. The science is right against your ignorant mindset -the classical music has a calming and healing effect, where as the modern music raises the stress hormones.

  25. If listening to yet another below the belt song could cure depression or help lower suicide rates than you deserve a Nivel prize! The fact that the rates are so high is directly related to the unrealistic expectations that are promoted by the modern music culture. The way that are relationships are portrayed, the lifestyle displayed it all affects vulnerable young people and puts unnecessary pressure on them amoung the peers. Do not try to get yourself a higher rating or bring on the praise by using such serious issues as suicide or depression. The science is right against your ignorant mindset -the classical music has a calming and healing effect, where as the modern music raises the stress hormones.

  26. You’re OTT on this one Martyn. Even as a socialist, I believe in the power of the arts – from am dram to Mahler symphonies and all kinds of ‘good’ music which might include things I myself listen to – English folk, German lieder, Irish piping, Wagner operas – and things my ears don’t find particularly satisfying (jazz, metal, punk, rap) but whose validity I can still see. Youth are well served by commercial radio and online sources. There is no reason why Concert FM should be sacrificed in its present form. And considering our ageing population (who are not necessarily RICH boomers), the demographics can hardly be ignored. The legacy of Western classical music is, alongside libraries, art galleries, a PUBLIC GOOD. Germany in particularly realises this. In NZ, orchestras have well-developed outreach and schools programmes. I know from personal experience working for one of those orchestras that there is a core of rich supporters who may not actually have the greatest knowledge of the music they are paying to hear and go to concerts to be seen. But that is a minority – necessary because of the poor support of the arts by governments past and present. P.S. I’m 57, am well-versed in classical music and European trad/folk music, but being very selective, do most of my listening online now. I can listen to direct broadcasts and video streaming from Germany for instance. I make use of the tech I have, but those in the generations before me may not and still listen to radio. I have nothing against ‘yoof’ so long as they don’t disturb my peace and quiet and are civil to me – not always the case.

    • If he had any decency he would be the former. by way of a resignation.
      And that’s not about politics either – it’s about suitability for his job and a lack of understanding of what public service (broadcasting in this case) is about.
      But then the same can be said in a number of other administrative agencies – at both local and central government levels as well.

    • Paul Thompson was a nasty natz appointment which has been fine until National have found themselves in opposition.

      Now i see they are venting their frustration about concert which they wouldn’t have given a shit about if this decision had been made while they were in government citing the excuse the government does not interfere in the commercial decisions of how the RNZ is run unless it is too appoint one of their own too turn it into another blue radio station.

      Time for a new manager and board.

  28. RNZ are no friend of the COL government by the looks of it. Everything they campaign on seems to be jettison ing mainstream support for COL as well as the harassment RNZ campaign against Winston Peters and NZ First.

    The service is to be replaced on FM by a service aimed at a “younger, more diverse audience” as part of a new multimedia “music brand”.

    Gosh, wonder if someone has a “friend” that needs a job that is ‘diverse’ and ‘young’. Since Len Brown all that has new meaning.

    Redundancy is also a great way to remove free speech in NZ or to cover stuff up aka Joanne Harrison. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/331250/whistleblowers-tell-of-incredible-day-their-jobs-were-axed

    Sounds like the woke folks at RNZ are ramming it through, even against the government approval and after they were given an extra 10,000,000 of funding!

    PM ‘frustrated’ by RNZ’s Concert FM move
    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/pm-frustrated-rnzs-concert-fm-move

    • Plenty of young people want it kept too, Michelle. The sad thing for me is to see Martyn, who so fervently preaches against the ‘Woke’, become Woke himself on this issue, and make the absurd accusation that those who want to keep RNZ Concert hate our young people. . Garbage.

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