For Journalists
For Journalists
• See where WGSU has appeared In the News.
• For SUNY Geneseo-related media inquiries, go to: geneseo.edu/news.
Latest WGSU News Releases:
WGSU Unveils Genny Fest ’22 Music Lineup
Third music and food-truck festival, May 6, will feature new and returning performers and food-truck vendors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(April 20, 2022) — The third Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy, 4–7 p.m. May 6, will feature music by Toronto-based alternative/indie band FXRRVST (the Australian-Canadian duo, pronounced “forest,” of Holly Forrest and Matt Fuentas). SUNY Geneseo alumna Allison Leah (Allison Altschiller ’18) — making her third Genny Fest appearance — will be first up.
FXRRVST released Dear Friend (Pt. 1 & 2) — including the singles “Bad Things” and “This Rough Patch” — last year to college radio. Additional tracks WGSU has been playing since then include “The Story Doesn’t End At Chapter 14” and “Here’s The Key. Don’t Lose It.”
FXRRVST was nominated, in 2017, for Best Indie Act at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. On its website biography, the poetic-and-personal storytelling duo describes an eco-friendly “commitment to sustainability and environmentalism … an authentic extension of the kind, caring and compassionate people” that Holly and Matt strive to be.
Nashville (by way of New York) based independent singer-songwriter Allison Leah just released her latest single, “Sorry For Myself.” She has been called a “rising star” and received other praise since releasing her debut EP, “Fly Home,” in 2018. In 2017, WGSU became the first U.S. radio station to air her music in regular rotation by featuring “A Love Song.” Some of her other songs — each played by WGSU — include “24 Years Down,” “What I’m Missing,” “We Can Still Sing” (released during and about the COVID-19 pandemic), “Coffee Cup,” “Landslide” (a remake of a Fleetwood Mac song), “Colorado” and “Black and White.”
“The WGSU staff has been working hard putting Genny Fest together — and we can't wait for everyone to enjoy the event,” Sarah DeVito, WGSU marketing director, says. “It should be a fun-filled day for all!”
Genny Fest ’22 will also feature six food trucks and SUNY Geneseo dance groups — all performing on SUNY Geneseo’s MacVittie College Union Plaza (rain location: College Union Ballroom; food trucks outside, rain or shine). Named for WGSU’s mascot, Genny, the festival is free and open to the public. Genny Fest benefits Friends of WGSU (and future Genny Fest music festivals).
– 30 –
More information:
■ Genny Fest: www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/genny-fest
■ WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
■ Third Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy: 4–7 p.m. May 6, 2022 (MacVittie College Union Plaza, SUNY Geneseo; rain location: College Union Ballroom)
■ Food-truck vendors (outside, rain or shine): Bay Vista Taqueria, Kona Ice, ROC City Sammich, Tom Wahl’s and Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza.
‘WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound’ Returns For Second Season
Weekly music feature, in August, will highlight original and cover versions of songs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(July 26, 2021) — “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound” is back, starting Aug. 1, for a second summer season on WGSU-FM (89.3), the SUNY Geneseo campus radio station.
This year, the retrospective music series will feature two songs a week: An original and a newer cover version (along with background on both of the releases and the bands behind them). “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound,” hosted by WGSU alumnus and Faculty Director Michael Saffran, airs Aug. 1–23 at 10:20 p.m. Sundays (immediately following “Live on KEXP”) and 4:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Mondays — on air.
“‘WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound’ is our ‘nod to history,’” Saffran says. “It’s one of the ‘threads’ connecting some of the music played on WGSU through the years — and it helps to build bridges between generations of music fans. Plus, this summer’s shortened season highlighting cover songs and originals is a ‘throwback’ of another kind: As a WGSU student DJ in the ’80s, I spotlighted cover songs in a feature that I called the ‘Weekly Re-make’ airing during my show.”
Saffran, who graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 1985, was with WGSU (including as a DJ) 1981–1985. He has worked as a DJ and in other positions with a variety of commercial radio stations, mainly in the Rochester area, 1984 to present. He returned to SUNY Geneseo as WGSU faculty director in 2012.
“I think this program is important — it helps us stay connected with our past as well as with the community, since some listeners grew up listening to the music that it features,” WGSU Marketing Director Sarah DeVito says. “It’s great that we’re adding some different sounds to the station.”
