I’ve crunched the numbers of our last survey about our newest features.  Overall the feedback on these new elements is positive with comments like “diggin’ it” and “I love your innovative spirit.”  Here’s how the features break out.

The Commercial-free Wake-up and Wind-down Hours at 5:30:
Although a quarter of you who took the survey hadn’t checked out these hours a couple months ago, those who have listened really like it.  48% of you said you love it.   21% of you like it.  2% are not fans.  

The Island of Sanity at 7pm extended to a half hour: 
About three quarters of those surveyed like this change.  A couple of listeners said it is their favorite, while one of the 3% who doesn’t care for it said “quiet music at 7pm while driving can lead to sleep.”  Warning-it’s relaxing.

The Surprise at 5pm: 
This is a fun experiment, yet a challenge to find interesting things that don’t cause most of you to turn off the radio!  A quarter of you don’t know this drive-time feature yet, while over two-thirds of you are enjoying it.  Keep your suggestions coming.  There have been some real gems.

Summer Requests from 10am to 1pm weekdays: 
This is where we let you program the workday music.  A third of you love it.  Another third of you like it, but about 12% aren’t as enamored with listener picks.  Hoyt’s having fun with your selections.  We hope you are too.

Vocal music on KDFC has always been very polarizing. Comments this year included “I would REALLY like to have more vocal music,” and “Be careful, a lot of people find it irritating,” to “STOP THE SINGING!”  Some 50% said they enjoyed our monthly SF Opera broadcast; about the same number enjoy the Sacred Concert on Sunday mornings.  Over a third of you said you would enjoy vocals added to the KDFC regular mix.  Where do you think vocals fit on KDFC?  What kind?  Opera, choral, art songs? Any? When?

Movie Music in small doses on KDFC was added almost 2 years ago. We’ve had a wide variety of feedback.   In this survey we heard comments like “I would think that movie theme music is not quite for your targeted audiences. I personally detest it” to “I get a real kick out of hearing some of movie soundtrack music you throw in occasionally.” Do movie soundtracks have a place on a classical station?  Is it the new classical for a new audience, or should it be left out? If it’s enjoyable, does it matter where it comes from? What do you think?

Longer Works (20-50 minutes)were a hotter topic in the comments this year.  While KDFC does play longer full-length works daily, years ago the station began playing movements (segments) of major works to provide greater variety in an hour and to control the tempo.  Would you prefer KDFC play more complete, longer works or leave the mix as is?  When is the best time to hear longer works? If your favorite work is 45 minutes long, do you prefer hearing a movement of it morning drive, or prefer it be played in its entirety or not at all? Where do you stand?

Morning Drive on KDFC.  There were a lot of comments like this.  “I especially love Hoyt and Betsy in the morning. They’re a lot of fun to listen to.  I carpool and we listen and laugh.”  60% of those surveyed listen to KDFC between 7am and 9am, but what about those who don’t? What can KDFC do in the mornings to attract a larger percentage of the Bay Area’s classical fans? What do you think of the music?  Is too familiar, not familiar enough, too long, too short, too loud, too soft, too upbeat, too mellow?  Do you want more news, interviews, contests?           Fire away.