WFUV/New York PD Houston Steps Away from Daily Duties

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://news.****************/articles/n39827/WFUV-New-York-PD-Houston-Steps-Away-from-Daily-Duties

Delphine Blue is named to take over "The Whole Wide World" in January.

WFUV-FM/New York has announced that Rita Houston will hand off her program, "The Whole Wide World," to a new weekly host, Delphine Blue, in the coming weeks. A member of WFUV's air staff and a longtime favorite for New York music fans, Blue will officially take the Friday night microphone in January. Houston will also step away from her daily responsibilities as WFUV's Program Director to tend to her health and spend time with her family. In the weeks ahead, WFUV APD Eric Gottlieb will step in as interim Program Director.

"Delphine has the heart and soul of a true DJ," said Houston. "Her instincts make her the perfect host for The Whole Wide World, a show that has pushed radio's traditional boundaries and been a home for fun segues and musical curveballs."

 

[Theater of My Mind]

I'm sorry to read about Rita's health. It's tough to have to leave your job for that reason and if that's what it really is then I hope she gets through it.

Over the past few years WFUV has shifted to a more contemporary AAA sound from its former Folk/Americana-heavy format, but unfortunately some of the old duds remain in the mix making it a difficult listen. It seems like they kind of want to target newer, younger(ish) listeners with a mix of modern artists like Of Monsters and Men, Feist and The Black Keys but then they'll throw in a groaner from the Allman Brothers or an old John Prine folk song to please their older listeners/donors and it sounds like a mess. Combined with an outdated, rather pompous sounding announcing style from some of the old jocks, it's definitely not one of the best sounding AAA stations in the country. I wonder if the staff and programming shuffle with Rita's departure will bring any changes to those things.

 

[BruceNYC]

I wish Rita all the best as I have listened to WFUV since the early 1990s/

 

[erwin33]

I like the new FUV, it sounds a bit familliar than years ago, and more and more like a newer 2.0 version of NEW. But their streaming audio is still too soft compared to other streams. I must turn my volume up to get acceptable volume.

 

[MassMusicMan]

Did I just read "groaner" and "Allman Brothers" in the same sentence?

 

[Joylovepulse967]

Wfuv sound like alt 92.3 anyway I think go away alt 92.3

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Less than two weeks after her announced departure, Rita Houston has passed away of cancer at 59. How sad.

WFUV's announcement here:

: Remembering Rita Houston | WFUV

WFUV remembers Rita Houston in this collection of announcements, features, and program archives compiled after her passing, leading with General Manager Chuck Singleton's full announcement on December 15, 2020. Other specials and reminiscences can be

wfuv.org

 

[Joylovepulse967]

So sad