New York Times freelance writer provides no news on Brooklyn microradio

Today's The New York Times has a severely under-reported story about the plethora of microradio activity on the Brooklyn airwaves for the past fifteen years.

Without any sort of news peg (Ditmas Park Blog is taking credit for tipping off the Times), Alex Mindlin quotes folks from WBGO (88.3-FM) and WFUV (90.7-FM), with George Evans, the head engineer of the latter, going so far as advocating the draconian Florida law that allows local police officers who know nothing about Federal broadcasting regulations to arrest so-called pirate radio station personnel. Since the Federal government, and not the states or cities, regulate the broadcast spectrum, this Florida law will surely be thrown out once it is challenged in court.

Mindlin mentions the January 2007 $10,000 fine charged against Elroy Simpson of Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, but fails to mention the Federal Communications Commission's Nov. 2 letter of Notice of Unlicensed Operation to Sean Buckner in Brooklyn for operating on 94.3-FM without a license, or any other recent FCC action.

The FCC is constantly contacting and fining Brooklyn-based microradio stations, and most of the stations remain on the air, operating on the few NYC frequencies that have any breathing room at all between licensed stations. Mindlin correctly mentions the many Haitian-oriented stations, and the several Hasidic operators, and grasps that the Flatbush area is a hotbed of activity. But he fails to mention several prominent hip hop and hipster stations, and fails to address the "why" at all. Mindlin's main news flash: WFUV's web site has received 294 complaints about interference from pirates since August, though they could all be from one person as he doesn't question this number at all.
--Tom Roe

New WFUV music channel on the way

From WFUV:

A generous grant from the New York State Music Fund kicks off our next project: An indie music channel for younger fans.

We're very excited to announce that WFUV has been awarded a $500,000 grant from The New York State Music Fund to support the development of a second full-time music radio service. Building on WFUV's award-winning programming, the station will feature established and emerging indie rock, electronica, world, dance and other new sounds, presented in a style that will appeal to music fans in their 20s and 30s. This non-commercial service will be available via Internet and mobile streaming audio and, in the New York area, as an HD Radio channel at 90.7 FM. Scheduled to debut in Fall 2008, it will complement WFUV's existing service, which will continue in its present format. You'll still be able to hear all the programs you enjoy at WFUV.

"This is an excellent opportunity for us to broaden our service and widen our musical offerings as we celebrate our 60th anniversary," said Ralph Jennings, WFUV's General Manager. "We're deeply grateful to The New York State Music Fund for its leadership support of this $1.2 million project and for its investment in the future of New York's independent artists and audiences," Jennings added.

The award was one the largest made by the Fund - which has given nearly 400 grants totaling more than $35 million - and is on par with those made to other leading New York performing arts institutions.

"We're most excited about showcasing what New York has to offer. Our city boasts one of the greatest, and most multicultural, local music scenes in the world," added WFUV Program Director Chuck Singleton, who, along with WFUV Music Director Rita Houston, will oversee the project. "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. 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."

WFUV plans to develop the new service over 2007-2008, working with artists, labels, music writers, web sites, bloggers and venues across the city. The station will also tap an emerging generation of radio talent for its new air staff, young New Yorkers with a passion for hearing, sharing and discussing music. In part, the music selection will be listener-driven.