WDFH sells to WQXR

New York Public Radio's WQXR gets a long sought after market with the acquisition of WDFH. WQXR now has a signal into a large portion of Westchester County in New York. An area it covered before migrating to 105.9-FM in New York. 105.9's signal was not as strong as the original WQXR when it was owned by the New York Times. New York Public Radio is already looking into alliances with arts organizations in Westchester County.

WDFH had been struggling financially for a long time. WDFH has plans to relaunch as a production company. Among their first projects is the LGBTQ program, "OutCasting."  OutCasting has been picked up nationally. The new production company hopes to have more offerings soon after acquiring funding.


http://www.lohud.com/article/20130730/NEWS02/307300038/WDFH-Westchester-sells-signal-classical-WQXR

Malatia Resigns

WBEZ's Torey Malatia resigned. The Chicago Tribune has more. 

The news is a shock to me. I'm not sure why. I guess I considered Torey a contemporary. He was at WFMT while I was in the midst of a job search. He turned me down..gently. I appreciated the way he handled it.







Among the accomplishments:

• WBEZ became a news and information powerhouse in Chicago.
• He launched local efforts like Eight Forty-Eight
• Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me
• This American Life
• and 
• Vocalo

According to a report in Crain's the relationship between Malatia and the Board had been acrimonious for some time. Among the Board's concerns, according to Crain's, was a lackluster performance in the ratings in the Chicago market.

Delmarva Public Radio's New General Manager

Delmarva Public Radio has new leadership. Dana Whitehair takes over the fiscally troubled stations. The two services have been running deficits for more than a decade. Salisbury University and the foundation that ran the stations were looking at options that would have eliminated most of the local services. After a concerted effort by the community, the University decided to fund Delmarva Public Radio on an interim basis to see if the stations can become self-sustaining. Sustainability will be Whitehair's challenge.

Dana Whitehair has previous public radio experience as General Manager of WNCW, Spindale, NC and Manager of Technical Services at KUT, Autin, TX.

There's more at Delmarva Now.

Music for Bastille Day Mix Tape

The musings for this one are late. I attended a Bastille Day Festival in NYC on Sunday. What music do you think would best highlight the day?
Anything by Tower of Power?
Going Out of My Head? (Dedicated to the Guillotine)
Marat/Sade - Judy Collins
Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who (Dedicated to Robespierre)
Cut the Cake - Average White Band (Dedicated Marie Antoinette)
Revolution - Beatles
Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan

Have you got any ideas?
Let me know.

Focus on local

You know what I miss about the Real Life Survival Guide? It was its focus on local. We met in locally owned businesses with strong community roots. That focus of the program was important. It generated a sense of community among the guests and was demonstrated by the places we met. What brought this to mind was a program on WNPR's Where We Live about the preponderance of big box stores.

Some examples of the connections we made include:

• Da Legna, a new restaurant on State Street in New Haven
• Edge of the Woods Natural Market in New Haven
• Archie Moore’s in New Haven’s East Rock section
• The Rib House in East Haven Connecticut
• Lyric Hall in the Westville section of New Haven 
• Ashley’s Ice Cream in Branford Connecticut
• The Glenwood Drive In Hamden
• Richter's in New Haven (Now Closed)

There were 72 episodes. For the most part in locally owned establishments in and around New Haven.

The big box stores? I go there. I try to be pleasant to the staff. I'm guessing from their expressions, most people are not trying to engage them in a pleasant way. But, it is not the same as going to a place "where everybody knows your name." When I was growing up we had local businesses where we did business. There was a local TV repairman, local restaurants (a rotation of about five), a regular barber, a particular clothing store, an auto mechanic, a bike shop, a local grocer even a car dealership and many others we had relationships with. They knew us. They helped us based on our relationship and we trusted them. We don't have as many of those relationships anymore. I miss the sense of community.

Wet Weather Mix Tape

It's another mix tape. With rain in the forecast until Sunday, I want to put together ideas for another mix tape. This time it's all about wet. The connections should be broad and inclusive. Here are some thought starters...motivators. I'm pretty sure we can add to the list. Share your ideas.

Watching the River Flow - Bob Dylan
Southern Flood Blues - Big Bill Broonzy
Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rainy Day Dream Away - Jimi Hendrix
Stormy Weather -  Billie Holliday
Let it Rain - Eric Clapton
The Sky Cryin' - Allman Brothers
Call It Stormy Monday - T Bone Walker
Rock Me on the Water - Jackson Browne
Crossing Muddy Waters - John Hiatt
Come Rain or Come Shine - Ray Charles
Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) - Melanie Safka

Mike Arnold added Driving My Life away - Eddie Rabbit
Vidal Guzman added Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head.
J.C. Patrick Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season - Jimmy Buffet
Paul Shipman All I want to hear right now? Here Comes the Sun