First Listen: WFUV-3, "The Alternate Side"
Written Dec. 7, 2008 by Sean Ross in HD Radio + Internet Radio with 2 Comments
Last summer, WFUV New York announced a forthcoming HD multicast channel, helmed by 30 Under 30 honoree Rich McLaughlin, that would be more alternative/indie rock focused than the non-commercial outlet's existing Triple-A format. WFUV's "The Alternate Side" launched earlier this month on HD-3 and a few days ago at thealternateside.org.
In recent months, several toes have been stuck into New York's indie rock scene. Active WXRK (K-Rock) has its HD/on-line K-Rock 2. Triple-A WRXP has had an indie component as well; a recent station show featured the Ting-Tings, Duke Spirit, Airborne Toxic Event, and Mike Doughty. But the competition is also KEXP Seattle, which is using WNYE as a local outpost, and L.A.'s KCRW, which has a local following as well.
One nice touch is that WFUV-HD-3 is hosted. While being a college station whose HD-1 station is staffed by some well-known professional names does give you a built-in base of potential DJs, that still sets them apart from a lot of their multicast competition.
Here's WFUV-HD-3 at 3 p.m. on Saturday:
Ben Folds & Regina Spektor, "You Don't Know Me"
The Ting-Tings, "Shut Up And Let Me Go"
Okkervil River, "Lost Coastlines"
Groupo Fantasma, "Arooz Con Frijoles"
Chicha Libre, "El Barrachito"
Radiohead, "House Of Cards"
Ween, "Your Party"
Kooks, "Naive"
Michael Franti & Spearhead, "Say Hey (I Love You)"
Thievery Corporation, "Sound The Alarm"
Eagles of Death Metal, "Wannabe In L.A."
Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind"
Blur, "Beetelbum"
TV On The Radio, "Crying"
Reader Comments
Your 2¢, in chronological order — add your comment below.
It's a little weird, their decision to rerun all the shows throughout the day at night, but it's early days, and I enjoy the stream, nevertheless.
This is the sort of programming that is very smart, particularly in long-term talent development. In an industry that has cannibalized its own since the Telecom Act of 1996, this could be the sort of thing to allow more access to new radio air talents being developed.