WFUV

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WFUV
WFUV radio logo.png
CityNew York, New York
Frequency90.7 MHz (HD Radio) [1]
Branding90.7 WFUV
SloganNY's Music Discovery
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatAdult album alternative / Adult contemporary music
SubchannelsHD2: "FUV All Music" (Adult album alternative)
AffiliationsNPR
Ownership
OwnerFordham University
History
First air date
September 24, 1947 (73 years ago) (1947-09-24)
Call sign meaning
W
Fordham
University's
Voice
Technical information
Facility ID22033
ClassB
ERP47,000 watts
HAAT155 meters (509 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°52′48″N 73°52′40″W / 40.88000°N 73.87778°W / 40.88000; -73.87778
Repeater(s)90.7 WFUV-FM3 (New York)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.wfuv.org

WFUV (90.7 FM) is a noncommercial radio station licensed to New York City. The station is owned by Fordham University, with studios on its Bronx campus, and its antenna atop nearby Montefiore Medical Center. WFUV first went on the air in 1947; it became a professional public radio station in 1990 and is one of two NPR member stations in New York City. Its on-air staff has included radio veterans Dennis Elsas, Vin Scelsa, Pete Fornatale, and Rita Houston.

Background[]

Founded in 1949 by Fordham University, WFUV became a student-run, 50,000-watt station in 1968-1969 before transitioning to a public station during the late 1980s.[2] WFUV is a National Public Radio affiliate. The station's call letters stand for "Fordham University's Voice." Though operated as a professional public radio station, WFUV's mission also includes a strong training component for Fordham students. Students receive intensive instruction and are heard on the air in news and sports programming.[3][4] The station is known for its adult album alternative (AAA) format – a mix of adult rock, singer-songwriters, world and other music, formerly branded as "City Folk" – as well as Celtic music.

The station serves 375,000 weekly listeners in the New York area and 100,00 more worldwide on the web each month.[5] As of January 2021, WFUV is the third most popular station in any rock music format in the New York market after WAXQ and WNYL.[6] In terms of weekly audience, it is the most listened to noncommercial alternative music station[a] in the United States.[7] Of all noncommercial stations regardless of format, it is the third most popular in the New York market (after WNYC and WQXR) and 22nd most popular nationally (as of May 2018).[8]

Programming[]

Outside of its weekday AAA programming, WFUV airs a variety of specialty shows, which include genres such as folk music and early pop and jazz. National programs heard on WFUV, as of 2021, include World Cafe, The Grateful Dead Hour, and The Thistle and Shamrock. The station has a longstanding Sunday tradition of airing a mix of Celtic music and Fordham University programming during the day and eclectic folk in the evening.[9]

In-studio interviews and performances are also a prominent feature of its programming. On-air guests have included Radio Hall of Famer Arthur Godfrey (in 1947), Pete Hamill, Steve Buscemi, Tim Robbins, Jefferson Airplane, The Association, Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn, The Washington Squares, Suzanne Vega, Jimmy Webb, Peter, Paul & Mary, Cyndi Lauper, Sting, Bo Diddley, Judy Collins, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson, Robert Klein, Kevin Bacon, Dick Cavett, Glen Campbell, Ringo Starr, Joshua Bell, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Robbie Robertson, Los Lobos, Tony Bennett, John Zacherle, The Bad Plus, Buddy Guy, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello, Ani DiFranco, The Polyphonic Spree, Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Richard Barone, The Decemberists, Moby, Uncle Tupelo, Josh Ritter, Neil Young, Of Monsters and Men, Violent Femmes, Mavis Staples, Brian Fallon, and Norah Jones (in her radio debut). WFUV has introduced many other new artists over the years.

On-air staff[]

The present day roster of air talent features longtime FUV DJ Darren DeVivo, a station mainstay since 1983; Corny O'Connell, another WFUV vet who joined the staff in the late 1980s; Dennis Elsas, formerly of WNEW-FM; Alisa Ali, and assistant music director Eric Holland. The station's team of DJs also includes Janet Bardini, who recently returned after first working at FUV in the late 1970s into the early 1980s; Benham Jones; production director Sarah Wardrop; and director of technical operations George Evans.

