B.B.C. AND ORCHESTRAS
SIR,—It has been alleged that, as a result of the dispute between the E.B.C. and the National Association of Symphony Orchestras, there will be fewer broadcasts of symphonic music. This dispute has already lasted fifteen months and has not caused any decrease of serious music in that period. The B.B.C. wishes to make it quite clear that the continuing of the dispute will not reduce the amount of good orchestral music available to listeners.
The point at issue between the B.B.C. and the N.A.S.O. is the amount of clear profit available for the promoters of an outside concert, after all payments for the broadcast to the soloist and the orchestra have been covered by the B.B.C. On the basis in force at the beginning of the war this amounted to about £30 ; the N.A.S.O. admits that the present B.B.C. fee gives about £5o profit, an increase of 66 per cent. The B.B.C. in addition pays all the cost of installing microphones in the hall, hiring lines, &c., and as far as is known no extra cost falls on the promoters as a result of the broadcast. In the circumstances the B.B.C. feels that a sum of £So is a fair return for the promoters' goodwill.—Yours faithfully, Director of Publicity, B.B.C. KENNETH ADAM.
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