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| Broadcast area | [1] |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.3MHz |
| Branding | WCBN FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Freeform |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | University of Michigan |
| History | |
First air date | January 23, 1972 (originallycarrier current 1952-1972) |
Former call signs | none |
Call sign meaning | CampusBroadcastingNetwork |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 66316 |
| Class | A |
| Power | 1,400watts |
| HAAT | 54 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°16′37″N83°44′7″W / 42.27694°N 83.73528°W /42.27694; -83.73528 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | [2] |
| Website | wcbn.org |
WCBN-FM is the student-runradio station of theUniversity of Michigan. Its format is primarilyfreeform. It broadcasts at 88.3 MHzFM inAnn Arbor, Michigan.
WCBN is one of the longest-standing continuous practitioners of primarilyfree-form radio programming. "Freeform" radio format is best described as an approach that allows the individual radio programmer (or DJ) maximum, if not complete, latitude, in determining what is broadcast from moment to moment. In practical terms this may mean that a listener may hear a number of different kinds of music in the course of a single program, often chosen spontaneously during that same program; but a listener might just as easily hear live broadcasts from a field with sounds of crickets, a radio play, poetry, or spontaneous political protest. The AP national newswire covered one such protest in November 1980 when a DJ on the station began playingLesley Gore's "It's My Party (and I'll Cry if I Want To)" continuously for hours when President Ronald Reagan was first elected. Other DJs joined in and the protest ended up lasting for a number of days.
WCBN was created in 1952 when three existingcarrier current broadcasting systems on campus pooled resources. WCBN-AMcollege radio could be tuned to in University buildings at 640 kHz. Programming was coordinated between the existing broadcast facilities.
In 1956 WCBN hosted the first meeting of theNational Association of College Broadcasters.
Until 1958, South, East and West Quad had separate transmitters, each on a different frequency, as well as one on the Hill, with a loop connecting the three studios. In 1958 John Maurer built a limiter and switching device so that sound was constant and could be switched by any studio to feed all transmitters and was wired by Cliff Vander Yacht. Dave Mills had constructed the Hill transmitter the year before and tested it at National Music Camp during the summer. Some years before, theFederal Communications Commission FCC had allocated the call sign even though the carrier current transmitters were not licensed. (CVY)
In 1965, the WCBN operations were consolidated in the newly completed Student Activities Building.
In early 1971, the U-M Board of Regents approved a proposal to seek a full license for WCBN on the FM band. On January 23, 1972 WCBN-FM went on the air at 89.5 MHz with a 10-watt transmitter. At this time the carrier current station adopted the new callsign WRCN, and programming was divided.
In October 1977, neighboring stationWEMU atEastern Michigan University inYpsilanti, Michigan upgraded its studios and changed its FCC broadcast frequency from 88.1 MHz to 89.1 MHz. With WCBN broadcasting at 89.5 MHz, there was a danger of station overlap. Accordingly, WCBN received a stipend from Eastern Michigan University to change its operating frequency to 88.3 MHz, where it remains today.
Beginning in 1980, the station began holding regular annual on-air fundraisers to supplement its University support. The first fundraiser was organized by then-General Manager Ann Rebentisch and lasted for 88.3 hours, with a goal of raising $8,830, nearly doubling the station's funding. The event culminated on Valentine's Day with a free concert of local bands for all who had pledged to donate.
WCBN's transmitter was upgraded to 200 watts in 1987, an FCC action that was delayed for several years after some disgruntled former station volunteers filed an extensive complaint letter which turned out to contain mostly erroneous information. The power increase had been deemed necessary after the FCC began threatening to reassign frequency positions of 10-watt Class D (Educational) stations like WCBN.
In addition to on-air studio productions, WCBN also has a rich history of local concert sponsorship, recently hosting performances byJad Fair,Sunburned Hand of the Man,Mount Eerie,The Books, andJandek. They sponsored an outdoor concert featuring bouncy houses called "Bouncevember" with bandsLuna Pier,Atomic Sauce, andJoe and the Ruckus.
Currently, WCBN is in the process of installing a new 3,000-watt transmitter. It is expected to be operational at the end of December 2017, at which time the station will switch over to the new transmitter and antenna and utilize an extended broadcast range. Nearly all of the money used to pay for the upgrade came from fundraiser donations raised over the previous years.
WCBN's programming format is one primarily offreeform music. There are also many specialty programs focusing on specific styles or origins of music. Long-running shows includeDance HallReggae,Nothin' But the Blues, the country programDown Home Show, thebluegrass showBill Monroe for Breakfast, thetechno showCrush Collision, thejazz showFace the Music, the Thursday morning program featuring "AM on the FM" with weather and news alongside classical music,Short Stack, and thehip hop showThe Prop Shop. Several of these programs have aired continuously for over 20 years. Sunday programming consists mainly of specialty shows featuring the music of Africa, Asia, India, Israel and the Middle East, Japan, Turkey and the Mediterranean including the Indian music showSounds of the Subcontinent and Latin music showThe Latin Hour. The weekly, 2-hourLocal Music Show features local artists performing live in-studio. The weekly showGirl Power is an hour of music by female artists and vocalists. The showThe Seizure Experiment features hardcorepunk andmetal.
In addition to musical specialty shows, WCBN features programming for the public good, including weekly talk showsIt's Hot In Here, which covers environmental news,Living Writers,Grey Matters,Civics Party, andInteractive Technologies.[1] Freeform radio showBaby Blue featured an interview with Pulitzer-Prize winning authorMichael Chabon.[2]
WCBN also features a sports department.WCBN Sports covers all Michigan athletics, local and national professional teams, and national and international sporting events. WCBN broadcasts Michigan football, basketball, hockey, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse. The sports department runs a daily sports report at 6pm Monday through Thursday and regularly broadcasts Michigan sporting events on theirYouTube channel. WCBN Sports has also helped produce podcasts hosted by student-athletes on the basketball team.