.jpg) Radio Milwaukee building | |
| |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 88Nine Radio Milwaukee |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult album alternative |
| Subchannels | HD2: Urban alternative "HYFIN" |
| Affiliations | NPR PRX |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Radio Milwaukee |
| History | |
First air date | March 5, 1973 (1973-03-05) |
Call sign meaning | We're Your Milwaukee Schools |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 42669 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 1,450watts |
| HAAT | 289 meters (948 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°05′28″N87°53′49″W / 43.091°N 87.897°W /43.091; -87.897 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | |
| Website | |
WYMS (88.9FM) is anon-commercialradio station inMilwaukee, Wisconsin. The station currently airs an eclecticadult album alternative music format, branded as "88Nine Radio Milwaukee". The station's license is owned byMilwaukee Public Schools, though it is managed and programmed by an outside group, also named Radio Milwaukee. In addition, WYMS airs weeklyschool board meetings on the over-the-air signal as a condition of MPS leasing the signal to Radio Milwaukee. The station broadcast in theHD Radio (digital hybrid) format, with its second subchannel carrying a locally-based automated AAA format.[2]
WYMS transmits from theWITI TV Tower inShorewood and has their studios at 220 E. Pittsburgh Avenue in theWalker'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.[3] 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.[4] It includes 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.[5][6]
Initially, WYMS ranmainstream jazz as "Jazz 89" with various ethnic programming (particularlyPolka music) on the weekends, along with the standardhigh school radio programming and training intended by the operation of a school district radio station.
In the spring of 2002, Milwaukee Public Schools had a budget shortfall and the station's operations were handed over toWUWM at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. For a short period, WYMS simulcasted WUWM's programming before switching over to syndicated mainstream jazz music after listener criticism of the duplicative programming. MPS soon offered the rights to an interest non-profit to take over WYMS's operations, with Radio Milwaukee eventually being approved by the MPS board to operate and program the station.
Under management of Radio Milwaukee, the station planned to introduce aneclectic 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.[7]
In May 2010 the station picked upWorld 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. January 2019 saw WYMS officially joinNPR as a member station.[8]
On August 11, 2022, WYMS partnered with Super Hi Fi to launch an online radio station called "Rhythm Lab Radio".[9]
In July 2025, longtimeWLUM-FM morning hose Jonathan Adler joined WYMS as assistant program director and nighttime host.[10] Following the sale of WLUM to a religious broadcaster, WYMS became Milwaukee's only station playing alternative music.
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