WRDL to participate in Vinylthon programming April 18-19

Published on April 08, 2026

Journalism and Digital Media

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s award-winning, student-run radio station, WRDL, will be participating in the annual Vinylthon celebration on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19.

“This year, WRDL will play 48 hours of only vinyl records and feature a retrospective on a million-selling, chart-topping special guest,” previewed Derek Wood, faculty advisor and general manger of WRDL. “This historic event includes AU students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the radio station.”

Vinylthon is an annual event organized by the College Radio Foundation, a non-profit charity in New Jersey. The College Radio Foundation also organizes College Radio Day each fall.

Vinylthon is held to celebrate the unique format of vinyl by broadcasting shows from vinyl only. Radio stations that spin at least 24 hours of vinyl records are given the Golden Slipmat Award. An additional award is given to stations that play 48 hours of vinyl records. More information on Vinylthon can be found at vinylthon.com.

WRDL, which has won the Golden Slipmat Award eight times previously, will begin Vinylthon 2026 on Saturday, April 18, at 12:01 a.m., and will be playing only vinyl records until Sunday, April 19, at 11:59 p.m.

New this year during Vinylthon on WRDL is a retrospective of Grand Funk Railroad, the 1970s rock band from Flint, Michigan. WRDL interviewed founding member Mark Farner, who was the primary songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist for the group. Grand Funk Railroad charted 19 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100, including eight Top-40 hits and two No. 1’s – “We’re an American Band” and “The Loco-Motion.” The group sold over 30 million records worldwide and had more than a dozen albums certified gold or platinum.

WRDL can be heard in 10 counties across north-central Ohio on 88.9 FM and is streamed live at wrdlfm.com and on the free WRDL app. WRDL supports the academic mission of the Journalism and Digital Media program at Ashland University and is a member radio station of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System and Ohio Association of Broadcasters.

Ashland University is a mid-size, private university conveniently located halfway between Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Offering undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, AU puts the “Accent on the Individual” by combining strong applied academic programs with a distinguished faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.