As a strong fund-raising push continues to keep the popular Vineyard radio station WMVY on the air, the Federal Communications Commission Thursday approved the transfer of the station’s 92.7 FM radio signal to Boston radio station WBUR. The MVY radio fund-raising effort is now at 80 per cent of its $600,000 goal, and has drawn support from 48 states and 14 countries.
More than a week after radio station WMVY sold its signal to a Boston public radio station, Friends of MVY was busy fundraising to keep the station going as a nonprofit, as it continued to look into acquiring a new FM signal.
One potential signal could come from a newly-licensed Island-based startup owned by Dennis Jackson, a seasonal resident.
I was worried. What had I gotten myself into? I was moving to Martha’s Vineyard to become a deejay on WMVY. I knew about WMVY. I knew its prestigious standing within the radio world. I knew that joining their staff would be a big professional leap for me. But something I heard on the air immediately told me that I was going to fit in just fine.
As co-chairmen of the Red Stocking Fund of Martha’s Vineyard, we are distressed to learn of the recent sale of WMVY. Greg Orcutt and the entire staff at WMVY have been stalwart supporters of Red Stocking’s efforts to provide food and clothing to Vineyard children and their families. For over a decade, the radio station has been a willing and able sponsor of both the annual chowder contest and of the chili fest. These are two of our three major fundraisers each year and account for almost half of our over $75,000 budget. WMVY has assured us that this year’s fundraisers will happen as planned. However, there is no guarantee beyond this year. This fact will present Red Stocking with a real challenge in the future to continue providing the level of service that our children need. This is one example of WMVY’s being truly an integral part of Island life. Unfortunately, a hole has now been torn in the fabric of the Vineyard community.
As the news raced around the Island Tuesday that its signal would be sold, WMVY launched an ambitious fund-raising drive to stay online and on the air.
“This is real. We must evolve. Or face extinction,” an announcement on the station’s website declared.
Radio station WMVY, the popular independent local station that has been on the air on the Vineyard for nearly three decades, will sell its broadcast signal 92.7 FM to WBUR, the well-known National Public Radio station in Boston.