Industry News Bits Tue 5-25-21
With mere hours to meet the ministry’s funding need during it’s Spring Support Drive this month, WayFM invited listeners to share hope by investing in their station. Despite the distractions the audience continues to face, listeners gave generously and surpassed the funding target, finishing the drive at 115%.
“This is a milestone, because it’s the most raised since changing our fundraising model in February 2020, just before start of the pandemic,” said Way Media’s Chief Development Officer BJ O’Neal.
The record-setting response helped ensure their WayFM is funded as God continues to multiply each investment. O’Neal added, “We’re very thankful for our listeners, our passionate WayFM team, and our fundraising partners at Dunham+Company for the roles they all played in this successful multi-channel campaign.”
WCLQ/Wausau (89Q) not only met their $300,000 Sharathon goal three hours early on May 21, they also raised an additional $13,500 for a new studio. The new studio will be used for the station’s secondary stream. It will feature youth oriented Christian music and high school student talent. 89Q will use the studio as a mentoring opportunity for area high school students interested in a broadcasting career.
General Manager Coy Sawyer said, “I attended a broadcasting trade school in Wausau in 1981 and 82 and feel we have the right people in place to train and then place these high school students on a realistic pathway to their own careers. Their parents, friends, and family will enjoy hearing them ‘”on the air”. We also plan on using the new studio to begin podcasting.”
89Q will conduct a golf event in September and begin building the studio this fall and hope to be on the stream with the new format and local talent by March 2022.
Patti Gates joins the team at Messiah.fm. In the past Patti hosted mornings with her late husband John Gates on WRDR/Freehold Township (The Bridge Christian Radio).
Prayer List:
Lucy Holmes