Jim McGuinn
Encyclopedia
Jim McGuinn, born James Slusarek, is an American
radio personality. He served as program director
of the now defunct Y100 100.3FM (1997–2005) and its predecessor, WDRE in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1995–97), both of which changed formats after being bought by Radio One. McGuinn also served as Program Director
for KPNT
(1994–95), St. Louis, and WEQX
(1990–94), Manchester, Vermont, beginning his career in commercial radio as a DJ at WWRX
(1988–90), Providence, following time at his college radio station, WPGU
(1984–88), Champaign, Illinois.
McGuinn took the Y100 brand online in 2004 with Y100Rocks.com, meant to serve as the internet reincarnation of Y100 after the public outcry that took place online after the station's modern rock
format was abandoned. In August 2006, McGuinn merged Y100Rocks into WXPN
's family of programming.
In April 2007 McGuinn became the afternoon drive time host for WXPN, following the World Cafe
program by David Dye. He also served as the Program Director for Y-Rock On XPN
, which exists both as programming on WXPN
as well as a full-time internet radio
operation.
On November 24, 2008, Minnesota Public Radio
announced that McGuinn has been named program director for 89.3 The Current
. He will assume his new duties in mid-January.
, chiefly Roger LaMay and Bruce Warren. The unique merging of the Y100Rocks brand into the WXPN
family of programming occurred on August 30, 2006. The deal worked such that Y100Rocks continued under the moniker "Y-Rock On XPN
" and while it would continue to broadcast on the internet 24/7
, it would also be broadcast on WXPN
88.5FM in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. The shows that simulcast on WXPN are hosted no longer by McGuinn as he now seves as the WXPN
afternoon host.
With the merging of the two brands, McGuinn had succeeded in finding a permanent home for his displaced ex-patriots from Y100, who had been broadcasting online out of various apartment complexes in Philadelphia since Radio One silenced WPLY
in February 2005. The executives at WXPN provided the Y-Rock staff - led by McGuinn as Program Director and run by a staff of largely volunteers - with studio and office space in their University of Pennsylvania
-provided headquarters at 3025 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
, an '80s era indie rock band that toured the midwest extensively and released several 7" singles and cassettes, some for Go2 Records, a subsidiary of Minneapolis based Susstones Records. McGuinn later played with short-lived acts 100 Faces, The Glitter Zombies (with Ric Menck and Paul Chastain of Velvet Crush
), and Love Cactus. While with Love Cactus, McGuinn co-founded Trashcan Records with bandmate Chris Corpora. Trashcan released a series of cassettes that documented the fertile Champaign, Illinois music scene of the late '80s, including early work from Jay Bennett
's pre-Wilco
band Titanic Love Affair, Bad Flannel, and Poster Children
's Toreador Squat, which McGuinn also co-produced.
After college, McGuinn appeared in more bands, most prominently as bassist with Philadelphia-based Cordalene
,who released 3 EPs and a full-length album, The Star-Ledger, between 2000-2004. Currently musical activities include membership in Philadelphia musical collective The Wayward Wind, McGuinn plays lapsteel and mandolin on their second album Wait for Green.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio personality. He served as program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
of the now defunct Y100 100.3FM (1997–2005) and its predecessor, WDRE in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1995–97), both of which changed formats after being bought by Radio One. McGuinn also served as Program Director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
for KPNT
KPNT
KPNT is a commercial radio station licensed to Collinsville, IL, broadcasting to the St. Louis, Missouri area on 105.7 FM. KPNT airs a mainly modern rock music format with just a hint of active rock branded as "The Point".- History :...
(1994–95), St. Louis, and WEQX
WEQX
WEQX is an FM radio station located at 102.7 MHz and broadcasting from Manchester, Vermont, USA at 1250 watts with an effective radiated power output of 50,000 watts . Their tower is located on nearby Equinox Mountain...
(1990–94), Manchester, Vermont, beginning his career in commercial radio as a DJ at WWRX
WWRX
WWRX is a Rhythmic Contemporary music formatted radio station licensed to Pawcatuck, Connecticut, and serves the New London, Connecticut, area...
(1988–90), Providence, following time at his college radio station, WPGU
WPGU
WPGU 107.1 is the fully commercial student-run College radio station located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is operational 24-7, broadcasting alternative music and other programming throughout Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities...
(1984–88), Champaign, Illinois.
McGuinn took the Y100 brand online in 2004 with Y100Rocks.com, meant to serve as the internet reincarnation of Y100 after the public outcry that took place online after the station's modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format was abandoned. In August 2006, McGuinn merged Y100Rocks into WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
's family of programming.
