WYLA-LP

WYLA-LP was a LPFM radio station licensed to Charleston, South Carolina with a local music[1] and arts format. The station operated on FM 97.5 mHz under the ownership of The Charleston County Public Library.

WYLA-LP
CityCharleston, South Carolina
Broadcast areaCharleston metropolitan area
Frequency97.5 MHz
BrandingLocal Radio for the Lowcountry
Programming
FormatCommunity radio
Ownership
OwnerCharleston County Public Library
History
First air date
March 1, 2016 (2016-03-01)
Last air date
May 18, 2018 (2018-05-18)
Technical information
Facility ID193140
ERP100 watts
HAAT28.56 m (93.7 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
32°47′18.3″N 79°55′52.6″W

WYLA-LP aired 24 hours daily, concentrating on locally oriented music, poetry, and spoken word programming. Evening programming included community-generated shows such as Electronic Escape, The Vinyl Vault, Rebel Souls Road Show, World Wide Saturday Night, Cruising Down Doo-Wop Lane, The Night Owl, Celtic Waves, The Swing Shift, Vintage Country, Prophetic Voices of the Lowcountry, The 80's Alternative Flashback, and Image-Free Radio.

WYLA-LP broadcast with 100 non-directional watts of power. The station's studio was located in the Main Branch of the Charleston County Public Library at 68 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401.[2]

The station was accessible via the library's website and YouTube.

History

WYLA-LP was granted a construction permit on November 6, 2014.[3] The station began its broadcasting activities on March 1, 2016, and was granted a "License To Cover" on March 21, 2016.[2]

The Station Manager was Kevin Crothers.[4]

In May 2018, The Charleston County Public Library announced it would discontinue the radio station. In a Charleston City Paper article, a spokesperson for the library cited the need to shift the "library's strategic mission".[5] According to the paper, the library's press release stated that WYLA-LP did not serve in "fostering the flow of information and education" although statements attributed to local listeners refuted the library's position. Online user comments argued that the station aligned with the library's published Mission Statement and Vision.[5]

WYLA-LP last aired on May 18, 2018. In April 2019 the Library agreed to transfer the silent station's license to the Lowcountry Alliance For Media And Art. The Library later rescinded this decision and allowed the license to expire, depriving the community of an artistically-valuable resource.[6][7]

Reception

WYLA-LP received a "Critics Pick" in the Charleston City Paper Best of Charleston 2016 and "Best of Charleston 2017" awards.[1][8]

The station was nominated in the "Best Cover Story" category of the Charleston City Paper Best of 2017 awards for the story WYLA 97.5 Finds its Focus in Charlestons Legit Music Scene.[9]

The station was noted for in the press for offering "exciting new ways for the library to serve the public" and for its "dedication to Charleston music".[4][10]

References
  1. Smith, Kelly Rae. "Best All Shovels & Rope Radio Station 2016". Charleston City Paper.
  2. "FCCdata.org - powered by REC". fccdata.org.
  3. "FCCInfo Results". www.fccinfo.com.
  4. News, By Susan Frohnsdorff and Gregory Frohnsdorff Special to the Moultrie. "Tune in to the library at WYLA FM, 97.5". Moultrie News.
  5. Smith, Kelly Rae. "Charleston Public Library changes its tune on WYLA, shutting down the community radio station". Charleston City Paper.
  6. "CDBS Print". licensing.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  7. Jacobson, Adam (2019-04-24). "Defunct Library-Run LPFM Finds A New Licensee". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  8. "Best Way To Hear Local Tunes on the Radio 2017". Charleston City Paper.
  9. "Best of Charleston 2017". Charleston City Paper.
  10. Smith, Kelly Rae. "WYLA 97.5 finds its focus in Charleston's legit music scene". Charleston City Paper.
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