Bluegrass FM is a growing 100% 24/7 network of bluegrass radio stations in Virginia
currently streaming online at
BluegrassFm.org. The FM stations are non-commercial and
donor-supported by individuals and businesses who enjoy bluegrass music.
WWED 89.5 in Fredericksburg, VA serves an audience from Stafford to Ashland along the I-95 corridor. It is planning a power increase to extend coverage into the Richmond and Charlottesville areas in 2009. WWEM 91.7 in Lynchburg, VA is being built and should be on the air by Thanksgiving. Its coverage will range from just south of Charlottesville to the outskirts of Roanoke. Other stations are planned in bluegrass-rich communities around Virginia.
For now, the station webcast on
BluegrassFm.org will be available but a decision will
soon be made concerning continuing the audio streaming due to the additional restrictions
and regulations being imposed by SoundExchange in 2008 which are causing small
non-profits like Bluegrass FM to reconsider their web strategy.
The station often interviews artists on video and audio and will likely offer a unique longer version of this content on the web along with other station information and contests not available on the broadcast stations instead of streaming station audio. Bluegrass FM also takes
extensive photos of festivals and events and will be posting this exclusive material as well.
Finally, the station is the site of Spiritsound studio where a growing number of bluegrass artists in Virginia are recording their projects. Justen Haynes, fiddle player for IIIrd Tyme Out and a multi-instrumentalist, works with Pete Stover, who manages Bluegrass FM and the recording studio. Justen is a staff producer at Spiritsound and is
engaging in a number of fall and winter projects and has openings for more early in 2008.
The station and studio can be contacted at: Bluegrass FM, PO Box 905, Spotsylvania, VA
22553. 540-582-9700. Look for Bluegrass FM ads in the November issues of Bluegrass Music
profiles and Bluegrass Unlimited.