The segment’s name, “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound,” represents another nod to history: In the 1970s, WGSU once went by “The Continuum.”
– 30 –
More information:
■ “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound” (season two, episode one) airs at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 1; and 4:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Aug. 2.
■ Airs weekly, Aug. 1–23, at 10:20 p.m. Sundays and 4:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Mondays.
■ Hear it on WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
‘Our American Stories’ Coming in January to WGSU
Weekly show features positive stories about ‘ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Dec. 28, 2020) — “Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb,” starting Jan. 2, joins the weekend talk-programming lineup on WGSU-FM (89.3).
“No politics, no opinions, just stories.” That description on the website (ouramericanstories.com) of the “national storytelling” program highlights the show’s nonpartisan focus.
Recent stories shared include the interesting backstory behind the man who, dressed up as Santa Claus, was booed and pelted with snowballs at a Philadelphia Eagles football game in 1968; “A Brief History of Toilet Paper” — telling the story behind “how a product that is disposable ... is most indispensable”; and “Elliot Lurie: From Brooklyn to ‘Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)’” — a story about the writer of “one of the most recognizable songs of the early ’70s.”
Hosted by New Jersey native Lee Habeeb, the show emphasizes positive, inspirational stories about “ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things.” The program, carried by some 200 radio stations nationwide, is produced by Our American Network.
“In this immediate post-election period, in particular, many people feel exhausted and overwhelmed from the harsh partisanship, incivility, information overload and misinformation overload from ‘fake news.’ It’s a noisy world out there,” says Michael Saffran, WGSU faculty director. “‘Our American Stories’ offers more thoughtful and oftentimes uplifting stories — perfect for our times to help counter the cacophony in mainstream media.”
“Our American Stories” will air weekly at 10 a.m. Saturday (rebroadcast at 11:30 p.m. Sunday). This week’s (Jan. 2) show will feature segments with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre sharing the memory of playing in a game the day after his father had died; retired Air Force Major Brian Shul’s humorous recounting of the ‘tale of the speed check’ involving the SR-71 Blackbird he was piloting; and a heartwarming personal story about finding the lost grave of a long-deceased family member.
The program joins other weekend talk programming on WGSU: “Alternative Radio” (8 a.m. Saturday); “A Way With Words” (9 a.m. Saturday); and the locally produced “Geneseo Today” (10:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 p.m. Sunday) and “Kaleidoscope” (11 a.m. Saturday, biweekly, during spring semester).
For more information about WGSU and its programming, go to geneseo.edu/wgsu.
– 30 –
More information:
■ Our American Stories: ouramericanstories.com
■ WGSU-FM(89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
WGSU Introduces ‘Flashback: A Continuum of Sound’
New weekly (summer-only) feature will highlight a song a week from station’s storied past
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(June 30, 2020) — Music has been a staple on WGSU-FM (89.3) since the day, in spring 1963, when the SUNY Geneseo campus radio station first signed on the air.
In a nod to its history, WGSU July 5 will introduce a new weekly music feature spotlighting a song a week from its storied past. “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound” premieres at 10:20 p.m. July 5 (immediately after “Live on KEXP”) — and it will air every Sunday at the same time, and Mondays at 4:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. (during July and August only — on air.
“There’s an unmistakable ‘thread’ running through the music that has aired on WGSU — from the ‘psychedelic music’ era of the 1960s ... through the MTV-influenced digital pop-music of the ’80s ... to today’s synth/electronic alt-pop,” Michael Saffran, WGSU faculty director, says.
A SUNY Geneseo alumnus, Saffran worked at WGSU (including DJ’ing) from fall 1981 through summer 1985.
“I thought it would be fun to spotlight some older songs — especially music from the ’80s, my era as a student — that have influenced today’s alt-pop,” says Saffran (who, for now, will host the new summer-only feature).
“I’m excited the station will have a program featuring older music that inspired so much of what we hear today,” Maddie Robbins, student operations manager, says. “I think it’s important to stay connected to your roots, and WGSU is doing just that with this ‘blast from this past’ series.”
Saffran says such a show has been contemplated for years. “But I wasn’t sure how a traditional-length — such as a couple hours or more — program of ‘old’ music would fit into WGSU’s present-day current-based format,” he says. “But spotlighting a song a week — with emphasis on music that still ‘fits’ the current sound — is manageable, bridges generations and matches WGSU’s present ‘aura.’”
