It is a sad day for us that have been part of community radio at 88.3 WQNA FM. Yesterday, the plug was pulled on the station which had ran on the air for over 40 years since 1979 after a bid was made by a Catholic radio group and accepted by CACC. However, fundraising efforts for community radio are continuing and not all hope is lost. Here is the official post yesterday from the WQNA 88.3 facebook page:
As of noon today, CACC finalized the sale of the WQNA 88.3 FM license to Covenant Network, a Network with two existing subsidiaries in Springfield radio, and shortly after, WQNA fell silent.
While we knew this was coming in some form or fashion, none of us have had a chance to do a final sign-off or say goodbye to WQNA and the loyal audience we all share.
BUT we want to make sure that everyone is aware that beyond being taken off-air, nothing has changed regarding fundraising efforts led by the Springfield Community Broadcasters, the non-profit that is working to keep community radio alive in Springfield.
WE ARE IN PROCESS OF ACQUIRING ANOTHER LICENSE.
We can’t share all the details, but this is a another real avenue to keep the broadcasters and programming from WQNA alive on another FM frequency, and we will keep you updated as much as possible in the coming weeks.
We have lost this battle, but the war continues. The benefit at Buzz Bomb is still going. The benefit at Dumb Records is still on. Same with the show at the Alamo. The Go Fund Me is still active. Nothing has changed beyond this bump in the road.
We are not dead, and rumors of our demise have been oft exaggerated.
Please share this far and wide, and let’s keep working to save community radio!!!!
A link to donate to the ongoing GoFundMe campaign can be found right here. Dumb Records as well as Recycled Records and The Elf Shelf continue to be drop off points for check or cash donations. Over $10,000 at this point has been raised to go towards the cause of continuing community radio. Tomorrow (Thursday) at 7:00 pm is the fundraiser / benefit at Buzz Bomb Brewery not far from us downtown. You can find a facebook event with more info right here. We will also be hosting a benefit show at Dumb Records on Friday, December 13th which we will announce details for tomorrow.
An article ran in the City & State section of The State Journal Register about the sale of the station. “WQNA-FM sold to Catholic Radio Group; Signal Goes Silent” – which you can check out online right here or by picking up a copy of today’s (Wednesday’s) newspaper.
Dumb Records 