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WMRT (88.3 FM) is a radio station at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, United States, broadcasting a classical music and jazz music format. The station is one of two stations on the Marietta College campus; WMRT is managed by the college's communications department, while WCMO-LP 97.5 is student-oriented and student-led. WMRT went on the air in 1975 and has retained its format throughout its history.

History

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Marietta College a construction permit on January 31, 1974, to build a radio station broadcasting at 88.3 MHz. WMRT began broadcasting November 17, 1975. From the beginning, WMRT was designed to be more regional and public-oriented than the college's existing station, WCMO; its original lineup included classical, folk and jazz music programs. WCMO had been running much of this programming, but it broadcast with 10 watts, and the move freed that facility to become a student-led outlet in 1976. It also offered radio courses for distance learners. The station operated from the basement of Andrews Hall until the McKinney Media Center opened in 1984.

In 1997, WMRT debuted local news broadcasts produced by journalism and radio production students. Two years later, the station was upgraded with the installation of an automation system, making operation more efficient and less staff-intensive. For a time beginning in December 2004. Fine Arts Radio rebroadcast WMRT to the Athens area on a translator. This filled a void in that area created when WOUB-FM dropped classical music earlier that year. The McKinney Media Center studios were renovated in 2017.

Though WMRT airs some student-produced programming, most of its output comes from the WFMT Radio Network as well as the Metropolitan Opera and public radio distributor PRX. Seven Ranges Radio Company, owner of commercial station WVVV in the Parkersburg–Marietta area, provides engineering and automation support services for WMRT and built its studio facilities.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WMRT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. ^ Marietta College (December 6, 2023). "Marietta College Attributable Interests: Cross Ownership". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
3. "History Cards for WMRT". Federal Communications Commission.
4. "News Spectrum". The Marcolian. April 7, 1978. p. 1.
5. "MRT sends more vibes". The Marcolian. November 7, 1975. p. 1.
6. "WCMO-FM to return as student-based radio station". The Marcolian. November 12, 1976. p. 5.
7. "Radio station offers courses". The Marcolian. September 3, 1976. p. 6.
8. Hurchalla, Stacy (November 11, 1983). "WMRT: the sounds of jazz from the basement of Andrews". The Marcolian. p. 3.
9. Thorp, Mike (February 6, 1997). "WMRT provides local news coverage". The Marcolian. p. 7.
10. Stewart, Siusanne (February 4, 1999). "Upgrade will improve WMRT". The Marcolian. pp. 1, 3.
11. Claussen, Nick (January 10, 2005). "New radio signal brings classical and jazz back to Athens area". The Athens News. ProQuest 362642015.
12. Peters, Matt (December 6, 2017). "Radio studio renovations near completion". The Marcolian. ProQuest 2383738822 – via University Wire.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 40117 (WMRT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WMRT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• Marietta College
• Marietta, Ohio
• College radio stations in Ohio
• Radio stations established in 1975
• 1975 establishments in Ohio