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Audience Questions | Musician, Promoter and Advertiser Questions | Potential DJ Questions
Frequently Asked Audience Questions
What is WKNC?
WKNC is a student-run non-commercial educational radio station licensed to the Board of Trustees of North Carolina State University. WKNC has been in its current home at 88.1 FM since 1966 and currently operates 24 hours/day 365 days/year. With a 25,000-watt transmitter, WKNC reaches well beyond the NC State campus to serve the entire Raleigh-Durham radio market. We take pride in playing the best in independent, non-mainstream music as an alternative to the commercial radio stations that reside on the right-hand side of the dial.
What does WKNC stand for?
Nothing. The ‘W’ designates that the radio station is east of the Mississippi River and the ‘KNC’ is just three letters that we’ve all grown to love.
What types of music do you play?
WKNC HD-1 is programmed in 12-hour blocks of indie rock during the day (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and either electronic, underground hip-hop or metal at night (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Program hours are switched on WKNC HD-2. Specialty programs air on the weekend and are occasionally interspersed during the week.
How can I listen to WKNC?
WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 broadcasts 25,000 watts from the campus of North Carolina State University and can be heard for roughly an hour in each direction. If you are within about 50 miles of Raleigh, turn your radio dial all the way to the left. WKNC’s HD-2 signal is also available on HD-enabled radios. Both signals can also be heard online and through our Live365 apps for HD-1 and HD-2.
Who is DJ AV?
DJ AV stands for DJ AudioVAULT. AudioVAULT is our friendly automation system that plays music when a live DJ isn’t in the studio so that we can have music playing 24/7/365 on WKNC. DJ AV plays music that our music directors from throughout the years have uploaded to our station. If you’re interested in submitting your music for airplay, please use our music submission form.
I tuned in to WKNC and it’s sports. What’s up with that?
WKNC is a proud supporter of Wolfpack sports and airs all home and away women’s basketball and men’s baseball games. Our sports broadcasts are all listed on our events page.
How do I make a request?
To make a request for WKNC HD-1, please call 919-515-0881. The request line for WKNC HD-2 is 919-515-2400.
How can I get some sweet WKNC swag?
WKNC has lots of station swag in our online swag store. We can even ship it to you. You are also welcome to come by during regular business hours and pick something up using cash, check or credit card.
Can I stop by the station and take a tour?
Definitely! We love showing off the station. We ask that you come during regular business hours and prefer you to arrange the tour in advance with the general manager. We lead a lot of Cub Scout tours for troops to earn their communication badge but are also willing to lead smaller tours to interested listeners.
I won something on WKNC. How do I pick it up?
WKNC ticket giveaways are either will-call or hard tickets, which the DJ will specify when you win. If you can’t remember, ask the promotions director. Tickets must be picked up by 5 p.m. on the day of the show or by 5 p.m. Friday for a weekend show. If you won a physical item, like a CD or T-shirt, you have three months to pick it up at the station before we assume you don’t want it and give it someone else. You may only pick up items during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). While we understand lots of people work 9-5 and this can make it hard to pick up tickets, we also work 9-5. Please plan accordingly. View complete contest rules.
How do I get to WKNC and where am I supposed to park?
WKNC is located in suite 343 on the third floor of NC State’s Witherspoon Student Center on the corner of Cates Avenue and Dan Allen Drive. Our physical address is 2810 Cates Avenue. There is a pay lot in front of the Bragaw residence hall across from Witherspoon and another in the Dan Allen Deck. We can’t find anywhere to park either.
What are your regular business hours?
The WKNC office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that if the University and/or Witherspoon Student Center is closed so are we. If you come by and no one is around, please go down the hall to 307 Witherspoon for assistance.
Did your website just change colors?
It did. The color of our menu bars is based on the format currently playing on WKNC HD-1.
Frequently Asked Musician, Promoter and Advertiser Questions
How can I send music to the station?
We accept both hard copies of CDs and digital submissions. If you are sending us something in the mail, please address your package to: (insert format here) Music Director, WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2, Campus Box 8607, 343 Witherspoon Student Center, Raleigh, NC 27695.
Please use our music submission form to share digital music files with the appropriate music directors. The form requires you to provide a Dropbox or Google Drive link with your music attached. WAV files are preferred, but MP3s are acceptable. Make sure permissions are shareable. Links to YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify cannot be downloaded by the music directors and will not be considered. You will also need to note which songs, if any, have FCC violations.
