Programming
As with most colleges, WLRA included, the music industry and musical tastes of the station's staff and the listening audience change with the times. Colleges and Universities have a diverse student population and audience. The college's radio station has the obligation to meet these challenges. As Cardinal John Henry Newman wrote: "to live is to change... and to be perfect is to have changed often". College radio stations pride themselves by promoting underplayed and under-represented forms of music, the obscure and unique - versus the mainstream. The college radio stations achieve this with the independent music labels and the College Media Journal.
WLRA Radio's diverse programming reflects a traditional college radio format known as variety presented in block style (2-4 hour show).
WLRA Radio, through its creative staff and leadership, has hosted many innovative radio programs over the years. These include an eclectic and Freeform, experimental college radio programming, weekly live radio talk shows, Lewis University Flyer sporting events from around the country, remote broadcasts, and community service events.
WLRA's current programming includes news and sports talk radio, coverage of Lewis University Flyer Sports, local high school football and basketball; music genre formats including: adult album alternative, alternative rock, hip hop, rap, rock and roll, blues, jazz, reggae, religious, country, seasonal Christmas music, and Latina-American cultural immersion.
In the Fall 2008 semester, WLRA staffed 24 hour with students on air. The station also introduced a Trop Rock format called "The Island" which features calypso, reggae, and Caribbean rock music.
WLRA has broadcast many radio remotes from as far away as Florida to cover Lewis University Flyer Baseball, Las Vegas to broadcast "The Practice Squad" sports talk show; and also the National Association of Broadcasters Convention at the Comrex booth. The radio station has also done broadcast from The House of Blues in Chicago, LaLaPalooza, Jimmy Buffet pre-concert, Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago, and ESPN Zone in Chicago.
WLRA, with a commitment to community service, has produced marathon broadcasts for a local children's hospital and Christmas music programming with the United Way of Will County. In March 2011, broadcasting student Jodi Steinberg, set a WLRA broadcasting record with a 76 hour non-stop on-air marathon during "To Kill A DJ". The WLRA Marathon broadcast record holders are the following:
- Broadcasting students Natalie Paul, T’rell Campbell, Brittany Miller, and Anthony Trotter, 48 hours, November 2011
- Broadcasting student Jodi Steinberg, 76 hours, March 2011
- Broadcasting students Courtney Everett and Josh Bowen, 72 hours, October 2010
- Broadcasting student Marc Denson, 55 hours, March 2010
- Broadcasting student Joey Preston, 48 hours, November 2009
- Broadcasting student Mark Serratore, 45 hours, March 2009
- Broadcasting student Joshua Bowen, 38 hours, November 2008
- Broadcasting student Mark Serratore, 37 hours, March 2008
- Broadcasting student Jason Brenski, 32 hours, 1993
- Business student Edward Vucinic, 30 hours, 1983
The money raised goes to the Family Assistance Fund of Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
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