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About WCOM
Scrapbook
WCOM is a community radio station with a studio in downtown Carrboro and an antenna at Scroggs Elementary School in Southern Village. WCOM is the first low-power FM community radio station in the area to be set up under a program established by the Federal Communications Commission in 2000 (click here for more on that program). Low-power FM is grassroots radio—an effort to counterbalance the increasing concentration of radio ownership by a few large corporations.
In June 2004, WCOM began broadcasting a test signal—a 30-minute loop in English and Spanish explaining the goals of the station. Since the technology was not yet in place to link the studio to the transmitter, that test signal came from a CD cabinet at the base of the transmitter at Scroggs.
Meanwhile, our intrepid engineering committee toiled away to build the studio and establish the studio-to-transmitter link. Finally, at 11:27 PM on Wednesday, September 29, 2004, they flipped the last switch and we began broadcasting from our beautiful new studio in downtown Carrboro!
From September to November 2004, we played a specially selected mix of music 24-7. The real excitement started in November, when WCOM's first DJs hit the airwaves. Today our program schedule includes close to 50 locally produced music and talk shows and new programs are still being added. We also carry some of the most incisive news shows on the air, Democracy Now, Counter Spin, and Making Contact
We hope you like what you hear. Tune in, let us know what you think, tell your friends, and send money.
Why we hope WCOM will become important to you
WCOM is a different kind of radio. When you tune in to WCOM you will hear our community—our people, environment, events, music, and attitude. These are the stars of WCOM programs. WCOM is a place where people gather to listen to good music or to find out about local news. It's a place to learn about the world, laugh, meet good neighbors, and share ideas.
Community volunteers add depth and sparkle to WCOM. The voices you hear on the air belong to real people making radio that is live, immediate, and interactive. WCOM's volunteers love the medium of radio and care about the people who live here.
WCOM's mission is to build community through programming and linkages with the people of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. WCOM is radio that operates outside the box ... radio that believes conventional wisdom can only achieve predictable results. It is creative, frugal, and responsive. In many ways it is closer to old-time radio than its modern cousins. We are proud of WCOM and think the radio produced in this small corner of the world will be some of the best to be heard anywhere.
WCOM invites you to become a member or to volunteer. We hope that you will enjoy what you hear and find it useful and significant in your life. Please contact us with your suggestions and comments.
Click here to read even more about the history of WCOM.
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WCOM Scrapbook
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Remember these moments in WCOM history?
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 On May 19, WCOM was scheduled to be the featured nonprofit at Weaver Street Market’s 2005 After Hours concert series, with Jonathan Byrd & Friends on tap to play the music. But Mother Nature had other ideas. When the concert was canceled due to rain, we got another idea, too. We invited Jonathan across the street and he played his music live on the air, along with bassist Robbie Link. David Bellin, a.k.a. Doctor Dave, hosted the hour and chatted with Jonathan about his music. Our evening in the After Hours spotlight was rescheduled for September 1. |
 WCOM made Carrboro radio history when it conducted its first live remote broadcast from the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in Silk Hope April 21-24, 2004. We broadcast all or part of over 30 sets from two stages during the four days of the festival. Genius Award and “volunteer of the month” title went to Steve Fisher, who engineered the remote. The DJs at the station were very cooperative and did a great job managing the incoming music on the fly and spinning their own discs between sets and during the occasional technical difficulties.
More live remotes were broadcast from Carrboro Day (May 1) and the Martin Luther King Boulevard dedication ceremony at Chapel Hill Town Hall (May 8).
Here’s the list of Shakori Hills performances heard over the airwaves thanks to Steve, Chris Frank, the in-studio DJs, and the rest of the WCOM team: Jump, Darrell Scott, Donna the Buffalo, Crow Greenspun, The Never, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Jon Shain, Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, Hooverville, Cool John Ferguson, Campbell Brothers, Keith Secola, The Splendors, Emma Gibbs Band, Weems-Gerrard Band, Tony Williamson, Slim Redmond, Mamadou daibate, Keith Frank, John Specker, Hobex, Oculus, Angelic Singers, Big Fat Gap, Flook, and Laura Blackley. |
 WCOM was the 2005 beneficiary of Rock
the Boat, an annual benefit
concert organized by the UNC Sailing Club. On Thurs., April 21, at The Library on Franklin St., you could hear 3 great bands and improv comedy and support
your local community radio station—all for just $5! WCOM earned $250 from the event. Thanks to the Sailing Club for their support!
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On Saturday, March 19, 2005, we danced the night away at ¡Que Noche!, our Latin dance party fundraiser at the Carrboro Century Center. We had live music by local band Saludos Compay, and DJ Candido Castillo kept us dancing when the band took a break.
Local restaurants donated the food (Bandidos Mexican Cafe, Jade Palace, and the Mediterranean Deli) and businesses donated raffle prizes (Gourmet Kingdom, Cliff’s Meat Market, Templeball, Cat’s Cradle, Fiesta Grill, Harris Teeter, Greg McCallum and Saludos Compay). Berkeley Grimball emceed and a team of volunteers kept things running smoothly. The main event organizers were Jane Tuohey, Jackie Helvey, Frank Consiglio, Catherine Devine, Cecilia Mackey, Margot Lester, and Sally Robertson.
(Check out the press release and flyer by Jackie Helvey for more details!)
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Our Listen Up! literary fundraiser was held on January 31,2005 at Panzanella. Altogether, we raised $2,600 for the station.
Carl Johnson was emcee and several esteemed local authors showed their support for WCOM and read from their works—Hal Crowther, Allan Gurganus, Haven Kimmel, Alan Shapiro, Lee Smith, and Daniel Wallace. Musicians Robert Griffin and Tim Smith donated their jazz talents for the evening. Bynum artist Clyde Jones donated one of his handsome critters—Alli, the alligator—which brought $400 at the Listen Up auction.
The food and beverages were a smash hit, thanks to donations from Acme Food & Beverage Co., Flying Burrito, Mediterranean Deli, Tallulah’s, Whole Foods Market in Durham, Chapel Hill Wine Co., Carolina Brewery, and Open Eye Café.
Other businesses that contributed to the cause included the Independent Weekly, Grimball Jewelers, the Regulator Bookshop, Weaver Street Market, Panzanella, and Algonquin Books.
The primary event organizers were Catherine DeVine, Jackie Helvey, and Margot Lester, with a host of WCOM volunteers who helped during the event.
Here's the flyer we used to publicize the event.
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On Sunday, February 20, 2005, WCOM received a visit from members of Cub Scout Troop 825, Den 6 of Chapel Hill. DJ Boyd Blackburn showed the scouts how a radio console works during his show, Dance Jam, and each of the boys got a chance to say something on the air.
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On September 9, 2004, at the Cat's Cradle, the Two Dollar Pistols, Gonzo Guitars, David Spencer Band, Cub Country and special guest buskers, the infamous Chicken Wire Gang, all kicked butt to a throng of Carrboro cognoscenti. Click here for more info. Thanks to all those great bands for their support!
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Dirty South Improv
Comedy
Marathon
WCOM received 50% of the proceeds from Dirty South Improv's 24-hour comedy marathon at UNC-Chapel Hill on September 24 and 25, 2004. The event, 24 LIVE,raised $807.50 for WCOM. The other 50% of the proceeds went to Tikun Olam, a local organization which aims to repair the world through project-based outreach.
A small core cast from DSI drew support from professional comedians and local celebrities as they pressed on thru 24 straight hours of improv. Thanks for the laughs and the support, DSI! |
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