WPVM FM, Davyne, Herb and Me
It’s 7:00 p.m. on a Thursday night, and this radio jock is feeling the heat.
Well… cards on the table… “radio jock in training”… maybe? Um, radio apprentice?
PJ Ewing (Host LTNF)
Fall 2021 Board of Directors
WPVM Lobby
Being new to radio (since November 2020), this has been an exciting year filled with many hours of “radio time” in my household in New York City. Producing, editing, recording, investigating, interviewing. All in pursuit of a concept (Lester the Nightfly) and a dream (sharing a wide range of music with interested, like-minded people). I did not mind one minute of it.
And with the help of the incredible team at WPVM I was able to expand my show to many stations across the U.S. The joy of radio grows with these new outlets for Lester the Nightfly. A success so far. And really just getting started.
In some ways, my initiation culminated on Thursday, October 14, 2021. For that evening in Asheville, I was live over the air with my show. As rough as it was (in my ears: I am a very harsh critic) I was elated at the result. Not quite a graduation day, but it felt something like that.
This brings me to the station itself
WPVM was lost to the world for a number of years, nearly 10 years ago. The defunct station caught the interest of Davyne Dial and Dr. Herb Johnson who were looking for something to get involved in that helped the greater good. Something that could help Asheville think through tough issues. Something that had impact.
It took some wrangling, but in 2015 WPVM was once again on the air at 103.7 FM. “Under new management,” as the phrase goes. The full story of each year since will be left to others who know more about it than me. But I can report on these two people, Davyne and Herb, from personal experience.
A Formidable Team
If ever anyone could be described as singly-focused, it is these two. They have zeroed in on what they want to do day in and day out.
The Stated Objective: To build WPVM into the best station in Asheville.
And they are relentless! Each day they throw themselves at this project. From the financials (in great shape), to the hosts (18-20 of the most passionate radio hosts you will ever meet), to the marketing of the station (a brand new website, outreach on social media, partnerships with local enterprises), Davyne and Herb are making something big happen. Their lives are now inextricably tied to WPVM.
At 34 Wall Street in glamorous downtown Asheville sits the little radio station that could. And let me tell you, from this New Yorker’s perspective, this little station can. And will. There is an alchemy at work here. Smart leadership attracting top-level talent, all working toward a mutually beneficial objective of making great radio and building a loyal and involved audience.
If you have not yet listened to WPVM, you should. The dream of intellectual, intelligent, fun community radio is alive and well… right on Wall Street in Asheville, North Carolina.
