WTJU
Encyclopedia
WTJU is a Variety formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia
, serving Charlottesville, Virginia
and Albemarle County, Virginia
, with a broadcast range of about 50 miles, as well as webcasting over the internet. WTJU is owned and operated by the University of Virginia
(U.Va.)
WTJU is unusual in a number of ways. It is a public radio station, yet it is not part of the NPR
system. The station allows its volunteer DJs to play anything they choose, as long as it does not violate Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) rules for decency. Most of the shows feature music, with the bulk of the music being in the categories of classical, folk, jazz and rock. The rock music tends to be highly eclectic, with a heavy emphasis on music that is rarely, if ever, heard on commercial radio stations. This eclecticism can be found in classical and folk programming, as well.
The DJs represent a cross-section of the community. Most of the rock DJs are students at U.Va.; most of the other DJs live in Charlottesville or the surrounding area, and range in age from their twenties to their sixties (or older).
Among the big names who have graced the WJTU airwaves as deejays are Pavement's Stephen Malkmus
, Dave Matthews Band's Boyd Tinsley
, Rolling Stone
critic Rob Sheffield
, Yo La Tengo's James McNew
, and blues musician Corey Harris
.
Fifty years after launch, the station is still based at UVA and broadcasts from the Lambeth Commons in the Lambeth residence halls. General Manager Chuck Taylor retired in early 2010, and was replaced with Burr Beard, who resigned six months after changes he proposed ran against the station's volunteer staff. Nathan Moore began as General Manager in April 2011.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, serving Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
, with a broadcast range of about 50 miles, as well as webcasting over the internet. WTJU is owned and operated by the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(U.Va.)
WTJU is unusual in a number of ways. It is a public radio station, yet it is not part of the NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
system. The station allows its volunteer DJs to play anything they choose, as long as it does not violate Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) rules for decency. Most of the shows feature music, with the bulk of the music being in the categories of classical, folk, jazz and rock. The rock music tends to be highly eclectic, with a heavy emphasis on music that is rarely, if ever, heard on commercial radio stations. This eclecticism can be found in classical and folk programming, as well.
The DJs represent a cross-section of the community. Most of the rock DJs are students at U.Va.; most of the other DJs live in Charlottesville or the surrounding area, and range in age from their twenties to their sixties (or older).
History
Founded at the University of Virginia in 1957, is one of Charlottesville's two volunteer-run radio stations.Among the big names who have graced the WJTU airwaves as deejays are Pavement's Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
, Dave Matthews Band's Boyd Tinsley
Boyd Tinsley
Boyd Calvin Tinsley is an American violinist and mandolinist who performs as a member of the Dave Matthews Band. Within the band, Tinsley has collaborated in writing songs, harmonizing, and singing backing vocals.-Early life:Tinsley was raised in a musical family...
, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
critic Rob Sheffield
Rob Sheffield
Rob Sheffield is an American music journalist and author. He is currently a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, writing music reviews and essays on pop culture. Prior to that, he was a contributing editor at Blender before the print version of the magazine folded in 2009, and at Spin...
, Yo La Tengo's James McNew
James McNew
James McNew has been the bass player for the rock band Yo La Tengo since their 1992 album May I Sing With Me.He was previously a member of Christmas on their third album Vortex.[]He also has a solo side project, Dump....
, and blues musician Corey Harris
Corey Harris
Corey Harris is an American blues and reggae musician, currently residing in Virginia. Along with Keb' Mo' and Alvin Youngblood Hart, he raised the flag of acoustic guitar blues in the mid 1990s...
.
Fifty years after launch, the station is still based at UVA and broadcasts from the Lambeth Commons in the Lambeth residence halls. General Manager Chuck Taylor retired in early 2010, and was replaced with Burr Beard, who resigned six months after changes he proposed ran against the station's volunteer staff. Nathan Moore began as General Manager in April 2011.
See also
- "Radioheads: locals succumb to the call of the airwaves" article in The Hook