WNYC’s New Standards Acquired by WBGO
New Standards, a weekly music program devoted to the American Songbook, to air its final WNYC broadcast on Saturday, March 22
WBGO to relaunch New Standards on air and online in late April
(New York, NY – March 21, 2025) – WNYC today announced that New Standards, its weekly program devoted to the American Songbook hosted by Paul Cavalconte, has found a new home with WBGO.
Following New Standards’ final WNYC broadcast tomorrow, March 22 from 8-11pm, WBGO – the all-jazz station headquartered in Newark, NJ – will relaunch the show on air and online in late April.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled that New Standards will continue to delight listeners in the NYC and NJ region from a new perch right across the Hudson,” said LaFontaine E. Oliver, President and CEO, New York Public Radio, which includes WNYC. “For close to a decade, Paul has been a trusted guide to this cherished American artform, and I’m grateful to our public radio colleagues at WBGO for working with us to find a way to keep music going. I know the show and its ardent listener base are in good hands.”
“New Standards will be a uniquely compatible addition to BGO’s broadcast and online programming schedule” said WBGO President and CEO Steven A. Williams. “I have a deep and abiding admiration for Paul’s singular professionalism and unrivaled musical aptitude. And when we were presented with this opportunity, there was only one response, and it took me about a nano-second to make it.”
Each week on New Standards, Cavalconte showcases the artists of the great age of the mid-century American Songbook, its evolution into the singer-songwriter era, and the present day performers reimagining this tradition for contemporary audiences. New Standards is where Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Nat Cole and Frank Sinatra meet Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Stephen Sondheim, along with new standard bearers including Jon Batiste, Leslie Odom Jr, Samara Joy, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who are updating the Songbook for the 21st Century.
Cavalconte has been a mainstay on the New York City area airwaves for over 30 years. In addition to his work on WNYC, Cavalconte is currently a weekend host on WQXR, NYPR’s all-classical station, and on the WFUV program, Cavalcade. Throughout his career, he’s been heard on heritage commercial stations CD101.9, WNEW-AM, WLIR, WNCN, as well as Q104.3, WOR, and Sirius Satellite Radio.
“In the Songbook classic ‘Where or When,’ Lorenz Hart wrote, ‘some things that happen for the first time, seem to be happening again,’” said host Paul Cavalconte. “I am deeply grateful for the ongoing support from WNYC, my new champions at WBGO, and for the career serendipity that has allowed me to find such a unique niche in New York radio, bringing my music passions to the public stations with the most dedicated audiences.”
WNYC and WBGO are already partners in several initiatives that serve the NYC and NJ region’s listeners. Along with WHYY, the stations co-produce Ask Governor Murphy, the monthly public affairs call-in program that pairs NJ Governor Phil Murphy with host and WNYC reporter Nancy Solomon and constituents across the state. WNYC’s sister station Classical 105.9 FM WQXR and WBGO are also two of the music-format public radio stations that recently formed the Tri-State Public Radio Music Collaborative. Along with WFUV and WSHU, and with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, these stations have joined forces to create content, build audiences and generate revenue for the music and genres that only have a home on non-commercial public radio.
Oliver continued, “Partnerships and deals like this move at the speed of trust. Thanks to the years of collaboration between WNYC/WQXR and WBGO, and our shared values and commitment to service, the New Standards deal came together very quickly. That’s a win for music fans across the region, and a great example of the public media ecosystem functioning at its best. We look forward to having more opportunities to amplify each other’s work through the Tri-State Public Music Collaboration in the coming months.”
ABOUT WBGO
WBGO is the global leader in jazz radio, broadcasting from the jazz capital of the world. Founded in 1979, WBGO is a publicly-supported cultural institution that preserves and elevates America’s music: jazz and blues. WBGO reaches a weekly audience of more than 500,000 via 88.3FM and its various online platforms. Through programs such as Jazz Night in America, produced in partnership with NPR, WBGO’s reach extends to millions more across the country. From its home base of Newark, New Jersey, WBGO has long been an anchor institution in community engagement through its partnerships, concerts, education initiatives and news programming.
ABOUT WNYC
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station, broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio programming and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC offers its listeners a unique range of local, national, and international programming, including programming from NPR, American Public Media, and th BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York City and the surrounding region, including The Brian Lehrer Show and All of It. From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most beloved nationally-syndicated public radio programs including Radiolab, On the Media, The New Yorker Radio Hour. NYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app and through major digital radio services, all made possible through the generous support of our members, donors and sponsors.