WFAE
Encyclopedia
WFAE is the flagship National Public Radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina
broadcasting at 90.7 MHz on the FM dial.
The station went on the air on June 29, 1981 as a service of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
, taking over from a student-run carrier current
station that had begun operation in the mid 1970s. It operated from the basement of the Cone University Center. In addition to NPR programs, it aired jazz
during the day and classical music at night. Later, jazz was moved to night.
The station grew rapidly, and within five years moved to much larger studios in the One University Place building near the UNCC campus where it still is today.
In February 1986, WFAE began airing new age music
on a Sunday evening show emphasizing contemporary jazz
, featuring such artists as George Winston
and Kitaro
. The show was called "New Age Sunday" at first, but the station dropped that name to distance itself from the new age
spiritual movement.
In 1987, WFAE began broadcasting 24 hours a day and began airing more jazz. WFAE dropped classical music because WDAV
played it, and the station increased its news and information programming. Soon, the station was emphasizing contemporary jazz.
WFAE's growth occurred amid financial uncertainty. UNCC was eventually forced to end support for the station due to a budget crunch. In 1994, UNCC handed over control to a nonprofit community board, the University Radio Foundation.
WFAE continued to grow through the next decade. It added a satellite station in Hickory
, WFHE, at 90.3 MHz, in 1995. WFAE's signal is spotty at best in some parts of the North Carolina foothills. WFHE largely simulcasts WFAE, with inserts specific to the Foothills area airing during hourly news breaks. The next year, it largely dropped music in favor of a news/talk format as part of an agreement with WNSC
in Rock Hill
to provide non-conflicting programming. It was one of the first NPR stations to air NPR's midday news/talk block (The Diane Rehm Show
, Fresh Air
and Talk of the Nation
). However, it had been committed to news long before then. At one point, its three reporters were doing as much work as far larger news staffs.
While its weekday lineup consists entirely of news/talk programs provided mostly by NPR, PRI, or the BBC, music provides the basis for some of its weekend programming. On Saturday evenings from 9 pm to midnight, WFAE broadcasts 3 hours of mainstream jazz, while on Sunday evenings from 7 pm to midnight, WFAE carries PRI's Echoes
. WFAE also used to air a locally produced Sunday evening program of New Age music called Nightscapes, but replaced that with an expanded broadcast of Echoes. Charlotte Talks is a popular local show that focuses on local issues and figures and airs live from 9:00 am to 10:00 am Monday through Friday. WFAE is also the home station for The Thistle & Shamrock
, a popular Celtic music
show from NPR that originated on WFAE when it was licensed to UNCC and its host, Fiona Ritchie
, was a visiting professor at the university. It began as a local program soon after WFAE signed on, and was picked up nationally in 1983.
In recent years, the station has become one of the most technologically advanced NPR stations in the country. In 2004, it converted to digital technology, with a far clearer signal than before. It also became the first station in Charlotte and the first public radio station in North Carolina to convert to HD Radio
digital broadcast technology. In 2005 WFAE became the first HD multicaster. In an experiment in April they multicasted up to 11 channels. however, at the time of the test, the small number of HD tuners, and even smaller number of multicast-capable tuners makes it unlikely that anyone outside the station heard anything other than their primary signal.
On July 28, 2008, WFAE began airing jazz from JazzWorks on one of its HD channels to reach those disppointed by the loss of jazz on WNSC. Locally produced jazz shows were a possibility as well, since the station still had its music library.
93.7 Southern Pines
106.1 Laurinburg
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
broadcasting at 90.7 MHz on the FM dial.
The station went on the air on June 29, 1981 as a service of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
, taking over from a student-run carrier current
Carrier current
Carrier current is a method of low power AM radio transmission that uses the AC electrical system of a building to propagate a medium frequency, AM signal to a relatively small area, such as a building or a group of buildings...
station that had begun operation in the mid 1970s. It operated from the basement of the Cone University Center. In addition to NPR programs, it aired jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
during the day and classical music at night. Later, jazz was moved to night.
The station grew rapidly, and within five years moved to much larger studios in the One University Place building near the UNCC campus where it still is today.
In February 1986, WFAE began airing new age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
on a Sunday evening show emphasizing contemporary jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
, featuring such artists as George Winston
George Winston
George Winston is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and lives in Santa Cruz, California.-Background:...
and Kitaro
Kitaro
, better known as , is an award winning Japanese musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist who is regarded as one of the pioneers of new age music.-Early life:...
. The show was called "New Age Sunday" at first, but the station dropped that name to distance itself from the new age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
spiritual movement.
