"Tuning in to WYCE 88.1 FM will be even more inspiring than usual next week," said Hayes Griffin, Station Manager of the Community Media Center's independent community radio station WYCE. From Friday, October 12 through 19, 2018, WYCE's volunteer programmers will celebrate with listeners by playing the best shows they can provide, and inspiring them to support the station during Fall Fund Drive 2018.
Listener fund drives are the station's biggest source of financial support, keeping the lights on and the music playing.
"WYCE programmers play interesting, quality music that engages listeners, enriches their lives," Griffin said. "Some of what they play is new music, but mostly, they want to share what they love, what they find intriguing, tracks they've dug up from down deep in the WYCE music library. People hear music on WYCE that they've never heard anywhere before, or that they'd forgotten existed. The depth and the breadth of the music on WYCE helps listeners discover new artists. That's what inspires them to support this unique, diverse source of musical entertainment.”
Along with the spectacular programming, there will be musical guests galore during fund drive week. Local bands will perform live on the air, and regularly scheduled shows like (Laura Now, Local Spins and GRLive) will be amping up the tunes as well.
"People who love music tend to discover WYCE," Griffin said. "They start discovering local artists and other music that's new to them. Pretty soon 88.1 is their go-to station."
It's not just the music that's habit forming. WYCE listeners say that supporting a nonprofit that they love also feels good. Long-time listener Betsy Borden said, "You get to hear the most amazing music... that's what I love about it." Borden plays WYCE in her store, Peninsula Trading Co. on Cherry Street. She helps preserve and promote diverse artistic expression as a Business Day Sponsor on the station. Borden says she plays WYCE for her customers because "WYCE plays the best music! It's a wonderful station for the type of business I have, and the customers I have. WYCE goes to so many places, musically. The instruments aren't the sort of things you normally hear, even in an orchestra, and the musical cultures are from all over the world."
More good news for people who get hooked on WYCE's variety of music and absence of commercials is that they are almost guaranteed not to hear a repeat in one day, let alone in a week. During the Fall Fund Drive, programmers will challenge themselves to play their best musical sets including a variety of music from a cross-section of genres and artists interspersed with a lot of very talented local musicians. Known for its musical diversity, WYCE is also unique in the fact that it depends on a community of music lovers to provide financial support to keep the music playing. Listeners will find 88.1 on the far left end of the FM dial, or they can stream WYCE online at WYCE.org/listen. Donors can call to talk with volunteers and support the station (616-742-9923), and they are invited to go online, or drop by at 711 Bridge St. NW in Grand Rapids.
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