Takoma Radio WOWD-LP: live radio from Takoma Park

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Dusting off the needle…

Takoma Radio WOWD-LP

Five miles wide, no ceiling.

Twenty watts of soul, reggae, and Brazilian sides.

Historic Takoma, the local preservation group, filed for a low-power licence in November 2013, got permission to build in 2015, and put WOWD-LP on 94.3 on 16 July 2016 from a storefront on Westmoreland Avenue. Twenty watts carries about five miles, which is enough to cover Takoma Park and cross into northeast and northwest DC as well as Montgomery and Prince George's counties. In 2024 the station spun out on its own, incorporating as Takoma Radio Inc and taking the licence with it.

Marika Partridge founded it and Bob Boilen programs it, but the hours belong to the neighbors. Roots and Wings traces soul back through gospel and rhythm and blues, RootsRockReggae holds a weekly slot, Divino Maravilhoso plays Brazilian sides, Horas Rockeras runs rock in Spanish, and an unattended overnight block carries the small hours until somebody opens the studio.

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Takoma Park, United States

Takoma Radio WOWD-LP

Five miles wide, no ceiling.

Twenty watts of soul, reggae, and Brazilian sides.

Historic Takoma, the local preservation group, filed for a low-power licence in November 2013, got permission to build in 2015, and put WOWD-LP on 94.3 on 16 July 2016 from a storefront on Westmoreland Avenue. Twenty watts carries about five miles, which is enough to cover Takoma Park and cross into northeast and northwest DC as well as Montgomery and Prince George's counties. In 2024 the station spun out on its own, incorporating as Takoma Radio Inc and taking the licence with it.

Marika Partridge founded it and Bob Boilen programs it, but the hours belong to the neighbors. Roots and Wings traces soul back through gospel and rhythm and blues, RootsRockReggae holds a weekly slot, Divino Maravilhoso plays Brazilian sides, Horas Rockeras runs rock in Spanish, and an unattended overnight block carries the small hours until somebody opens the studio.