Culture
Public Radio Music Day 2025: celebrating ‘Live, Local, Essential’ music with WOUB
By: Emily Votaw
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Public radio stations like WOUB play an irreplaceable role in celebrating the music that defines the communities they serve. Unlike commercial outlets focused on national and international hits, WOUB will always remain rooted in local culture, amplifying regional voices, fostering hyperlocal connections, and preserving stories that might otherwise go unheard.
From featuring artists like Trey Hedrick and Harper Reese on WOUB Culture to airing local music nightly from musicians such as Bob Stewart and Todd Burge on WOUB FM, the station links artists, audiences, and the creative identity of the communities it serves across southeast Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
In this spirit, WOUB joins stations nationwide today to celebrate the sixth annual Public Radio Music Day, a rallying call to support the stations that keep music, culture, and community alive. The 2025 theme, “Live. Local. Essential.”, highlights the indispensable role public radio music stations play across America.
Public Radio Music Day unites public radio stations, lawmakers, fans, artists, and members of the music industry to recognize the impact of noncommercial music radio both locally and nationally.
To mark the occasion, WOUB presents a curated playlist featuring standout regional artists, including Adam Remnant, Corduroy Brown, and Angela Perley. The playlist—assembled by WOUB FM Music Director Bryan Gibson and Radio Free Athens DJ Doug “R@T” Brooks—is incredibly diverse, ranging from the experimental soundscapes of Brandon Reisig to the straightforward rock ’n’ roll of Cutler Station.
As part of Ohio University’s experiential learning mission, WOUB also provides opportunities for students to engage directly with the arts community—interviewing musicians, reporting on local arts events, and contributing to a living archive of the region’s creative life.
For WOUB, Public Radio Music Day 2025 is more than a celebration—it reaffirms one of our most enduring purposes, even amid landmark disruptions to federal support: to sustain community, uplift artists, and preserve the sound and spirit of the region for generations to come.