WYEP-FM

WYEP-FM is a listener-supported, non-commercial radio station broadcasting at 91.3 MHz from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station is operated by the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation, the nonprofit organization that also operates Pittsburgh public radio station WESA at 90.5 MHz. WYEP’s programming is centered on the Adult Album Alternative format, combining contemporary and established alternative music with specialty programs and community-oriented public affairs content. In addition to its terrestrial FM signal, the station provides continuous online streaming. The station traces its roots to the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation, which was incorporated in 1972 to develop a community-based, non-commercial radio service. Before WYEP began using its own frequency, the organization produced several music and public-affairs programs for broadcast under an arrangement with WDUQ. WYEP began broadcasting on April 30, 1974, initially at 91.5 MHz. Its early operation depended heavily on volunteers with interests in music, broadcasting, and public affairs, and its first studios were built by volunteers in a former police horse stable at 4 Cable Place in Pittsburgh’s South Oakland neighborhood. A major technical transition began in 1979, when WYEP sought authorization to move to 91.3 MHz and increase its effective radiated power to 18,000 watts. The change took effect in 1983. Transmission facilities were moved from the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning to a tower near the Monongahela River in the Hazelwood area, improving the station’s service capabilities. The transmitter remains associated with a Pittsburgh site on Longview Street. WYEP changed facilities several times as its operations developed. In 1987, it reorganized and moved its broadcast facility to Chatham University’s campus in Pittsburgh’s East End. In 1994, it relocated again to Birmingham Place on the South Side. In early 2006, the station began broadcasting from the WYEP Community Broadcast Center in the Bedford Square section of the South Side. The building received a LEED-NC Silver rating in September 2006 and was presented as an environmentally responsible radio facility. The organization expanded its role in Pittsburgh public media in 2011, when it acquired the license formerly associated with WDUQ from Duquesne University and launched WESA as an NPR news and information station. WESA staff and management were colocated at the WYEP Community Broadcast Center. In 2016, the governing boards of WYEP and WESA merged to form the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation, creating a shared nonprofit structure for the two stations while retaining distinct station identities and programming missions. WYEP raises operating support through listener contributions and periodic on-air fundraisers, a common financing model for non-commercial public radio. Its schedule includes music programming throughout the day and specialty shows that explore electronic, dance, soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, dub, disco, rare-groove, and other related styles. One notable long-running program is Dubmission, hosted and produced by Kerem Gokmen. The station celebrated its 40th anniversary on air in 2014 and continues to operate as a Pittsburgh-focused music and community broadcasting service.

WYEP-FM developed from a Pittsburgh community-radio initiative organized by the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation was incorporated in 1972 specifically to establish and operate a community-based, non-commercial station. Before obtaining an independent frequency, it produced three one-hour music and public-affairs programs under an arrangement with WDUQ 90.5. These programs provided an early model for the mix of music discovery and civic-oriented content that would characterize WYEP. WYEP began broadcasting on April 30, 1974, initially at 91.5 MHz. The station’s first facility was located in a former police horse stable at 4 Cable Place in Pittsburgh’s South Oakland neighborhood. Volunteers built the studios and supplied much of the station’s early operational capacity. In its formative years, WYEP relied particularly on volunteers with expertise or enthusiasm in music and public affairs, reflecting the station’s community-radio origins. The station pursued a technical expansion during the late 1970s. In 1979, WYEP filed for a frequency change to 91.3 MHz and sought to raise its signal to 18,000 watts. The change became effective in 1983. Transmission facilities were moved from the top of the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning to a tower near the Monongahela River in the Hazelwood area. The move was accompanied by a related frequency adjustment involving WIUP-FM in Indiana, Pennsylvania. WYEP’s transmitter is associated with a Pittsburgh location on Longview Street. As its audience and operations matured, WYEP relocated its studios and offices several times. In 1987, the station reorganized and moved to the campus of Chatham University in Pittsburgh’s East End. It moved again in 1994 to Birmingham Place on the South Side. Early in 2006, WYEP began broadcasting from the WYEP Community Broadcast Center in Bedford Square on the South Side. The facility received a LEED-NC Silver rating in September 2006, and the station described it as an environmentally responsible broadcasting facility. WYEP’s organizational role broadened in 2011. Its nonprofit operator purchased the WDUQ license from Duquesne University and launched WESA, an NPR news and information station. WESA’s staff and management were colocated at the Community Broadcast Center, allowing the two stations to share infrastructure while maintaining different formats. In 2016, the boards of WYEP and WESA merged to form the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation. This arrangement placed the two services under a common nonprofit governance structure. WYEP continues to operate as a listener-supported, non-commercial station. Its primary format is Adult Album Alternative, and its schedule includes music programming around the clock, online streaming, specialty shows, and community-oriented content. The station periodically conducts fundraising drives to support its operations. Its specialty programming includes Dubmission, a long-running electronic and eclectic music program produced and hosted by Kerem Gokmen. The program has explored styles including glitch, house, techno, soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, dub, downtempo, disco, broken beat, and rare grooves, and has featured guest mixes and studio visits. WYEP marked its 40th anniversary on air in 2014.