That vibe, he says, is “smarter, friendlier” — heavy on synth and electronic alt-pop, “dream pop” and “chill” music — and more women artists and female-fronted or “all-girl bands” than commercial alternative-formatted stations typically play, Saffran says. “It’s simply great pop music — good enough to be played on commercial stations, but much of it hasn’t yet reached commercial radio because many of the artists are up-and-coming and lesser-known.”
The new show’s name represents another nod to history: In the 1970s, WGSU once went by “The Continuum.”
“So, that ‘thread,’” Saffran says, “also represents a ‘continuum’ stretching from WGSU’s earliest days up to today. There’s a connection in terms of the music and, now, the name of this new show, too.”
– 30 –
More information:
■ “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound” premieres at 10:20 p.m. July 5.
■ Airs weekly, during July and August, at 10:20 p.m. Sundays and 4:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Mondays.
■ Hear it on WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
WGSU Presents Virtual ‘Gen-E-Fest’ Celebration This Week
On-air — and online — event replaces live annual music festival canceled by pandemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(May 12, 2020) — “Gen-E-Fest” — 5 p.m. May 15 on WGSU-FM (89.3) — offers music fans and WGSU listeners a virtual version of the SUNY Geneseo campus radio station’s popular annual Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy (canceled due to this year’s global pandemic).
This week’s virtual version of the music festival will feature songs by and interviews with artists who were set to perform at this year’s Genny Fest — and a couple additional acts. Listeners will hear music from Nashville- based band Twen, New York City singer-songwriter Allison Leah, 2018 Genny Fest headliner Jackknife Stiletto and solo artist Elizabeth Fader.
“‘Gen-E Fest’ aims to elevate artists amidst the COVID-19 shutdown,” WGSU Marketing Director Ben Michalak says. “To demonstrate how we embrace our core value ‘community,’ we want to give musicians a platform to speak their truth and discuss their music, while also connecting our audience to their work.”
■ Twen is a two-person melodic dream-pop band, originally from Boston. Vocalist Jane Fitzsimmons and guitarist Ian Jones joined in 2017 and released their debut album, Awestruck, last year. Go to twenband.com.
■ Allison Leah (SUNY Geneseo alumna Allison Altschiller), who performed at the first two Genny Fests (2018 and 2019), was set for a return engagement. This month, she released a new single, “We Can Still Sing,” written and produced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The song premiered May 1 on WGSU. Visit allisonleahmusic.com.
■ Three-piece all-female New York City-based Jackknife Stiletto rocked their way into the first Genny Fest, in 2018. Band members Annie Stoic, Mel Funk and Foxy Roxy have released Chronicles of Jane (Vol. 1 and 2). Go to jackknifestiletto.com.
■ Australian artist Elizabeth Fader recently released her first single, “Encore” — a solo effort separate from her participation in the Sydney indie group Phantastic Ferniture. The song’s U.S. radio premiere was in April on WGSU. Visit Bandcamp: Elizabeth Fader.
Genny Fest — and this year’s aptly named “Gen-E-Fest” — honor WGSU’s mascot, Genny (herself named for an affectionate nickname for Geneseo). The music and food-truck festival had been slated for May 1. With its cancelation due to the coronavirus pandemic, the station decided to move the virtual event to two weeks later — closer to the actual end of the academic year. In addition to interviews and music, other artists aired by WGSU will offer messages of congratulations and support to graduating seniors. (In place of this year’s postponed commencement ceremony, SUNY Geneseo is hosting a virtual “Senior Send-off Tribute to the Class of 2020” at 10 a.m. May 16.)
The next Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy, benefiting Friends of WGSU and future Genny Fests, is tentatively scheduled for May 7, 2021. For more information, contact Genny@geneseo.edu.
– 30 –
More information:
■ Virtual “Gen-E-Fest”: 5 p.m. May 15 (on-air and online)
■ Hear it on WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
■ Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy (May 7, 2021): www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/genny-fest
WGSU Show ‘Geneseo Today’ Earns Award for ‘Best Public Affairs Program’ in International College-Radio Competition
Station is named finalist in six categories at IBSNYC 2020 in New York City
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(March 9, 2020) — A “Geneseo Today” interview of SUNY Geneseo President Denise Battles, by WGSU-FM’s Sonia Bartolomeo, earned first place for “Best Public Affairs Program” at IBSNYC 2020, March 6–8, in New York City.
