East Village Radio is Shutting Down

NYC-based independent radio station East Village Radio will be hosting its final broadcast on May 23. For eleven years, EVR has been showcasing an eclectic blend of music and shows, making it paramount to feature a variety of tastes and sounds. From broadcasts that emphasized proto-punk and other older, influential forms of rock music to rap-themed shows such as Baller’s Eve show to off-kilter, left field programs like Happy Medium, EVR virtually covered all bases for music aficionados in its 11-year run. Unfortunately, despite EVR’s popularity and artistic success, the high cost of digital performance royalties the broadcasters must pay for each listener were apparently just too high for the station to continue producing shows. General Manager and head of programming Peter Ferraro says the station had to “pay a higher rate for royalties and licensing than Pandora pays” and believes it’s “almost like we are being penalized for our growth.”

Still, EVR’s end comes on a bittersweet note for its primary financial backer and local chef Frank Prisinzano. ”This was a beautiful, amazing thing. I think something really positive will come out of this,” says Prisinzano. “We took it to where we could take it. We are proud of what we did.”

 

Source: EV Grieve