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| Broadcast area | Delaware Valley |
| Frequency | 93.3MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 93-3 WMMR |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Mainstream rock |
| Subchannels | HD2: Live rock |
| Affiliations |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| WBEN-FM,WMGK,WPEN,WTEL,WTMR,WWDB,WXTU | |
| History | |
First air date | April 20, 1942; 83 years ago (1942-04-20) (as W49PH)[1] |
Former call signs |
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Former frequencies |
|
Call sign meaning | Metromedia Radio |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 25438 |
| Class | B |
| ERP |
|
| HAAT | 264 meters (866 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°57′9.4″N75°10′3.6″W / 39.952611°N 75.167667°W /39.952611; -75.167667 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | |
| Website | wmmr |
WMMR (93.3FM, "93-3 WMMR") is a commercial radio station licensed to servePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by theBeasley Broadcast Group through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC and broadcasts anmainstream rockradio format.[4] The station's studios and offices are located inBala Cynwyd and the transmitter is atopOne Liberty Place at (39°57′9.4″N75°10′3.6″W / 39.952611°N 75.167667°W /39.952611; -75.167667) inCenter City Philadelphia.[5]
WMMR broadcasts usingHD Radio.[3] Its HD2 subchannel plays live rock performances and sessions in WMMR's studios.
WMMR carriesPhiladelphia Flyershockey games when itsall-sportssister station 97.5WPEN is airing another sporting event and cannot broadcast the Flyers game. WMMR is the home ofPreston and Steve, heard weekday mornings.
In 2014, WMMR was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in its "Heritage Rock Stations" category.
On February 11, 1941, theFederal Communications Commission granted Pennsylvania Broadcasting Company a construction permit for a new FM station on 44.7 MHz on the original 42-50 MHz FM broadcast band with the W47PHcall sign. The construction permit was modified on November 4, 1941, when the FCC reallocated the station to 44.9 MHz with a corresponding call sign change to W49PH. The FCC also on this date granted the station authority for the first time to begin broadcasting.[6] The stationsigned on for the first time on April 20, 1942,[1] and was granted its first license on March 2, 1943.[6] Programming was initially asimulcast of sister stationAM 610WIP.
On November 1, 1943, the station was assigned the WIP-FM call sign.[6] After the FCC created the current FM broadcast band on June 27, 1945,[7] Pennsylvania Broadcasting applied to the FCC for a construction permit on October 24, 1946, to install a new transmitter and antenna for operation on 97.5 MHz. On July 10, 1947, the FCC reallocated the station to 93.3 MHz, modifying the construction permit. The commission granted Pennsylvania Broadcasting a new license for the station for operation on 93.3 MHz on December 22, 1948.[6]
In the 1950s and 1960s, WIP-FM carried afull service format ofmiddle of the road (MOR) music, news, sports and talk. The station's license was voluntarily reassigned by the FCC to WIP Broadcasting, Inc. on September 17, 1958, followed by another voluntary reassignment to Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation on December 29, 1959. The FCC granted a licensee name change from Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation toMetromedia, Inc. on May 11, 1961. On August 6, 1962, Metromedia applied for a construction permit to relocate the station's transmitter and antenna in Philadelphia from 35 South 9th Street to 12 South 12th Street at[6] theLoews Philadelphia Hotel. This resulted in raising the station'sheight above average terrain (HAAT) from 430 feet to 668 feet, while decreasing the station'seffective radiated power (ERP) from 20,000 watts to 7,500 watts. The FCC granted Metromedia a new license for the station with the new facilities on September 30, 1963.[6]
On July 1, 1966, the station's call sign was changed to WMMR.[6] The call sign reflected the name of the station's owner, "Metromedia" (and "Radio"). From 1948 to 1993, WMMR was used unofficially as a slogan by a local student-runcarrier current radio station at theUniversity of Minnesota. The MOR format was still being used, but with different programming from the AM side, although the AM disc jockeys' announcements were used for both stations. Studios of WIP and WMMR were on 19th Street nearRittenhouse Square.
Beginning in 1968, WMMR began adopting aprogressive rock format, similar to that of several Metromedia-owned stations includingWNEW-FM in New York City. WNEW-FM and WMMR had a close relationship, ran similar promotions, and sometimes featured each other's disc jockeys on the air.WMMS inCleveland,KMET in Los Angeles, andKSAN in San Francisco were also part of the Metromedia chain and also helped pioneer the progressive rock format in the 1960s.
Dave Herman was WMMR's first rock DJ. His show, dubbedThe Marconi Experiment, debuted on April 29, 1968.[8] Before Herman's arrival, WMMR ran an "MOR" format, including programs such asSinatra and Company.The Marconi Experiment was very much an experiment for the station, with progressive rock still new to the FM band. The first song played on the show was "Flying" byThe Beatles. Over the instrumental song, Herman recited these words: "Arise my heart, and fill your voice with music. For he who shares not dawn with his song, is one of the sons of ever darkness." This was known as "The Incantation" and continued as the regular show opening.
