City Milwaukee, Wisconsin Power 1,450 watts Class B1 First air date March 5, 1973 Owner Milwaukee Public Schools | Branding 88Nine Radio Milwaukee HAAT 289 meters Facility ID 42669 Format Adult Alternative | |
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Frequency 88.9 MHz(also on HD Radio) Callsign meaning We're Your Milwaukee Schools | ||
WYMS is a non-commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, broadcasting on 88.9 FM. The station currently airs an eclectic adult album alternative music format, branded as "88Nine Radio Milwaukee". The station's license is owned by Milwaukee Public Schools, though it is managed and programmed by an outside group, also named Radio Milwaukee. In addition, WYMS airs weekly school board meetings on the over-the-air signal as a condition of MPS leasing the signal to Radio Milwaukee.
WYMS transmits from the WITI TV Tower in Shorewood and has their studios at 220 E. Pittsburgh Avenue in the Walker's Point area, with backup facilities maintained at the former main studios in the MPS administration building on W. Vliet Street in the Washington Park neighborhood. The Vliet studios continue to be maintained for school board meetings and for FCC correspondence, which remains under the purview of MPS. The public radio station announced its purchase of the new studio facility in March 2013. It will include four recording studios, among other amenities. The move was completed in August 2013, with the station's first music awards ceremony held in the winter of 2013.
WYNS broadcasts in the HD Radio (digital hybrid) format.
History
Initially, WYMS ran mainstream jazz as "Jazz 89" with various ethnic programming (particularly Polka music) on the weekends. The call letters stand for "Your Milwaukee Schools"
In the spring of 2002, Milwaukee Public Schools had a budget shortfall and the station's operations were handed over to WUWM at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For a short period, WYMS simulcasted WUWM's programming before switching over to syndicated mainstream jazz music.
Under management of Radio For Milwaukee, the station planned to introduce an eclectic contemporary music format. After many delays and target sign-on dates, the station dropped the automated jazz programming and began stunting on February 23, 2007. The new format officially debuted on February 26, with on-air personalities first appearing on March 5.
In May 2010 the station picked up World Cafe from WUWM after that station considered the program's music direction out of format.
In May 2016 88Nine Radio Milwaukee welcomed Glenn Kleiman as Executive Director.