[1] Schaefer began developing his genre-spanning music program New Sounds in early 1982, with the show premiering that September.

[5] Also for WNYC, Schaefer hosts the segment "Gig Alerts" for the news program Morning Edition.

[10] Just a year later, it was reported that all of the New Sounds programming would be dropped by NYPR and Schaefer's shows would no longer be broadcast by WNYC nor WQXR.

[11] After more than a week of outcry by the public and musicians, with many calling Schaefer a vital part of the New York music scene, NYPR announced that they would be retaining New Sounds and all of its affiliated programs.

[12] Composer Philip Glass has been quoted saying, "'For we who live in New York to have [Schaefer] in the position he's in at the radio station, that's amazing...

[14][15] Schaefer has written liner notes for more than 100 albums, including for Yo-Yo Ma and Terry Riley.