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Published on 5/22/08
Published on 2/22/08
Certainly, the five boroughs support an ever-burgeoning (and hard-to-pin-down) independent music scene with one borough—guess which one!—the present international hub of hipster activity. With that in mind, city-owned public radio station WNYE 91.5 (a.k.a. Radio New York) is dumping its regular, talk-heavy lineup and partnering with Seattle-based station KEXP to present an indie music–oriented lineup.
Based at the University of Washington since 1972, KEXP has long been a harbinger of musical trends. The station regularly plays unsigned—and unheard-of—artists: Kevin Cole, senior director of programming and host of the weekday afternoon show, observed in a recent conversation that the DJs have been playing Vampire Weekend’s demo for over a year. This commitment to breaking bands and discovering new music, as well as KEXP’s emphasis on Internet broadcasting (they were the first station in the country to offer uncompressed audio, a real-time playlist and full-song podcasting), is what led Mathew Tollin, the general manager of radio operations for the NYC Media Group, to reach out to Cole more than two years ago at a public-radio conference. Recalls Cole, “At the time I met Mathew, they were focusing on Channel 25 [the city’s public-affairs TV station], but were thinking of the radio program. They knew who we were. We have a certain profile within the noncommercial, NPR radio world as being a really adventurous station from a programming perspective, as well as being very forward-thinking on the technology side of things.”
The WNYE facelift (or perhaps more accurately, total body surgery) discussed at that conference is almost complete; the new model, dubbed “Radio Liberation,” rolls out Monday 24 at 6am. (If you’re really excited about the upcoming programs, you can check out the countdown clock at kexp.org/newyork/default.aspx.) The new WNYE schedule will feature 39 hours a week of KEXP-curated programming. Monday through Friday from 6am until 9am, Cole will host an all-new, WNYE-exclusive morning show Wake Up. At 9am, WNYE airwaves will simulcast KEXP’s John in the Morning, hosted by John Richards. Both programs will showcase idiosyncratic acts and live in-studio sessions (KEXP featured 433 last year) as well as recordings.
Richards, who also serves as the Seattle station’s associate director of programming and will split his time between there and New York, says that the shows will appeal to listeners in Gotham and beyond. “Right now our online audience is pretty massive. Even now I have to bring in the listeners that are international, so I think it will be a natural movement.”
The partnership will also feature a one-hour global music/electronica show every night of the week. KEXP says that it may frequently feature a new DJ or a rotation of various experimental musical minds. Kevin Cole likens the show to their current program Wo’ Pop (not to be confused with the Chinatown restaurant), hosted by Darek Mazzone. Rounding out the lineup will be a two-hour show called MTM: Music That Matters, which has already been airing on WNYE for over a year.
The rebranding of WNYE, unsurprisingly, has caused quite a stir among the noncommercial music radio stations in New York. Chuck Singleton, the program director of WFUV 90.7 (which is affiliated with Fordham University), doesn’t see a hole that needs filling. “The first thing that struck me when I heard about this was, Gee, this is redundant. Somebody didn’t do their homework. The city already has an established public radio station that’s been known for local independent music for decades.” Singleton is, of course, referring to his station, which he sees as being in touch with New York needs. WNYE? Not so much. “They’re not radio people, they’re bureaucrats making decisions.” Singleton also finds it curious that the KEXP-WNYE fusion comes on the heels on WFUV’s announcement in August of a second radio stream and HD station (supported by a $500,000 grant from the N.Y. State Music Fund) focused even more intently on independent music. He also adds that Fordham’s second station is “something that’s going to be made in New York by a staff of music fans that spends more than 30 percent of their time in New York.” WNYC 93.9 had no comment on KEXP’s cross-continental shift.
In terms of fund-raising dollars, KEXP will not be conducting pledge drives on WNYE; Radio New York is run almost solely through taxpayer dollars. Still, Tom Mara, executive director at KEXP, understands that “there’s a natural level of anxiety that happens when a new program comes to town, but our mission is not to steal listeners from other stations.” While it may not be their explicit goal, the battle lines are being drawn.
“Radio Liberation” begins broadcasting Mar 24, 2008, at 6am on WNYE-FM 91.5.
