Friday Feedback for January 15, 2016

I don't need anything other than 91.3. -- James in Southport

As a supporter of WHQR for many years, I initially liked the idea of splitting the station into two, one for news and one for classical music. However, the reality has not lived up to my hopes, by a wide margin. The main problem is the lack of variety of programming. The present programming is very heavy on baroque, and on the use of guitars, for example. Right now I am listening to a guitar version of Winter from the Four Seasons. A day or two ago it was Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto Number 6 played by the LAGQ [Los Angeles Guitar Quartet]. A few months ago it was Vivaldi’s Summer played by a guitar trio. Another serious problem is the trend toward playing single movements from larger works. In addition to the lack of variety of programming, is the trend toward irrelevant chit-chat to introduce the work. A recent example involving Percy Granger can only be labeled TMI. Finally, the lack of power for 96.7 relative to 91.3 is obvious when one is traveling out of town, and one station fades out much sooner than the other. 96.7 appears to be the red-headed stepchild of WHQR. I can only hope that the situation improves.

We have recently retired here from a part of North Carolina where your signal didn't reach… We switched our radio allegiance to WHQR this year. We are sustainers. I have no buttons set on my car radio. I don't need anything other than 91.[3]. My wife has several buttons set. But they all relate to where we used to live. If her car radio is on, it is on 91.[3].

Two thoughts. I enjoy listening to jazz in the evenings. Thank you for expanding my horizons with your selections. However, really?? [In December] between 10 p. m. and 11 p.m. you played "I wish I were in love again". Really?? Go back and listen to lyrics. [editor's note: see below] Prior to retirement I spent countless hours counseling abused women. Sadly, many believed a black eye is part of being in love. Further, after escaping one abusive relationship, some would quickly fall back into another. After all, a black eye is part of being in love. Do you want to encourage that belief? Really?? And it is so much a part of being in love that this young lady wishes she were in love again. Really?? Really?? You seriously need to edit your play list. Really! [Also, recent] Friday Feedbacks have included comments to the effect that you should drop Car Talk. I disagree. No. Car Talk is a delight. Thank you for continuing to carry it.

[AUDIO CLIP] Hi, this is Polly Shaver. I was calling just to thank you for putting on Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie show. I never did hear the time, so all day Sunday I was glued to WHQR. Finally at 4 o’clock it came on, and made me feel like the 2016 election is getting going now. So thanks for playing that.