WVMD
Encyclopedia
WVMD is a Country
formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Midland, Maryland
, serving the Frostburg
/Cumberland
area. WVMD is owned and operated by West Virginia Radio Corporation
.
format on April 1, 2008 at 12:00 midnight. Later that afternoon, a man named "Stu" claimed to have broken into and taken the radio station "hostage", playing only Country
and demanding that the owner of the station bring back the John Boy and Billy
show. John Boy and Billy had previously aired on WQZK, then an active rock
station, which West Virginia Radio Corporation purchased in December 2006 and subsequently changed the format to Contemporary Hit Radio
.
On the afternoon of April 2, it was announced that the smooth jazz format and the man named "Stu" were part of an April Fools' Day
joke and that the station would in fact, be carrying a country music format.
The 99.5 frequency was previously home to a translator of Cumberland
area radio station WCBC-FM
.
Locally produced "Sunday Morning Bluegrass", which was previously heard on WROG, moved to WVMD on September 7th, 2008.
and the station's main signal has trouble reaching Downtown Cumberland
.
As such, West Virginia Radio Corporation has applied for an FM booster, WVMD-1, to be located in Cumberland. The booster's antenna will be located off Virginia Avenue, near Queen Street near the center of the city. This central location will allow the booster to provide complete coverage of Cumberland.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Midland, Maryland
Midland, Maryland
Midland is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 473 at the 2000 census....
, serving the Frostburg
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
/Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
area. WVMD is owned and operated by West Virginia Radio Corporation
West Virginia Radio Corporation
West Virginia Radio Corporation or WVRC is a media corporation comprising exclusively radio stations and two radio networks based in the state of West Virginia.The company is controlled by Greer Industries, and the Greer Family.-Radio markets:...
.
History
WVMD was scheduled to come on the air sometime in early 2007, but finally launched with a smooth jazzSmooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
format on April 1, 2008 at 12:00 midnight. Later that afternoon, a man named "Stu" claimed to have broken into and taken the radio station "hostage", playing only Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and demanding that the owner of the station bring back the John Boy and Billy
John Boy and Billy
John Isley and Billy James, known as John Boy & Billy, named after "John-Boy Harris and brother Bross Harris", are American radio hosts based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their comedic morning program The John Boy & Billy Big Show broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m...
show. John Boy and Billy had previously aired on WQZK, then an active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
station, which West Virginia Radio Corporation purchased in December 2006 and subsequently changed the format to Contemporary Hit Radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
.
On the afternoon of April 2, it was announced that the smooth jazz format and the man named "Stu" were part of an April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
joke and that the station would in fact, be carrying a country music format.
The 99.5 frequency was previously home to a translator of Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
area radio station WCBC-FM
WCBC-FM
WCBC-FM is an Oldies/Classic Rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Keyser, West Virginia, serving the Cumberland/Frostburg "metro" area. WCBC-FM is owned and operated by Cumberland Broadcasting Corporation.-History:...
.
Locally produced "Sunday Morning Bluegrass", which was previously heard on WROG, moved to WVMD on September 7th, 2008.
Transmission
WVMD's transmitter is located near FrostburgFrostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
and the station's main signal has trouble reaching Downtown Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
.
As such, West Virginia Radio Corporation has applied for an FM booster, WVMD-1, to be located in Cumberland. The booster's antenna will be located off Virginia Avenue, near Queen Street near the center of the city. This central location will allow the booster to provide complete coverage of Cumberland.