WYXR (91.7 FM) is an eclectic, non-profit community

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

headquartered in the historic

Crosstown Concourse Crosstown Concourse is a mixed-use development and historic high-rise building in Memphis, Tennessee. Originally built in 1927 as a Sears retail store and catalog order plant, the building was closed in 1993. A 2015–2017 renovation broug ...

building in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

, United States. The station is owned by Crosstown Radio Partnership, Inc. and is a collaboration between Crosstown Concourse, the Daily Memphian and the

University of Memphis The University of Memphis (Memphis) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students. The university maintains the Herff Col ...

. The WYXR air room is located in the Central Atrium of Crosstown Concourse, where passersby can view inside the studio as shows are broadcast live. It officially started broadcasting on Monday, October 5, 2020.

Programming

The programming is a mix of music, news, talk, arts, and culture with a focus on the Memphis area and features more than 90 volunteer disc jockeys, along with syndicated programs from the KUDZUKIAN Network, ''Beale Street Caravan'' and Thacker Mountain Radio. The mission of WYXR, according to its licensee, is to provide a musical, cultural and artistic platform that represents and informs the people of Memphis. It streams live and archives shows on its website.

History

The station was first signed on in 1974 as WSWM on what is now the

Rhodes College Rhodes College is a private liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), it is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South and is accredited by the Southern Associa ...

campus. The radio station became WUMR 91.7 in 1979 and served as the

broadcasting outlet, when Southwestern at Memphis (

) sold one of its two radio licenses to then

Memphis State University The University of Memphis (Memphis) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students. The university maintains the Herff Col ...

. It was created as an all-jazz format music station (WUMR "The Jazz Lover"), the only one of its kind in the Mid-South/

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Mem ...

metro region. During its 41-year history, WUMR was part of the University of Memphis College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA) Department of Communication. A key element of the station's mission was to train student volunteers in broadcasting with specialty programs during the week. WUMR programming and air play was tied directly to publication and ratings companies such as

JazzWeek ''JazzWeek'' is a jazz magazine that was co-founded by Ed Trefzger in August 2001. ''Jazzweek'' publishes industry news and a weekly top 100 ranking of music played by jazz radio stations. Collection Method Originally, the company gathered its ...

and Roots Music Report. The University of Memphis transferred WUMR's license to Crosstown Radio Partnership, Inc. effective March 31, 2020, and the station's call sign was changed to WYXR.

Operations

The staff of WYXR includes executive director Robby Grant (of the group

Big Ass Truck Big Ass Truck (BAT) is an American rock band from Memphis, Tennessee which incorporates elements of hip-hop, rock, funk and psychedelia in their music. The band includes a DJ spinning records, that provides beats, loops, and samples during recor ...

), program manager Jared “Jay B” Boyd, development manager Kate Teague and coordinator of operations Shelby McCall.

Notable Disc Jockeys

* Robert Gordon *

Andrew VanWyngarden Andrew Wells VanWyngarden (born February 1, 1983) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, guitar player and songwriter for the band MGMT, praised for (according to ''Interview Magazine'') "an uncanny knack for producing pop music that s ...

Pat Sansone Patrick Anthony Sansone is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, musician, and music producer. He is a member of Wilco, The Autumn Defense, and Mellotron Variations and has worked with Jonathan Wilson, Andrew Bird, Jamie Lidell, and other ...

Greg Cartwright Gregory Johnathon Cartwright, also known by his stage name Greg Oblivian (born March 18, 1972), is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Memphis, Tennessee. From 2001 to 2022 he fronted Reigning Sound which was signed to Merge Reco ...

*Zac Ives (

Goner Records Goner Records is an independent record label and record store co-owned by Eric Friedl of The Oblivians and Zac Ives and based in Memphis, Tennessee. It is known for releasing albums by punk, garage rock, and more recently post-punk and synth-ori ...

) *DJ Spanish Fly * DJ Kvng *DJ Chris Cross *DJ 2 Keys *Jazzy Lo *That Boy Cortez *DJ Ben Murray *DJ Alpha Whiskey * Jack Cooper (WUMR)

References

External links

* * {{Tennessee college radio Community radio stations in the United States YXR YXR YXR University of Memphis Radio stations established in 1974 1974 establishments in Tennessee