WBFO to Expand On-Air Access to the Music of Western New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- WBFO 88.7 FM, a public service of the University at Buffalo, has received a grant from the New York State Music Fund in support of its new all-music HD radio station -- WBFO XPoNential – and the WBFO XPoNential Buffalo Music Project.

The project consists of two components that will provide WBFO's regional audience of more than 1.15 million people with expanded on-air access to the music of Western New York.

"Buffalo Avenues" will provide a weekly on-air review of live music in Western New York from venues outside of WBFO's home in Allen Hall on the UB South (Main Street) Campus. "Live In Allen Hall," a weekly one-hour concert in the theater of Allen Hall, will feature local professional musicians, including emerging new talent.

The project will be supported by a $160,000 grant from the New York State Music Fund, which was established at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors when the New York State Attorney General resolved investigations against major recording companies that had violated state and federal laws prohibiting "pay for play" (also called "payola"). The settlement agreement stipulated that funds paid by music businesses would support music education and appreciation for the benefit of New York State residents. The Fund has a goal of increasing access to and appreciation of contemporary music by audiences throughout the state.

Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president and general manager of WBFO, noted that the grant marks another "first" for WBFO.

"The award, given by a discerning group of advisors, recognizes the innovation of the WBFO XPoNential Buffalo Music Project, as well as WBFO's reputation for high quality programming," she said. "We truly appreciate the committee's confidence in our station and their assistance in our on-going efforts to develop and serve new audiences within the Buffalo, Niagara and Southern Tier communities."

The WBFO XPoNential Buffalo Music Project will consist of two elements.

* Buffalo Avenues, a weekly on-air review of live performances in Western New York. WBFO reporters will visit venues, interview artists, and record music and sound, providing a montage of audio and video in the form of a weekly show. (Buffalo Avenues will air Friday nights at 8:00p.m.)

* Live in Allen Hall, a weekly one–hour concert and interview program in the Allen Hall Theatre-- will feature local professional musicians, including emerging new talent. (Concert dates and times to be determined.)

WBFO's program director David Benders will serve as the project's executive producer and curator. Assisting Benders will be WBFO's music director Bert Gambini, who will serve as producer and host of the Live in Allen Hall series.

WBFO XPoNential--Music that Matters, is a new commercial-free all music HD radio station, broadcasting free 24/7 adult album alternative (AAA) music.  It's available free to listeners through new HD radios or online at wbfo.org. WBFO XPoNential is part of the WBFO 88.7FM broadcasting network. WBFO 88.7FM, the area's most listened to NPR station, serves a regional audience of 1.15 million people through its main signal in Buffalo and through repeater stations WUBJ 88.1 FM in Jamestown and WOLN 91.3 FM in Olean. WBFO offers a depth of programming not available elsewhere in the community, including NPR/PRI news and entertainment programs, local and regional news, public and cultural affairs programming, jazz and blues.

For more information about WBFO 88.7 HD1, HD2 and the WBFO XPoNential Buffalo Music Project, please go to www.wbfo.org or call (716) 829-6000.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.