WYMS

WYMS
City of license Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Branding 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Frequency

88.9 MHz

(also on HD Radio)
First air date March 5, 1973 (1973-03-05)
Format Adult Alternative
Power 1,450 watts
HAAT 289 meters
Class B1
Facility ID 42669
Callsign meaning We're Your Milwaukee Schools
Affiliations NPR, PRX
Owner Milwaukee Public Schools
Webcast Listen Live
Website www.radiomilwaukee.org

WYMS is a non-commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, broadcasting on 88.9 FM. The station currently airs a younger-skewing eclectic adult album alternative music format, branded as "Radio Milwaukee". The station's license is owned by Milwaukee Public Schools, though it is managed and programmed by an outside group, also named Radio Milwaukee. In addition, WYMS airs weekly school board meetings on the over-the-air signal as a condition of MPS leasing the signal to Radio Milwaukee.

History

Initially, WYMS ran mainstream jazz as "Jazz 89" with various ethnic programming (particularly Polka music) on the weekends. The call letters stand for "Your Milwaukee Schools"

In the spring of 2002, Milwaukee Public Schools had a budget shortfall and the station's operations were handed over to WUWM at University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For a short period, WYMS simmulcasted WUWM's programming before switching over to syndicated mainstream jazz music.

Under management of Radio For Milwaukee, the station planned to introduce an eclectic contemporary music format. After many delays and target sign-on dates, the station dropped the automated jazz programming and began stunting on February 23, 2007. The new format officially debuted on February 26, with on-air personalities first appearing on March 5.[1]

In May 2010 the station picked up World Cafe from WUWM after that station considered the program's music direction out of format.

References

External links