WWOZ Radio 90.7 FM in New Orleans: The Guardians of the Groove

We are a listener-supported, volunteer-operated radio station located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Playing blues, jazz, Cajun, zydeco, gospel, Latin, Brazilian, Caribbean and a whole lot more, WWOZ keeps the music and heritage of the Crescent City alive and loud.

WWOZ currently broadcasts live from the French Market Corporation Offices in the French Quarter, the heart of New Orleans.

We broadcast live from the famed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival annually, and our award-winning programming can be heard on radio stations around the country.

WWOZ is a 501(c)3 organization.

Download the WWOZ Manager's Report from March 6, 2007.
Download the WWOZ Manager's Report from February 6, 2007.

WWOZ History

Founded by two brothers, Walter and Jerry Brock, WWOZ went on the air in 1980.

The Brock's efforts benefitted enormously from the incredible richness of a flourishing musical scene that was reaching legendary proportions with the likes of Professor Longhair, James Booker, Sweet Emma, Mr. Google Eyes, Danny Barker, Jesse Hill, and many, many more.

The station first operated from the Brock's living room! Tapes were carried daily to the transmitter site, located at the tower site on the Mississippi River. Eventually, 'OZ studios were built on the second floor of the world-reknown New Orleans music venue, Tipitina's. In 1985 the station was relocated to Armstrong Park, more or less the center of the musical universe in terms of New Orleans' heritage and culture.

In 1986, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation assumed responsibility for the station's broadcast license. Since that time, the Foundation has spent well over one million dollars in operational and development funds. The foundation's funding, in turn, is the direct result of money raised in producing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

WWOZ Facts

Who owns WWOZ?

The Station is owned by The Friends of WWOZ, Inc, a 501(C) non-profit corporation. The purpose of the corporation is to operate a non-commercial radio station.

How long has WWOZ been in operation?

WWOZ first went on the air on December 4th, 1980 from atop Tipitina's, the legendary music club of New Orleans.

What is WWOZ's format, and has it always been the same?

WWOZ, since its inception, has always been committed toproviding exposure to local musicians who play the genres heard of New Orleans. WWOZ broadcasts all forms of jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, brass band, gospel, cajun, zydeco, Caribbean, Latin, Brazilian, African, bluegrass, and Irish, among others. Click here for our programming schedule.

What is WWOZ's broadcasting power?

4000 watts. However, the antenna is mounted on a two-hundred-foot tower atop a large office building located in the Central Business District. Therefore, WWOZ's effective radiating power is much greater than the simple wattage figure would seem to indicate. Because of the central location of the antenna tower, there is substantially less multiplex interference than that experienced by stations with higher wattage, but who are shooting their signal from outside the Central Business District.

How far does the signal extend?

WWOZ's primary signal covers:

1.) Worldwide, via our website at wwoz.org, broadcast live 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Receiving a half million hits per month, WWOZ was recognized as "Station of the Day" in August, 1999 at Broadcast.com, and is listed as one of the top ten radio web sites visited on its servers. Listen to our broadcast now!

2.) The Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area, including Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes.

3.) The River Parishes of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James.

4.) The Northshore of Lake Lake Pontchartrain, St. Tammany Parish.

A weaker signal can be picked up by more sensitive receivers extending as far north as Baton Rouge, and as far as the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

WWOZ Staff

'OZ Contact Info

WWOZ
P.O. Box 51840
New Orleans, LA
70151-1840

USA

Business Office Phone: (504) 568-1239
Business Office Fax: (504) 558-9332
Studio Phone: (504) 568-1234
Contact us by email.

Our business hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Central Standard Time.

General Manager: David Freedman - (504) 568-1239
Program Director: Dwayne Breashears - (504) 568-1239
Operations Manager: Maryse Dejean - (504) 568-1239
Chief Engineer: Damond Jacob - (504) 568-1239
Program Marketing: David Freedman - (504) 568-1239
Assistant Operations Manager: Fred Goodrich - (504) 568-1239
Underwriting Director: Dee Lindsey - (504) 568-1239
Administrative Assistant: Marlene Wadsworth - (504) 568-1239