Armed and Semi-Dangerous
Thu, Mar 27, at 11:08pm
its been one hell of a change for the positive for morning commuters - the new format is killer
question: if Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan goes into effect, how much will Radio NYC's numbers fall??? all these new listeners will be forced underground - literally!!
YESMAN
Wed, Mar 26, at 02:51pm
LET THE AIR RAID BEGIN!!
Mbig
Wed, Mar 26, at 01:34pm
this is soooosweet!
raven RM
Tue, Mar 25, at 09:43am
ok kevin doesnt disappoint... u were a ON his am at times!! baaaaby
dog in a daze
Mon, Mar 24, at 10:00pm
i liked the music selection this AM... I think this will quickly catch on... but John in The Morning makes me think of where I head to as son as I get out of bed!!
RYAN C
Mon, Mar 24, at 09:48am
DEF WORTH WAIT... THIS IS TERRIFIC AUDIO CONTENT
The Cas
Mon, Mar 24, at 09:46am
brilliant! i loved it..looking forward to day 2 of the liberation!!
devon QNS
Mon, Mar 24, at 09:19am
beirut, common, PE!!! this is awesome!!
Thomas of Brooklyn
Mon, Mar 24, at 08:56am
So WNYE removes the BBC from it's morning schedule.
I suspect this is because of Israeli complaints. It wants the BBC to use 'targeted killing' instead of 'assassination'.
Google 'bbc israel assassinations" and see for yourself
WNYC is Gov run and this is New York after all.
ContentKing
Sun, Mar 23, at 11:39pm
T- 6 hours...so psyched for this radio revolution!
Ike
Sat, Mar 22, at 08:49pm
KEXP will only program WNYE for 39 hrs/week. Hardly a full-blown overhaul: A week has 168 hours! WFUV, stop being so prissy -- there's not much overlap -- FUV is much softer while KEXP is louder/noisier. But WNYE should drop World Cafe -- that IS redundant.
Anyway, nobody can ever touch the brilliant free-form greatness of WFMU (91.1)! (RedHead, try that.) FMU's FM signal is Jewish Orthodox from 6-9 a.m. though, so WNYE's new music is welcome then, if well-done and wide-ranging.
RYAN C
Sat, Mar 22, at 04:44pm
I CANT WAIT
BUBETUBE
Fri, Mar 21, at 01:50pm
this i really terrific... I am PSYCHED!!
Wired
Fri, Mar 21, at 01:27pm
what do the initials in kexp mean?
bebo
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:26pm
i wish wnye had gone to an all electronica format
RedHead
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:25pm
as a Seattle native transplanted here in Northern NJ, I can say that what the New York area really needs is a good curator of new indies, breaking bands and overall good quality music. WFUV is certainly NOT that. Trust me - I listen to them on my daily commute and while it better than just about everything else, they are certainly not at all like KEXP. This is a really exciting breakthrough for fans of good music.
Arithmatic
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:16pm
if these means more Lila Downs, Nortec Collective, Thievery Corporation, Bebel Gilberto, Thomas Newman, etc I am all for it
smiles
Fri, Mar 21, at 11:48am
sweeeet!
samsone
Fri, Mar 21, at 11:29am
this is great news!!
South BX
Fri, Mar 21, at 11:16am
91.5 has tried to be all things to all people for too long. i am glad they have finally chosen a format - and one I like!
WWW
Fri, Mar 21, at 10:12am
yawn
tony e
Fri, Mar 21, at 08:14am
this rocks!!
Skinny Vince
Fri, Mar 21, at 07:56am
I think this shows how out of touch the city is with the local media landscape. As someone else put it, why are they outsourcing the representation of our local music scene to a radio station in Seattle? I think KEXP's mis-step in all of this is their apparent perception that New Yorkers desperately want a single source for all their listening, when in fact, everyone I know in the city is accustomed to (and LIKES) rolling the dial between WFMU, NPR, WFUV, and WBAI. That's called variety, KEXP.
val
Fri, Mar 21, at 03:15am
When will NYC Media Group bring KCRW to NYC? I think their playlist rocks: Adele Adkins, Federico Aubele, Feist, Gnarls Barkley, Youssou N’Dour, Moby, Deerhoof, etc. KEXP is too AAA for my tastes...
MIKE
Fri, Mar 21, at 02:11am
Let the Liberation Begin!!