In April 2007 McGuinn became the afternoon drive time host for WXPN, following the World Cafe
World Cafe
World Cafe is a two-hour long, nationally syndicated music radio program that originates from WXPN, a non-commercial station licensed to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The program began in 1991 and was originally distributed by Public Radio...
program by David Dye. He also served as the Program Director for Y-Rock On XPN
Y-Rock On XPN
WXPN-HD2 is an alternative rock radio station carried on the secondary HD radio channel of WXPN FM in Philadelphia. It had been the latest incarnation of the Y100 brand until June 2010 that originally aired on 100.3 FM, which was the city's alternative rock station from the 1990s until...
, which exists both as programming on WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
as well as a full-time internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
operation.
On November 24, 2008, Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
announced that McGuinn has been named program director for 89.3 The Current
KCMP
-WCAL:The station began with physics experiments in 1918 when five students and a professor built a small radio transmitter at St. Olaf College. Using a wire antenna strung between the campus chapel and the college's "Old Main" , signals from these experiments were picked up as far away as New...
. He will assume his new duties in mid-January.
As Program Director for Y-Rock On XPN
McGuinn was responsible for merging the Y100Rocks brand with the executives at WXPNWXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
, chiefly Roger LaMay and Bruce Warren. The unique merging of the Y100Rocks brand into the WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
family of programming occurred on August 30, 2006. The deal worked such that Y100Rocks continued under the moniker "Y-Rock On XPN
Y-Rock On XPN
WXPN-HD2 is an alternative rock radio station carried on the secondary HD radio channel of WXPN FM in Philadelphia. It had been the latest incarnation of the Y100 brand until June 2010 that originally aired on 100.3 FM, which was the city's alternative rock station from the 1990s until...
" and while it would continue to broadcast on the internet 24/7
24/7
24/7 is an abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", usually referring to a business or service available at all times without interruption...
, it would also be broadcast on WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
88.5FM in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. The shows that simulcast on WXPN are hosted no longer by McGuinn as he now seves as the WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
afternoon host.
With the merging of the two brands, McGuinn had succeeded in finding a permanent home for his displaced ex-patriots from Y100, who had been broadcasting online out of various apartment complexes in Philadelphia since Radio One silenced WPLY
WPHI-FM
WPHI-FM, " Hot 107.9", is a radio station owned by Radio One, that airs a Urban Contemporary format. The station is licensed to Pennsauken, New Jersey and serves the Philadelphia market. When WPHI was on 100.3, it was known as "100.3 The Beat". On August 27, 2011, the "Beat" moniker was dropped...
in February 2005. The executives at WXPN provided the Y-Rock staff - led by McGuinn as Program Director and run by a staff of largely volunteers - with studio and office space in their University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
-provided headquarters at 3025 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
Musical career
Prior to and concurrent with a career in radio, McGuinn played in rock bands, starting in high school and college as guitarist and songwriter with Reaction FormationReaction formation
In psychoanalytic theory, reaction formation is a defensive process in which anxiety-producing or unacceptable emotions and impulses are mastered by exaggeration of the directly opposing tendency.-Theory:...
, an '80s era indie rock band that toured the midwest extensively and released several 7" singles and cassettes, some for Go2 Records, a subsidiary of Minneapolis based Susstones Records. McGuinn later played with short-lived acts 100 Faces, The Glitter Zombies (with Ric Menck and Paul Chastain of Velvet Crush
Velvet Crush
Velvet Crush is a power pop band from Rhode Island that achieved prominence in indie-rock circles in the early- and mid-1990s. The band broke up in 1996 but re-formed in 1998 and have continued to record, releasing their most recent album in 2004...
), and Love Cactus. While with Love Cactus, McGuinn co-founded Trashcan Records with bandmate Chris Corpora. Trashcan released a series of cassettes that documented the fertile Champaign, Illinois music scene of the late '80s, including early work from Jay Bennett
Jay Bennett
Jay Walter Bennett was an American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, engineer, producer, and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Wilco.-Early life and work with Wilco:...
's pre-Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
band Titanic Love Affair, Bad Flannel, and Poster Children
Poster Children
Poster Children are an indie rock band formed at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1987. They have issued eleven studio albums. Known for their strong DIY ethic, the band members continue to drive their own tour bus, create their own artwork and T-shirt designs, and operate their...
's Toreador Squat, which McGuinn also co-produced.
After college, McGuinn appeared in more bands, most prominently as bassist with Philadelphia-based Cordalene
Cordalene
Cordalene is a rock band with mostly pop and classical rock influences. The band was formed in Philadelphia, PA in 2000 by Jamie Olson , James Clark , Jim McGuinn , and Robert A. Emmons Jr....
,who released 3 EPs and a full-length album, The Star-Ledger, between 2000-2004. Currently musical activities include membership in Philadelphia musical collective The Wayward Wind, McGuinn plays lapsteel and mandolin on their second album Wait for Green.