Specialty shows are hosted by Kathleen Biggins, who has been a part of WFUV since the mid-1980s ("A Thousand Welcomes"); Don McGee ("Mixed Bag", a program created by Pete Fornatale); Bob Sherman ("Woody's Children," a folk music program that's been heard on New York City radio for over fifty years); Paul Cavalconte, on his second tour of duty at WFUV having started his broadcasting career at FUV in the late 1970s into the late 1980s ("Cavalcade"); John Platt ("Sunday Supper"); digital content editor Kara Manning ("UKNY"); guitarist Binky Griptite ("The Boogie Down"); music director Russ Borris ("The Alternate Side"); and Delphine Blue ("The Whole Wide World" following Rita Houston's twenty-year tenure). The Irish music program "Ceol na nGael" (translation: "Music of the Irish") continues to be hosted by a team of Fordham students.[10]

History[]

WFUV was founded in 1947 by Fordham University's communication department. Early programming was a mix of classical, popular, ethnic music and the University's sports broadcasts. Many chamber music and piano recitals were broadcast live from now-defunct Studio B in the 1950s. The station also broadcast a long-running series of live Sunday classical broadcasts from The Ethical Culture Society in Manhattan.[11]

WFUV was on the verge of going off the air in September 1968, due to budgetary cuts by the university, but the student-staff went on strike and organized rallies and demonstrations to save the station. Around this time, the station became part of the school's Student Affairs division and was run by students. It had been a 3,500-watt station from its inception until February 21, 1969, when its effective radiated power was increased to 50,000 watts.[2][4] WFUV's daily rock music programming also began in the late 1960s.[11]

WFUV began broadcasting in stereo on March 31, 1973.[2] In the mid 1980s, the station began to transition to a professionally-operated public station "to increase its public service and community impact".[11][4] WFUV has been a professional noncommercial radio station since 1990.[12] To be more competitive in the New York market at this time, it introduced a more folk and alternative music sound under the name "City Folk", as well as news/talk radio elements such as weather and traffic reports.[13] The station also adopted the nascent adult album alternative format.[14] This shift was overseen by longtime general manager Dr. Ralph Jennings and program director Chuck Singleton.[15]

In May 1994, Fordham started building a 480-foot-tall (150 m) transmission tower for WFUV on its Rose Hill campus, directly across from the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)'s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.[16] The NYBG, which did not know about the tower's construction, subsequently requested that construction of the tower be halted.[17] Construction was delayed for several months before the New York City Department of Buildings ruled that the tower could be built 25 feet (7.6 m) away from its originally proposed location.[18] Both the NYBG and Fordham disagreed with the proposed compromise, however.[19] In 1997, the FCC ruled that the tower would negatively affect the NYBG if it were finished,[20] but a New York state court upheld its legality.[21] In 2002, Montefiore Medical Center offered to move WFUV's antenna to its own facilities on Gun Hill Road, one of the highest locations in the Bronx, and Fordham agreed. Fordham subsequently announced in 2004 that it intended to destroy the half-built tower on Rose Hill.[22][23]

In 2005 the studios, offices, and transmitter moved from the third floor of Keating Hall on Fordham's Rose Hill campus to Keating Hall's basement. The move allowed the station to improve its equipment and gain more space.[4] In 2011, music director Rita Houston took over as the station's program director from Chuck Singleton, who, in turn, became general manager;[24][25] Houston held the position through 2020. In June 2021, the station named Rich McLaughlin as program director; in addition to his career in radio and streaming music programming, McLaughlin is a Fordham University alumnus who worked for the station as an undergraduate as well as for its digital offering, The Alternate Side.[26][27]

Notable former staff[]

See also: Category:WFUV people

Former student staff[]

