WMHK
Encyclopedia
WMHK FM 89.7 is a non-commercial Christian
radio station in Columbia, South Carolina
. It is owned and operated by Columbia International University
. Its programming includes a Contemporary Christian music
rotation selected by a team of listeners and family programming, such as "Family Life Today" with Dennis Rainey.
WMHK is one of South Carolina's most powerful stations. Under the right conditions, it can be heard in Florence
, as well as the suburbs of Charlotte
, Augusta
and the Upstate
.
The station signed on the air August 30th, 1976 with a vision to share the Gospel through the airwaves. It is unique in the sense that it is locally owned and operated, while most radio stations in Columbia are corporate owned.
WMHK enjoys much higher ratings than most other CCM stations. For many years, its "Family Friendly Morning Show" with Steve Sunshine and Amy Byrd was among the top rated in the Columbuia market among women ages 25-54.
WMHK has gone through numerous staffing changes over the past decade. Rusty Rabon was a long-time morning show co-host, who left to become a minister. Dwight Moffit and Bob Holmes, award-winning veteran newscasters, have also departed.
Jim Marshall
, former general manager of WMHK, was responsible for the revitalization of WMHK, changing the format from the older-style Christian music and adding a contemporary feel to the station. Under his direction, WMHK became one of the most popular CCM stations in the country, and was the first South Carolina station to win a Marconi Award. The morning show and the afternoon drive program became more sophisticated, featuring local weather personalities like WOLO's Meteorologist Reg Taylor and live local traffic reports from WIS' Traffic Command center, as well as news updates from its own award-winning news department. Marshall left in 2005 to become general manager of WAY-FM in West Palm Beach, FL.
Jerry Grimes, former Marketing Director at WIS
, succeeded Marshall as General Manager in July 2005. Under his direction, there were a few staffing changes, including the promotion of Steve Sunshine to Program Director in August 2006 after long-time Program Director Tom Greene left the station to go to WMIT. Under Grimes, WMHK was also named "Station of the Year" by the Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB) in 2006 and 2007.
CIU announced recently that Grimes will be leaving WMHK to join WAY-FM.
CIU operates a sister station in Charlotte
, WRCM. It is largely programmed separately from WMHK, but WMHK has begun simulcasting WRCM's version of the "Family Friendly Morning Show." The two stations also simulcast the syndicated "Scott and Sam" show on weeknights. Joe Paulo, WRCM's former general manager, serves as director of broadcasting for CIU and has oversight over both stations.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
radio station in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. It is owned and operated by Columbia International University
Columbia International University
Columbia International University is a Christian institution of higher education located in Columbia, South Carolina. The university is recognized for its emphasis upon spiritual formation, biblical authority and world evangelization.-History:...
. Its programming includes a Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
rotation selected by a team of listeners and family programming, such as "Family Life Today" with Dennis Rainey.
WMHK is one of South Carolina's most powerful stations. Under the right conditions, it can be heard in Florence
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
, as well as the suburbs of Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
and the Upstate
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
.
The station signed on the air August 30th, 1976 with a vision to share the Gospel through the airwaves. It is unique in the sense that it is locally owned and operated, while most radio stations in Columbia are corporate owned.
WMHK enjoys much higher ratings than most other CCM stations. For many years, its "Family Friendly Morning Show" with Steve Sunshine and Amy Byrd was among the top rated in the Columbuia market among women ages 25-54.
WMHK has gone through numerous staffing changes over the past decade. Rusty Rabon was a long-time morning show co-host, who left to become a minister. Dwight Moffit and Bob Holmes, award-winning veteran newscasters, have also departed.
Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall (Broadcasting Executive)
James David Marshall is an American broadcasting executive. He is currently the Florida Regional Manager for the WAY-FM Network.-Family Information:Jim and his wife, Reba, have four children...
, former general manager of WMHK, was responsible for the revitalization of WMHK, changing the format from the older-style Christian music and adding a contemporary feel to the station. Under his direction, WMHK became one of the most popular CCM stations in the country, and was the first South Carolina station to win a Marconi Award. The morning show and the afternoon drive program became more sophisticated, featuring local weather personalities like WOLO's Meteorologist Reg Taylor and live local traffic reports from WIS' Traffic Command center, as well as news updates from its own award-winning news department. Marshall left in 2005 to become general manager of WAY-FM in West Palm Beach, FL.
Jerry Grimes, former Marketing Director at WIS
WIS
WIS, channel 10, is an NBC-affiliated television station in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. Owned by Raycom Media, WIS has studios on Bull Street in downtown Columbia, and transmitter located in Lugoff, South Carolina.-History:...
, succeeded Marshall as General Manager in July 2005. Under his direction, there were a few staffing changes, including the promotion of Steve Sunshine to Program Director in August 2006 after long-time Program Director Tom Greene left the station to go to WMIT. Under Grimes, WMHK was also named "Station of the Year" by the Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB) in 2006 and 2007.
CIU announced recently that Grimes will be leaving WMHK to join WAY-FM.
CIU operates a sister station in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, WRCM. It is largely programmed separately from WMHK, but WMHK has begun simulcasting WRCM's version of the "Family Friendly Morning Show." The two stations also simulcast the syndicated "Scott and Sam" show on weeknights. Joe Paulo, WRCM's former general manager, serves as director of broadcasting for CIU and has oversight over both stations.