WEMC

WEMC
City of license Harrisonburg, Virginia
Broadcast area Harrisonburg, Virginia
Branding "WEMC 91.7"
Slogan "Classical Music/BBC News"
Frequency 91.7 MHz
First air date 1955
Format Public Radio
Power 1,850 Watts
HAAT 58 Meters
Class A
Callsign meaning W Eastern Mennonite College
former name of EMU
Affiliations National Public Radio
Pacifica Radio
American Public Media
Public Radio International
Owner Board of Trustees of Eastern Mennonite University
Webcast WEMC Webstream
Website WEMC Online

WEMC is a Public Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Harrisonburg, Virginia, serving the Harrisonburg area. WEMC is owned by the Board of Trustees of Eastern Mennonite University and operated by Board of Trustees of Eastern Mennonite University.

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History

Founded by EMU in 1955 thanks to a donation from the class of 1954, WEMC is Virginia's first public radio station. WEMC broadcasts primarily classical music. BBC news airs at 7 am and 5 pm; NPR's Fresh Air at 6 pm; jazz from 7-9 pm; and Democracy Now! at 9 pm. Saturdays are largely devoted to folk, bluegrass, rock and world music. Sacred music and a live church service are offered on Sunday mornings.

The studio was originally located in the balcony of Lehman Auditorium and later moved to Astral Hall, which had been an astronomy classroom. (The EMU telescope is still housed in the observatory next to Astral Hall.)

On February 1st, 2007, James Madison University's public radio station WMRA, assumed management of WEMC-FM. WEMC now broadcasts from WMRA's studios on the corner of Reservoir Street and Cantrell Ave. in Harrisonburg. While the daily operations and financial needs of WEMC are handled by WMRA management, EMU retains the operating license for the station[1].

Power Increase

WEMC requested from the FCC to move its antenna 10 miles to the NNW of its current location and increase its power and antenna height. They are requesting to be a directional Class B station with a power increase to 9,500 watts. This power increase will improve coverage to Staunton, Luray, and Mount Jackson, towns that currently cannot receive WEMC well.

References

  1. ^ JMU to Manage EMU's Public Radio Station - EMU News

External links