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Grant supports WBFO HD
By KELLI BOCOCK-NATALE
Reporter Contributor
WBFO-FM 88.7, UB's National Public Radio affiliate, 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, South Campus. 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 at 8 p.m. on Friday.
"Live in Allen Hall," a weekly one-hour concert in the theater of Allen Hall, will feature local professional musicians, including emerging new talent. Concert dates and times will be determined.
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 ongoing 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:
WBFO's program director, David Benders, will serve as executive producer and curator of the WBFO XPoNential Buffalo Music Project. 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 24/7 adult-album alternative (AAA) music. It's available free to listeners through new HD radios or online at http://www.wbfo.org. It is part of the WBFO broadcasting network.