Lew
Fri, Mar 21, at 01:48am
I think KEXP will be a welcome addition to the tristate radiowaves
50Smith
Fri, Mar 21, at 01:28am
what does the 'e' in wnye stand for?
connie (riverdale)
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:55am
I am proud to say that WFUV is a folk music channel - nothing to do with hipster indie "grooves"... its not even close to what KEXP does... Time Out get your facts straight...
MMR
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:44am
i hope kexp finds as much success on east coast as they have on west coast
cosmos
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:40am
cool WFUV has $500k for HD radio...so that's $100k per listener. money well spent. idiots
Pen
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:18am
finally - really good music is making its way to New York.
GWEN MYERS
Fri, Mar 21, at 12:14am
IF I WAS WFUV I'D BE PISSED... THEY GOT THEIR POCKET PICKED. COME NOW WNYE - PLAY NICE - PUBCASTERS AREN'T SUPPOSED BE RUTHLESS
Sparrow
Thu, Mar 20, at 11:45pm
i miss the BBC
courtney (BK)
Thu, Mar 20, at 11:22pm
i applaud more great music
pete
Thu, Mar 20, at 11:10pm
wow this is big news... literally making airwaves...
marc
Thu, Mar 20, at 10:20pm
whats all the hoopla about. the future of radio is satelite
Ron from Williamsburg
Thu, Mar 20, at 10:05pm
listen i dont think kexp is all that
Rocket Man
Thu, Mar 20, at 09:55pm
The only reason this deal is happening is so Arick Wierson and Jonathon Werbell can move the Mayor's weekly call-in show to a station with listeners. It was just canceled on WABC AM. Wait and see. For them and Tollin and Scotland, its all about politics, power, and money. Not art. Not music.
jenna
Thu, Mar 20, at 09:46pm
what radio new york needs is a call in dating advice show for perma-singles like moi
-jenna
I heart 91.5
Thu, Mar 20, at 09:44pm
i love MTM..its a great show... cant wait to hear more
Clio
Thu, Mar 20, at 09:39pm
this is not really big news... it has been inevitable for some time now that WFUV would gain some competition in the market. Poor execution and a messed up mission have been telltale signs...The Current in Minneapolis has defined the genre and KEXP has proven a leader on the West Coast in this new format. For the WNYE management team, this must have been a pretty easy decision - giving WFUV a good kick in the groin... I am sure WFUV member-listeners will start sending their $$ to WNYE soon.
Sara
Thu, Mar 20, at 08:53pm
will this affect Gary Null?
timmy 2
Thu, Mar 20, at 08:52pm
give ralph mcdaniels a show!!
isabella
Thu, Mar 20, at 08:40pm
who needs another wfuv copy? one is too much!
FTR
Thu, Mar 20, at 08:37pm
radio is a content game. if u dont got it, u gotta get it, and get it radio ny has...they really get it
Juala
Thu, Mar 20, at 08:34pm
? ?????? ? KEXP ????? ? ??????! ? ????? ? ?????? ???? ? ?????? N6h ?????!
Prague
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:42pm
I, for one, will tune in and see if the all the hype is justified. Then I will report back.
belinda
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:42pm
heck out the wnye fm homepage...http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycmg/wnyefm/html/home/home.shtml
broods
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:40pm
the fuv guy sounds like sour grapes
MAX
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:31pm
can't wait - going to reset my pre-sets on my car this weekend
summers
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:28pm
dude this rocks!!
bomerang
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:25pm
this is vicious! Cole's Afernoon Show is awesome
XP
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:23pm
i hope keXP is better than Windows XP!
specs
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:20pm
count me in as anew listener!
Brian
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:18pm
im sure the nyctv team will turn around the station the way they did with old channel 25...
dan
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:18pm
this is great. kudos!
elza
Thu, Mar 20, at 07:03pm
john richards looks hot. is he single?
toby F
Thu, Mar 20, at 06:56pm
COOL!!
kRiss
Thu, Mar 20, at 06:53pm
nutin funnier than npr knuckleheads trading blows!
chris
Thu, Mar 20, at 06:51pm
once upon a time WFUV was edgy and innovative, but in recent years they have fallen asleep at the wheel... happy to se someone else take the lead
cannibale
Thu, Mar 20, at 06:49pm
fans of kexp unite!! the liberation is coming to Manhattan!!
