Description
WDVX is a listener-supported community radio station that promotes, preserves, and plays an eclectic mix of un-presented and under-represented music. We reach a diverse local and international audience to raise awareness of our southern Appalachian region and its rich musical heritage.
WDVX entertains, educates, engages, informs and energizes its growing and responsive audience by offering and producing quality, commercial-free regionally focused musical, cultural and educational programming. WDVX promotes regional musicians, writers and other artists by providing opportunities to perform live and on the air, by regularly broadcasting a local performance calendar and by sponsoring and co-sponsoring community music and arts events.
The WDVX Blue Plate Special began in 1997; the same year WDVX started broadcasting from a 14-foot camper in Norris, Tenn. In late summer of 2004, WDVX brought back the rich tradition of downtown Knoxville midday live radio shows by producing the WDVX Blue Plate Special in front of a live studio audience from our new home in the Knoxville Visitor's Center at One Vision Plaza. The show remains free and open to the public. Attendance at the Blue Plate Special topped 20,000 in 2008, with an additional estimated 500,000 online and radio listeners worldwide. On January 2, 2009, The Blue Plate Special began broadcasting from The Square Room, a venue with a capacity of 450, to accommodate the growing audience. The Blue Plate Special is staffed with one contract producer and archivist intern, as well as an unpaid volunteer intern and an average of 2 additional volunteers per performance.
The WDVX Blue Plate Special has grown into a signature Knoxville attraction and live music destination. The WDVX Blue Plate Special showcases performances from local and national artists who represent WDVX programming tapestry of traditional and eclectic forms of Americana roots music to a live studio audience and a growing worldwide audience via a live webcast at www.WDVX.com. On average, more than 90 different artists play the WDVX Blue Plate Special each quarter.
WDVX's popularity, accessibility and prominence in the region and worldwide contributes significantly to the cultural tourism industry in Knox County and East Tennessee.
