WXPN
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(January 2011) |
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Broadcast area | Delaware Valley |
Frequency | 88.5MHz(HD Radio) |
Branding | 88.5 XPN |
Programming | |
Format | Adult album alternative |
Subchannels | HD2:XPN2/XPoNential Radio(adult album alternative) |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | |
Former frequencies | 88.9 MHz (1957–1990)[1][2] |
Call signmeaning | "Experimental Pennsylvania Network" |
Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 68229 |
Class | B |
ERP | |
HAAT | 365 meters (1,198 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°2′19.7″N75°14′12.8″W/ 40.038806°N 75.236889°W |
Translator(s) | See§ Translators |
Repeater(s) | See§ Stations |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | www |
WXPN(88.5FM) is anon-commercial,publicradio stationlicensed to the Trustees of theUniversity of PennsylvaniainPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,that broadcasts anadult album alternative(AAA)radio format,along with many other format shows. WXPN producesWorld Cafe,a music program distributed byNPRto many non-commercial stations in theUnited States.The station'scall sign,which is often abbreviated toXPN,stands for "Experimental Pennsylvania Network". The broadcast tower used by WXPN is located at (40°2′19.7″N75°14′12.8″W/ 40.038806°N 75.236889°W),[5]in the antenna farm complex in theRoxboroughsection of Philadelphia.
History
[edit]20th century
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Roger_LaMay_speaking.jpg/220px-Roger_LaMay_speaking.jpg)
While theUniversity of Pennsylvaniahas been involved with radio since 1909 when a wireless station was located in Houston Hall,[6][7][8]WXPN itself first came into existence in 1945 as acarrier currentstation at 730AM.
In 1957, it was granted a full license as a 10-wattcollege radiostation at 88.9 FM in addition to their frequency of 730 AM. From then into the mid-1970s, WXPN was a student activity of the university and as it grew, the station initiated unique programming designs including one of the earliestfreeformradio formats,Phase II, in the 1960s. Local DJ Michael Tearson got his start at WXPN in the late 1960s with a radio showThe Attic.Tearson went on to replaceDave HermanatWMMRin 1970.
In 1975, a controversial broadcast on the talk showThe Vegetable Reportled to an obscenity complaint with theFCC,which found the charges serious enough to decline renewal of the broadcast license. This incident (December 1975) marked the first time FCC pulled a license on grounds of obscenity. But a citizen's group organized to petition the FCC to consider XPN's unique service, and with a pledge from Penn to create positions for professional staff to run the station, the FCC allowed the license to renew.
With this new staff of five managers, WXPN became a steady fountain of high-quality folk, jazz, new and avant-garde music and public affairs programming produced by a combination of station alumni and community volunteers, with little to no student involvement. Veterans of WXPN that have gone on to notable achievements in other areas includeBroadwayproducer and directorHarold Prince,the station's first program director,NBC NewscorrespondentAndrea Mitchell,its former news director,jazzproducerMichael Cuscuna,a former DJ, andEchoesproducersJohn Dilibertoand Kimberly Haas, former producers ofDiaspar,and other WXPN shows.
Shows that have been staples on XPN since the 1970s includeThe Blues Show with Jonny Meister(Saturday nights),Sleepy Hollow(Saturday and Sunday morning quiet music shows),Star's End(ambient and space music Saturday night/Sunday morning) andAmazon Country(lesbian-oriented music and programming on Sunday evening). WXPN also broadcasts the Folk Show on Sunday evening, which started atWHAT-FMin 1962 and continued onWDAS-FM,WMMR,WIOQandWHYY-FMbut moved to WXPN in the 1990s when WHYY changed to a talk format.
In 1986, the station qualified for membership in theCorporation for Public Broadcastingand began the legal process to move from 88.9 to 88.5 on theFM broadcast bandin order to increase signal coverage. Beginning the late 1980s, the programming and personnel were shifted from its diverse volunteer voice to full-time salaried programmers. Penn student radio activity is currently carried out onWQHS.
In 1988, WXPN startedKids Corner,a daily interactive radio show for kids hosted by Kathy O'Connell.Kids Cornerhas won numerous awards, including thePeabody Awardand the Armstrong Award.
21st century
[edit]In 2004, WXPN moved to new facilities at 3025Walnut Street,where the radio station shares space with a music venue calledWorld Cafe Live.(World Cafe Liveis an independent for-profit entity that pays a yearly fee to license theWorld Cafename from WXPN.)
In October 2015, WXPN andWNTIjointly announced a sales agreement for transfer of ownership of theHackettstown, New Jersey,public radio station owned byCentenary College.The sale price is $1,250,000 in cash and another $500,000 in underwriting value over 10 years. A Public Service Operating Agreement enabled WXPN to begin using the WNTI transmission facilities to air WXPN programming, effective October 15, 2015.[9]WNTI changed its call sign to WXPJ on May 16, 2016.
