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WNRN has been a mainstay in Charlottesville since 1996. I recall discovering the station on a Saturday morning back then during their Grateful Dead show - two hours of live dead. It was love at first listen.
Years later I moved to Charlottesville and listened on a regular basis. I found out that NRN plays much more than the Dead. They play about everything you can imagine from acoustic to alternative to hip hop to 80s to bluegrass - music you won’t hear on commercial radio.
And that’s the other great thing about NRN - they don’t play commercials. They are listener-supported. Twice a year they do on-air fund drives. I started donating a few years ago, but this summer I signed up for their evergreen program. I donate 5 dollars a month for as long as I want. It’s a simple way to give. It’s also a simple way to get cool things too.
NRN has a VIP program for evergreen and other regular members. Every Monday we receive an email with an opportunity to win prizes or be included in special private events. Through the VIP program since Labor Day, I’ve seen Delta Spirit play a catered private show, had lunch with The Head and The Heart, and take my family for a catered dinner at First Colony Winery with a performance for kids by a local duo, Tom and Mary. I also won tickets to see Kings of a Belmont play at The Southern. I repeat - all since Labor Day and all for 5 bucks a month.
NRN is the best radio station that I’ve ever regularly listened to. That alone deserved my donation. Now they’ve raised the bar. Their staff and volunteers have done a wonderful job with these VIP events and giveaways. I plan to increase my donation and if you listen to NRN you should become a VIP member. If you haven’t listened to NRN before now is a good time. The Grateful Dead and Phriends show kicks off at 9 this morning.