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WTJU
File:WTJU-FM WHAN-AM 2015.png
Broadcast areaCharlottesville, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
Frequency91.1 MHz
Branding"WTJU"
Programming
FormatVariety
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Virginia
WXTJ-LP
History
First air date
May 10, 1957[1]
Former frequencies
91.3 MHz (1957-1993)
Call sign meaning
W Thomas Jefferson's University
Technical information
Facility ID69145
ClassB1
Power1,500 watts
HAAT325 meters (1,066 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
37°58′55.0″N 78°29′3.0″W / 37.981944°N 78.484167°W / 37.981944; -78.484167
Links
WebcastWTJU Webstream
WebsiteWTJU Online

WTJU is a Variety formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia, serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia.[2] WTJU is owned and operated by University of Virginia.[3]

History

File:WTJU-FM 2014.PNG
Logo used prior to February 1, 2015.
A WTJU DJ hosts a show during the 2013 Rock Marathon
WTJU hosts a live remote broadcast from the "Rally on the Lawn," where thousands of students, faculty, alumni, and community members had gathered to support recently ousted University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan.

WTJU was founded in 1955 when UVA’s Department of Speech and Drama decided to start a UVA-based educational radio station. The fraternity Kappa Delta Pi put up a large part of the funds necessary to get the station off the ground. On May 10, 1957, WTJU went on the air at 91.3 FM with a classical music format. It was able to broadcast throughout Charlottesville, building a small but dedicated group of listeners.[4]

In 1959, the station aired its first ever music marathon: the Classical Marathon, held during U.Va.’s exam period. In 1963, WTJU became a full-fledged student organization, separate from the UVA Department of Speech and Drama. By 1971, WTJU began broadcasting rock music, as well as some jazz and folk programs. By 1974, WTJU is broadcasting 24 hours a day. It also allowed non-students to be DJs in order to keep the station broadcasting 24/7 year-round.[4]

In 1993, WTJU's license was threatened when student administrators accidentally violated FCC rules in filing a routine document. The Dean of Students office insisted the station hire its first paid staff member, General Manager Chuck Taylor, requiring a transition from a student organization to direct oversight from the university. In the same year, WTJU changed its frequency from 91.3 to 91.1 FM. In the late 1990s, planned construction at U.Va.'s Peabody hall forced WTJU to relocate. In 2000, WTJU moved into its current studios in Lambeth Commons. By 2010, WTJU had also started streaming its radio programming over the internet.[4]

General Manager Chuck Taylor retired in 2010, and was replaced by Burr Beard. After stepping into his position, Beard tried to enact sweeping changes to the station’s operation and was met with major backlash from station volunteers and listeners. By fall of that same year, Beard resigned and the station began its search for a new manager. In 2011, Nathan Moore was hired and is the current General Manager of the station.[4]

In 2011, WTJU participated in the first-ever [College Radio Day]. And in 2012, WTJU aired a live remote broadcast of the "Rally on the Lawn" demonstration against the ouster of U.Va. President Teresa A. Sullivan.[5] Also in 2012, WTJU aired a special modern adaptation of The War of the Worlds on Halloween night.[6]

Hiring professional staff necessitated removing WTJU from limits on non-university-affiliated members that bind student organizations and club sports. Initially brought on to keep the station running over breaks, community members began making up an increasing proportion of announcers in the 1990s and 2000s. In response to declining student involvement, WTJU founded WXTJ-LP (100.1 FM), a sister station run and staffed entirely by students, in October 2013.[7] WXTJ operates within WTJU's building and primarily consists of rock, hip hop, and electronic music. Several student DJs host programs on both stations.[8]

In addition to its on-air activities, WTJU also produces a variety of music and educational events such as an annual block party & record sale, film screenings, and youth radio camps.[9][10]

Among the well-known artists who have been DJs at WTJU 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.

Broadcasting to Richmond

In February 2015, WTJU began simulcasting its programming on Ashland, Virginia-based WHAN and its translator W275BQ 102.9.[11] WTJU operates the station as part of a three-year local marketing agreement.[12] WTJU will have the option to buy the WHAN and translator W275BQ in the future.[11] WTJU is in negotiations with Virginia Commonwealth University webcaster WVCW to broadcast on WHAN from 6pm to 1am daily.[13]

Programming

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 nearly anything they choose, as long as it does not violate Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules for decency. All of WTJU's DJs are volunteers from the community, including U.Va. students, faculty, and staff, alumni, and community members with no other UVA affiliation.

Most of the shows feature music, with the bulk of the music being in the genres of classical, folk, jazz and rock.[14] The music across all genres tends to be highly eclectic, with a heavy emphasis on music that is rarely, if ever, heard on commercial radio stations. WTJU's schedule also includes daily news interviews and a number of short arts & community-oriented public affairs modules.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2010/D4-2010-BC-YB-7.pdf
  2. ^ "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  3. ^ "WTJU Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Station History". University of Virginia. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  5. ^ "Community Microphone: WTJU Live from the Rally on the Lawn". 13 Pass Multimedia. June 18, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  6. ^ Cooper, Allie (October 31, 2012). "Aliens invade! WTJU broadcasts "War of the Worlds"". C-Ville Weekly. Charlottesville, Virginia: C-Ville. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  7. ^ "WTJX is Back!". University of Virginia. August 25, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  8. ^ "WTJX Schedule". University of Virginia. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  9. ^ "WTJU General Manager's Quarterly Report - April 2014" (PDF). University of Virginia. April 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  10. ^ "WTJU General Manager's Quarterly Report - July 2014" (PDF). University of Virginia. July 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Venta, Lance (January 28, 2015). "WTJU Adds Richmond Rimshot". RadioBB Networks. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.Va.-owned station to take over WHAN". Hanover Herald-Progress. Ashland, Virginia: Lakeway Publishers, Inc. January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  13. ^ Baldwin, Brent (January 13, 2015). "U.Va.-owned station to take over WHAN". Style Weekly. Richmond, Virginia: Landmark Media Enterprises. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  14. ^ "WTJU Schedule". University of Virginia. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  15. ^ "WTJU Program Schedule" (PDF). University of Virginia. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
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