Do I need to submit clean edits for airplay consideration?
No, but it sure will help. While we don’t want to limit your creative freedom, we do want to keep our FCC license. Submitting music already edited will greatly increase your chances of the music being added for airplay, so please view our list of prohibited lyrics. Also, you’re a talented musician so your edits will probably sound a lot nicer than us just reversing words using Audacity.
I am a North Carolina-based musician. Where should I send my music?
Please submit your music using our music submission form and indicate you are a North Carolina-based musician.
Will you notify me if you’ve played my music?
WKNC receives more than a hundred music submissions each week, so we do not notify artists of airplay. You can, however, search our online playlist for HD-1 and HD-2 and our “Now Playing” Twitter for HD-1 and HD-2.
How do I set up an interview on WKNC?
Musicians should email our program director to request an interview. Please note that we do not interview musicians we do not play so you may need to submit music for airplay consideration first. Non-musicians should email our public affairs director.
How can I be featured on WKNC’s The Lounge?
WKNC’s The Lounge is a video series that records primarily touring musicians in our back lounge. To be considered for a spot on the lounge, contact our Lounge director.
How do I set up a giveaway for my upcoming event?
If you would like WKNC to give away tickets to your event, please email our promotions director. We will need the date and location of the event, a brief description, the number of pairs you wish to give away and whether the tickets will be hard tickets or will call. You will receive one guaranteed on-air or online mention per giveaway.
Can WKNC announce my event on the radio and social media?
Beyond an on-air interview and/or ticket giveaway, WKNC is unlikely to provide more than a casual mention of your event done at the DJ’s discretion. You can, however, purchase paid donor announcements through our Business and Marketing Office.
Can WKNC sponsor or present my event?
WKNC sponsors local events that embody the mission of our station. We cannot provide money as sponsorship but can arrange for an in-kind donation of donor announcements and/or social media posts for publicity of your event. We can also provide discounted donor announcements for designation as a “WKNC Presents” event. To discuss one of these agreements, please contact our general manager.
Can WKNC broadcast live from my event?
Due to WKNC’s non-commercial nature, WKNC’s ability to broadcast live from your event is extremely limited.
How can I purchase donor announcements on WKNC?
To purchase donor announcements, online ads or sponsored social media posts, please view our rate card and contact our media consultants. We also offer special sponsorship for our major annual event Double Barrel Benefit.
How do I get a public service announcement on WKNC?
Free public service announcements are available for 501(c3) registered non-profit and registered NC State student organizations. Please view our submission guidelines.
Can I get WKNC to DJ at my event?
WKNC 88.1 FM can coordinate DJ services for on- and off-campus events with a Yamaha StagePas Portable PA System, provided we have access to an electrical outlet and ideally Wi-Fi.
DJ services are for one-hour minimum, with one additional hour billed for setup and takedown time. Rates are $60 per hour, payable at the time of the event ($120 minimum payment).
Please complete the WKNC DJ Services Request Form to the best of your ability so we can better understand your event needs.
Can I use WKNC’s production studio?
WKNC has two production studios available for basic voice recording. Rental rates are $60 per hour, which includes a producer. Request studio time.
Frequently Asked Potential DJ Questions
How do I get involved at WKNC?
Opportunities to volunteer with WKNC are available to full-time NC State students with a GPA of 2.0 or above. We offer six-week DJ training classes every fall, spring and summer semester for those who wish to be on air. We also need content creators and contributors to produce blogs, videos, podcasts, interviews and audio news stories. If you are interested in getting involved with WKNC, check out our interest page.
How do I become a DJ?
WKNC offers six-week non-credit DJ training classes every fall, spring and summer semester. Dates and times vary by semester so the best way to get information on the next class is to follow us @WKNC881 on social media. After attending an interest meeting, you complete an application. We typically accept up to 30 students each semester for DJ training. The comprehensive training class also has an in-studio component to train you in all things WKNC and teach you how to become an involved, informed, productive member of the WKNC staff. Once you complete training you are eligible for a spot as an on-air radio DJ. Please note WKNC DJs are not paid positions.
What if I’m not an NC State student?
If you are not an NC State student but are interested in getting involved in radio we suggest contacting local internet station Little Raleigh Radio.
Do you offer internships?
WKNC does not offer traditional internships for class credit, either for college or high school students. We do offer a limited number of paid leadership positions typically reserved for those already on staff.
