WSFM-LP, known as 103.3 Asheville FM, is a low-power community radio station licensed to Asheville, North Carolina that began broadcasting over the air on May 18, 2015.

WSFM-LP
Broadcast areaAsheville, North Carolina
Frequency103.3 MHz
Branding103.3 Asheville FM
Programming
FormatFreeform
Ownership
OwnerFriends of Community Radio Inc.
History
First air date
May 18, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-05-18)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID195466
ClassL1
ERP100 watts
HAAT1.4 meters (4 ft 7 in)
Transmitter coordinates
35°35′48″N 82°33′31″W / 35.59667°N 82.55861°W / 35.59667; -82.55861
Links
Public license information
LMS
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.ashevillefm.org

About

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Asheville FM is a nonprofit, freeform radio station run primarily by volunteers and focused on featuring locally created content that is reflective of and centered around the Asheville area and western North Carolina in general. The station currently has 60 shows, all hosted by locals, in addition to Democracy Now![2]

Except for a general manager, a volunteer coordinator and one employee who works on commission to sell underwriting, the station is staffed entirely by volunteers. The station's funding sources include underwriting sales, semi-annual onair membership drives, and general donations.

Programming

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Asheville FM offers a variety of programming, including music shows, talk shows (including a local news show), and two Spanish-language shows.

Musical genres represented on the station's music shows include rock, soul, R&B, funk, disco, progressive rock, classic country, hip hop, blues, and children's music.

Talk shows topics include health, local news, the local food scene, and sports.

Due to the station's freeform programming, there are programs that mix talk and music.

History

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Asheville FM began in 2009 as an online radio station. The passage of the Low-Power Community Radio Act of 2010 provided Asheville FM an opportunity to move to a broadcast frequency. From a 20-foot tower on top of the Hotel Indigo in downtown Asheville, Asheville FM's signal reaches a 5- to 10-mile radius, though reception in some areas depends on the local terrain.[3]

The station's current – and first – general manager is K.P. Whaley, who began in January 2017.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSFM-LP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "On-Air Schedule".
  3. ^ Patrick, Emily (May 16, 2015). "New radio station launches: Volunteer-powered Asheville FM". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  4. ^ "We hired a full-time general manager!". Asheville FM. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
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