WFUV's rock music shows were formerly hosted by Fordham students, most notably Pete Fornatale, whose first show began in November 1964, when he was a sophomore and who returned to WFUV in 2001 after a 30-year hiatus, remaining until his 2012 death. Other alumni include:

  • Alan Alda, M*A*S*H and The West Wing actor[28]
  • Ozzie Alfonso, Emmy Award-winning director and writer of educational shows 3-2-1 Contact and Sesame Street[citation needed]
  • Jack Haley Jr., film and television producer[28]
  • Bob Keeshan, actor, most notable for his role as Captain Kangaroo[29]
  • Ted May, Emmy Award-winning director for Sesame Street
  • Charles Osgood, retired host of CBS News Sunday Morning and The Osgood Report on CBS Radio[28]
  • John Schaefer, noted music journalist and host of WNYC's New Sounds and Soundcheck; former WFUV program director[30]
  • Raymond Siller, the head writer for Johnny Carson

News department alumni are/were heard on many stations and networks nationally. These include:

The sports department has produced numerous notable alumni, most notably, Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers announcer and Baseball Hall of Famer Vin Scully, who helped found WFUV. Other alumni include:

  • Mike Breen, television announcer for the New York Knicks and the NBA on ABC, recipient of the 2020 Curt Gowdy Media Award[36]
  • Chris Carrino, radio announcer for the Brooklyn Nets and Compass Media[36]
  • Jack Curry, studio analyst for YES Network, former sportswriter for The New York Times[37]
  • Spero Dedes, television announcer for CBS and Turner, former radio announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks[36]
  • Michael Kay, television announcer for the New York Yankees and host of the radio show The Michael Kay Show and CenterStage[36]
  • Malcolm Moran, sportswriter for USA Today and The New York Times, founder of WFUV show One on One, recipient of the 2007 Curt Gowdy Media Award[36]
  • Sal Marchiano, retired two-time Emmy Award-winning sports anchor WPIX in New York[38]
  • Bob Papa, radio announcer for the New York Giants, announcer for NBC and Golf Channel[39]
  • Ed Randall, host of WFAN's "Talking Baseball" and contributor to MLB.com[40]
  • Tony Reali, host of ESPN's Around the Horn and sports contributor to Good Morning America[36]
  • Ryan Ruocco, television announcer for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Yankees, NBA on ESPN, and WNBA on ESPN[36]
  • Charlie Slowes, radio play-by-play announcer for the Washington Nationals[41]
  • Mike Yam, host at Pac-12 Network, former host of ESPN's SportsCenter[42]

Former professional staff[]

Notable past-staff at WFUV include DJs Pete Fornatale and Vin Scelsa. Alan Light, former editor-in-chief of music magazines Vibe and Spin and music critic at the New York Times, was an on-air contributor and music critic during the mid-2000s at WFUV. Longtime DJ Rich Conaty presented his big band show The Big Broadcast on the station from 1972-1992, and again from 1998 until his death in 2016. Former program director and DJ Rita Houston, who worked at the station from 1994 until her death in 2020, was a noted New York tastemaker and early champion of artists like Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, Adele, and the Indigo Girls.[43]

Radio announcer Marty Glickman instructed students in the sports department after his retirement. Glickman was the radio announcer of the New York Knicks, New York Giants, and New York Jets, and the subject of the Martin Scorsese-produced 2013 HBO documentary film Glickman. Glickman was succeeded by Bob Ahrens, who oversaw the WFUV sports department for twenty years as executive sports producer.