The “Geneseo Today” segment, which originally aired Oct. 19–20, featured a discussion with the college president about current campus issues and priorities. Bartolomeo, a senior communication major and dance minor from Huntington Station, N.Y., is the current executive producer and host of the weekly longform public-affairs interview show. The interview and other “Geneseo Today” segments are available on demand at https://www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/geneseo-today and soundcloud.com/wgsu/sets/geneseo-today.
WGSU, SUNY Geneseo’s FCC-licensed radio station, also took home finalist awards in five other categories: “Best Station Contest/Promotional Event,” “Best Community Outreach Event” and “Best Event Promo” — each for Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy in 2019; “Best Community News Coverage” for reporter Zach Kochan’s story about a small-town music scene; and “Best Hockey Play-by-Play” for the game call last year of a SUNY Geneseo Ice Knights contest.
Named for WGSU’s mascot, last year’s second annual Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy featured live music and food offerings from eight food trucks. The free festival, May 3, was broadcast live and included performances by Madyx and SUNY Geneseo alumna Allison Leah. Some proceeds benefited Friends of WGSU.
The story by Kochan, a senior communication major and environmental studies minor from Rochester, was produced as part of a Radio Production class assignment and aired on WGSU’s “Genesee Valley News Report.” The Ice Knights game call was by Sam Cooper, a communication and mathematics major, and Nate Sharman, a communication major and public administration minor. Both have since graduated.
The IBSNYC conference, sponsored by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, features an international college and high-school radio/TV media awards contest honoring broadcasting and public-service excellence and outstanding stations. This year’s 80th-annual competition drew more than 3,000 entries in over 60 categories.
“I was proud to represent WGSU at this year’s IBS conference,” said Madeleine Robbins, WGSU operations manager/news and public-affairs director and a senior communication major from Islip, N.Y. “Our staff does great work for both SUNY Geneseo and Livingston County. It was an honor to see some of our members be recognized as finalists in a variety of categories, and our ‘Geneseo Today’ host win an award. I enjoy helping this station grow, and I’m thankful to be part of the process.”
WGSU Faculty Director Michael Saffran said: “This year’s recognition is especially gratifying and reaffirming because of our high priorities, including community service through news, sports and, through Genny Fest, event management and promotion. When our students do well, their dedication and hard work benefits not only themselves, through experience, and WGSU, but also the larger community and the station’s listeners.”
– 30 –
More information:
■ 80th annual International Media Conference – IBS NYC 2020: mediaconferences.org
■ IBS NYC 2020 award finalists: http://bit.ly/2VZEcZR
■ “Geneseo Today”: www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/geneseo-today
■ Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy: www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/genny-fest
■ Genny Fest ’19 Promo: https://soundcloud.com/wgsu/genny_fest_19_promo
■ “Small-town Music Scene”: https://soundcloud.com/wgsu/kochan_music
■ Manhattanville College at SUNY Geneseo (March 16, 2019, highlights): https://soundcloud.com/wgsu/ice_knights_ncaa_031619
WGSU Unveils Genny Fest ’19 Music Lineup
Second annual music and food-truck festival, May 3, to feature new and returning music acts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(April 19, 2019) — The second annual Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy, 4–7 p.m. May 3, will feature music by Los Angeles-based alternative-pop band Madyx (led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Michelle Blanchard). Opening for Madyx will be SUNY Geneseo alumna Allison Leah (Allison Altschiller ’18) — making a return appearance to Genny Fest.
Madyx won a UMA Music award, in 2016, for “Best International Music Video” for the song “Some Kisses.” The band’s latest singles include “Girl Boy,” “Jupiter” and “Where The Wild Things Are.” Other Madyx songs aired by WGSU include “Bad Decisions,” “Only Human” and “I Melt With You” (a remake of a 1982 track by Modern English). Madyx has been described as a blend of Pink and Katy Perry.
New York City-based Allison Leah has been called a “rising star” and garnered other accolades since releasing her debut EP, “Fly Home,” in June. WGSU, in 2017, became the first U.S. radio station to air her music in regular rotation by featuring “A Love Song.” Some of her other songs include “Black and White,” “Colorado” and “Landslide” (a remake of a track originally recorded by Fleetwood Mac).
