W251AO

{{Infobox radio station

| name = W251AO

| above = Relays WOXL-HD2, Biltmore Forest

| logo = 200px

| city = Asheville, North Carolina

| area = Asheville, North Carolina

| branding = 98.1 The River

| airdate = Oct. 1, 2008

| frequency = 98.1 MHz

| repeater =

| format = Triple-A

| erp = 250 watts

| haat = {{convert|326.1|meters}}

| class = D

| facility_id = 137991

| callsign_meaning =

| former_callsigns =

| affiliations =

| owner = Saga Communications

| licensee = Saga Communications of North Carolina, LLC

| sister_stations = WISE, WOXL-FM, WTMT

| webcast = [https://player.amperwave.net/7894 Listen Live]

| website = [http://981theriver.com 981theriver.com]

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

W251AO, WOXL-HD2, 98.1 the River is a Triple-A{{cite web |url=http://www.triplearadio.com/news/index.php#ashevillesignon |title=Home - Triple a Radio |website=www.triplearadio.com |access-date=2008-10-02}} low-power radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. It is operated by Asheville Radio Group, a subsidiary of Saga Communications, owner of WOXL-FM, WISE and WTMT.Tony Kiss, "New Radio Station on the Air," Asheville Citizen-Times, October 1, 2008. In addition to the over-the-air signal, The River is also heard on WOXL's second HD Radio channel, where it began.

History

Originally, 98.1 was a translator for WISE.{{Cite web |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/Format_RoomPage.aspx?FormatID=13 |title=®R&R; - Radio & Records, Inc |access-date=2008-10-02 |archive-date=2007-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102062522/http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/Format_RoomPage.aspx?FormatID=13 |url-status=bot: unknown }} The River signed on October 1, 2008, with 10,000 songs in a row. Artists include Dave Matthews, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Indigo Girls, R.E.M., U2, Norah Jones and Jack Johnson as well as less familiar performers such as Ray LaMontagne, Sara Bareilles, The John Butler Trio, My Morning Jacket, G. Love & Special Sauce and Ingrid Michaelson.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2008/new_radio_station_geared_toward_asheville_listeners_launches_october_1 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-10-02 |archive-date=2008-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004050253/http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2008/new_radio_station_geared_toward_asheville_listeners_launches_october_1 |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=913225 |title=FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! |access-date=2008-10-02 |archive-date=2008-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004073327/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=913225 |url-status=bot: unknown }}

General manager Bob Bolak described the station as being designed for those who do not like radio. Listeners of The River, he said, want quality music, both old and new. Brad Savage of WCNR in Charlottesville, Virginia acted as consultant. The first songs played were "Take Me to the River" by Talking Heads, "Radio Nowhere" by Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."

References

External links

[http://981theriver.com/ official website]
[https://sagacom.com/stations/ Saga Communications Radio Stations]
{{FCC-LMS-Facility|137991|W251AO}}
{{FXL|W251AO}}

251AO

Category:Adult album alternative radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 2008