Richmond Independent Radio (WRIR) is hosting a number of various bands for in studio performances to help them reach their goal of $40 thousand during the WRIR Fall 2013 Fun
Richmond Independent Radio (WRIR) is hosting a number of various bands for in studio performances to help them reach their goal of $40 thousand during the WRIR Fall 2013 Fund Drive.
As a volunteer operated and managed radio station, WRIR depends greatly on the support of their listeners and volunteers.
Marketing director for WRIR, Matt Zoller, said WRIR is a community radio station which needs support from the people it serves.
“Twice a year we turn to our listeners and ask for their financial support to keep the station going on,” Zoller said. “We’re different from other non-profits and certainly different from most broadcasting stations in a different bet hence some programming that we offer wouldn’t be available anywhere else if there weren’t a WRIR.”
About 17 bands were invited to play live in studio performances throughout the fund which started on Oct. 18 and will continue through the month. Iranian-American singer-songwriter Anousheh Khalili will be performing on Sat. Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. in a return performance. Khalili was the first artist to perform live at WRIR when it started in 2005. Performances will range from jazz, rock and folk and everything in-between which is something Zoller says is a distinctive trait of WRIR.
“Generally they [the performers] are invited from the hosts of the programs and in some cases because they know we’re the station to most likely play that kind of offbeat music they come to us and ask us to remember to invite them to the fund drive,” Zoller said. “They really like contributing their time and supporting a station that is likely to play their kind of music.”
WRIR has tried to make donating as simple as possible by offering three ways to donate: by phone, in person and online at the WRIR website. There are also several levels of donation packages which are available from a $25 student level to $365 and over, a-dollar-a-day level. WRIR merchandise is available to all those who commit to a specific level donation amount.
“We have well over a dozen restaurants and cafes who help us feed the volunteers by bringing up meals, lunches and dinner every day,” Zoller said. “We invite people to come in if they want to write us a check and pick up their t-shirt they can also get a nice little meal.”
The WRIR station is located at 1621B W. Broad St. and is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and they invite people to check out the station and the atmosphere as the fund is going on.
“We’re trying to raise $40 thousand and we seem to be pacing pretty well,” Zoller said. “We need to raise funds to keep our station on the air but I’m confident. Richmond has really embraced WRIR and they know that it’s a really special station.”
Come out and support WRIR at their 6th Annual Monster Mashquerade tonight at the Camel.
