WMSE
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| Broadcast area | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Branding | "WMSE 91.7FM" |
| First air date | 1981 (at 91.7 FM) |
| Frequency | 97.1 (MHz) |
| Format | alternative rock, Blues, Jazz, New World |
| ERP | 3,200 watts |
| Class | A |
| Callsign meaning | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| Owner | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| Website | www.wmse.org |
WMSE (91.7 FM) is a non-commercial student-run radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin playing a wide-ranging eclectic music format run by volunteer DJ's. The station is part of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).
[edit] History
The School of Engineering of Milwaukee built the city's fourth radio station. On July 22, 1922, WIAO went on the air. Transmission was at a wavelength of 360 meters (833.3 Khz) with 100 watts of power. In 1924, the Wisconsin News, a local daily evening newspaper, owned by the Hearst Corporation, began programming the station on a part time basis. That same year, WIAO became WSOE. In 1925, the station increased its power after the purchase of a new transmitter. When it went online, the "Wisconsin News" took over programming the station full time, while the School of Engineering took care of technical operations. The newspaper purchased the station in 1928, and the call letters were changed to WISN. In November of that year, the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) assigned WISN a frequency of 1120 KHz at 250 watts of power. It was also ordered to share time with WHAD, Marquette University's station, with WISN operating six days a week and WHAD operating one. This was a part of the FRC's General Order 40, which established certain "clear channel" stations. Others had to share time. Although Hearst owned the station, the studios, transmitter and antenna were still located at the School of Engineering, which continued to operate the station for the newspaper. That changed in 1932. Hearst also owned the morning newspaper, the Milwaukee Sentinel, and the radio station offices and studio were relocated to its building on Michigan Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. The transmitter and tower were relocated to the top of the Public Service Building.
In 1969, MSOE students signed on another station with the call letters WSOE. This time, it was a carrier current AM station. From about 1978 to 1980, WSOE operated as a 5 watt unlicensed FM station. It lasted until 1980, when it shut down to clear the way for MSOE's very own 1000-watt FM station, WMSE. Programming consisted of an eclectic mix of freeform programming from volunteer DJs. Most DJs have three-hour time slots, and program as they wish, mostly within their chosen formats. In 1994, the station upgraded its equipment and increased its power to 3200 watts.
In the late 1990s the station expanded its potential audience through its website, wmse.org, which supports live streaming audio as well as downloadable archives. In 1999, the university cut the station's funding, and it is now entirely listener and sponsor supported, with most money being raised by twice-yearly on-air fund drives.
Since 2003, WMSE has released a series of CD compilations featuring performances recorded live in the station's studio.
[edit] Projects
In 2004, WMSE launched the Milwaukee Sound Environment (M.S.E.) Project, a music resource for Milwaukee area artists and listeners. Established with a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board,The M.S.E. Project web site includes music news, Mp3’s from local artists, and FAQs for bands interested in getting their music heard on the station. The project also established a dedicated time-slot for live in-studio performances.
[edit] External links
- WMSE
- Milwaukee Sound Environment
- "WMSE Cracks a Quarter-Century" Shepherd Express, August 16, 2006
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WMSE
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| FM radio stations in the Milwaukee market (Arbitron #36) | |
|---|---|
| By frequency: |
87.7¹ | 88.1 | 88.9 | 89.7 | 90.7 | 91.7 | 92.1 | 92.5 | 93.3 | 94.1 | 94.5 | 95.1 | 95.7 | 96.5 | 96.9 | 97.3 | 98.3 | 99.1 | 100.1 | 100.7 | 102.1 | 102.9 | 103.7 | 104.5 | 104.7 | 104.9 | 105.3 | 106.1 | 106.9 | 107.7 |
| By callsign: |
WBWI | WCCX | WDDW | WEZY | WFMR | WFZH | WHAD | WHQG | WIIL | WITI¹ | WJJO | WJMR | WJZI | WKKV | WKLH | WKTI | WLUM | WPJP | WMIL | WMSE | WMWK | WMYX | WQBW | WRIT | WTKM | WUWM | WVCY | WWDV | WXSS | WYMS ¹Audio for TV Channel 6 (Fox) |
