WRCT
Broadcast areaPittsburgh metropolitan area
Frequency88.3 MHz
Programming
FormatFreeform
AffiliationsPacifica Radio
Ownership
OwnerWRCT Radio, Inc.
History
First air date
1949 (1949) (carrier current AM)
March 1, 1974 (1974-03-01) (FM)
Call sign meaning
Radio Carnegie Tech
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID1
ClassA
ERP1,750 watts (directional)
HAAT22 meters (72 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°26′39″N 79°56′37″W / 40.44417°N 79.94361°W / 40.44417; -79.94361
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wrct.org

WRCT (88.3 FM) is a non-commercial freeform radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2] The volunteer-run station has a studio in the basement of Carnegie Mellon's University Center.[3] WRCT broadcasts throughout the city with an ERP of 1.75 kW, from atop Warner Hall. WRCT Radio, Inc. holds the station's license.[2]

History

WRCT or Radio Carnegie Tech started as an experimental radio station at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1949 by engineering students.[4][3] The students used electrical wiring to broadcast a weak AM signal to a few academic buildings for several hours each day.[4][3] In 1950, WRCT became an official student organization and covered half the buildings on campus.[4]

WRCT started as a carrier current AM radio station on 900 kHz, but moved to 88.3 FM on March 1, 1974, with a power of 10 watts.[3] This extended its signal across campus and to nearby areas.[3] In the late 1980s, the power increased to 100 watts.

In 1994, WRCT received permission to increase power to 1,750 watts[5] in the north, south, and west and 680 watts in the east, allowing it to be heard up to fifteen miles away. The station also streams audio on the Internet through the station's website.[3]

Volunteers from the Carnegie Mellon campus and the community run the station, serving as disc jockeys, producers, engineers, and support staff.[3]

Programming

WRCT's mission is to present its listening audience with freeform, original programming not found on the other radio stations in Pittsburgh.[3]

Music

The on-air DJs select the station's varied musical programming. WRCT's record library includes almost 70,000 records and CDs.[3] Musical genres commonly in rotation include alternative country, blues, electronic, experimental, hip hop, heavy metal, indie rock, jazz, musical theater, and world music.[4] Programmers also play locally produced music, including creative beats, conscious lyrics, and new artists.[6]

Public affairs

WRCT's public affairs programming emphasizes news and issues from the Pittsburgh community. The station's original programming includes:

Pacifica radio

WRCT is Pittsburgh's Pacifica Radio Network affiliate station, airing the following public affairs programs:

Awards

Brazilian Radio Hour won the 2013 Brazilian International Press Award.

In 2023, WRCT was recognized in the Greater Pittsburgh Community Media Awards for Community Radio.[10]

Notable people

Electronic music artist, DJ, and record producer Yaeji was a member of WRCT and debuted some of her first sets on the station while studying at Carnegie Mellon.[11][12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WRCT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 "WRCT-FM 88.3 MHz - Pittsburgh, PA". radio-locator.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cullen, Rob. "The Eclectic and Eccentric WRCT FM ." Pittsburgh News for Tech, Arts, Hiring – Pop City. 12 November 2008. Accessed 3 February 2012. via Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McCoy, Adrian. "WYEP, WRCT plan anniversary specials." Post-Gazette.com. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10 Apr. 2009. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.
  5. ↑ "WRCT-FM 88.3 MHz - Pittsburgh, PA". radio-locator.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  6. ↑ Levy, Doug. “Owen Carmichael.” CMJ New Music Report, n.d. via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Lindsey, Claire (2021-08-27). "The Neighborhood on the Air: Barrio Latino". Pittsburgh Latino Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  8. ↑ Lindeman, Teresa F (March 20, 2012). "Brazil's rising power changes perceptions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  9. ↑ "Monthly Review | Fred Magdoff interviewed on History for the Future, WRCT-Pittsburgh". Monthly Review. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  10. ↑ 2023 Greater Pittsburgh Community Media Awards - 10/19/23, retrieved 2023-12-07
  11. ↑ Barr, Natalie (6 November 2017). "Korean-American producer Yaeji brings whispers to the dancefloor". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Groundwater, Colin (18 July 2017). "Yaeji – A visual artist and house musician finally finds a home in New York City". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
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