Beats & Pieces Canceled: Whither Music on OPB?

Submitted by pdxtra on Sat, 03/31/2007 - 8:41am.

Beats & Pieces is canceled as of the end of this weekend, according to a rather terse message introducing the show last night. Apparently it will be replaced by the national music program UnderCurrents, while a new local music program is on its way.

I'm reminded of Lynn's post back when OPB canceled Performance Today:

David Christensen and Steven Cantor, watch your backs; you're next.

But taking OPB at its word that it's canceling the one half of its remaining music programming only to replace it with different music, I'm wondering why? Did Cantor want to move on? Is there a high demand among OPB listeners for different sleepytime music?

The temporary replacement describes itself as "Rock, Blues, Folk, Native, Country, Funk, Electronica, Reggae, World, Conscious Hip Hop, Dub and more." The demo sounds like something liable to wake one up at random, though at least not with the theremin/Alpen horn/didgeridoo jam session to which Eclecticty is prone.

So what would you prefer? The soothing sounds of Beats & Pieces? The less-soothing sounds of something else? A bunch of Brits reporting genocide and famine as you fall asleep? I go with the lattermost.

Like this post? Add it to del.icio.us!

pdxtra's blog | quote

( topics: OPB )

Bring back "Hearts of Space"

Submitted by bigboy on Sat, 03/31/2007 - 12:12pm.

When I was a kid I'd often fall asleep to "Music from the Hearts of Space" on OPB.

www.hos.com

reply | quote

hee

Submitted by LynnS on Sat, 03/31/2007 - 12:34pm.

There was a spot-on parody of that show on Mystery Science Theater 3000 once called "Music from Some Guys in Space." I mean, letter perfect. what tape was that on?...rummage rummage sneeze...

-----
Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother

reply | quote

ah!

Submitted by LynnS on Sat, 03/31/2007 - 10:54pm.

Found the transcript, and it was on the episode "Pod People." One of my faves. Delicious kitty, like a potato!

-----
Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother

reply | quote

Thanks for Beats & Pieces

Submitted by Steven Alexander on Sat, 03/31/2007 - 10:44pm.

Beats & Pieces has been profound. Thanks, Steven Cantor.

reply | quote

Gone Already?

Submitted by pdxtra on Sun, 04/01/2007 - 11:45am.

I tuned in last night, and although I only listened for a minute, the music didn't sound like Beats & Pieces...

reply | quote

If KMHD was smart

Submitted by tvprintradio on Sun, 04/01/2007 - 6:24pm.

They would agressively counterprogram whatever comes after the musical replacements at OPB.

reply | quote

Speaking of KMHD

Submitted by pdxtra on Sun, 04/01/2007 - 11:39pm.

This isn't really a response to your particular point, but I love KMHD. And I have nothing but praise for Beats & Pieces, too, I should have made more clear. I just think I should be able to tune to one station when I want public radio news/talk, and another station when I want jazz and blues. That way I can decide what I want to listen to and when. For me, the very low-volume burble of the BBC helps me fall asleep better than music, probably because it distracts me a bit from my own thoughts. So it's frustrating at 9pm when I have no news program to fall asleep to. (And commercial talk is in no way soothing.)

reply | quote

Agreed

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Tue, 04/03/2007 - 11:20pm.

KOPB should get rid of music altogther and concentrate on news/talk. There are so many good programs available for public radio that I hear in other cities but not here.

reply | quote

Beats and Pieces was unique.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Sat, 04/07/2007 - 1:03am.

Beats and Pieces was unique. Where else could you hear Stravinsky and Duke Ellington in the same hour? OPB is lame.

reply | quote

Steven Cantor is world-class, OPB is slipping

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Sun, 04/08/2007 - 10:01pm.

OPB would have been much smarter to make Steven a syndication offer to turn the show into a marketable product to be distributed to other public radio stations. With OPB's recent programming changes, Steven Bass is alienating OPB from any further support from me, a member of some ten years or so.

reply | quote

Quite unique...

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Sun, 04/08/2007 - 10:23pm.

Indeed, the show will be missed by more than a handful of people. It seems that OPB is attempting to lean a little closer to mainstream sounds (a la KINK), in exchange for some of the truly unique music programming found on Beats and Pieces. I don't know if this is a calculated move, or just a desire for something "fresh."

reply | quote

No Beats and Pieces?!!!!

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Fri, 04/13/2007 - 10:24pm.

No way! That show was THE BEST. I am appaled. Does anyone know if Steven Cantor is still going to continue it elsewhere?

reply | quote

Steven, you will be missed

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Sun, 07/15/2007 - 9:36am.

Steven, you will be missed tremendously!

reply | quote

KMHD *is* smart

Submitted by Steven Alexander on Sat, 11/10/2007 - 9:05pm.

Well, KMHD *has* taken up Steven Cantor, and has even been able to use his program's name:

Quote:

Beats & Pieces - Steven Cantor is back on Portland airwaves with a jazzy version of the critically acclaimed radio program "Beats & Pieces". Steven explores Music with a capital M every Sunday night from nine to midnight.

(http://www.kmhd.org/)

Even though the jazz he played was a stretch for me musically, I expect to listen, given what a wonderful programmer and presence he was on OPB until this spring.

reply | quote