Programs and personnel
From the beginning until now, WMNF has had a paid staff but most of the programming is by volunteers.WMNF has aired a wide variety of music shows. They include programs featuring Adult Album Alternative (AAA), Blues, Bluegrass, [(Folk)], Alternative Rock, Rockabilly, R&B, Soul music, Urban Gospel, Celtic music, Jazz, Salsa and Experimental music.
WMNF airs several progressive talk and news programs. Shows are focused on LGBTQ issues, animal and environmental preservation and civil rights. Each weekday morning, it carries the nationally syndicated Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman and Juan González.
Among the long-running music shows are: The Sixties Show, Gospel Classic Hour, The Soul Party and The Freak Show”. Past public affairs programs included RadioActivity and 'The Women's Show, touching on feminist issues that first started running in the 1980s. Current long running PA shows include 'Art in Your Ear, Talking Animals, and True Talk, which focuses on the Middle East and the global issues Muslims face.
In 1986 WMNF began the first hip hop show in the area, The Kenny K Wax Attack, Saturday midnight. An Arbitron rating showed 42% of radio listeners under 25 were listening to Kenny K. Saturday late night remains hip hop,programming today.
In 2014 WMNF added to the schedule “The Rhythm Revival”, hosted by nationally known recording artist/music historian Reverend Billy C. Wirtz. In 2021, Marvelous Marvin, a longtime popular DJ on Tampa Bay commercial radio, joined the show as a cohost. The Friday drive-time high-energy presentation of post WW2 blues, country and gospel is a station highlight.
In 2022 WUSF discontinued evening and overnight jazz programming to the dismay of area jazz fans. WMNF recruited WUSF’s longtime former jazz director Bob Seymour to present a Monday evening jazz show on WMNF. Jazz fans have embraced the new show show “Jazz in the Night”. https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/music/music-news/2022/10/31/all-night-jazz-ends-wmnf-announces-new-jazz-radio-show/
History
Before going on the air the station conducted a door to door campaign to raise startup funds. The station signed on the air on September 14, 1979;44 years ago (September 14, 1979). [3] It was established by the Nathan B. Stubblefield Foundation, a non-profit organization started solely for this purpose. The Board of Directors comprises programmers, volunteers, staff, and community members. The first WMNF studios were in an old house in south Tampa, moving to a vacated church on Nebraska Avenue in Tampa in 1981.
WMNF was originally powered at 70,000 watts but on a much shorter tower. When its tower tripled in height in 2007, its power was reduced but still with better coverage.
WMNF holds periodic on-air fundraisers and seeks donations and volunteers on its website. Its supporters account for approximately 70% of its funding. [4] There are three pledge drives each year. The station has paid operations staff, but most of the hosts and pledge drive workers are volunteers.
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Norman Batley is a radio personality who has hosted and programmed award-winning shows for stations in the United Kingdom, Seattle, Washington, and Tampa, Florida. He is also a business entrepreneur who has created, managed, and owned successful restaurant concepts in the Tampa Bay area. Norman B. continues to produce, write, edit, and host Life Elsewhere, a weekly show about art, media, and culture. The show is syndicated to various affiliates, including WMNF. The podcast is heard on Spotify, Mixcloud, NPR One, Apple Podcasts and most podcast platforms. Norman B also produces and hosts Life Elsewhere Music, a weekly show on new music featuring conversations with noted figures in the music industry, heard on various radio and internet stations, including WNRM, NWCZInternet Radio Network, and Cornucopia Radio.