Genny Fest ’19 will also feature eight food trucks, stand-up comedy and other entertainment — all on SUNY Geneseo’s MacVittie College Union Plaza. Named for WGSU’s “controversial squirrel” mascot, Genny, the festival is free and open to the public. Genny Fest benefits Friends of WGSU (and future Genny Fest music festivals).
– 30 –
More information:
■ Genny Fest: www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/genny-fest
■ WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
■ Second Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy: 4–7 p.m. May 3, 2019 (MacVittie College Union Plaza, SUNY Geneseo)
WGSU’s Genny Fest a Finalist for ‘Best Station Contest/Promotional Event’
Inaugural live-music and food-truck festival, last April, up for station’s first IBS Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jan. 27, 2019) — Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Rodeo, hosted for the first time last year by WGSU-FM (89.3), is a finalist for an IBS Award, in the “Best Station Contest/Promotional Event” category, in nationwide competition sponsored by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.
Named for WGSU’s mascot, Genny Fest featured live music from Jackknife Stiletto and Allison Leah (SUNY Geneseo alumna Allison Altschiller ’18) and food offerings from seven food trucks. The free outdoor festival, last April 27 on SUNY Geneseo’s MacVittie College Union Plaza, was co-sponsored by WGSU and Campus Auxiliary Services, benefited Foodlink and was broadcast live (as part of WGSU’s 55th anniversary celebration).
WGSU’s then-Operations Manager Erin Carlo ’18 led event planning and a marketing/promotions student team in support of Genny Fest.
“The experience was nothing short of phenomenal, and I am so proud of the effort my team put into making the event such a massive success,” says Carlo, now a professional intern at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. “I was thrilled to watch my fellow students, as well as alumni, faculty and staff members, come together and enjoy three things we all love: Geneseo, music and food. Being nominated for an IBS Award is a wonderful honor and well-deserved recognition of the entire WGSU team.”
WGSU Faculty Director Michael Saffran ’85 says: “Kudos to Erin and everyone involved with Genny Fest 2018. It was only through their dedication and hard work that the event was such a tremendous success — not only for WGSU, but also for the larger community, Geneseo students and all of the station’s listeners.”
Winners will be announced at the 79th annual International Media Conference, IBS NYC 2019, March 1–3 in New York City.
The second Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy will be 4–7 p.m. May 3 on MacVittie College Union Plaza (music acts will be announced soon). The event will benefit Friends of WGSU and future Genny Fest music-and-food festivals. For more information, contact Genny@geneseo.edu.
– 30 –
More information:
■ Genny Fest: www.geneseo.edu/wgsu/genny-fest
■ WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
■ 79th annual International Media Conference - IBS NYC 2019: mediaconferences.org
■ Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS): mediaconferences.org/
■ Second Genny Fest Music Festival & Food Truck Frenzy: 4–7 p.m. May 3, 2019 (MacVittie College Union Plaza, SUNY Geneseo) (Special note: The event name has been updated for 2019 to include “Food-Truck Frenzy”)
WGSU Adds ‘Alternative Radio’ To Weekend Lineup
Independently produced progressive talk show airing Saturday mornings starting this month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jan.13, 2019) — SUNY Geneseo radio station WGSU-FM (89.3) is adding a progressive talk show to its weekly public-affairs program lineup starting this month.
“Alternative Radio,” produced by Boulder, Colo.-based nonprofit Rise Up, bills itself as “Audio Energy for Democracy,” devoted to “preserving voices and opinions on public affairs that offer views often ignored or distorted in the mainstream media,” according to the organization’s website.
Recent shows featured discussions on “Preventing Nuclear Apocalypse” and “How Fascism Works” (an exploration into historical causes of fascism, including economic insecurity).
Created in 1986, “Alternative Radio” is hosted by investigative journalist, author and speaker David Barsamian, Rise Up founding director.
WGSU began airing the one-hour show Jan. 5 in a temporary time slot, running it in place of programs on holiday hiatus. Beginning Jan. 19, “Alternative Radio” moves to a new regular time slot, 8–9 a.m. Saturdays. WGSU can be heard online at bit.ly/wgsu-live.
WGSU welcomes feedback from listeners about any programming. Contact wgsu@geneseo.edu.
– 30 –
More information:
■ Alternative Radio: alternativeradio.org | riseupalternativeradio.org
■ WGSU-FM (89.3): wgsu.radio | WGSU live stream: bit.ly/wgsu-live
