 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | South Suburban Chicago |
| Frequency | 102.3MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Rejoice 102.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban gospel |
| Affiliations | American Urban Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WPWX,WSRB | |
| History | |
First air date | October 1, 1964; 60 years ago (1964-10-01) |
Former call signs | |
Call sign meaning | "Young people's Church of the Air" |
| Technical information[4] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73700 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 1,050watts |
| HAAT | 152 meters (499 ft) |
| Repeater(s) |
|
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WYCA (102.3FM "Rejoice 102.3") is acommercialradio stationlicensed toCrete, Illinois, and serving the southern suburbs of theChicago metropolitan area. It is owned by Dontron, Inc., asubsidiary of theCrawford Broadcasting Company with studios inHammond, Indiana. WYCA has anurban gospelradio format. Weekdays begin with asyndicated morning show hosted byErica Campbell. Some local ministers hostChristian talk and teaching shows. Services from several churches are broadcast on Sundays.
WYCA has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 1,050watts. Thetransmitter is on South Dixie Highway (Illinois Route 1) near 311th Street inBeecher, Illinois.[5] WYCA broadcasts usingHD Radio technology.[6]
The stationsigned on the air on October 1, 1964,[7] as WTAS. It was owned by Anthony Santuccis's South Cook Broadcasting Inc.[7][8] WTAS had long aired afull service format, airing a variety of local programming and playingmiddle of the road (MOR) music, which includedpop standards andsoft AC.[9][10][11][12][13]
Much of the station's local news, talk and community programming wassimulcast until 1992 with its sister station 1600WCGO inChicago Heights, Illinois, now off the air.[10][11][14][13] In 1985, the station began airing the Warren Freiberg - Libby Collins Show, which had been heard on 106.3WLNR inLansing, Illinois, since 1973.[14]
In 1992, WTAS began airing anurban gospel format, simulcasting the programming of 1510WWHN inJoliet, Illinois.[13][15][16] In 1993, the station was purchased by Word of Faith Fellowship, Inc. for $800,000,[17][18] and on October 22, 1993, itscall sign was changed to WEMG-FM, with the station continuing to air a black gospel format.[3][19][20] In 1997, the station was sold to Dontron, Inc. for $1.8 million.[21] In summer 1997, the station was taken silent.[22] On October 31, 1997, the station's call sign was changed to WYAA.[3] The station returned to the air January 5, 1998.[23][24] As WYAA, the station played gospel oldies, love songs, and Christian jazz, along with brokered religious programming.[23]
On June 1, 2000, the station's call sign was changed to WVJM, and the station adopted anurban contemporary format as "Hot 102".[25] As an urban contemporary station, WVJM "Hot 102" carried the syndicatedDoug Banks show.[25][26] On March 26, 2001, the station's urban contemporary format was moved to longtime gospel station 92.3WYCA inHammond, Indiana, along with the call letters WVJM.[2][27] The call letters WYCA briefly moved to 102.3, before being moved to 106.3WYBA inLansing, Illinois, on April 22, 2001, with 102.3 adopting WYBA as its call sign.[3][28] As WYBA, the station initially aired anR&B format as "The Groove".[29][30]
The station switched to its current gospel music format as "Rejoice 102" on February 17, 2003.[30] On September 30, 2003, the station's call sign was changed to WYCA, as 106.3 in Lansing changed its call sign toWSRB and dropped its gospel format in favor of anurban AC format.[3][28] With the end of the gospel format on 106.3, gospel announcer Darryll King moved her weekday program from 106.3 to 102.3, though she continues to host a show on WSRB on Sundays.[31][32] WYCA is now the lone religious outlet for Crawford in the Chicago area.
Gospel announcer Darryll King once hosted the morning show. King has won numerous awards for her work in black gospel radio.[31]
41°19′34″N87°37′16″W / 41.326°N 87.621°W /41.326; -87.621