Is classical music dying? There is no apparent consensus on the subject. But some things are devastatingly true. In the age of predatory conservative politics and its assaults on Science, The Arts, and The Humanities, federal support for the Arts and Humanities is eroding. Since 1980, by 2014, federal support for the National endowment for the Humanities (NEH) had fallen more than 62%. In his 2015 budget proposal, Republican Party leader Paul Ryan sought to end all federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
In February 2014, the National Endowment for the Arts and other important American cultural organizations were forced to vacate their offices in the iconic Old Post Office shown below. They had to leave the 114-year-old national landmark to make room for the new leaseholder, Donald Trump, who had plans to convert it to the Trump International Hotel
Given the shorted sighted changes and relentless cuts in federal support; and given the dumb-downed cultural changes promoted by "reality" television, social media, mindless television programming, and the movies, it is no surprise that the number of classical music radio stations are also in decline. One count reveals approximately 30 commercial classical radio stations and around 100 public classical radio channels in the United States. Some of these only broadcast classical music part time, often at odd hours or off hours.
Unfortunately, even some major urban cities are without local access to classical music. Even those of us who have a considerable personal collection of classical music cannot buy enough to cover all the genre we'd like to hear. Consequently we depend on radio transmission of classical music to expand our knowledge and appreciation. However, thanks to the internet and live streaming, almost everyone has access to classical music. Two of My favorites for live steaming are on opposite coasts, Classical KDFC, streaming live in San Francisco and WABE Classical Music, streaming live in Atlanta.
Classical KDFC is my knockdown favorite. Launched in January 2011, Classical KDFC is the San Francisco Bay Area classical Music Radio Station. It is streaming live at www.KDFC.com. If you access it through the NPR APP on your smart phone, select "stations". Select All. Select California, then choose Classical KDFC 89.9.
"WABE Classsics offers a variety of music including classical, jazz, and blues. You can access the stream as follows: On WABE.org, click on Listen Live" at the top right of the page and then select "WABE Classics". If you access it through the NPR APP on your smart phone, select "stations", select All, select Georgia, then select WABE Classical. Do not select WABE 90.1 or WABE News. On an HD radio tune in to 90.1-2 Classics.
There are other stations and other sources; but National Public Radio, NPR, is a good source for finding public supported Classical Music. Don't wait too long. If the public doesn't demand that conservative Republicans cease their assault on the Arts and the Humanities the cultural wasteland will be a reality for most Americans.
