For Immediate Release
Contact: Bob Burtman, WHUP (919.260.2138)
Katie Murray, OC Arts Commission (919.245.2335)
Hillsborough Radio Station WHUP to Again Share Proceeds From Spring Fundraiser with Orange County Musicians
Hillsborough, April 20, 2021 – Community radio station WHUP announced today that half the proceeds from its annual spring fundraiser will again be donated to support Orange County musicians as WHUP did last fall. Proceeds from the WHUP 50/50 Event, which will run April 26–May 2, will be funneled through the Orange County Arts Commission’s Arts Support Fund and go directly to musicians in the county to help cover basic expenses.
“Federal and state relief funds for venues and arts organizations are finally helping rescue them from the economic brink,” says station manager Bob Burtman. “But our musicians and bands are still largely unable to perform live and must rely on unemployment checks or other jobs to pay the bills until clubs, concert halls and festivals are back in full gear. It is incumbent on the community to support musicians through these difficult times and WHUP has a role to play in that effort.”
The fall 50/50 Event raised more than $4,000 for local musicians and also helped WHUP remain solvent through 2020 and into the new year. “The response from the community was heartwarming,” says board member Erin Campbell, who is spearheading the 50/50 planning. “For people to give like they have after the year we’ve endured is amazing. Still, we hope to build on our success and raise at least $5,000 for musicians as well as for WHUP this time around.”
The Orange County Arts Commission has been the primary source of local relief funding dedicated to individual artists since its Arts Support Fund was established last March. WHUP is pleased to partner once again with OCAC in this vital initiative and show our appreciation to our musician friends.
The 50/50 Event week will include a series of guest DJ appearances by area performers as well as special programs in typical outside-the-box WHUP fashion, all available on demand via our website as well as in real time.
To donate to WHUP 50/50, please visit https://whupfm.org/contribute. For more information on WHUP and its programming lineup, the website address is https://whupfm.org, or email info@whupfm.org.
For more info on the Orange County Arts Commission Arts Support Fund, please visit https://artsorange.org/supportfund/
