WFWM Campus Radio Celebrates 40 Years

The greater Frostburg area has been fine-tuning their radio dials to alternative programming for 40 years now. And the message is coming in loud and clear: WFWM public radio from Frostburg State University is an important part of our local community.

 

Over the years, at any given hour of the day, listeners have been able to tune in to hear classical, jazz, bluegrass, rock, modern, punk, folk, dance, techno and other alternative music. You name a genre and it has probably been played on WFWM.

“It’s a truly unique station,” said Chuck Dicken '96, the station’s director and program manager.

In May of 1984, WFWM started transmitting its “uniqueness” into the community. Student DJs would haul their cardboard boxes of LPs to the small studio located in the basement of the old Compton Hall and spin tunes. It was for students by students.

According to Dicken, prior to 1984, there was a carrier current radio station that broadcast on campus only. By 1990, the community started getting involved with the station. Dicken was one of those early community volunteers who hauled his record collection to campus to entertain listeners with his “Dead Air” show, showcasing the Grateful Dead and like musicians.

Former FSU President Catherine Gira saw the potential of the station and encouraged its development, Dicken recalled. Rene Atkinson M'78 was hired as the first full-time station director and collaboration between the radio station and academic departments was introduced.

“That’s when the programming settled down,” said Dicken, noting the schedule of classical mornings and afternoons, drive-time jazz and student programming in the evenings.

By 1998, WFWM became a National Public Radio affiliate, bringing NPR news and content to local listeners. That same year, Dicken joined the station as the program direction. He was named station director in 2008.

Dicken and his small team have set up the current block of programming. Many of the shows are now prerecorded and automated, a far cry from the early, live antics of Frostburg students. But Dicken insists the spirit of the station remains the same from its beginnings.

“It’s still very much a local public radio station,” Dicken said. “The station continues to heavily promote local events and happenings.”

WFWM also helps organize and support music events in the community, including the FSU Appalachian Festival, the Roots Music Series, Saturdays at Canal Place, DelFest, Garrett Lake Arts Festival and more. They have also collaborated with other local nonprofits such as the Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland Choral Society, Cumberland Jazz Society and Frostburg’s Palace Theatre.

“We have been recognized by the city of Frostburg, the city of Cumberland and Allegany County for our promotion of tourism in the region," Dicken said.

Being a public radio station, WFWM continues to seek out community volunteers, underwriters and support. The station is conducting its on-air fund drive the first week of March and continues to run an online fundraising campaign to commemorate its 40th anniversary.

Today, the station broadcasts from a suite in the Catherine R. Gira Center for Communications and Information Technology on campus. As Dicken looks to the future of the station and the next potential 40 years, he hopes the community continues to rally around the little campus radio station that has managed to make a big impact on its community.

“Any public entity is going to need support from its listeners,” Dicken added.

To learn more about WFWM’s 40th anniversary and how you can help, visit https://give.frostburg.edu/40-years-of-wfwm.