Pitchfork

This just in from the "totally sucks" desk: citing financial difficulties, beloved Cincinnati radio institution WOXY announced this week that it will cease operations after a final broadcast on September 15.

For those who grew up savoring the station's unique alternative format on FM since its inception in 1983, to those who caught wind when WOXY went web in 1998 (and web-only in 2004), to anyone seeking a music choice outside the corporate mainstream, the news is very sad indeed.

"This is the moment all of us hoped would never come," wrote station representatives in an official statement. "After plugging away at this for the past two years, it's become pretty clear that operating woxy.com as a stand-alone Internet "radio station" is not going to cut it. Our operating costs are higher than you might think, and the revenue we were able to generate from advertising isn't close to supporting what we're doing. Even membership revenue wasn't enough to get us there. When your business doesn't make money, you eventually go out of business."

They continued, "A radio station is only as big as its listeners make it. We're not BS-ing when we say that you guys, our supporters, are the most amazing people on the planet. THANK YOU. The dedication and enthusiasm you've shown for what we do is staggering and inspiring. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to become a member, generously made a contribution, emailed (spammed) your friends, spread the gospel of woxy.com and-- most of all-- listened."

Read the entire farewell statement on woxy.com.

And while all seems dire, a glimmer of hope remains: last time WOXY was in serious jeopardy (after its FM broadcast license was sold in 2004), a pair of mysterious anonymous investors appeared in the 11th hour to bankroll the station's new web format-- these miracles don't happen twice, but if anyone deserves another break, it's WOXY. So if you're some chump kid who just inherited daddy's millions, sell the fleet of Hummers and save one of the nation's most respected radio stations. Please. Do it for the karma. Do it for the kids.