WBEW
MHz (HD Radio )
91.1 NCE | |
|---|---|
| ERP | 4,000 watts |
| HAAT | 181.9 meters (597 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°38′6.1″N 87°2′59.1″W / 41.635028°N 87.049750°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | www |
WBEW (89.5
History
The station began broadcasting in early 2001, holding the call letters WAJW.
In November 2002, the station was purchased by Chicago Public Media for $550,000 and its call letters were changed to WBEW.[8][7][3] Chicago Public Media simulcast 91.5 WBEZ on the station from November 2002 until June 2007.[9][10]
Vocalo
The station split from its simulcast with WBEZ in June 2007 and was branded "Vocalo".
By August 2010, Vocalo had begun to base their playlist on hip-hop, dance, and R&B, and in 2014 adopted the slogan "Chicago's Urban Alternative".[12] In January 2016, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) gave Chicago Public Radio $450,000 to refine Vocalo's format, so that the format's viability in other markets could be researched.[13]
On April 3, 2024 Chicago Public Media announced it would discontinue the Vocalo radio broadcast. The cut drew criticism as it coincided with a $6.4 million, studio upgrade at WBEZ’s Navy Pier office and a 19% pay increase for Chicago Public Media’s CEO, Matt Moog.[14] The cuts came only 2 years after CPM acquired the Chicago Sun-Times for $61Million.[15] Locals were left to wonder what the decision signals about the organization's commitment to diversity.[16] The announcement included 14 layoffs in total with additional cuts to the WBEZ podcast team and non-newsroom Sun-Times employees.[17]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBEW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ http://www.hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=4 HD Radio Guide for Chicago
- ^ a b Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c "North East RadioWatch", BostonRadio.com. July 15, 2002. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2003-2004, Broadcasting & Cable, 2003. p. D-158. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 06. February 7, 2001. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "Radio Business", Radio & Records. July 12, 2002. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Application Search Details: BALED-20020708AAE, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Feder, Robert. "WLS Radio hanging up on callers who 'sound old'" Chicago Sun Times. November 21, 2002.
- ^ a b c Careless, James (2007-12-05). "Vocalo.org: From Web to Broadcast". Radio World. New York City: NewBay Media. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Janssen, Mike (May 14, 2007). "Fresh startup keeps old ideals". Current.org. Archived from the original on May 17, 2007. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Janssen, Mike. "Music format highlighting hip-hop, other genres seeks home on public radio", Current.org. August 17, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Falk, Tyler. " Chicago's Vocalo reins in eclectic approach but keeps focus on younger audience", Current.org. July 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "Chicago Public Media announces 14 layoffs, end of Vocalo radio broadcast". Chicago Sun-Times. 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
- ^ "Chicago Public Media Announces Its Acquisition of the Chicago Sun-Times". WBEZ Chicago. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
- ^ Rosales, South Side Weekly Admin, Jocelyn Martinez (2024-04-11). "The Cannabis Issue, farewell Vocalo, and fatal traffic stop in Humbolt Park". South Side Weekly. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kaufmann, Justin (April 3, 2024). "Chicago Public Media kills Vocalo, lays off 14 employees".
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
- Vocalo.org, WBEW's official site
- WBEW in the FCC FM station database
- WBEW in Nielsen Audio's FM station database