Broadcast area Greater St. Louis Format Jazz, Blues, R&B HAAT 152 metres (499 ft) | Slogan The Sound ERP 50,000 watts Class B | |
WSIE is a public radio station in Edwardsville, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Owned by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, it is the primary jazz station for the Greater St. Louis area. Rebranding as "The Sound" in August, 2016 WSIE broadcasts mainstream jazz, smooth jazz, blues, and R&B along with news and student programming, and is the anchor station for SIUE Sports' Cougar Network.
Licensed by the Federal Communications Commission in January 1969, WSIE operates with 50,000 watts of effective radiated power (ERP) at 88.7 megahertz in the FM band.
No longer a member of National Public Radio, WSIE's non-music programming is locally produced. The station's studios are in Dunham Hall, and the transmitter and 420 feet (130 m) tower are located near the Supporting Services Building on the SIUE campus.
WSIE is used as a training ground for students of the SIUE Mass Communications Department. Among broadcasters who received training at WSIE are Frank O Pinion (John Craddock); Megan Lynch, Ralph Graczak and Tom Calhoun of KMOX; Dewayne Staats (currently the play-by-play commentator with MLB's Tampa Bay Rays on Sun Sports); Paul Schankmann; Elizabeth Erwin; Steve Jankowski (The current General Manager); Sara Wojcicki; Frank Akers; Tom Dehner; and Tom Casey.
WSIE also streams its programming on the internet. A separately programmed web-radio operation was previously run by WSIE, but it is now operated independently, although it remains a University activity.
With the ongoing Illinois state budget crisis, WSIE is facing the probable loss of its state appropriation, which could mean shutting down the station for good. The station's budget is approximately $181,000 a year, with about $140,000 coming from a state appropriation that is renewed every three years. The SIUE administration has ordered WSIE to become self-sustaining by the time this appropriation runs out in 2017; necessitating fundraising of $150,000 per year, or at least $12,000 a month, among underwriting, advertising and donations. Being available for live streaming on the Internet via wsie.com has led to donations and support from all over the world via a donations link, and a recorded message runs every hour on the hour, reminding listeners that, “The Illinois budget crisis continues, and so does our need for any financial support you can provide.”