WFUV Uses Payola Funds To Launch Second NYC Station

Non-commercial Triple A WFUV-FM in NYC is using $500,000 in funds from the NY State Music Fund set up after last year’s payola probe to launch a second station via HD, internet and mobile streaming. This second station to launch in 2008 will be aimed at the 20-30 year old alt-rock set. Total costs are estimated at $1.2 million.

"Acts like Antibalas, Forro In The Dark and The Hold Steady have no problem selling out venues all over town, yet they presently don’t have a home on the radio in New York City,” said PD Chuck Singleton. “A second stream enables us to play deserving local acts in the same set as Bjork, M.I.A. or Arcade Fire, and at the same time, better serve New York’s musically-adventurous listening audiences by introducing them to something different."

Like LA’s KCRW, Philadelphia’s WXPN and others, WFUV is proving that some of the most innovative programming and creative use of new delivery methods is coming from the non-commercial broadcast sector.