On 13/04/2012 11:09, Mike wrote:
It is to do with matching the technical quality of the broadcast
medium with that of the recorded medium. Current pop music with its
clipping, limiting and severely restricted dynamic range does not
require a high bit rate to carry it.

d

Radio 1 broadcasts quite a bit of live music so the source material
would benefit from decent quality reproduction.

Ah, but it's not "proper" music.