WXRI is a 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...

  broadcasting a Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

 format. Licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...

, USA, the station serves the Piedmont Triad area. The station is currently owned by Positive Alternative Radio and features programing from Salem Communications

Salem Communications

Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....

. Sister stations include WTJY

WTJY

WTJY is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Asheboro, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Positive Alternative Radio, Inc. and features programing from Salem Communications....

 89.5 FM in Asheboro, North Carolina

Asheboro, North Carolina

Asheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County, and is the home of the state-owned North Carolina Zoo.-Geography:...

, WPIR

WPIR

WPIR is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Hickory, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Positive Alternative Radio, Inc.The station uses the identifier of "Joy FM"...

 88.1 FM in Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...

, and WTTX-FM

WTTX-FM

WTTX-FM is a Southern Gospel formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Appomattox, Virginia, serving Appomattox and Appomattox County, Virginia. WTTX-FM is owned and operated by Baker Family Stations under the Non-Profit Organization Positive Alternative Radio Inc...

 in Appomattox, Virginia

Appomattox, Virginia

Appomattox is a town in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,761 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Appomattox County.Appomattox is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

. These stations are part of the Positive Alternative Radio network.

History

In Spring 1997, WXRI signed on in East Bend

East Bend, North Carolina

East Bend is a town in northeastern Yadkin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 659 at the 2000 census. It is a Piedmont Triad community.-Geography:East Bend is located at ....

, playing such artists as The Perrys

The Perrys

The Perrys are a professional Southern Gospel quartet based in Gallatin, Tennessee. The group formed on December 25, 1970 with Randy Perry and his sisters Debbie and Libbi in Georgia. In the mid 1980s, the group signed with former pianist for the Happy Goodman Family, Eddie Crook on his Morning...

 and The Gaithers

In 1999 and 2000, JoyFM of Winston-Salem, also heard on WPIR in 1999 and WTJY by 2000, was named National Southern Gospel Station of the Year by the Southern Gospel Music Association

Southern Gospel Music Association

The Southern Gospel Music Association is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues...

.