KMOJ

KMOJ
Broadcast area Minneapolis-St. Paul
Branding 89.9 KMOJ
Slogan "The People's Station"
Frequency 89.9 FM (MHz)
First air date September 15, 1978
Format Community radio
Urban contemporary
Mainstream urban
ERP 6,200 watts
HAAT 120 meters
Class C3
Callsign meaning Derived from umoja (Swahili for unity)
Owner Center for Communication and Development
Webcast Listen Live
Website kmojfm.com

KMOJ, 89.9 FM, is a community-oriented station located in Minneapolis, Minnesota airing a predominantly urban adult contemporary format. It began in 1976 as WMOJ, a very low-power AM station at 1200 kHz that reached only a few blocks from its studios and transmitter in the Sumner-Olson and Glenwood-Lyndale public housing developments. The station expanded its reach with a move to FM in September 1978, becoming KMOJ at 89.7 FM with 10 watts of power and its transmitter/antenna atop a highrise near its studios at 810 5th Avenue North. A frequency change to 89.9 in 1984 coincided with a power increase to 1,000 watts along with a studio move to a newly built facility across the street at 501 Bryant Avenue North. The transmitter remained on the highrise.

KMOJ features soul, blues, gospel, reggae, jazz, hip-hop, spoken word, and talk shows aimed at African American listeners. It is owned and operated by the non-profit Center for Communications and Development ("CCD"), located on Minneapolis' north side. KMOJ is a member of Minnesota's Independent Public Radio network. The station features several DJs including Freddie Bell and Chantel Sings (Hosts of The Morning Show), Lisa "Moysauce" Moy (Host of Middays), Walter "Q Bear" Banks Jr. and Shed G (Hosts of Afternoon Drive Time), Chris Styles and BDotCroc (Hosts of Tite At Nite) Caddy "The Prince of Darkness" (Host of the Original Quiet Storm), RAS Bongo Jerry (Host of Cool Running), DJ Divine and Nikki Love (Hosts of Classic Hop-Hop), William "Bake Show" Baker (Host of The Weekend Groove), Smoke Dee and DJ Dan Speak (Hosts of The Throwback Throwdown), DJ No Name (AKA Killa Kai) and N.I. (Nigel Sadeen) (Hosts of Future Flava), Chaz Millionaire (Host of Jazz Reflections) and Ray Richardson (Host of Back in the Day). Other DJ contributors include DJ Boogie, DJ Fundrasier, Sanni Brown and of course long time Gospel favorite Kimuel Hailey. KMOJ also airs community important talk shows from 6 - 7pm Mondays through Fridays. The Professor Mahmoud El-Kati can be heard every Tuesday at 6:30 with his show "Reflections and Connections", Nneka Morgan with her show "Financial Fitness" Wednesdays at 6pm, The "QUEEN" of the Village Lissa L. Jones and her Urban Agenda every Thursday at 6pm and "African Roots" with Charles Dennis Saturday mornings at 9am. Other shows include "It's Your Health", "Know Your Options" and "Voices".[1]

The station has struggled with internal tension and lack of funds, among other things, since its inception. KMOJ was forced to move from its Girard Terrace studios in January 2007 after severe structural damage was discovered and the building was condemned and subsequently razed.[2] The station relocated its studios to a temporary location in the Uptown area of Minneapolis in March 2007, until a permanent location could be established.[3] The station worked with the City of Minneapolis and moved to a building at West Broadway and Penn Avenue in 2010.[4]

KMOJ moved its transmitting facility in 2011 from its original north Minneapolis site to a new tower facility in the northern suburb of Arden Hills and increased power to 6,200 watts. The old transmitter was given to a radio station in Nigeria on the same frequency.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "KMOJ 89.9 FM The People's Station". Jon Stanley. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  2. ↑ Collins, Terry (February 1, 2007). "KMOJ Is Barely There, but on the Air". Star Tribune.
  3. ↑ Scholtes, Peter S. (March 29, 2007). "KMOJ moves to Uptown, fires Spike Moss". City Pages. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ Hallman, Charles (April 22, 2010). "KMOJ resurrected in North Minneapolis". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
  5. ↑ Hallman, Charles (March 30, 2011). "KMOJ transmitter bound for Nigeria". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

External links

Coordinates: 45°04′08″N 93°10′34″W / 45.069°N 93.176°W / 45.069; -93.176

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