The Boston Pops are separate from the Boston Symphony but still “part of the BSO family.” Their introduction quoted former director Arthur Fiedler who said: “We only play one kind of music, the interesting kind.” Classical music purists may not agree, but thousands of people enjoy the Pops’ familiar and approachable performances each year.
The Pops became a spin-off from the full Symphony in 1885, “to spread wider the potential audience and to not just cater to a certain group of people with certain musical tastes.” This recognition that not everyone enjoyed the same type of music has allowed both groups to flourish in their own way.
The Pops aren’t the only ones who have segmented how they are organized. Companies do this now with research and development. Churches offer certain services with different music or in alternate languages. Charter schools often focus on a specific discipline area. Music ensembles create sub-sets for alternate genres or compilations of performers. Private banking units are created to serve specific customers.
Think about whether your organization could benefit from creating a separate entity as part of your “family” of offerings. It could become a POP-ular way to expand your reach while retaining your core.
