WCNR

Infobox Radio station
name = WCNR


city = Keswick, Virginia
area = Charlottesville, Virginia Albemarle County, Virginia Western Fluvanna County, Virginia
branding = "106.1 The Corner"
slogan = "Different is Good"
airdate = 1991
frequency = 106.1 MHz HD Radio
format = Adult Album Alternative
erp = 6000 watts
haat = 312 meters
class = A
facility_id = 52394
coordinates = coord|37|59|6.0|N|78|28|48.0|W|type:landmark
callsign_meaning = W CoRNer reference to UVA's The Corner
former_callsigns = WJNA (1989-1990) WBOP (1990-2006)
owner = Saga Communications
licensee = Saga Communications of Charlottesville, LLC
sister_stations = WINA, WQMZ, WVAX, WWWV
webcast = [http://winmedia.voxcdn.net/3156-WMA-WCNR-FM-32 WCNR Webstream]
website = [http://www.1061thecorner.com/ WCNR Online]
affiliations =

WCNR is an Adult Album Alternative formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Keswick, Virginia, serving the City of Charlottesville and Albermale and Western Fluvanna Counties. WCNR is owned and operated by Saga Communications.

History

WCNR began originally licensed to Churchville, Virginia (near Harrisonburg) on 106.3 FM with the callsign WJNA. Before the station launched in 1991, the calls were changed to WBOP. For the time the station was in the Harrisonburg area, it was formatted with either Classic rock or Active Rock.

In August of 2006, WBOP's owner Vox Communications sold the station to Saga Communications out of Charlottesville. The station was moved from Churchville to Keswick and the frequency moved from 106.3 to 106.1.

On September 15th, 2006 at 1:06pm, "The Corner" was launched with the WCNR calls. The WBOP calls were moved to former sister station on 95.5.

Format

The station plays a mix of Adult Album Alternative music mix targeted at Charlottesville's 25-to-44-year-old listener group. While everything from The Beatles to Gnarls Barkley is played, the focus is especially strong on 1980s and 1990s Alternative rock such as R.E.M. and Sublime.

Branding

WCNR's callsign and branding are taken from "The Corner", a collection of student shops, bookstores, cafes, and night spots on University Avenue in Charlottesville, adjacent to the University of Virginia.

Regular Programming

Weekdays

Some of the programs aired weekdays on WCNR include "My Corner Playlist" at 3pm where five songs are selected by listeners and posted on the station's website.

Another fun feature is "The Last Letter Game" at 6pm which is an instant request show where each song must begin with the last letter of the previous song title.

"Live and Local" is aired at 8pm which takes a look at music in the clubs and a song by one of the performing bands, including local artists.

Charlottesville's own [Dave Matthews Band] is featured in the "Daily D.M.B." airing at 9pm. An extended live jam or deeper album track by the band is normally played.

Tuesday nights at 10pm, a locally-produced indie music/new releases program called "Brighten The Corners" is aired, hosted by Music Director Jeff Sweatman.

Weekends

Saturday nights at 10pm, the station airs "Passport Approved", an import/worldwide indie music show hosted by music industry executive Sat Bisla of A&R Worldwide/Musexpo. The show originates on Los Angeles' KDLD.

On Sunday nights, a three-hour chillout music show, "Chillville", is aired. The station also airs the syndicated E-Town and Acoustic Cafe programs on Sunday evenings.

yndicated

The nationally-syndicated Little Steven's Underground Garage is aired on WCNR on Monday Evenings.

The Corner Lounge

"The Corner Lounge" features in-studio interviews and live acoustic performances from touring bands. This special feature generally occurs on the day of a concert in Charlottesville and is made possible by Charlottesville's locally-based Crutchfield. Artists that have visited "The Corner Lounge" in the station's first year include:

* Peter Bradley Adams (the very first guest)
* Brian Vander Ark
* Gomez
* Ziggy Marley
* Mason Jennings
* Lucero
* David Wilcox
* Carbon Leaf
* Erin McKeown
* G. Love
* Shiny Toy Guns
* Cracker
* Marshall Crenshaw
* Tim Reynolds
* Vienna Teng
* Pato Banton
* Army Of Me
* Willy Porter
* Webb Wilder col-end

Many local bands from in and around Charlottesville were also featured.

Talent

WCNR's staff is several veterans of the "Triple A" format, including Tad Abbey (mornings, formerly of WVOD/Outer Banks, NC); Brad Savage (middays, formerly of KTCZ/Minneapolis, MN and WQKL/Ann Arbor, MI); Jeff Sweatman (afternoons, formerly of KBXR/Columbia, MO), Jaclyn (nights, formerly of WUIN/Wilmington, NC), and Melissa Howard (weekends, formerly of WMMM/Madison, WI).

WCNR markets itself as "Uniquely Charlottesville" and while none of the employees are Charlottesville natives, the sound of the station has been custom-designed based on feedback from listeners in the area, giving it a unique Charlottesville "flavor" in its programming.

Awards

In the Summer of 2007, after less than one year on the air, WCNR was nominated for "Triple A Station of the Year" (Markets 101+) by Radio and Records Magazine.

In August of 2008, WCNR was "Best Local Radio Station" by local news and arts website [htt://www.c-ville.com/ c-ville.com] .cite web
url = http://c-ville.com/index.php?cat=1990408084180279&ShowVenueID=11801108083820583
title = Best of C-VILLE 2008 - 106-1 The Corner
accessdate = 2008-08-21
last = C-Ville.com
first =
publisher = Portico Publications
language = English]

References

External Links

* [http://www.1061thecorner.com 106.1 The Corner Online]
*
*
*