Recognition[]

WFUV has received numerous awards and nominations from professional organizations on local, state, and national levels. In the early 2000s, the station was named one of the best radio stations in its category on multiple occasions by trade organizations. The Princeton Review named it one of the top twenty college radio stations every year from 2012 to 2020.[44][45][46] In 2013, Complex listed it as the eighth best college radio station in the country.[47]

WFUV is regularly distinguished for their newscasts and public affairs coverage.[48][49] Nationally, the newsroom has been awarded nearly every year over the past two decades by the Public Radio Journalist Association and the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation's Gracie Awards on both professional and student levels. Since 2009, assistant news and public affairs director Robin Shannon has been awarded six times by these two organizations for Best News Anchor/Newscast.[50] Former music and program director Rita Houston was awarded on multiple occasions by trade organizations FMQB, JBE, Gavin Report, and ASCAP for her work.[51]

Selected national professional awards (1998–present)[50]

  • 2000: ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards – Broadcast Award for WFUV's City Folk, The Big Broadcast and Swing Time (Rita Houston and Rich Conaty)[52]
  • 2001: Gavin Music Director of the Year – Rita Houston
  • 2001: Gavin Station of the Year – WFUV
  • 2001: FMQB Triple A Conference – Progressive Noncommercial Radio Station of the Year
  • 2002: FMQB Triple A Conference – Progressive Noncommercial Radio Station of the Year
  • 2003: FMQB Triple A Conference – Progressive Noncommercial Radio Station of the Year
  • 2003: R&R Triple A Summit Industry Achievement Awards – Music Director of the Year – Rita Houston
  • 2004: R&R Triple A Summit Industry Achievement Awards – Air Personality Of The Year – Rita Houston
  • 2004: Lincoln University’s Unity Awards in Media – Outstanding Reporting of Education for "Cityscape: Education Beat"
  • 2004: National Federation of Community Broadcasters' Golden Reels Awards – Best National Public Affairs Programming for "Democracy on the Block" (Finalist)
  • 2005: RTDNA's National Edward R. Murrow Awards – Best News Series (Radio Large Market) for Subculture
  • 2007: ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards – Broadcast Award for WFUV's Idiot’s Delight (Vin Sclesa)[53]
  • 2011: Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Awards – Best Radio Feature Reporting for "Ernie Harwell: Our Friend in the Booth"
  • 2012: FMQB Triple A Conference – Program Director of the Year – Rita Houston[54]
  • 2019: FMQB Triple A Conference – Program Director of the Year (Noncommercial) – Rita Houston
  • 2020: JBE Triple A Awards – Program Director of the Year (Noncommercial) – Rita Houston[55]

References[]

