History

WUAG first took to the airwaves on July 6, 1964, for its first test broadcast at 89.9 MHz, a frequency that had been abandoned by Grimsley High School in Greensboro. This new radio station aired a mix of classical music, news, and educational programming with a measly ten watts of power. The station was not initially a student enterprise and was operated by the Department of Radio and Television (now known as the Media Studies department). On September 21, 1964, the station began regular operations. 

The University handed control of the initial FM frequency to students and WUAG became UNCG’s student-run radio station in September 1973. The station emphasized contemporary rock, jazz, and folk music with the musical format being described as “progressive rock.” The first general manager of this new station was Gary Kofinas, an undergraduate student from Charlotte, North Carolina.  

FCC regulations allowed the station to continue broadcasting at a new frequency, 106.1 MHz, provided there was no impact on any existing commercial broadcaster and no power increase. Promotional announcements beginning in 1981 announced the frequency change with a new brand: “The Music 106.” 

At about this same time, WUAG entered into an agreement with the Department of Broadcasting and Cinema (now known as the Media Studies department) which essentially made it a semiautonomous part of the department. The arrangement provided funding for the station and permitted it to host internships but also allowed it to keep focused on its mission of providing alternative music programming featuring a mix of local and emerging artists such as R.E.M., Lets Active, and the Violent Femmes. 

At the same time, the station strove for a more “professional” sound than some college stations, emphasizing a new level of musical consistency, news and sports programming, 24-hour broadcasting, and staying on the air during breaks and holidays. A 1983 ratings report stated that WUAG was the Triad’s top noncommercial station and was actually outperforming several area commercial stations even with its power constraints. 

Another benefit of the partnership resulted in the station’s 1984 move from its home in the Elliott University Center to new facilities in the Taylor Building, which provided expanded news, production, and office space. Program Director Duncan Brown initiated the first broadcast from the new studios on Saturday, February 4, 1984, by playing the new song “New Toy” by Lene Lovich. 

Interference with stations in Raleigh and Salisbury had necessitated another frequency shift, this time to 103.1 MHz. In 1994, the station also began publishing the Dead City Radio zine, profiling alternative musicians like Polvo and Superchunk. By the late 1990s, WUAG was online with a streaming audio signal that could be heard worldwide and was also sponsoring local music events and releasing local music compilations on CD.  

For most of its history, WUAG had been managed by student employees, some of whom were paid a small salary or stipend. In 2003, Jack Bonney, a former student worker, was hired as the station’s first full-time general manager, ushering in a new era of stability for the station.  

In 2007, WUAG DJ Johnny Walker broke the Guinness World Record for longest single DJ on-air broadcast without breaks. The previous record was 125 hours. He aimed to hit 175 hours on air, which is the equivalent of 8 days straight. He claimed caffeine, vitamins, and a well-balanced diet helped him in this process. He recalled fans as far as Ireland and Belgium calling into the station to express support.

Bonney’s position was eliminated due to state budget cuts in 2011, shortly after the station moved to its current home in the renovated Brown Building, which was also home to the Media Studies department. Jack Bonney worked to bring the radio station out of obscurity and into the mainstream North Carolina music scene. In his time at the station, he put together five, if not more, compilation CDs of local Greensboro artists and booked over 100 live shows in Greensboro. 

As of 2014, WUAG is once again a student-run radio station, although a close relationship with Media Studies continues. 

Photo of an unidentified musical group in front of a building on The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s campus. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

Photo of student staff in the WUAG studios in Elliott University Center Caption on reverse lists Tim Clever, Donna Alderman, Meral Ozerengin, Mark Gentry, and Bonnie Davis. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

Candid photo of Stan Brown on the phone in the WUAG studios in Elliott University Center. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

Photo of Meral Ozerengin operating equipment in WUAG studios in the Taylor Building on The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s campus. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

September 2, 1982 issue of The Carolinian featuring an interview with Neil Matson, new WUAG Station Manager. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

Candid photo of Laura Odom, News Director, in WUAG studios in Elliott University Center. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

Candid photo of Stan Brown in WUAG studios in the Taylor Building on The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s campus. Image courtesy of UNCG Gateway.

Collection of WUAG merch circa 2000s.

WUAG Presents series musical performance circa 2000s.

WUAG DJs in the studio circa 2000s.

WUAG studios circa 2000s.

Want to learn more? Here are some interesting sources:

UNCG Gateway Collections – WUAG Archive

WUAG Tales from the University Archives

“The Past and Present of College Radio and WUAG” by BJ Attarian (1996)

Once a part of WUAG and want to share some more history? Read something here that might be incorrect or needs changing? Have some cool WUAG pictures or documents from the past? Contact the Social Media Director to share.