Tragedy at OPB

Tragedy at OPB

My single favorite music program at OPB, late weekend nights' Beats & Pieces hosted by Steven Cantor is defunct. To quote from http://www.opb.org/insideopb/opbnews/opbarchives/radio/

OPB Announces Changes in Music Programming

Last modified on April 2, 2007 08:45 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting said it will continue to make changes in its OPB Radio (91.5 FM) music programming beginning with the April 1 discontinuation of Beats & Pieces.

Special music programming will begin April 6 and continue through mid-May when OPB will launch new programs featuring local and regional music and artists.

"We believe our listeners will be very pleased with this new programming, especially when it features the music of this region and some of our own most talented musicians," said OPB President Steve Bass. He said more details will be announced closer to the mid-May launch date.

He also thanked Steven Cantor, host of Beats & Pieces, for his many years of service as the program's host. Cantor was offered a different position with OPB but declined to accept it.

Bass said OPB constantly reviews its programming via member surveys, calls and emails, audience ratings and focus group research. Similar research guided OPB’s earlier decision to offer the Performance Today program to All-Classical 89.9 FM and its current decision to end Beats & Pieces, which had a loyal but very small following.

"We are listening to our members when we make these decisions and what they are telling us is that they want change and expect top-quality music programs such as those we'll be adding to OPB Radio," he said.

This is a serious blow. Steven Cantor was definitely the best DJ I found on the airwaves after moving from L.A., and I credit him with my discovery of the likes of Max Richter, Cheb i Sabbah, Spiegel im Spiegel and lots more. Steven had the uncanny knack of creating playlists that would easily transition from Bob Dylan to Beethoven to South Indian music to Radiohead and visiting klezmer music along the way. Sometime, when time allows, I will try to share some of these finds with the reader.