Thank You for Powering WTSQ — 2026 Fund Drive Reflection

Thank you.

It feels simple to say, but it carries a lot. Over the past week, more than 170 of you came together and raised over $25,000 to support WTSQ. That kind of response does not happen by accident. It happens because people believe in something and choose to keep it going.

Since 2015, WTSQ has existed because listeners decided it should. Not because it was easy, and not because it was guaranteed, but because independent, community radio felt worth building and protecting. Every donation during this fund drive is part of that same story.

It takes about $45,000 each year to keep WTSQ on the air. Reaching more than half of that in one week puts us in a strong position, even knowing there is still work ahead. The rest of that support comes in over time through sustaining members and local businesses and organizations who continue to show up for this station. It is a collective effort, and it always has been.

This past week also reminded us how fragile and important this work can be. Many of you noticed issues with our FM signal. What started as a weakening broadcast became an antenna problem that required immediate attention. We will be investing $1,200 to fully repair and stabilize the antenna, and we are looking at additional backup options so we are better prepared next time.

At the same time, we are continuing to move forward. After nearly two years of saving and planning, we have secured $10,000 in funding for a new studio mixing board, microphone processing, and an updated emergency broadcast system. These upgrades will improve the sound of every show and ensure we can deliver reliable emergency alerts when they are needed most. When everything is installed, we plan to open the doors and invite you in to see how your support turns into something real and lasting.

If you picked up a perk during the drive, thank you for that as well. These take time to produce and organize, and we expect about two months before everything is ready to ship. We will keep you updated along the way.

Over the weekend and into today, we have been celebrating in a way that feels very WTSQ. More than 88 hours of continuous vinyl records for Vinylthon 2026. There is something grounding about putting a record on and letting it play through. Thank you to The Wine Down and Sullivan’s Records for helping us bring that experience out into the community. Thank you to so many local businesses for donating gift cards during this drive.

And there is still more to come this week.

This Saturday is WTSQ The Folklore Tape, an intimate evening of live music at Folklore Music Exchange. Artists from across the region will share songs and the stories behind them in a setting that is meant to be close, present, and memorable. For those who picked up this perk or who support WTSQ as sustaining members, we are looking forward to sharing that night with you.

More than anything, this past week has been a reminder that WTSQ is not just a frequency. It is a collection of people who listen, support, volunteer, create, and care enough to keep it going.

Thank you for being part of it :)

Thank you for keeping it spinning!

WTSQ 88.1 FM
The Status Quo