BBC Choir/Orchestra Cuts

There is no reason any one individual should be paid over a million pounds a year for any role in the BBC. No reason at all.

Yes, it was flippant to suggest that sacking Lineker would solve the issues of classical music funding. And yes, there are cuts affecting most parts of the BBC.

But the huge cost of high profile talent is no longer something that can go unchallenged. If 'stars' won't work for a more reasonable salary, let them go off and ply their trade in the open market. I am fine with that.

Doing away with a major cultural institution is a step too far. The BBC Singers can be afforded by the BBC. Indeed should be afforded by the BBC.

Their music making, their collaborations, their educational work and much more should not be sacrificed.

Yeah you are right he is not worth it, but we are not Communists here. He is really good at his job and I've been down the list of BBC top earners and I'd get rid of two others personally and keep Lineker.

Rotten thing to do to get rid of the BBC Singers just before the Proms. I suspect it won't be seen that way by everyone - some people I know who are in a local (very high profile) choir have been posting on Facebook about how maybe their choir will get a look in. And I suspect that's exactly what will happen - or at least, choirs of their type and quality.

Not necessarily. Proms can reschedule and adapt their programme with months to spare. How many events do you think were programmed with a specific dependency on the BBC Singers?
Have you not noticed the timing of this? Just at the cusp of the change in financial year?
With the rising expense of running a corporation the size of the BBC, heating huge buildings, cost of living crisis affecting their thousands of staff (would you suggest no one employed by the staff under contract or freelance be worth an increase in wage?), along side the fact that the BBCs income has been throttled for 2 years. Everything costs more but their income is fixed. A lot of things have to give. And i am telling you with a degree of inside information, these a lot of these changes have been very last minute.

As much as you have a vendetta agains Lineker, the role he plays in maintaining and furthering the BBCs reach in the Sport watching demographic, keeping critical numbers of people interacting and engaged is far beyond what I believe you’d ever give him credit. That and the fact that there are very, very few people in the world with the experience and knowledge he has capable of doing the job he does. Have you seen any other footballer present a live TV show, hold it down when it goes wrong and keep all the guests talking off script without causing a veritable car crash? I’d hedge the answer to be no.

If you want to go with cold hard facts. Look at the amount of people watching MOTD and MOTD2 each week, over the course of the year, and compare that to the amount of people watching/listening to programming involving BBC Singers. There would be a ridiculously big difference in numbers. Sport audiences far outweigh classic music audiences.

Even if you don’t like it, I suggest you try accept it.
Rather than go on a multipost rambling of reasons I think Cameron Macintosh earns too much much from theatre, there would be much more value in discussing the work of smaller producers. Perhaps try demonstrate the worth of the choir and the reasons they should stay, rather than berate another department.

BBC got them in a deep hole on negotiated contracts with top-end talent. Those days are largely over (a number took pay cuts, I believe. Often symbolic but not always).  Lineker is a legacy issue and, as far as I recall, the most significant of them.

I have seen no one calling for the removal of sport or drama or Strictly from the BBC

There are many, many people bemoaning the loss of the BBC Singers. A group that has been in existence for very close to one hundred years. A group that has commissioned many new compositions, given the premiere performances of many more, done a huge amount of educational work, provided a launch pad for international careers and much more.

That is why nearly 40000 people have signed the petition calling on the BBC to overturn the decision.

I make no apology for calling out the BBC and the excessive payments they make to certain individuals. It is a symptom of the culture that management at the BBC has allowed and encouraged.

The BBC Singers should be protected as a unique and valuable institution.

You mean like Jermaine Jenas or Alex Scott?

He’s in demand so can justifiably charge. Because he’s had the opportunities to develop and prove an ability in his role, hence being getting the chance to move through the ranks.

More than 75,000 people have signed the petition now. Which I know isn't huge, but it shows that people do care about the BBC Singers.

JJ is busy enough with The One Show and the MOTD spin-off, MOTDx.

Oh I doubt it will.

But people are basically lazy and won't write to the Singers to say they've appreciated them and are sad they're being cut. But they might quickly sign a petition. It's nice for the Singers to see they're appreciated and the BBC can't trumpet that it was a decision approved of by all.

Perhaps, that’s exactly what has happened here.

On the topic of BBC reviewing its services, you’ve said yourself change is indeed inevitable.

I suspect a dart wasn’t thrown at a random department of musicians to decide who would go. It will be a highly considered move, based on aspects like perceived value vs expense.

I also contest your claim that the BBC Singers were entirely unique. There are many chamber choirs around the country, and it does them a disservice to imply that only BBC Singers could cater for the needs of vocal chamber music.

If it’s really an organisation of value, there’s nothing to stop the choir forming independently if they believe they can exist without running at a loss.