WMVY’s Barbara Dacey announced today that she is stepping away from her longtime position at the Martha’s Vineyard radio station. According to a press release, Ms. Dacey joined MVY Radio as a part-time DJ in 1985. She became program director in 1993, and shepherded the station through a period of growth and refinement, lifting the station to national recognition in the Triple A radio format, and guiding it in its emergence as one of the early players in streaming Internet radio. In 2005, Dacey shifted to director of worldwide programming, to focus on broader music-based projects like live streaming performances, long-form artist interviews, and station concert events. Throughout her time at MVY Radio, she has been on the air, currently holding down the midday shift. In 2014, Dacey was appointed to the Friends of MVY Radio board of directors.
Ms. Dacey will end her 32-year run with WMVY, including her weekday 11 am to 1 pm on-air shift, at the end of December 2017 or during the first week of January 2018. She will also take an indefinite leave from the Friends of MVY Radio board.
“Working at MVY has been a central and deeply inspiring part of my life,” said Ms. Dacey. “Being on the air day in and day out is literally a transportive experience, and I love it and will miss it. I am going to take some time to pursue other interests and think about what the future might hold. I have met so many wonderful people through my work, from my co-workers at the station and my colleagues in the music business, to a host of talented musicians and many of our loyal listeners. WMVY is a truly unique, personally crafted radio station, and a resilient, ever-evolving and unifying force. I am so happy to have been part of it for so many years.”
Ms. Dacey made the announcement privately to the MVY Radio board and to staff members, and made a public announcement on WMVY on Tuesday, during the noon hour of her shift.