December 18–25, 1997

on media

Exit The Unicorn

After more than 20 years on the air, WXPN's Celtic music program, The Unicorn, is being axed to make way for another local folk icon.

The cancellation will take place in January when WHYY's Folk Music with Gene Shay moves to WXPN.

Shay's program will keep its Sunday afternoon slot, but WXPN plans to lengthen the show by two hours, airing from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., says station manager Vincent Curren.

The move comes after months of discussion between the two stations, says David Othmer, vice president and station manager for WHYY.

"They do music and we do news and information," says Othmer, adding that it made sense for each station to devote programming to its own area of expertise.

Curren says WXPN agreed to pick up Shay's show after WHYY decided to cancel it after a 10-year run.

"Given the folk slot we've had on Sunday afternoons, the question became: What should we do to provide this service for the Philly folk audience?" says Curren.

Bruce Raines, assistant general manager of WXPN, says the program will be renamed The Gene Shay Show.

"His name is synonymous with the kind of music he's been doing for over 35 years," says Raines.

Raines says Shay's format will encompass the world's foremost "organic rootsy music," including blues, bluegrass and the British folk music of The Unicorn.

"He'll continue playing Celtic music," says Raines.

-Lisa Oshop