WMLU began in 1980 as WUTA, a test broadcast station and had a low level college license.[2] The initial transmitter power was 10 watts, with plans to expand the wattage as early as 1981. The first studio was located in the upper area of Longwood University's Jarman Auditorium, with weekly meetings taking place downstairs in the auditorium proper.[3] Some time between September 1982 and February 1983, WUTA received and installed new equipment, and the in-house record collection was expanded. During these early years WUTA experienced a myriad of technical problems, ranging from a four-week transformer malfunction to interference with fellow Farmville radio station WFLO-FM as well as the WTVR television station out of Richmond.[4][5]
Programming
Student programming and music is heard daily between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m., with a relay of Harrisonburg's NPR member station WMRA filling the remaining time.[6][7]
Awards and honors
WMLU received the first place award for Outstanding Sports Coverage for a non-commercial/public radio station from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters in 2009.[8][9] It repeated the accomplishment in 2010 accompanied by a runner up award for best promotion for a sponsored event. In 2011 WMLU won first place awards for Outstanding Sports Coverage and Best Promo for a Sponsored Event.[10][11] The station continued their legacy in 2011, 2012 and 2013 with their third, fourth and fifth straight VAB awards for Outstanding Sports Coverage.
^Bise, Sarah (September 8, 1981). "WUTA Begins Second Year". The Rotunda. Rotunda Office Archives, Lankford Student Union, Longwood University. p. 3. Some time in the future, the radio station would like to expand to 100 watts, and become stereo, thus securing WUTA's place on 90.1 FM dial. The station would also like to be an official member of the FCC, instead of test broadcasting.
^Brown, Johnel (September 14, 1982). "WUTA Awake!". The Rotunda. Rotunda Office Archives, Lankford Student Union, Longwood University. p. 2. Alright, this is WUTA 90.1 F.M. on your radio dial. We're located atop Jarman auditorium, hitting you with 10 big watts . . . now for a little Stivie Nicks off her Belladonna LP . . . The album starts. The clock moves. Slower. The thump continues. WUTA has already started nightly programming and is eagerly awaiting the FCC decision as to whether they can increase their wattage or install a signal splitter.
^Barker, Jack (February 8, 1983). "WUTA - Use It Or Lose It!". The Rotunda. Rotunda Office Archives, Lankford Student Union, Longwood University. p. 8. The long off-air layoff we had last semester was not due to laziness or lack of interest, but due to the fact that we were busy installing almost all new equipment.
^Abernathy, Jeff (December 6, 1983). "WUTA: Back On Track?". The Rotunda. Rotunda Office Archives, Lankford Student Union, Longwood University. p. 1. Faced with poor funding and a small group of supporters, the Longwood Radio Association has been plagued with inoperative periods throughout the current semester. The longest lasted nearly four weeks, beginning when the station's transformer [sic] broke down in late October. [...] At present, smaller problems are being dealt with, such as the station's interference with Richmond's TV channel six (WWBT) [sic]. When both Farmville station WFLO and WUTA are in operation, reception of channel six has been poor across campus as well as in Farmville. Interference between the two stations has created a jamming signal in the past, but WUTA solved the problem last week. Reception of WWBT is now free of interference. [This article confuses WWBT and WTVR-TV, which actually occupied channel 6 in Richmond.]
^"72nd Annual Summer Convention Award Winners Announced" (Press release). Virginia Association of Broadcasters. July 2, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2011. Outstanding Sports Coverage: Radio - Non-Commercial or Public, WMLU-FM, Radio - Non-Commercial or Public, WMLU Sports Coverage, 1st Place
