THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504060188
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
As the Outer Banks' five FM radio stations grind it out for ratings and revenue, the area's lone AM outlet perks quietly.
WOBR-AM is the Outer Banks' original radio station, signing on in 1970. Since 1988, the station has been leased from WOBR-FM by a group of Christian broadcasters. Ministers Elmo and Jean Daniels manage the 1,000-watt daytime-only operation.
The studio is in an old grocery/hardware store in Wanchese, just past the post office. The station occupies two rooms in the rear of the store. A few filing cabinets and a desk occupy the front room. Pictures of gospel singers line the walls.
Most of the studio equipment has been donated, and it's old. Some belongs to Daniels. The only things approaching state-of-the-art are the three compact disc players. But technology doesn't drive this station, people do.
The station is reminiscent of the underground free-form stations of the late '60s and early '70s. There are no fast-talking, pseudo-happy disc jockeys spouting ``hit after hit,'' ``best hits of today'' or ``we play the best hits.'' Elmo, Jean and the other disc jockeys are more likely to say ``God bless you'' or ``May you live in peace.''
The music speaks for itself. And just like the old free-form disc jockeys, the crew at 1530-WOBR loves the music they play.
Elmo and Jean Daniels arrived in 1992 from a church in Columbia, N.C.
``We heard the call,'' Elmo says. ``But this was coming home. We grew up here.''
Both the Danielses worked for Carolina Telephone before joining the ministry. Elmo's electronics training helped him upgrade the radio station's facilities. But neither Daniels had ever been on radio.
``It took a while to get used to talking to a wall,'' Jean says. ``But now I love it. I can feel the people listening.''
The station's format is Southern gospel music and syndicated programs such as James Dobson's ``Focus on the Family'' and Charles Stanley's ``In Touch.'' The USA News network was recently added. Elmo is the sign-on disc jockey. Jean does the midday shift, and Daniel Heath and Tim Heath handle the other shifts.
WOBR-AM is basically listener supported; 80 percent of the operating expenses are generated by contributions. The other 20 percent comes from paid advertisements. But unlike many television evangelists, the station rarely solicits help on the air.
``We don't continually ask for money,'' Elmo says. ``People won't listen to a station that is always asking for money.''
Daniels says the station receives contributions from listeners as far away as Swan Quarter, Cedar Island and Elizabeth City. Many of the station's listeners are shut-ins, unable to attend church on a regular basis.
``That's why we stay local,'' Elmo says. ``We have to be interactive. We get lots of song and prayer requests.''
Some of the requests are for Elmo and Jean's music. The pair recorded three albums of gospel songs in the 1960s and 1970s. The albums, recorded in Nashville, were produced by Jimmy Snow, the son of country legend Hank Snow.
Daniels is quick to point out that the gospel of the '60s and '70s is far removed from the Southern gospel of today. According to a number of radio trade magazines, it's the fastest growing format in the country. WOBR reports its playlist each month to ``Singing News,'' a trade publication based in Boone, N.C.
But as popular as the music is, the audience doesn't always know where to find it. That's something the Danielses are working on. The station publishes a newsletter each month for its regular listeners. To increase awareness of the station, the group recently began giving out bumper stickers.
``You'd be surprised how many people on the Outer Banks are unaware that there is a Christian radio station here,'' Elmo says.
But the station did well in the last Arbitron survey, beating its FM station in the 25-54-year-old category. Think of it as David beats Goliath. The station also showed strong in the ``time spent listening'' part of the survey.
That bit of information doesn't surprise longtime listener Lou Brumfield of Manteo, who says the station was a source of strength while she recuperated from surgery several months ago.
``I turn the station on as soon as I get up in the morning,'' Brumfield says. ``And I listen until it signs off.''
What's in store for the radio station?
The Christian group has applied for an FM license in Manteo. There are two other applicants for the single license, and the Federal Communications Commission is studying the applications now.
Daniels says the station will operate as a lessee until the FM license is awarded, but it's an uncomfortable situation.
``We can't really do too much, because the owners could take us off the air and we would have equipment, but no signal.''
Twice, the owners have pulled the plug: Once in 1992 when the owners tried to raise the rate of the lease, and again in 1993 when the leasing station tried a ``vacation information station'' on the AM. Both times, the Christian group was asked back.
It's a remarkable achievement to have survived the two interruptions. Most radio stations worry about being off the air for an hour. But there's the difference. The Danielses are not just broadcasters, they are partners (married 46 years) and ministers.
And believers.
``Ever since we gave our heart to the Lord,'' Elmo says, ``doors have opened for us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Jean and Elmo Daniels operate Christian Radio AM-1530.
by CNB