• 2016

  WYEP and WESA governance is consolidated

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  The boards of the two stations merge to create the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation.

• 2014

  WYEP celebrates 40 years on air

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  The station marks four decades of broadcasting in Pittsburgh.

• 2011

  WESA is launched

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  After acquiring the WDUQ license, WYEP’s nonprofit operator launches WESA as an NPR news and information station.

• 2006

  Community Broadcast Center opens

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  WYEP begins broadcasting from its new Bedford Square facility, which receives LEED-NC Silver certification later that year.

• 1994

  Station moves to Birmingham Place

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  WYEP relocates its facility to Birmingham Place on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

• 1987

  Station relocates to Chatham University

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  WYEP reorganizes and moves its broadcast facility to the Chatham University campus.

• 1983

  WYEP moves to 91.3 MHz

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  The frequency change and upgraded transmission arrangement take effect, with facilities moved away from the Cathedral of Learning.

• 1979

  Frequency and power upgrade is filed

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  WYEP files to move to 91.3 MHz and increase its effective radiated power to 18,000 watts.

• 1974

  WYEP begins broadcasting

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  WYEP starts broadcasting on April 30 at 91.5 MHz, with an operation initially supported substantially by volunteers.

• 1972

  Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation is incorporated

  [1]WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org

  The nonprofit corporation is established to build and operate a community-based, non-commercial Pittsburgh radio station.

Listener-supported, community-oriented public radio with an Adult Album Alternative music format and specialist programming.

• FM radio station · 1974

  WYEP 91.3 FM

  WYEP’s core broadcast service is a non-commercial FM signal at 91.3 MHz serving Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. The station operates with an effective radiated power of 18,000 watts and uses an Adult Album Alternative format, presenting a mix of alternative, contemporary, independent, and established music together with selected public-affairs content.

• Online radio streaming

  WYEP Online Stream

  The station’s online stream extends WYEP’s music and specialty programming beyond its terrestrial Pittsburgh signal. It supports the station’s broader listener-supported model and makes the schedule available to audiences using internet-connected devices.

• Music specialty program · 1998

  Dubmission

  Dubmission is a long-running free-form electronic and eclectic music program produced and hosted by Kerem Gokmen. Its musical range includes glitch, house, techno, soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, dub, downtempo, disco, broken beat, and rare grooves. The show has also featured guest mixes, artist visits, and recordings that are difficult to find outside specialist or vinyl-oriented circles.

• Listener-supported fundraising drives

  Pittsburgh metropolitan area · Online audience

  WYEP periodically conducts on-air fundraising campaigns to solicit listener contributions and support its non-commercial programming and station operations.

  Source

• 2016

  Creation of Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting CorporationStrategy

  Background

  WYEP and WESA had been operating with shared facilities and related nonprofit oversight after the WESA launch.

  Action taken

  The boards of WYEP and WESA merged to form the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The stations gained a common governance structure while retaining separate station identities and formats.

  Source

• 2011

  Acquisition of the WDUQ license and launch of WESAM&A

  Background

  The Pittsburgh public-radio organization expanded beyond WYEP’s music-focused service by acquiring the WDUQ license from Duquesne University.

  Action taken

  It launched WESA as an NPR news and information station and colocated its staff and management at the WYEP Community Broadcast Center.

  Aftermath

  The transaction created a two-station public-media operation serving distinct music and news roles in Pittsburgh.

  Source

• 1979

  Pursuit of a stronger FM signalStrategy

  Background

  WYEP sought to improve its technical reach and formalized a proposal to move from 91.5 MHz to 91.3 MHz while increasing power.

  Action taken

  The station filed for the frequency change and an increase to 18,000 watts effective radiated power; the changes took effect in 1983.

  Aftermath

  Transmission facilities were relocated from the Cathedral of Learning to a tower near the Monongahela River, strengthening the station’s Pittsburgh service.

  Source

1. 1WYEP-FMen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WYEP official websitewyep.org