KYMC
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| KYMC | |
| Broadcast area | St. Louis, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Commercial Free Variety in St. Louis |
| Frequency | 89.7 (mHz) |
| First air date | c. 1978 |
| Format | silent |
| Power | was 120 Watts |
| Callsign meaning | KYMC is a YMCA-owned station |
| Owner | YMCA of Greater St. Louis |
KYMC was a radio station in Ballwin, Missouri, (a suburb of St. Louis) owned by the YMCA of Greater Saint Louis. As of early January 2007, the station is not currently operating and it is unclear whether it will resume broadcasting at a future point in time.
The non-profit station, which was the only one owned by a YMCA in the United States, was licensed out of Ballwin, Missouri and its broadcast area was within about a 15-mile radius.
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[edit] Programming
It was the first alternative rock station in St. Louis and was a non-commercial station. In the 1990s many bands played their music live in the studio, including Everclear, Alanis Morissette and Live.
At its peak in the Spring of 1992, KYMC was run by program director Glen Allen and music director Greg Berg. The station was officially managed by YMCA employee Ruth Ady. Under the leadership of Glen Allen, the station achieved tremendous success by streamlining the alternative rock music format for the Saint Louis audience, a first in the area. Incoming funding from pledge drives and sponsorships reached an all-time high for the station. The popularity of the alternative rock format on such a small station helped pave the way for viability of the format on a larger scale. KPNT-FM (105.7 The Point) began operation soon after that in March of 1993. Greg Berg was one of the few KYMC DJs to be hired as on-air talent by The Point.
[edit] Controversy
During KYMC's peak in popularity in the Spring of 1992, general manager Ruth Ady used most of the station revenues for other YMCA programs, leaving the station's broadcasting equipment in a constant state of dysfunction. In May of 1992, Ruth Ady fired Glen Allen, Greg Berg, and most of the DJ staff, with the intention of turning the station back into "kiddy radio camp" for the YMCA. Large protests were organized by some of the remaining DJs, receiving front page coverage in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The station's popularity fell into decline as its content became more fragmented. Income from pledge drives and sponsorships waned.
[edit] Falling Silent
"Effective Jan. 1, (2007) the station will go dark," said Denise Glass, executive director of the West County Family YMCA, "The YMCA of Greater St. Louis is a not-for-profit charitable organization. During our budget process for 2007, it was determined we would cease operations of the station due to budgetary constraints."
[edit] References
- http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2006/12/27/news/sj2tn20061226-1227cfj_savekymc.ii1.txt
- http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/status/silentFM.html
[edit] External links
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