Our Story
Our Story:
Converge Radio 99.9 FM is a radio station that serves a 110-mile broadcast region covering Chippewa, Eau Claire, Dunn, Rusk, Barron, Polk, Pepin and Pierce counties. We are the only station in the region that plays music produced by artists in those counties alongside national music played by independent artists not heard on any other radio station in the region.
The UW-Eau Claire Foundation received the radio license and transmitter equipment as a gift, which allows us to offer students and community volunteers direct experience in programming and operating a non-commercial radio station. The gift was accepted under the condition that there would be no university funds directed to the station and that the station would become financially self-sufficient. Our source of financial support is solely through on-air sponsorships and community donations. No other community radio station in the country operates under this model. Our unique ownership and programming mission allows 99.9 to focus on providing access to regional musicians and programming as well as hands on experience in a professional setting. A key aspect of our mission is to ensure local visibility, access and support.
Blugold Radio LLC is a subsidiary of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and owns and operates the station. We work to maximize benefits from key partnerships with UW-Eau Claire, Blugold Athletics, and various other key partnerships in both the media and music landscape of the greater Chippewa Valley region. The programming of 99.9 FM will be unique in the broadcast region with a mixture of unique culturally relevant content enhanced with local and regional indie music.
Partnerships:
UW-Eau Claire – Partnerships to benefit students and the greater UW-Eau Claire campus community are integral to our mission. We are fiscally independent from UW-Eau Claire and operate through mutually beneficial agreements. At the core, this enables us to share the vibrant campus landscape with the radio community and provide vital opportunities to get student voices on the air. (See On-Campus Partnerships for more information)
Blugold Athletics – We are proud to be the official broadcaster of Blugold Athletics. Working with them presents a unique opportunity to develop student sports broadcasters and showcase student athletics.
Chippewa Valley Arts & Music Groups – The Eau Claire and greater Chippewa Valley have a wealth of local talent both in creation of local music and art. Due to the international success of Justin Vernon and Bon Iver, Eau Claire has become widely known in the indie rock community. Building upon that, the creation of two festivals bringing local and national talent together has built the vitality of the area. Our partnerships with these groups will focus on sharing both the music and events for this community and hopefully spur increased attendance and involvement.
Programming:
Music – Blugold Radio 99.9 FM and blugoldradio.org will be the home for Eau Claire indie music and great touring bands coming to this community. This sets us apart in this media market and, based on community conversations, has the potential to be a huge driver of listenership.
Shorts – We are currently working with groups throughout UWEC to develop five-minute vignettes to air throughout our programming day. These will range from readings by student and faculty writers, to student produced news packages, to local stand-up comics and beyond. These pieces are envisioned as high quality content which will round out the programming day and have “hooks” which will drive listeners to expanded web content.
Sports – Our partnership with Blugold Athletics creates an opportunity to create a professional quality student-produced sportscast. Blugold Radio and Blugold Athletics are working together to ensure that this programming mutually meets the branding and broadcast needs of both organizations.
Comments
It’s Blue Ox Music Festival week! We’ve been fortunate to grow up on this stage, and wanted to show some pictures of us doing so dating back to 2017 (ps, anyone have pics of our 2016 backwoods set??). We love this festival, it’s our home. We can’t wait to welcome you back tomorrow.
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If you can't make it - catch the JamGrass TV live stream via Blue Ox Facebook or YouTube pages at 6:15 PM. We will also be streaming via Converge Radio 99.9 FM and online + Northwest WI folks it will be on WOJB, a service of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Public Broadcasting.
Photos: Ty Helbach Photography
🚨FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON 2🚨
S2E18: “The Confluence of Protected Speech & Legislation”
In this Season 2 finale of CIC, we discussed the idea of protected speech, how that speech is defined by law, and factors that complicate legislation regarding the First Amendment. Eau Claire’s Deputy City Attorney Douglas Hoffer shared his unique perspective on the topic, explaining how speech laws can be tricky to legislate and are something the courts continue to grapple with. Hoffer also explained how the advent of the internet and social media has further complicated things and skewed how we define terms like “true threat.” Ultimately, Hoffer expressed that our nation has always seen the value in the free exchange of ideas, and we accept the challenge of navigating those waters.
Douglas Hoffer is Eau Claire’s Deputy City Attorney and has spent over 12 years mastering his practice since his graduation from Marquette Law School. Hoffer belongs to the American Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and the Eau Claire Bar Association.
✨FULL EPISODE HERE✨
https://youtu.be/nj4LUe0eDwo
Big thank you to our sponsors:
SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar
Pablo Center at the Confluence
Converge Radio
Uniting Bridges
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
🎥 Justin Andersen
Had an amazing time at the Pablo Center At The Confluence for the LIVE stream of Martin Luther King Remembrance for the Chippewa Valley!
What an honor it was to be a part of this beautiful community event, reading a part of Dr. King's "How Long Not Long" speech given after the Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
AJ Moen and his entire team helped run everything super seamlessly, along with our Leader Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton who came up with the program rundown.
