Rita Houston Honored With Memorial Award

• The legacy of the late, legendary Rita Houston, longtime PD of Fordham University’s influential non-comm WFUV/New York is being honored with a new award and a special honorarium in her name. The inaugural “Rita Houston Spirit of NON-COMM Award” was presented to Jennifer Daunt of Dauntless Promotions Thursday afternoon during the annual NON-COMMvention, presented by WXPN/Philadelphia. Houston died last December at the age of 59 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

“Rita Houston was an exemplary and influential member of this public music radio community,” said WXPN MD Dan Reed, who has organized the annual NON-COMMvention for its entire 21-year history. “She was a vital leader and annual NON-COMM participant as well as a compassionate soul whose presence is deeply missed by the radio community and all NON-COMM attendees.”

The Rita Houston Spirit of NON-COMM Award was created to salute a member of the non-comm Triple A radio or music communities who demonstrates the spirit and enthusiasm for the Triple A format, as exemplified by Rita Houston. Speaking of Jennifer Daunt, Reed said, “She is a strong supporter of the format, for which she has been a tireless champion, and of the NON-COMMvention. She promotes cool records, and has great relationships across the board.” WFUV GM Chuck Singleton, said, “For all of us at WFUV, it’s comforting to know that Rita’s enormous spirit will live on in this annual award. It would give Rita a big smile to know that she’s still a presence at the NON-COMMvention. Thanks to our friends at WXPN for making this possible.”

WXPN announced that an honorarium will be added to next year’s Rita Houston Spirit of NON-COMM Award to cover the conference expenses for one outstanding woman working in Triple A radio, with special consideration given to one working in a smaller market with a limited budget. The annual three-day NON-COMMvention wraps up Friday, May 7.