WSGE Station of the Year
WSGE 91.7 FM is named the FM Station of the Year for five consecutive years
WSGE 91.7 FM is named the FM Station of the Year by the Carolina Beach Music Awards, for five years in a row. The awards were announced on Sunday, November 10, during the 2019 CBMA Weekend in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. WSGE is the non-commercial public radio station that broadcasts from its studio on the Dallas Campus of Gaston College.
This marks the sixth time that WSGE 91.7 FM has won this award, with 2019 as the fifth consecutive year for the honor. The station, which bills itself as “Your Independent Music Source,” had previously won the award in 2011.
“Carolina Beach Party,” hosted by longtime WSGE Beach and Shag deejay John Barkley (also known as Johnny B), was named the Internet Radio Show of the Year for 2019. Johnny B has been with WSGE for 25 years and is consistently named the Deejay of the Year by the station’s volunteers and professional staff. In addition to Johnny B, WSGE volunteer staff members David Dodd, Sandy
Hamilton, Jim Shafer, Angelia Skidmore, Scott Smith, and Lamar Walker attended the CBMA Weekend. All are Beach and Shag deejays with the station.
“WSGE is still the best beach, shag, and soul music source for weekend listeners,” said Hamilton. “The public can call our ‘live’ deejays and request their favorite song. We have listeners who call just to say ‘Hi,’ to let us know what a great job we are doing, and to tell us to keep up the great music. The deejays remain loyal to the listeners and that makes WSGE a distinctive and distinguished radio
station. Being named the CBMA FM Station of the Year five times in a row was awesome, and I was proud and happy to be at the ceremony in Myrtle Beach for the past three wins to celebrate with my colleagues.”
“Once again, our dedicated volunteer beach deejays and their love of beach and shag music made it possible for us to win this award,” said Cathis Hall, WSGE Station Manager. “We are very proud to be recognized for this honor for the fifth consecutive year. I also want to thank our listeners for their continued support of our beach and shag music programming.”
WSGE is a volunteer-driven station that operates 24 hours a day. It derives its financial support through state funds from its affiliation with Gaston College, listener contributions, and corporate sponsorship and underwriting. Funds raised go toward operating expenses, including the costs associated with being an NPR affiliate. The station’s year-end fundraising/membership drive will run from December 3 through 10. To support the station, visit the WSGE website at www.wsge.org and click on Donate Now.
For more information about WSGE 91.7 FM, contact Cathis Hall at 704-922-6552 or
hall.cathis@gaston.edu.
About WSGE 91.7
The mission of WSGE is to provide distinctive music and informational
programming designed to stimulate, educate and entertain. The station’s slogan,
“Your Independent Music Source, WSGE 91.7,” reflects the fact that WSGE is unlike
commercial stations that are owned by a corporate entity.
WSGE’s eclectic music programming supports local and independent artists and
musicians and includes Alternative Country, Folk, Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rhythm &
Blues, Gospel, and Jazz, in addition to Beach Music. The station also offers original
programming like “The R&B House Party,” “The Independent Artist Spotlight,” and
“The Roundtable Sunday Edition.” WSGE has been named the “FM Station of the
Year” at the Carolina Beach Music Awards in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
WSGE is a 7,500-watt radio station with a broadcast signal that can be heard in 10
counties. Since it went on the air in 1980, the station’s audience has grown to over
22,000 listeners every week, according to the Nielsen ratings data. Online
streaming reaches listeners throughout the U.S. and in Canada, Mexico, the United
Kingdom, Germany, Taiwan, and many other countries.
Gaston College radio WSGE 91.7 FM is the recipient of the Carolina Beach Music Awards (CBMA) 2019 FM Radio Station of the Year Award. This is the fifth consecutive year the station has received this award. Congratulations to Beach/Shag volunteer radio personalities Curtis Treece, Sandy Hamilton, John Barkley. (Second row, L-R) David Dodd, Phil Kistler, and Joe Mays.
WSGE 91.7 FM Beach/Shag volunteer DJ’s stand proudly in the
radio broadcast studio area in the Craig Arts and Science Building on the Gaston
College Dallas campus, (L-R) John Barkley, Sandy Hamilton, Phil Kistler, David
Dodd, Joe Mays, and Curtis Treece.
