“These past 25 years at WFUV have allowed me to realize a dream.” Jennings said. “From the time I was a boy I’ve believed in the power of radio to entertain and inform. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and grateful to all the staff, students, and colleagues, at Fordham and in the public radio system, who have contributed to our achievements.”

He took over WFUV (90.7 FM, www.wfuv.org) in 1985, and turned the student-run operation into the thriving public radio station it is today. Licensed to Fordham University for over 60 years, the station now mixes a professional staff of 27 with more than 90 paid interns. On Jennings’ watch, the station has grown from a weekly audience of 80,000 to more than 300,000 listeners and more than 20,000 members. Jennings also saw WFUV’s physical plant updated to include state-of-the-art studio facilities, and upgraded WFUV’s transmission facilities, so that its signal is heard much more widely throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Singleton likewise has a long history with WFUV, having joined the station in 1987 as its first director of news and public affairs. He developed WFUV’s coverage of community issues and its student training programs, and created and hosted the programCityscape. In the past year, Singleton has served on WFUV’s strategic planning committee, and was recently named its chair. The process has already resulted in a unified vision for the station, and will serve in further moving WFUV towards its goals, including increased listeners and membership.

“I’m honored and humbled to be asked to step in as interim general manager,” Singleton said. “It’s been a real privilege to work with Ralph in charting the direction of the station. I have great faith in the future of WFUV as it reshapes itself as a public media organization for the 21st century.”

Jennings, who holds a Ph.D. in communications from New York University, began his radio career as a high school student in Connecticut, working as a broadcast engineer, and went on to become a station manager in college. After college, he was named operations manager at WRVR in New York, and later served for 13 years in the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ as its deputy director, where he monitored TV stations nationwide, and helped communities challenge the licenses of stations discriminating against minorities and women. Jennings also served as an advisor on legislative and regulatory communications policy for the United States Catholic Conference. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Paula, a development director, and their two children.

“It is hard to overstate Ralph Jennings’ role in the evolution of WFUV,” said Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., provost of the University. “He has professionalized the station and increased its audience, range, donations, and not least of all, its place in musical culture. I am deeply grateful for Ralph’s steady leadership. The station he leaves in Chuck Singleton’s very capable hands is one of the jewels of public broadcasting, for which the University and WFUV’s many fans are eternally grateful. I have every confidence that Chuck will continue to build on the legacy entrusted to him.”

Singleton steps up to the station’s top job with 30 years of experience in public radio as a programmer, host, producer and contributor to stations and national programs. He has directed WFUV’s programming since 1992, including recruiting its on-air staff and expanding its schedule of Adult Album Alternative (or “Triple A”) music programming. He led the development of WFUV’s indie music service, “The Alternate Side,” with startup support from the New York State Music Fund. Singleton began his radio career in 1980 at Philadelphia’s WXPN, hosting and producing music shows, interviews, news and cultural features. Singleton lives in the Hudson Valley with his wife Nancy, a family physician in Manhattan, their son and daughter, and a dog named after singer-songwriter Nellie McKay.

About WFUV
New York’s Rock and Roots station WFUV (90.7 FM, www.wfuv.org) is a noncommercial, member-supported radio station, licensed to Fordham University for more than 60 years, serving more than 300,000 weekly listeners throughout the New York metropolitan area and thousands more worldwide on the Web. WFUV has received national recognition for its award-winning weekday format of adult album alternative music, news from NPR, and a diverse weekend lineup.  WFUV’s own robust website has extensive audio archives, videos, song playlists, an events calendar, blog and other resources.

“WFUV will further enrich the New York radio landscape by developing a second stream targeted to younger audiences. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to broaden our service and widen our musical offerings as we celebrate our 60th anniversary,” said WFUV General Manager Ralph Jennings. “We are deeply grateful to the New York State Music Fund for its leadership support of this $1.2 million project and for its investment in the future of New York’s independent artists and audiences,” added Jennings.

Programming on the second stream will include a blend of established and emerging indie rock, electronica, world, dance and other musical hybrids.

The award to WFUV was one the largest made by The New York State Music Fund – which has given nearly 400 grants totaling more than $35 million – and is on par with those made to internationally recognized New York performing arts institutions.

“We’re most excited about showcasing what New York has to offer. Our city boasts one of the greatest, most multicultural local music scenes in the world,” added WFUV Program Director Chuck Singleton, who, along with WFUV Music Director Rita Houston, will oversee the project. “Acts like Antibalas, Forro In The Dark and The Hold Steady have no problem selling out venues all over town, yet they presently don’t have a home on the radio in New York City. A second stream enables us to play deserving local acts in the same set as Bjork, M.I.A. or Arcade Fire and, at the same time, better serve New York’s musically-adventurous listening audiences by introducing them to something different.”

WFUV plans to develop the new service over the next year, working in consultation with artists, labels, music writers, web sites, bloggers and venues across the city. The station will also tap an emerging generation of radio talent to develop its new air staff, young New Yorkers with a passion for hearing, sharing and writing about music. In large part, the music selection will be listener-driven.

The New York State Music Fund was created when the New York State Attorney General’s Office resolved investigations against major record 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 Attorney General’s Office enlisted the services of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, one of the nation’s largest and most experienced philanthropy services, to develop and manage the grant program.

The New York State Music Fund published guidelines and criteria and accepted grant applications in a number of categories, including music education and public performances of music by artists. New York State Music Fund applications also related to recording, distribution or broadcast through traditional or new media. Special emphasis was placed on reaching underserved populations and broadening awareness of artists, genres or styles with limited access to commercial broadcast or other mass distribution vehicles.

An Advisory Panel comprised of recognized leaders from a cross-section of the music world evaluated and recommended applications based on criteria focusing on artistic merit and community impact.

WFUV (90.7 FM, wfuv.org) is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station, licensed to Fordham University for 60 years. Serving nearly 350,000 listeners each week in the New York area and thousands more worldwide on the web, and a leader in contemporary music radio, WFUV offers an eclectic mix of rock, singer-songwriters, blues, world and other music with its influential City Folk® format, plus headlines from National Public Radio, local news and sports and Metro Traffic.