Programs
[edit]WXPN carries primarily locally originated programs, supplemented by a few nationally syndicated shows.[10]The station's weekday programs are all produced by its own staff, includingWorld Cafe,a show developed and hosted by WXPN hostDavid Dyeand now distributed byNPR.[11]The station also produces most of its night and weekend specialty programs, includingKids Cornerwith Kathy O'Connell,The Geator's Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues Expresswith legendary PhiladelphiaDJJerry Blavat,The Blues Showwith Jonny Meister,The Folk Showwith Ian Zolitor andSleepy Hollow,an early morning program of quiet music. The station's syndicated offerings includeThe Grateful Dead HourwithDavid Gans,The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn,EchoeswithJohn DilibertoandMountain StagewithLarry Groce.[10]
Q'zine, produced and hosted by Robert Drake since 1996, is a voice for the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia. The program originated as Sunshine Gaydreams, later shortened to Gaydreams, in 1974.[12]
WXPN also broadcasts thePenn Quakers men's basketballgames.[13]
From August 15 to 18, 2019, WXPN broadcast a "Woodstock — As It Happened — 50 Years On" weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of theWoodstockfestival. It used all of the festival's archived audio in "as close to real time as possible", using newly reconstructed audio archives of each of Woodstock's 32 performances.[14]
Stations
[edit]One full-power station (WXPH) is licensed tosimulcastthe programming of WXPN full-time. One full-power station (WXPJ) currently has a Public Service Operating Agreement to simulcast the programming of WXPN.
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | Facility ID | Class | ERP (W) |
Height (m(ft)) |
Transmitter coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WXPH[a] | 88.7 FM[b] | Middletown, Pennsylvania | 87834 | B | 7,000 vert, 75 horiz (analog) 279 (digital)[15] |
216 m (709 ft) | 40°2′7.4″N76°37′17.9″W/ 40.035389°N 76.621639°W |
WKHS[c] | 90.5 FM | Worton, Maryland | 6057 | B1 | 17,500[16] | 66 m (217 ft) | 39°16′55.3″N76°5′24.8″W/ 39.282028°N 76.090222°W |
WXPJ[d] | 91.9 FM[b] | Hackettstown, New Jersey | 9759 | B1 | 5,400 (analog) 216 (digital)[17] |
167 m (548 ft) | 40°51′8.3″N74°52′23.6″W/ 40.852306°N 74.873222°W |
- ^WXPH coversYork,Lancaster,Harrisburg,Hanoverand the surrounding area.
- ^abTransmits inHD Radio
- ^WKHS only simulcasts WXPN on weekends, overnight hours and throughout the summer. Covers theEastern Shore of Maryland,New Castle County, Delaware,Kent County, Delaware,Baltimore,Annapolis,Easton,andHavre de Grace.
- ^WXPJ coversHackettstown,northernNew Jerseyand northeasternPennsylvania.
Translators
[edit]WXPN programming is broadcast on the followingtranslators:
Call sign | Frequency (MHz) |
City of license | Facility ID | Class | ERP (W) |
Height (m(ft)) |
Transmitter coordinates | Rebroadcasts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W259AU | 99.7 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 153367 | D | 10 | 209.2 meters (686 ft) | 40°18′20.3″N77°00′25.9″W/ 40.305639°N 77.007194°W | WXPH |
W285DH | 104.9 | North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania | 69361 | D | 13 | 105 m (344 ft) | 40°40′22.3″N75°34′40.6″W/ 40.672861°N 75.577944°W | WXPN |
From 1993 to 2007, the WXPH call sign was used on 88.1 in Harrisburg, nowWZXM.[18]WXPN traded that facility toFour Rivers Community Broadcastingin return for 88.7 Middletown and W259AU.[19]
Portions of WXPN's schedule are simulcast onWKHS90.5 FM,Worton, Maryland(Eastern Shore Chesapeake BayandBaltimoreareas).
WXPN-HD2
[edit]![]() | |
Programming | |
---|---|
Format | Adult album alternative |
Ownership | |
Owner | University of Pennsylvania |
History | |
First air date | August 2006 |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | www |
XPN2/XPoNential Radiois anadult album alternativeradio station broadcast on the HD2 channels of WXPN inPhiladelphiaand WXPH in Middletown, Pennsylvania.[20]The station is also syndicated to several other public radio stations, which air it on their HD2 or HD3 channels.[21]
History
[edit]On May 2, 2007, WXPN launched anindie rockformat on its HD2 channel, branded as "Y-Rock on XPN".[22]Y-Rock on XPN featured on-air personalities originally from Philadelphia radio stationWPLY (100.3 FM),branded as "Y100". WPLY ownerRadio Onechanged the station's format in 2005, ending thealternative rockformat. Y-Rock on XPN was the latest incarnation of the Y100 brand[23]that originally aired on WPLY, which was the market's alternative rock station from 1995 until 2005.
In mid-June 2010, "Y-Rock on XPN" programming was cancelled due to budget cuts.[24]The "Y-Rock on XPN" branding officially changed to XPN2 at midnight, June 15, 2011.[25]The HD2 channel and companion online stream would later be re-branded as "XpoNential Radio".
