Low-power FM radio station WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, “The Progressive Voice of the Mountains,” launched its spring on-air fund drive on Monday, May 2, with a goal of raising $13,000.
Station Operations Manager Jason Holland told Xpress that the fund drive will be a critical part of strengthening the broadcast arm of the Mountain Area Information Network, the nonprofit community network that operates WPVM.
“Since our first on-air fund drive a year ago, we’ve added nearly 20 new locally-produced news and music programs to our schedule, and more are on the way,” Holland reports. “We wouldn’t be able to have that kind of focus on local voices without a lot of help.”
MAIN Executive Director Wally Bowen says WPVM has established itself both in the community and as an integral part of MAIN’s overall community network.
“The growth of WPVM shows just how much demand there is for local voices on the air,” Bowen said.
The station’s programming is both broadcast and webcast live (including special live music and interviews during the fund drive) and includes Democracy Now!, a popular syndicated news program, live every weekday at 8 a.m.
Expanded local programming will allow the station to reach out to more people during this fund drive, Holland said. “We have live local programming on throughout the evenings and weekends now, and many of these shows appeal to people who can’t find what they want to hear anywhere else on the radio,” he explains. “We’ll be asking everyone who appreciates that kind of unique local programming to take part in the fund drive.”
Volunteers will be taking pledges by phone at (828) 258-0085 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. May 2 through 9. Contributions can also be made through the station’s Web site at www.wpvm.org at any time.
— Cecil Bothwell
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