WNYU
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WNYU-FM | |
 |
|
| Broadcast area | New York, New York |
|---|---|
| Branding | WNYU 89.1 FM |
| Frequency | 89.1 (MHz) |
| Format | Rock music |
| ERP | 8300 watts |
| Class | B |
| Callsign meaning | W New York University |
| Owner | New York University |
| Website | wnyu.org |
WNYU is a non-commercial radio station owned and operated by New York University. Until 2004, it served lower Manhattan and surrounding areas, but thanks to a new booster, it now broadcasts to the tri-state region. The station can be heard on 89.1FM at 8,300 watts from 4pm until 1am on weekdays, and on the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.wnyu.org. The stream can also be found in iTunes Radio under the __Eclectic__ genre. Their offices and studios are located at 721 Broadway in Greenwich Village. WNYU's transmitter is located at University Heights in the Bronx, the former location of NYU.
WNYU is run entirely by university students. It plays a diverse array of music and encourages independent artists to submit their work for airplay. As of November 2006, their website now features archives of all aired shows, allowing listeners to tune in to missed broadcasts.
[edit] History
WNYU has been home to the legendary New Afternoon Show since 1980, when programmer Sal LoCurto flipped the format from progressive rock to New Wave, creating a U.S. launching pad for an entire new generation of music including Human League, Heaven 17, R.E.M., Public Image Limited as well as NYC acts such as The Fleshtones, Liquid Liquid, Konk, ESG and The Bush Tetras.
The original New Afternoon Show line-up included Gary Cee (now Program Director and Afternoon drive host of WPDH), Naomi Regelson, Michael "Pablo" Dugan, Sal LoCurto, and Evan "Funk" Davies. Brian "Weems" Williams replaced Gary Cee in 1981. Loscalzo (later of WPDH, WRCN, WDRE, KROQ and K-Rock/NY [1] replaced Evan "Funk" Davies in 1982. Other New Afternoon Show DJs during the 80's included Hrynyszyn, Jon Fox, Anne Clark, Sylvia, and Hugh Foley.
The station broke ground by airing one of the first hardcore punk programs - "Noise! The Show" - with host (and future MTV veejay) Tim Sommer. A snippet of this show can be heard on the Beastie Boys collection "Some Old Bullshit".
Alec Baldwin was a frequent guest on short-lived comedy program "Comedy Hell" hosted by Max Keiser (who would later go on to invent the Hollywood Stock Exchange and Karmabanque websites).
Past guest musicians on the station include, but are not limited to: Björk, Buju Banton, The Flaming Lips, The Cure, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Spiritualized, Black Dice, Daniel Johnston, James Murphy (of LCD Soundsystem), and Michael Gira (of Swans, Angels of Light), Slick Rick, Gang Starr, Eminem, Dilated Peoples, Jurassic 5, Arsonists, El-P, Cage, The X-Ecutioners, and The Allies
[edit] Current Programming
Current WNYU DJs include DJ Eclipse of Non Phixion, who hosts a hip-hop show called The Halftime Show every Wednesday night from 10:30PM to 1:00AM.
Tim Sweeney, whom Time Out New York named "one of the most in-demand DJs in the city" in an April 2005 feature, spins dance classics and new electronic music on Beats In Space, Tuesday nights from 10:30PM to 1:00AM. The Village Voice facetiously called Beats In Space the "Best Radio Show for Hearing 'Disco Train' Several Times on Repeat" in their Best of 2005 issue.
"The Cheap Seats," a sports talk program, airs each Monday and Friday at 7:30 PM EST and features the musings of Keith "The Chosen One" Sabalja. The show airs for one half hour and aims to break down professional sports from a uniquely independent viewpoint, especially focusing on teams from the New York region. Listeners may call in and offer their own opinions on the air. The show is currently hosted by Rachel Steinberg and Bryan Koch, and also features contributions from Rob Maiale, Carlos Posas and Brad Clough. Other past members include Kenny Albert (FOX), John Schmeelk (WFAN), Aaron Goldhammer (ESPN Radio) and Brook Silva-Braga (HBO). Hosts often interview relevant figures from the world of sports. Past guests have included John Sterling, Kerry Rhodes and Stu Jackson. The WNYU sports department also provides coverage of NYU men's and women's basketball.