Several Philadelphia FM stations tried to compete with WMMR in the late 1960s, includingWIFI andWDAS-FM. Neither station stayed with the rock format for long. In 1970, WIFI switched to aTop 40 format, while WDAS-FM changed format around 1971 to reflect its AM counterpart as anurban contemporary station.[9]
Michael Cuscuna from theUniversity of Pennsylvania'sWXPN replaced Herman in 1970, but was quickly hired away by WABC-FM (nowWPLJ) in New York City.Michael Tearson, also from WXPN, replaced Cuscuna and remained a mainstay at WMMR for over 20 years. Herman went to WABC-FM and then for a couple of decades on WNEW-FM, and later onWXRK.[10] Tearson later worked atWMGK in Philadelphia, from April 2002 until January 2013. He was also heard onSirius XM'sDeep Tracks channel.
Later in the 1970s, two other Philadelphia radio stations became competitors:WYSP (formerly WIBG-FM) andWIOQ. WYSP later became aclassic rock outlet while WIOQ became a Top 40 radio station.
One of WMMR's most influential disc jockeys during the 1970s wasEd Sciaky, who was known for playing and boosting the careers of new artists such asBilly Joel andYes. Sciaky is credited with introducingBruce Springsteen to Philadelphia, and decades later, the city remains one of Springsteen's strongest fan bases and the scenes of many of his best-received concerts. WMMR alumni includeDavid Dye, founding host of theWorld Cafe onWXPN andsyndicated on manyNPR stations. Another former WMMR DJ is Nick Spitzer, now aNew Orleans resident and host of "American Routes" on NPR. One-time WMMR midday DJ Dick Hungate later switched toWYSP, pioneering theclassic rock format in Philadelphia.John DeBella, now hosting mornings on co-ownedWMGK, was the morningdrive time DJ for many years, alongside newscaster and sidekick Mark "The Shark" Drucker, who later was a reporter onall-newsKYW. Some WMMR DJs such as Dave Herman andCarol Miller would later go onto longtime careers on New York stations.
On July 17, 1980, Metromedia applied for a construction permit to increase the station's ERP to 29,000 watts. The FCC granted the permit on July 17, 1981, followed by a new license with the upgraded facilities on August 1, 1981.[6]
WMMR's license was transferred to Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation on October 22, 1986.[11]
On October 26, 1987, Metropolitan Broadcasting applied for a construction permit to change the transmitter location to "Building Rooftop 1650 Market St., Philadelphia, PA" (the address ofOne Liberty Place) and increase the station's HAAT to 271 meters (889 ft). The FCC granted the permit on May 1, 1989.[12] On October 26, 1989, WMMR was purchased byGroup W Radio Acquisition Company, with the sale consummating on December 7, 1989, thus becoming a sister station toKYW-TV andKYW radio.[13]
Group W Radio modified the construction permit on February 12, 1992, by decreasing the HAAT to 252 meters (827 ft) and changing the ERP to 18,000 watts. The FCC granted the change on March 9, 1992.[14] The FCC granted a new license with the new facilities on January 6, 1997.[15]
Greater Los Angeles Radio, Inc., a division ofGreater Media, purchased WMMR, with the sale consummating on August 22, 1997.[16]
In May 2005, the station began airing thePreston & Steve show in morning drive, which was previously heard onWPLY. In early 2006, WMMR launched its digital HD2 subchannel with the "WMMaRchives" format, airing the station's archive of live and studio performances.[17]
On July 19, 2016,Beasley Media Group announced it would acquire Greater Media and its 21 stations (including WMMR) for $240 million.[18] The FCC approved the sale on October 6, and the sale closed on November 1.[19]
In 2021, midday DJPierre Robert celebrated his 40th year on the air at WMMR. The Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution to declare November 24 as Pierre Robert Day.[20]
For many years, WMMR prided itself on having live and local DJs 24/7/365, a rarity in modern radio. This run would end in October 2022, when owners Beasley Media made major cuts to the staff of WMMR and other stations, resulting in the elimination of the live overnight block. Among those laid off were 18-year WMMR afternoon host Paul Jaxon.[21][22]
On October 29, 2025, the station announced the death of longtime DJ Pierre Robert at age 70.[23]
In 2007, WMMR was nominated for theRadio & Records magazine award for "Active Rock Station of the Year" in a top 25 market. Other nominees includedWIYY inBaltimore,WAAF inBoston,KBPI inDenver,WRIF in Detroit, andKISW inSeattle.[24]
In 2010, the station was honored by theNational Association of Broadcasters with theMarconi Award for "Rock Station of the Year".[25] WMMR has also been honored as the Major Market Radio Station of the Year by the rock communityRadioContraband in both 2011 and 2012.[26] In the late 1980s, WMMR was recognized as one of the best rock stations in America byRolling Stone Magazine.[citation needed]
In 2014, WMMR was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in the "Heritage Rock Stations" category.
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