Stop the WETS programming change

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    WETS FM/ETSU
  • Sponsored By:
  • More Info at:
Are you the Author?
This is a petition to protest the recent, and sudden changes to the programming at WETS, the public radio station affiliated with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. The station has elected to stop its programing of music, including classical, local, and Americana, and will be going to a talk format. This eliminates an outlet for many musicians, and takes the station from a local venue to a national middleman for NPR programming.

By signing this petition you disagree with this move, and are expressing that you will likely no longer support the station financially in its bi-annual pledge drives, and would urge that ETSU also stop spending taxpayer money and funds collected through tuition from college students on the station as well.

WETS is and has been a local gem for many years, lets take back our station, lets put the "Public" back in public radio.

1370 Signatures

  • Jamie Dove
    • Comments
    • Keep it local
  • Barbie Brannon
  • Terry Shanks
    • Comments
    • keep the programming local
  • Jeremy Livesay
  • Shannon D Brown
  • Jesse Gross
    • Comments
    • this decision is, in a word, foolish. in two, ill advised. come to think of it, on whose expert advice was this choice based? the listeners? doubt it. the local artists who rely on it to get themselves exposed? probably not. i urge you to reconsider, this is a terrible idea that will, most likely, result in the loss of hundreds (perhaps thousands) of loyal listeners.
  • Vickie Carr
    • Comments
    • Please don't go to all talk!!!
  • R.Cooper
    • Comments
    • В
  • Brandon Neece
  • Scott Phelps
  • Jim Benelisha
  • Josh Burleson
    • Comments
    • More music. Less progressive propaganda!
  • Clint Waddell
    • Comments
    • Keep the music!
  • Larry Gorley
    • Comments
    • We need more music not less!
  • Kim France
    • Comments
    • WETS is our only source for quality music radio in the area. Please continue to offer music programming!
  • Charles Fontaine
  • Sara Needham
    • Comments
    • Local music is an East Tennessee legacy.
  • Owen Luck
    • Comments
    • Music provides a connection between people and cultures that word smiths can only dream of.
  • Greg Stiglets
  • Stacy Claude
    • Comments
    • I just hate to lose a great regional station highlighting roots/bluegrass/Americana and independant artists... you can hear NPR anywhere...
  • Brent Treash
    • Comments
    • The areas that you seem to be cutting are the areas that make WETS stand apart from other NPR affiliates and other radio stations in general. We need to support our region and the artisans that make this part of Appalachia so special. Please reconsinder the decision you are making.
  • Dave Stallard
  • Chris Owens
  • Lane Shuler
    • Comments
    • Keep the Music
  • Jo Hutton
  • Doug and Susan Murray
    • Comments
    • It has been our opinion for several years that Wayne Winkler uses the station as his own forum politically, etc. We expressed these views previously when changes were made in programming over the years--removing radio reader, changing time for Fresh Air, etc but those comments got no response back. I do not know how WETS is governed, but do feel Wayne Winkler puts the agenda of himself and his friends as a priority for programming rather than considering the needs of the community as a whole. WETS will lose its identity as a unique station showcasing musical roots. We know times are tough economically, but regret these decisions were made and then abruptly announced.
  • Noah Wall
  • Margaret Maddox
  • Jordan Barnette
  • Jason Foster
  • Michael Housewright
  • Crystal page
  • Oleg Timofeev
    • Comments
    • Can't believe its actually boiled down to this.
  • Brandon Bledsoe
  • Caitlin Chapman-Rambo
  • JP Parsons
    • Comments
    • Roots and branches inspires me to write better music. I wouldn't be the musician i am today without this program!! Period!
  • Stephen Schoenecker
  • Traci Sellers
  • Mike Carver
    • Comments
    • keep real music alive!!!!!!!!!! we have enough talk radio!
  • Ryan Bernard
    • Comments
    • Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.
  • Mark Lady
    • Comments
    • I've already vented my digust to wets@etsu.edu, I only hope they will listen.
  • Jane MacMorran
  • Laura Gardner
  • Marcianne O'day
  • n p
  • Tom Swadley
  • Stacey Rader
  • Chris Strode
    • Comments
    • This is clearly what happens when a Public Relations Department at a university runs a radio station. It's all about the bottom-line and someone's interest to make WETS/NPR the "left-wing" voice in the tri-cities to try and counter WJCW. Democracy Now should be removed from the rotation and music is what belongs on airwaves and is the true essence of public service. You invested $50,000 for a new transmitter to broadcast news and information...lame!
  • Amanda White
    • Comments
    • Local programming is one of the main reasons I listen to WETS. I download all my other favorite programs such as Car Talk and Wait Wait on podcast every week.
  • Ashley Chase