Frequency 90.5 MHz Format College | First air date 1933 ERP 225 watts | |
City Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Slogan The Voice of Bucknell University | ||
WVBU-FM (90.5 FM) is a college radio station broadcasting a free radio format. Licensed to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, the station is currently owned by Bucknell University. WVBU calls itself “The Voice of Bucknell University”, and is Bucknell’s only student-run radio station. While the station predominantly plays a format of modern and alternative rock, there are a number specialty shows as well. These include such genres as classical, jazz, and classical rock. In addition to its musical content, WVBU issues public service announcements and relevant news, such as information about Bison Athletics, to Bucknell’s campus and the Lewisburg community. A remote services division of WVBU plays music for on-campus entertainment.
The current station manager is Tom Ciccotta.
History
In 1933, the original Bucknell Campus Radio Station was sold to a C.S. Blue in Northumberland. However, in 1948 Stanley C. Marshall, Alice Z. Marshall, and Paul N. Bosted successfully reclaimed the station. Early plans indicate that WVBU members believed the station could reach a potential audience of a quarter million people in the Montour, Northumberland, Lycoming, Union, and Snyder counties. After considering both AM and FM broadcasting options, the station initially settled on the AM frequency. However, the AM line eventually became a closed circuit only to be used within the Bucknell community. In response to listener concerns and requests, WVBU switched to FM broadcasting on March 1, 1963.
In the mid 1970's WVBU's AM and FM studios were located in the Quad basement Fallout Shelter. The stations had fallen into disarray until a major revitalization was undertaken by Tom Morrell (manager), Terry Ginn ( FM program director) Paul " The round mound of sound " Hill, Brad Joblin (am program directors) and Rick Ambrose & John Cox, Music Directors. Ambrose completely restored the album library by securing promotional status from all the major record labels. In a three year period more than 10,000 laps were replaced or added. The FM station format went 24 progressive album rock while the closed circuit AM was Top 40.
Ambrose also establish The Intercollegiate Broadcasting Network where major artists would be interviewed and a 90 minute taped special created. Participating college radio stations across the country would get copies in exchange for a blank reel tape and postage. Some of the artists interviewed - who also made call tags for the station- included Elton John, George Harrison, Alice Cooper, John Entwistle of the Who, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Yes, and Rick Wakeman.
Ginn, Morrell Cox and Ambrose also invigorated the Bucknell Concert Committee booking Loggins & Messina, Billy Joel, Marshall Tucker and Bruce Springsteen the very weekend he graced the covers of Time as well as Newsweek magazine. Although Aerosmith has also been scheduled in 1976 the administration deemed them " too loud " and cancelled the date.
On March 21, 1980, the station received an ABS Congress approval to fund the necessary equipment to convert from 10 to 190 watts. ABS Congress granted WVBU twenty-two thousand dollars, allowing it to comply with an FCC order that all 10 watt stations either up their power to 100 watts or go off air entirely. This endowment provided the means for the station to continue its operations, and ultimately helped get WVBU to where it currently stands today.
In 2016, WVBU moved to a new location in Stuck House, which is located on the 7th street entry street onto Bucknell's main campus.