MVY's Jess Phaneuf, Alison Hammond, Mike Gilman, Barbara Dacey, Bill Narkiewicz, Marianna Cibulasova, Alby Rose and Greg Orcutt celebrate.
Peter Simon

WMVY Reaches Fundraising Goal; Station's Future Assured for Year

Sara Brown
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Radio station WMVY will continue after reaching its fundraising goal Friday evening, one day before the deadline.

Radio station WMVY, the popular Vineyard station that was in danger of going silent after an NPR station purchased its signal, will continue on after reaching its fundraising goal Friday evening, one day before the deadline.

“We made our goal,” director of programming Barbara Dacey told the Gazette from the Vineyard Haven radio station Friday evening. “We’re pretty excited.”

Ms. Dacey and Alison Hammond announced the achievement on the air at about 4:20 Friday afternoon, highlighting the 3,715 pledges received. Ms. Hammond started crying, and the station played some Barry Manilow: Looks Like We Made It.

“It was very, very happy and we’re very thankful to all the people that made it possible,” Ms. Dacey said.

A Facebook post announcing the achievement had 306 “likes” an hour and a half later.

Friday marked 59 days since the time Boston radio station WBUR purchased WMVY’s 92.7 signal and the station launched a fundraising effort to stay on-air: $600,000 in 60 days.

Pledges will fund station operation including salaries, programming and administrative costs for a year so the station can continue as an online presence, operated by the nonprofit organization Friends of mvy.

WMVY’s owner, Aritaur Communications, sold the signal for a reported $715,000, and has said it will transfer all other assets to the nonprofit organization.

The fundraising effort got off to a quick start and never really lost momentum, fueled by pleas from national and local musicians to save the station. Singer Carly Simon took out a full-page ad in the Gazette on the station’s behalf, and Bonnie Raitt recorded an interview about how much the station means to her and other musicians. The campaign attracted national press coverage in the New York Times.

The fundraising effort showed the station’s wide appeal: donations came in from 15 countries and, as of Thursday night, all 50 states. (North Dakota was the remaining holdout; Ryan from Fargo corrected that with a pledge.)

The station continues to search for a new FM signal so that it can continue on the airwaves in addition to online. And on Jan. 17, the Federal Communications Commission approved the transfer of the license to WBUR. While it isn’t yet clear when WBUR will start broadcasting on 92.7, it could be soon.

But with the pledge drive complete, the station has ensured survival in some form or another. And beyond the money, the pledge drive has confirmed that the station has a vital role in listeners’ lives, general manager Greg Orcutt told the Gazette.

“It’s been a very nice experience,” he said. “You don’t always get a chance to find out how much people appreciate you.”

A celebration is already in place on Saturday, when the station’s annual Big Chili Contest, a popular (and often sold-out) competition that is a fundraiser for the Red Stocking Fund, takes place.



 

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 19:06

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Elaine Phaneuf Bridgewater MA.

your music and the people who choose and play it is certainly appreciated....what an accomplishment 600,ooo in 59 days ! Congratulations! :)

George Stein Edgartown, MA

Good luck on generating ad revenue. You can't count on every pledge to hold true. Fundraising will become part of the daily programming apparently. See you at the Chili event !

David Exeter, RI

Hi,

Kudos + congradulations to you all, at WMVY. You did it along with we MVY supporters/fans. It is great news indeed! It is a relief that you will continue to operate. Let's hope that you can find a new FM signal, and a better, stronger one, with the hopes of more MVY fans.
Live on MVY, live on!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 20:05

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Colleen Waltham

This is soooo wonderful. It looked grim back when we first got the news, but we all pulled through and got it done. Champagne cheers back to all of you.

David Exeter, RI

Yup, it is wonderful news, indeed. It is a relief that they've raised $600K in pledges. I hope that all of them are completed and collected so MVY can continue onward. Let's hope that MVY can find a new spot on the FM dial with a strong signal for southern Mass. & RI too. Best wishes and regards to the MVY staff with my congratulations once again.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 21:13

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A believer Chill ark

I am sorry that George is such a pessimist. perhaps times have changed for some since they pledged, and they may not ybe able to make good on their pledge, I am sure that ther e are others who will make good onit. This is community is clearly dedicated to keeping MVY. Of course we may have to continue to support the station, is that too high a price to pay to have our own radio station? I hope not.

Congratulations to the staff and the community for making this work!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 23:00

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Laura Middletown, RI

Many of us in Newport County are proud to call WMVY our station, too. Looking forward to the continuation of live-streaming, but even more so to a new frequency. Don't forget us when you're shopping around!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 00:50

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Peter Simon Chilmark

2013 is off to a great start, so it seems. Economic stats are broadly up. Obama's inauguration speech was stirring. Our 3 snows have been highly photogenic. And now this heartening development! The Vineyard showing its true community spirit to the max. Personally, I now listen to radio via my cell phone apps nearly 90% of the time. Terrestrial radio technology will sound very 8 track like within 3 years. Ride that tide and go with the flow! Congrats to one and all, a job well done!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 06:50

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Maribeth Vineyard Haven

Wow! So happy that MVY reached it's financial goal, although I am not surprised in the least, the MVY faithful have come thru! Should be an excellent chili contest/celebration, it is a happy day!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 07:47

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Tricia Nelson Mahahual, Mexico

After being a fan of MVY for 25 years, we moved off Cape 3 years ago but have been able to stay connected thru this wonderful station via the web. The DJ's and the mix of music can't be beat....don't know what I would've done without 'em!! Congratulations, MVY...!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 10:46

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Ruth Edgartown

I am THRILLED! But also a little sad because I won't be able to set my radio alarm to wake me up with Laurel...and she starts my day off right EVERY day. Any suggestions?? Meanwhile I'll keep praying that you get BACK on the air in LESS than a year. Thanks for all you do.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/30/2013 - 18:55

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David Exeter RI

Kudos. Long live MVY radio, with hopes that it has a long life beyond 2013 with a new FM frequency (and a stronger one to boot) in the weeks ahead. Long live MVY. Rock on!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 13:01

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Laura Hammond Cambridge, MA

I'm so proud & over the moon for my sister, Alison & her people for pulling this off!!!! 11th hour.wow. no fears for the new year & many more to come! Congrats All

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 16:49

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Christine Waltham

Congratulations, MVY! I hope you acquire a new FM signal soon, because when we visit the Island we love listening to you on our car radio! As we approach the Bourne Bridge, we pick up the signal and switch to 92.7!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 16:56

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Randy Rompola Granger, Indiana

Outstanding. Simply Outstanding.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 18:04

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David R White The Yard, Chilmark

I can't tell you how happy everyone at The Yard is to see WMVY resurgent. As an organization, we've been there. In any case, while Dance on the Radio seems improbable (although not impossible - I did a couple of commentaries for New York's WNYC a number of years back using dance as a social lens), we consider WMVY family. And now playing all our behalf in the online ether.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/27/2013 - 13:13

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Shelley Oak Bluffs

What an inspiring achievement. Will we get a heads up about the final day/hour of broadcasting?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/27/2013 - 17:04

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Mike Robinson New Joisey

Congrats to you and a relief to all of us who appreciate you. I found out today while packing for a biz trip to San Diego (you're coming with me). Now going to check whether my company will do the matching gift thing for MVY.

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