  1. ^ "HD Radio station guide". www.hdradio.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-10-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "WFUV Student Workshops | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Waits, Jennifer (2017-07-06). "Radio Station Visit #139 - WFUV at Fordham University". Radio Survivor. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  5. ^ "WFUV Online Media Kitt" (PDF). WFUV. 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "NEW YORK RADIO RATINGS FOR SUBSCRIBING STATIONS". Nielsen. January 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Llc, Ken Mills Agency (2018-05-15). "SPARK NEWS: THE STATE OF TRIPLE AMUSIC ON NONCOMM RADIO IN 2018". SPARK NEWS. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  8. ^ Llc, Ken Mills Agency (2018-06-19). "SPARK NEWS: WNYC-FM, KQED, KPCC & KSBJ LEAD LIST OF TOP 30 NONCOMMERCIAL STATIONS". SPARK NEWS. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  9. ^ "Programs | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  10. ^ "Contact & Staff | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c Strauss, Neil (1996-08-25). "From the Local Radio Swamp, A Fresher Sound Is Rising". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  12. ^ "Looking back to the past | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  13. ^ The Paley Center in New York (1996). "SECOND ANNUAL RADIO FESTIVAL: DRIVE-TIME RADIO: CITY FOLK MORNING SHOW, WFUV-FM, NEW YORK". www.paleycenter.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  14. ^ "Triple A Through the Years: Adult Alternative Program Directors Discuss the History and Evolution of the Radio Format". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  15. ^ Dwyer, Jim (2011-06-29). "After 26 Years, Shaper of an Influential Radio Station Signs Off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  16. ^ Alvarez, Lizette (1996-11-03). "Fordham and Garden Renew Tower Dispute". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  17. ^ Dunlap, David W. (1994-07-06). "A Tower Pits Fordham vs. Botanical Garden". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  18. ^ Barron, James (1994-11-18). "Bronx Tower Can Rise, But a Little to the Right". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  19. ^ Nossiter, Adam (1995-06-15). "Fordham Radio Tower Ruling Satisfies No One". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  20. ^ Finder, Alan (1997-05-24). "F.C.C. Staff Says Tower Would Harm Bronx Garden". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  21. ^ Hernandez, Raymond (1998-04-03). "Ruling Upholds Legality of Fordham Radio Tower". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  22. ^ Elliott, Andrea (2004-05-14). "Deal Would End 10-Year Feud on Fordham's Radio Tower". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  23. ^ Ramirez, Anthony (2006-04-29). "Radio Tower in Bronx Falls; Botanical Garden Hears It, Happily". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  24. ^ "Tastemaker Rita Houston Celebrates 25 Years at WFUV". Fordham Newsroom. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  25. ^ "Chuck Singleton | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  26. ^ Stellabotte, Ryan (2021-06-23). "At WFUV, a New Champion of Music Discovery". Fordham Newsroom. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  27. ^ Marszalek, Paul (2021). "Rich McLaughlin Returns as WFUV Program Director". The Top 22. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c Parisi, Albert J. (1994-04-24). "New Jersey Q & A: Charles Osgood; A New Face at CBS 'Sunday Morning'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  29. ^ "Media with a Mission". Fordham Newsroom. 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  30. ^ Goodman, Fred (2000-10-15). "TELEVISION/RADIO; In Search of New Music, Both Ancient and Modern". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  31. ^ "Scott Detrow". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  32. ^ "Fordham Alumni in Media Grapple with Challenges of Covering COVID-19". Fordham Newsroom. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  33. ^ Taylor, Derrick Bryson (2020-04-25). "Richard Hake, Longtime WNYC Radio Reporter and Host, Dies at 51". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  34. ^ Short, Aaron. "Meet Greg Kelly, Trump's tireless defender on right-wing TV". Insider. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  35. ^ "Jonathan Vigliotti". Pulitzer Center. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "One on One's 40th Anniversary Celebration | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  37. ^ "Jack Curry Talks Yankees | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  38. ^ "Sal Marchiano Joins One on One—Feb. 13, 2021 | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  39. ^ "Bob Papa Joins One on One 8/24/19 | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  40. ^ ""Talking Baseball's" Ed Randall Shares His Thoughts on the HOF | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  41. ^ "Charlie Slowes Joins One on One 10/26/19 | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  42. ^ "Off The Air: Mike Yam | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  43. ^ Sandomir, Richard (2020-12-30). "Rita Houston, WFUV D.J. Who Lifted Music Careers, Dies at 59". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  44. ^ Waits, Jennifer (2011-08-17). "2012 Princeton Review's 20 "Most Popular" College Radio Stations". Radio Survivor. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  45. ^ Waits, Jennifer (2012-08-22). "2013 Princeton Review's Best College Radio Stations List". Radio Survivor. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  46. ^ Waits, Jennifer (2019-09-03). "Princeton Review's 2020 "Best College Radio Stations" List". Radio Survivor. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  47. ^ "The 25 Best College Radio Stations". Complex. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  48. ^ "WFUV Sweeps Awards, again". Fordham Newsroom. 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  49. ^ "WFUV Brings in Record Award Haul". Fordham Newsroom. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  50. ^ Jump up to: a b "Awards and Accolades | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  51. ^ "Rita Houston, WFUV Program Director and National Music Tastemaker, Dies at 59". Fordham Newsroom. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  52. ^ "33rd Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Award Recipients". www.ascapfoundation.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  53. ^ "Scelsa Honored With ASCAP Award". Radio World. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  54. ^ "Congratulations, Rita! | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  55. ^ "2020 Triple A Award Winners | Jack Barton Entertainment". Jack Barton Ent. Retrieved 2021-03-22.

Notes

  1. ^ Excluding KCRW which has a dual talk radio and AAA format.

External links[]

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