WXRV
Encyclopedia
WXRG redirects here, for the station in New Hampshire that previously held those calls, see this page
WXRV (The River 92.5 FM) is an Adult album alternative
radio station based in Andover, Massachusetts
, with a signal covering most of northeast Massachusetts
and southern New Hampshire
, and audible as far away as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Originating in 1947 as WHAV, Haverhill's local AM station, an FM station was founded in 1948, but went dark in the early 1950s. The FM station was restored to its current position on the FM dial in 1959, and WLYT (Lite 92.5) in 1982 and gained its current identity as WXRV in 1995, presumably taking the River moniker from the nearby Merrimack River
(though with its wider reach it as often as not uses Boston's Charles River
for publicity purposes). Despite the station's transmitter location, WXRV attempts to primarily serve the large Greater Boston
area. The studios are still located in Haverhill, MA in the original art deco building.
The current station inherited a facility on the top floor of its studio now called the River Music Hall, which was designed for broadcasting live performances in the pre-rock era, and is used today to broadcast live performances and to record performances for later broadcast.
The station's slogan is "Independent Radio
", proclaiming its status as being a single station separate from the large mass-media conglomerates such as Clear Channel Communications
and CBS Radio
with freedom from the idea of corporate playlists and national content. This enables WXRV to play a very wide variety of music, ranging from blues
and folk
to contemporary alternative
and classic rock, as well as songs from numerous local musicians and lesser-known musical acts.
In 2007, their transmitter began using solar power
, making it one of the few such powered radio stations in the world. However, it is unclear what percentage of solar power the station uses.
Starting in 2001 the River began its Riverfest Festival each summer. It is held in Newburyport Massachusetts
and has had performers such as Matt Nathanson
, Eric Hutchinson
, Fastball
and the Sam Roberts Band appear.
s on WLKC 105.7, licensed to Campton, New Hampshire
.
In the northwest part of Central Massachusetts
WXRV simulcasts on WXRG 99.9, licensed to Athol, Massachusetts
. The signal for WXRG can also be heard in parts of Franklin County, Massachusetts
as well as southern New Hampshire
and southern Vermont
.
WNYN-FM
WNYN-FM is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits format. Transmitting from Whitefield, New Hampshire and with offices in Littleton, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Northeast Kingdom and Northern New Hampshire area. The station is currently owned by White Park Broadcasting,...
WXRV (The River 92.5 FM) is an Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
radio station based in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
, with a signal covering most of northeast Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and southern New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, and audible as far away as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Originating in 1947 as WHAV, Haverhill's local AM station, an FM station was founded in 1948, but went dark in the early 1950s. The FM station was restored to its current position on the FM dial in 1959, and WLYT (Lite 92.5) in 1982 and gained its current identity as WXRV in 1995, presumably taking the River moniker from the nearby Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
(though with its wider reach it as often as not uses Boston's Charles River
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
for publicity purposes). Despite the station's transmitter location, WXRV attempts to primarily serve the large Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
area. The studios are still located in Haverhill, MA in the original art deco building.
The current station inherited a facility on the top floor of its studio now called the River Music Hall, which was designed for broadcasting live performances in the pre-rock era, and is used today to broadcast live performances and to record performances for later broadcast.
The station's slogan is "Independent Radio
Independent Radio
Independent radio indicates a radio station that is run in a manner different from usual for the country it broadcasts in. In countries where there exist government-run radio stations that served as the primary or only the variety of licensed broadcaster, the term independent radio generally means...
", proclaiming its status as being a single station separate from the large mass-media conglomerates such as Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
with freedom from the idea of corporate playlists and national content. This enables WXRV to play a very wide variety of music, ranging from blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
to contemporary alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and classic rock, as well as songs from numerous local musicians and lesser-known musical acts.
In 2007, their transmitter began using solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
, making it one of the few such powered radio stations in the world. However, it is unclear what percentage of solar power the station uses.
Starting in 2001 the River began its Riverfest Festival each summer. It is held in Newburyport Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and has had performers such as Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. His work includes the platinum-selling song "Come On Get Higher".-Early life and college...
, Eric Hutchinson
Eric Hutchinson
Eric Hutchinson is an American singer-songwriter. He signed with Madonna's Maverick Records, but the label shut down before his album was released. Hutchinson recorded and released the album Sounds Like This on his own...
, Fastball
Fastball (band)
Fastball is an American rock band that formed in Austin, Texas in the 1990s. The band originally called themselves "Magneto U.S.A." but changed their name after signing with Hollywood Records....
and the Sam Roberts Band appear.
Simulcast
In northern New Hampshire WXRV simulcastSimulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
s on WLKC 105.7, licensed to Campton, New Hampshire
Campton, New Hampshire
Campton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,333 at the 2010 census. Campton, which includes the villages of Blair, Campton Hollow, Lower Campton and West Campton, is home to Blair State Forest and Livermore Falls State Forest...
.
In the northwest part of Central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts is the geographically central region of Massachusetts. Though definitions vary, most include all of Worcester County and the northwest corner of Middlesex County. Worcester, the largest city in the area and the seat of Worcester County, is often considered the cultural capital...
WXRV simulcasts on WXRG 99.9, licensed to Athol, Massachusetts
Athol, Massachusetts
Athol is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,584 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally called Pequoiag, the area was first settled by five families in September 1735. When the township was incorporated in 1762, the name was changed to Athol...
. The signal for WXRG can also be heard in parts of Franklin County, Massachusetts
Franklin County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
as well as southern New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and southern Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Notable personalities
- Michelle Briand
- Rita Cary
- Irene Collins
- AJ Crozby
- Lisa Garvey
- Bob Stuart