KYMC

Infobox Radio station
name = KYMC


city = Ballwin, Missouri
area = St. Louis County, Missouri
branding = "YMCA Radio"
slogan = "Commercial Free Variety in St. Louis"
airdate = c. 1978
frequency = 89.7 MHz
format = Variety (Silent)
erp = 120 watts
haat = 52 meters (171 feet)
class = A
facility_id = 66671
coordinates = coord|38|37|23|N|90|32|01|W
callsign_meaning = KYMC is a YMCA-owned station
former_callsigns =
owner = West County Family YMCA
licensee = The YMCA of Greater St. Louis
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://wwwdev.ymcastlouis.org/westcounty/kymc KYMC Online]
website =
affiliations =

KYMC (89.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve Ballwin, Missouri, USA. The station is owned by West County Family YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis, and served the western St Louis, Missouri, area. [cite news |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |title=Low End of Band Holds Sweet Surprises |date=1992-03-22 |first=Harper |last=Barnes |page=2C] As of January 5, 2007, the station is not currently operating and it is unclear if or when it will resume broadcasting. It aired a community-oriented alternative rock music format.cite web |title=Station Information Profile |work=Arbitron |url=http://www.arbitron.com/]

The station was assigned the KYMC call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.cite web |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=66671&Callsign=KYMC] The non-profit station was the only one owned by a YMCA in the United States. [cite web |url=http://wwwdev.ymcastlouis.org/westcounty/kymc/about |title=About KYMC Radio |work=YMCA of Greater St. Louis] KYMC is currently operating under a "remain silent authority" granted by the FCC on January 30, 2008. [cite web |title=Application Search Details - 20080116ABM |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1229721 |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access |date=2008-01-24] This authority expires on July 28, 2008.

On August 28, 2008, the FCC approved the transfer of KYMC to Missouri River Christian Broadcasting, who will return the station to the air, simulcasting Moody Broadcasting Network programming from KGNV Washington, MO.

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 1993. Greg Berg was one of the few KYMC DJs to be hired as on-air talent by The Point.

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 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".cite news |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |title=Fans Dispute YMCA Radio Station's Policies |date=1992-07-24 |first=Patricia |last=Corrigan |page=1A |quote=A radio station owned and operated by the West County YMCA is at odds with its primary listening audience - fans of alternative music, also known as progressive rock. The station, KYMC (89.7 FM), has in the last week dismissed at least seven staff volunteers and canceled a late-night talk show and is changing its format to one suitable 'for the whole family.']

The station's popularity fell into decline as its content became more fragmented. Income from pledge drives and sponsorships waned.

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. [cite news |work=Suburban Journals |date=2006-12-27 |first=Mary |last=Shapiro |url=http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2006/12/27/news/sj2tn20061226-1227cfj_savekymc.ii1.txt |title=KYMC radio to go off air, at least for now] During our budget process for 2007, it was determined we would cease operations of the station due to budgetary constraints." [cite news |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |title=New year will mark the end of KYMC |date=2006-12-24 |first=Diane |last=Toroian Keaggy |page=F2]

References

* http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/status/silentFM.html

External links

* [http://wwwdev.ymcastlouis.org/westcounty/kymc KYMC official website]
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* [http://www.savekymc.net Save KYMC Site]
* [http://tenwatts.blogspot.com/2005/07/ymca-radio.html Arcane Radio Trivia Article]