WQHS
[edit]Broadcast area | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,U.S. |
---|---|
Frequency | CurrentlyInternet radioonly |
Branding | "wqhs.org" |
Programming | |
Format | Freeform |
Ownership | |
Owner | University of Pennsylvania |
History | |
First air date | 1975 |
Call signmeaning | "Quad Hill Superblock" |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | wqhs.upenn.edu |
WQHSis the only wholly student-operatedcollege radiostation at theUniversity of Pennsylvania.[26]WXPN was the University's principal student radio station until 1975, with WQHS as an AM-based training ground for DJs. After 1975, WQHS became the official student radio station of the University, with WXPN being taken over by an external company. The radio station currently broadcasts an eclectic freeformradio formatover internet radio, as a result of their radio tower, formerly on top of Harnwell College House, falling down in a severe storm in 2003.
History
[edit]In the 1960s, the University had two radio stations with the call sign WXPN, an FM station at 88.9 MHz and an AM station at 730 kHz. The AM radio station broadcast as a non-licensedcarrier currentradio station, and able to be heard only on the University grounds. Both radio stations consisted of educational programming, news and sports coverage, as well as music. In 1965, WXPN-AM started airing popular music shows, stirring interest among the students. At the time, the radio station operated out ofHouston Hall,directly in the center of campus.
In 1970, WXPN-AM's operations moved fromHouston Hall,directly in the center of campus, to 3905 Spruce Street. After problems with the FCC over show content in the 1970s, WXPN-FM's broadcast license was not renewed.[27]WXPN-AM then became WQHS, which stands for "Quad Hill Superblock" (referring to student dormitories on campus). As it had not been involved with the FCC dispute, WQHS remained completely student-run while WXPN was afterwards run by a mix of community volunteers and former students. The stations developed two distinct styles, with WQHS focused more on contemporary music and WXPN reflecting the more esoteric interests of its staff. This ultimately led to a complete split between the stations, with both moving from their common Spruce Street location. The FM radio station became professionally run by 1980, with former students and community volunteers staffing the station, while the AM radio station was still student-run. As of September 2005, the radio station is located on the fifth floor of the Hollenback Center, on the far east side of campus.
References
[edit]- ^"WXPN Facility Data".FCCData.org.
- ^"FCC History Cards for WXPN".
- ^"Facility Technical Data for WXPN".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^"FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WXPN]".fcc.gov.Federal Communications Commission.December 3, 2014.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
- ^"FM Query Results [WXPN]".fcc.gov.Federal Communications Commission.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
- ^"The Wireless Club Station – UP".RetrievedFebruary 27,2018.
- ^"A Brief History of the Club".RetrievedFebruary 27,2019.
- ^"The Wireless Club"(PDF).RetrievedFebruary 27,2019.
- ^"WXPN Picks Up Centenary College's WNTI".RadioWorld.com.Archived fromthe originalon October 13, 2015.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^ab"XPN Program Guide".xpn.org.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^"David Dye, NPR Biography".National Public Radiowebsite.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^"Q'zine".xpn.org.RetrievedSeptember 19,2020.
- ^"Penn Basketball".xpn.org.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^Warren, Bruce (August 14, 2019)."And now, your schedule for #XPNStock: The 50th anniversary broadcast of Woodstock".xpn.org.RetrievedAugust 17,2019.
- ^"FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WXPH]".fcc.gov.Federal Communications Commission.October 18, 2018.RetrievedNovember 14,2018.
- ^"WKHS".fcc.gov.Federal Communications Commission.October 18, 2018.RetrievedMarch 7,2023.
- ^"FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WXPJ]".fcc.gov.Federal Communications Commission.October 19, 2016.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
- ^"Call Sign History [WZXM]".fcc.gov.Federal Communications Commission.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
- ^"Northeast Radio Watch, June 25, 2007".Fybush.com.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^"XPN2".WXPN.
- ^https://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=16ArchivedJanuary 11, 2017, at theWayback MachineHD Radio Guide for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- ^"WXPN Launches Y-Rock as HD2 Channel".RadioWorld.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2016.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^"Dept. of Sad Face".Philadelphia City Paper.June 16, 2010.[dead link]
- ^"NorthEast Radio Watch, June 14, 2010".Fybush.com.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^"Just Announced: Y-Rock On XPN to change its name to XPN2 at midnight".TheKey.xpn.org.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
- ^"WQHS Radio – University of Pennsylvania Student Radio Broadcasting Live 24/7 from the Seltzer Family Studio".RetrievedApril 10,2024.
- ^"How To Lose Your Station's FCC License".February 22, 2019.RetrievedApril 10,2024.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 68229 (WXPN)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WXPNinNielsen Audio's FM station database
- Guide to the WXPN-FM Radio station records
- University of Pennsylvania
- XPoNential Radio
- World Cafe
- WQHS home page
- "Gaydreams" audio recordingsheld byJohn J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center
———
- Facility details for Facility ID 87834 (WXPH)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WXPHinNielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 9759 (WXPJ)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WXPJinNielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 153367 (W259AU)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W259AUat FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 69361 (W285DH)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W285DHat FCCdata.org