WWOZ (FM)

WWOZ (FM) is a noncommercial, community-based radio station broadcasting from New Orleans on 90.7 MHz. Founded in 1980, it is closely associated with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Heritage Festival, and the city's jazz and blues heritage. The station serves as a cultural institution alongside organizations such as the Tipitina's Foundation, the Preservation Hall Foundation, and the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum.

History

WWOZ began broadcasting in 1980 amid the revival of jazz and rhythm and blues scenes that followed the era of figures like Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, and Dizzy Gillespie. Early supporters included volunteers from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and community activists connected to institutions such as Tulane University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and the University of New Orleans. The station weathered crises that affected Hurricane Katrina recovery and collaborated with entities like the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and local municipal authorities during disaster response. WWOZ documented post-Katrina cultural resilience alongside festivals such as the Satchmo SummerFest and the Essence Festival while archiving performances linked to venues including Tipitina's, Preservation Hall, and the Saenger Theatre.

Programming and Formats

Programming emphasizes live and archival performances in genres associated with New Orleans: jazz, blues, Zydeco, Cajun music, gospel music, brass band traditions, and soul music. Shows feature recordings and concert sets from artists connected to labels like Arhoolie Records, Rounder Records, and Ahh... Real Music. Syndicated and local presenters highlight musicians including Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, and The Neville Brothers. The station maintains archives of sessions comparable to collections held by the Smithsonian Institution and collaborates with broadcasters such as National Public Radio and producers linked to BBC Radio. Specialty programs often draw on oral histories from figures associated with the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the Louisiana State Museum, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

Community Engagement and Events

WWOZ organizes and promotes community events in partnership with cultural institutions like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, and neighborhood organizations including the Bywater Neighborhood Association and the Marigny Neighborhood Council. The station supports benefit concerts with venues such as Tipitina's, House of Blues New Orleans, and the Orpheum Theater, and collaborates with non-profits like Second Harvest Food Bank and Lower Nine Arts District initiatives. Educational outreach includes workshops tied to schools such as Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans), Loyola University New Orleans, and community programs modeled after initiatives by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. WWOZ curates live broadcasts from stages at events like the Essence Music Festival and the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.

Facilities and Technical Information

WWOZ transmits from facilities serving the Greater New Orleans area with a signal engineered under Federal Communications Commission standards used by stations such as WRBH and WWNO. The station's studios have hosted remote feeds from venues including Preservation Hall, Tipitina's, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival stages, and employ equipment from manufacturers used widely in public broadcasting. WWOZ archives audio content in formats compatible with repositories like the Library of Congress and collaborates on preservation with academic partners at Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans. Technical upgrades following Hurricane Katrina paralleled infrastructure projects undertaken by Entergy New Orleans and municipal utilities.

Governance and Funding

WWOZ operates under a nonprofit governance model affiliated with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and overseen by a board structure reflecting stakeholders from institutions such as Tulane University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and community leaders who have worked with foundations like the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Funding sources include listener memberships, underwriting from local businesses such as hospitality groups active on Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, event partnerships with festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and grants from arts funders including the National Endowment for the Arts and regional arts councils. Fiscal stewardship follows models used by community broadcasters such as KEXP and WFMU.

Category:Radio stations in New Orleans Category:Community radio stations in the United States