WNYC-F/New York Cancels 'New Sounds,' Most Other Music Programming

Dropping Most Music

THE NEW YORK TIMES is reporting that NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO News-Talk WNYC-F/NEW YORK is cancelling its long-running eclectic music show "NEW SOUNDS" after 37 years, and that host JOHN SCHAEFER's other WNYC show, the online music talk show "SOUNDTRACKS," is also ending in a move the station is making to clear out its remaining music programming.

Also coming to a close will be its "GIG ALERTS" music previews and the SUNDAY afternoon Adult Standards show; only the Adult Standards "THE SATURDAY SHOW," the program that remained after the dismissal of former host JONATHAN SCHWARTZ, will continue on the WNYC broadcast schedule.

The TIMES says that WNYC sent an email to staffers informing them that the shows, and most of its remaining music programming, will end by the end of the year, with the station concentrating on News-Talk programming, terming the move "a continuation of the momentum that began when we replaced daytime music on WNYC-FM with news/talk format programs in 2002."

The email, the TIMES reported, said that the station will "sunset the NEW SOUNDS brand (the radio program and digital stream)," and a follow-up email to the TIMES by spokesperson JENNIFER HOULIHAN ROUSSEL said that the decision was not "fueled solely by ratings" but rather reflects that "the WNYC audience is overwhelmingly a news/talk audience." WNYC also operates Classical WQXR/NEW YORK, which continues as a music station.

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