Challenges, trials, trauma. The past year held those things. But there were bright spots—like the birth of a new radio station for Memphis, WYXR.
Looking back at what WYXR brought us over the past twelve months, their mission let us know what they would be about.
WYXR mission: To provide a musical, cultural and artistic platform that represents and informs the people of Memphis, in all our diverse and unvarnished glory.
And in just a year, they’ve made huge inroads toward the big aspirations of this mission.
They’ve informed us, bringing us local (kudos to the Daily Memphian) and national news, political discussions, and conversations specific to the culture and concerns of Memphis.
They’ve entertained us for sure, with everything from hiphop to Latinx dance music, from reggae to jazz, gospel to rockabilly, bringing us such a variety of sounds that you’re bound to find what you already love and what you’ll fall in love with next.
Make sure to tune in to WYXR because you never know when a legend like Al Kapone might stop by and hop on the 1s and 2s.
They’ve inspired us, bringing Bishop Phoebe Roaf to the air with her Faithfully Memphis show and The Mystic from Church Health, and the beloved Pastor Shipp, bringing music from his D-Vine Spirituals gospel music and sermons label from the 1970s along with highlights from new talent as well.
And while they’ve given us talk, music, and news, they’ve also created community, setting up their table in the atrium of the Crosstown Concourse, inviting folks to visit and peek in the window at the DJ booth, hosting small sessions for new artists at their new Headquarters in the Concourse (just down the hall from FedEx and Mempops) and hosting listening parties at the new Memphis Listening Lab.
Six of WYXR’s DJs performed in the Whatever dome at Mempho this past weekend—but if you didn’t get to see stars like DJ Alpha Whiskey and Mado in person, you can find their shows at WYXR.org
Next week they’ll host their second pledge drive. After all, having great non-profit community radio means that you get to hear independent sounds from independent DJs, but it also means that we’ve all got to chip in to support what we love. Listen in starting this Saturday 10/9, for DJ collabs, live music shows, and more of that community-driven magic we’ve already come to know and love.
