Throughout its existence, WWPV's programming has been freeform in nature, playing music that can't be heard on any commercial or mainstream radio stations in the Burlington area, including indie, jazz, blues, and folk.
This changed in 1999, when WWPV entered a partnership with Vermont Public Radio, in which VPR broadcast its BBC World Service feed at 88.7 FM when there were no live shows being aired.
In spring 2008, the station won a nationwide college/university contest through the independent digital music retailer Mytracks.com, winning $5,000 to put towards a concert.
In March 2007, WWPV attracted local attention when Vermont Public Radio approached the college's president, Marc vanderHeyden, and the Board of Trustees with an interest in purchasing the frequency to turn it into a 24-hour classical station.
Numerous letters were written to the Free Press,[5] posters were put up around campus, and a large Facebook group was created to mobilize students.
[7] Under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, the college was required to divest the 88.7 FM facility upon constructing the new station;[8] on April 8, 2015, it agreed to donate the WWPV-FM license to Vermont Public Radio.
There was no loss of service as Vermont Public Classical network flagship WOXR (90.9 FM) also covers the greater Burlington area.