In 1987, WFAE began broadcasting 24 hours a day and began airing more jazz. WFAE dropped classical music because WDAV
WDAV
WDAV "Classical 89.9" is a non-commercial public radio station located in Davidson, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte, North Carolina market. The station, owned by Davidson College, airs classical music and fine arts programming....
played it, and the station increased its news and information programming. Soon, the station was emphasizing contemporary jazz.
WFAE's growth occurred amid financial uncertainty. UNCC was eventually forced to end support for the station due to a budget crunch. In 1994, UNCC handed over control to a nonprofit community board, the University Radio Foundation.
WFAE continued to grow through the next decade. It added a satellite station in Hickory
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
, WFHE, at 90.3 MHz, in 1995. WFAE's signal is spotty at best in some parts of the North Carolina foothills. WFHE largely simulcasts WFAE, with inserts specific to the Foothills area airing during hourly news breaks. The next year, it largely dropped music in favor of a news/talk format as part of an agreement with WNSC
South Carolina Educational Television
South Carolina Educational Television is the statewide public television and public radio network in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It consists of all the Public Broadcasting Service member [television stations and National Public Radio member radio stations in the state...
in Rock Hill
Rock Hill
Rock Hill is the name of some places in the United States of America:* Rock Hill, South Carolina, fourth largest city in South Carolina, population 70,000* Rock Hill, Missouri, small city in Missouri, population 5,000...
to provide non-conflicting programming. It was one of the first NPR stations to air NPR's midday news/talk block (The Diane Rehm Show
The Diane Rehm Show
The Diane Rehm Show is a National Public Radio call-in show based in the United States. In October, 2007, The Diane Rehm Show was named to Audience Research Analysis’ list of the top ten most powerful national programs in public radio – the only talk show on the list...
, Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
and Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
). However, it had been committed to news long before then. At one point, its three reporters were doing as much work as far larger news staffs.
While its weekday lineup consists entirely of news/talk programs provided mostly by NPR, PRI, or the BBC, music provides the basis for some of its weekend programming. On Saturday evenings from 9 pm to midnight, WFAE broadcasts 3 hours of mainstream jazz, while on Sunday evenings from 7 pm to midnight, WFAE carries PRI's Echoes
Echoes (radio program)
Echoes is a daily two-hour music radio program hosted by John Diliberto featuring a soundscape of ambient, space, electronica, and New Age music. The program features in-depth artist interviews and intimate "living room" performances. Interview subjects have included Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel,...
. WFAE also used to air a locally produced Sunday evening program of New Age music called Nightscapes, but replaced that with an expanded broadcast of Echoes. Charlotte Talks is a popular local show that focuses on local issues and figures and airs live from 9:00 am to 10:00 am Monday through Friday. WFAE is also the home station for The Thistle & Shamrock
The Thistle & Shamrock
The Thistle & Shamrock is a weekly American syndicated radio program, named after the national emblems of Scotland and Ireland, specializing in Celtic music. It is heard on 380 National Public Radio stations, and is available internationally on WorldSpace via NPR Worldwide; according to NPR...
, a popular Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
show from NPR that originated on WFAE when it was licensed to UNCC and its host, Fiona Ritchie
Fiona Ritchie
Fiona Ritchie is a Scottish radio broadcaster best known as the producer and host of The Thistle & Shamrock, an hour-long Celtic music program that airs weekly throughout the United States on National Public Radio...
, was a visiting professor at the university. It began as a local program soon after WFAE signed on, and was picked up nationally in 1983.
In recent years, the station has become one of the most technologically advanced NPR stations in the country. In 2004, it converted to digital technology, with a far clearer signal than before. It also became the first station in Charlotte and the first public radio station in North Carolina to convert to HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
digital broadcast technology. In 2005 WFAE became the first HD multicaster. In an experiment in April they multicasted up to 11 channels. however, at the time of the test, the small number of HD tuners, and even smaller number of multicast-capable tuners makes it unlikely that anyone outside the station heard anything other than their primary signal.
On July 28, 2008, WFAE began airing jazz from JazzWorks on one of its HD channels to reach those disppointed by the loss of jazz on WNSC. Locally produced jazz shows were a possibility as well, since the station still had its music library.
Translators
90.3 WFHE Hickory93.7 Southern Pines
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 10,918 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Southern Pines is located at ....
106.1 Laurinburg
Laurinburg, North Carolina
Laurinburg is a mid-sized city in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Scotland County. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina state border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville and is home to St. Andrews Presbyterian College...