It was so lovely to be behind the scenes watching musical artists Samantha Moon and Irie Sol jam out! And blessed to be in great company while also getting to meet new people who are equally passionate about our community as I am! Success! 👏🏽
Event presented in collaboration between:
Uniting Bridges
Pablo Center at the Confluence
Converge Radio
Chippewa Valley Writers Guild
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
📷: Me
Very honored to be the 'Artist Special Feature' today on Converge Radio. Cullen and I will be talking on air at 6PM tonight and you can stream from anywhere from the link!
https://www.convergeradio.org/
There’s a familiar face in the latest Volume One! You can spot our longtime beertender Jordy in a nice little blurb talking about his new Converge Radio show. Jordan has been with us since we opened, and loves talking beer and/or music with anyone who enjoys either. Next time you’re in be sure to chat him up about your favorite EPs, LPs, IPAs or APAs—or all of the above!
You can catch Jordan on-air Mondays from 5-6 PM on 101.9 FM, and you can catch him pouring your favorite K Point brews in our taproom most Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. 📻🎶🍻
City of Eau Claire administrative offices will be closed Monday, January 17, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Staff will be attending in-service and diversity training.
🤝 The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to strengthen and improve their communities, bridge barriers, and work together.
💻 Join Pablo Center at the Confluence in partnership with Uniting Bridges, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Converge Radio for a virtual evening of programming to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Featuring guest speakers including BJ Hollars, musical performances from Frank Watkins, Irie Sol, and Samantha Moon.
Free to public. Registration required.
Event Info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/344404383892291/?ref=newsfeed
🔥🔥🔥 IT'S A WRAPPPP!! 🔥🔥🔥
Just finished filming an episode for our show Conversations in Color where we discuss hard racial topics in our community with amazing Leaders in all areas of Social Activism, Education, and more!
Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Dr. Jeneise Briggs, and I break down the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work that's being done in our community, as well as Dr. Briggs' role as the EDI Coordinator for both the city and county of Eau Claire!
Also, side note...after taking a much-needed break, I am so happy to be apart of the Production Team again. This crew has become family to me, and I whole-heartedly believe in the values and mission of what this platform is doing (and has already done) for our community. Blessed to be apart of this journey under the great leadership of Ed Hudgins and Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton!
...please consider liking and sharing the content that's been created on the Conversations In Color platform! You can do this by visiting the YouTube channel found here:
https://youtube.com/channel/UC1AVcyJKNbZG7qeaNpoQ9fw
Stay tuned for this episode airing very soon!
HUGE thanks to the show's sponsors:
SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar
Converge Radio
Pablo Center at the Confluence
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Uniting Bridges
My Converge Radio show Tunes From the Womb is celebrating 100 episodes with a LIVE CONCERT, and you all are invited to share in the cheer. Please join us this Friday, Dec. 10th and let yourself be carried by the beautiful vibrations of Laura Hugo Music , Bad Posture Club , and The Nunnery.
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If you have enjoyed this show and would like to support it, a couple wonderful ways to do so would be to share this post to your stories, invite your loved ones to come along, and help spread the word. All of these artists put their heart and soul into their music and it will be such a treat for us to experience it together in person.
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Ticket link in bio!
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Dec. 10th l Doors 7p CT/ Show 7:30
Tix $10 presale/ $15 at door
Brickhouse 2233 Birch St
Eau Claire, WI
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Video🎵Whirlpool Ride by The Nunnery
This Thursday is the 100th ep of my Converge Radio show Tunes From the Womb! I am celebrating this momentous event with all local artists!
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PLUS! 📢PLUS! 📢PLUS!
I will be sharing a special announcement on how we plan to formally celebrate this amazing accomplishment! Please tune in for that!
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Thurs l 5pm (CT) l 101.9/convergeradio.org
Rosters are set and boy, do we have some heat for you this week! Episode 133 debuts TONIGHT AT 8 PM on Converge Radio
More talent this week from right here in The Valley™️ from Noah Estrada, Lil Rieck Sage Young and Gabriel Tyler plus we head to Chicago with Saint Icky & Semiratruth and hear the new single from Mother Nature Barz
Some great hip hop from EC and Chicago lined up for you there and MPLS is no different. The Land of 10,000 set features music from the newly-formed Fair Play Entertainment ; you're not going to want to sleep on these folks!
Listen to Round 2 of Episode 133 of MWHH this Sunday at 9 PM on 95.9 jamz or on-demand via HopMidwest.com
Uncensored and extended versions of our episodes are available for Select listeners of MWHH on . For more information on how you can support us, visit the 'Episodes' tab on our website!
the primeridian
Mpls Drew
Brandon Pulphus
Mickey Breeze
NUR-D
Armand Hammer
Shelley FKA DRAM · Official Music
Earl Sweatshirt
IDK
Quelle Chris
Open Mike Eagle
Tonight, a special episode of Conversations in Color will look back at previous topics and episodes. Join in the conversation tonight, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. -->
http://ow.ly/rp3a50DNanE
Conversation in Color is presented by Uniting Bridges, Converge Radio, and Pablo Center.
Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Conversations in Color will be discussing the overview of abolitionism and the abolitionist racism with resident panelist Dr. Selika Ducksworth Lawton, host Ed Hudgins, and guests.
Register to watch here :
http://ow.ly/tFHt50DzWIi
Conversations in Color is presented by Uniting Bridges Converge Radio and Pablo Center.
Tonight at 7 pm - Passion Pod features Seven Suns Vintage on Converge Radio!