WSMC-FM
Encyclopedia
WSMC-FM is the Chattanooga, Tennessee
, area's only radio station
featuring classical music programming. It is licensed to Southern Adventist University
(SAU), a four-year institution located in nearby Collegedale
. Its signal reaches parts of the states of Tennessee
, Georgia
, Alabama
and North Carolina
. Its programming can be heard on low-powered repeater W217AW-FM 91.3 in Dalton, Georgia
.
Founded in 1961, the station programs classical music (including opera
and similar genres) during most of the broadcast day Sundays through Fridays. WSMC has only three full-time employees: the general manager, corporate sales manager, and operations manager. The announcers and production staff consist entirely of SAU students.
The call sign, WSMC, came from an earlier name of Southern Adventist University, Southern Missionary College.
, SAU prohibits WSMC from airing live news programming from sunset on Friday evening until sunset on Saturday evening. In the 1990s, this caused conflict with NPR, which objected to its signature newscast, All Things Considered
, being interrupted in progress.
Coinciding with this dispute, several interest groups took exception to WSMC's continued affiliation with NPR, which is in turn funded largely by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
, itself subsidized by Federal appropriations. The gist of their arguments was that WSMC aired more religious programming than could be considered a public service. Therefore, the groups complained, it was inappropriate for WSMC to receive federal funding (or programming provided therefrom) due to concerns about separation of church and state. Some individuals also alleged that the religious programming, mandated by the administration of what was then Southern College of Seventh-Day Adventists, amounted to a disregard of the larger public in the Tennessee Valley
, in favor of catering to a religious minority. By June 1995, these complaints led NPR officials to inform WSMC that it would begin membership termination proceedings on the grounds that the station preempted NPR programming too often and aired too much religious programming.
Instead of modifying its Friday and Saturday programming practices in response to those complaints, however, college officials and station management decided to take action themselves, discontinuing most NPR programming, news included. This took effect on September 30, 1995. Replacing ATC were Public Radio International
's The World
and American Public Media
's Marketplace
, which could air on a delayed basis (or even be preempted), instead of live, as ATC does (the station has since discontinued most weekday news and public affairs programming). WSMC airs only a few NPR programs now (purchased separately without a network discount); most of the other programs moved to WUTC, which replaced WSMC as the Chattanooga market's flagship NPR station.
. Its format is decidedly less diverse than a typical NPR affiliate, targeting an older, more conservative listenership than public radio normally attracts.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, area's only radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
featuring classical music programming. It is licensed to Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University is a college in Collegedale, Tennessee, owned and operated by the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. U.S. News & World Report categorizes it as a Southern Regional College, and the magazine has consistently ranked it as one of the top-tier schools in...
(SAU), a four-year institution located in nearby Collegedale
Collegedale, Tennessee
Collegedale is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 8,282 at the 2010 census. Collegedale is a suburb of Chattanooga and is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Its signal reaches parts of the states of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Its programming can be heard on low-powered repeater W217AW-FM 91.3 in Dalton, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
.
Founded in 1961, the station programs classical music (including opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and similar genres) during most of the broadcast day Sundays through Fridays. WSMC has only three full-time employees: the general manager, corporate sales manager, and operations manager. The announcers and production staff consist entirely of SAU students.
The call sign, WSMC, came from an earlier name of Southern Adventist University, Southern Missionary College.
Religious programming controversies
WSMC had been an early member of NPR. However, because of the religious doctrine of the licensee's church body, the General Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is the governing organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, where it moved in 1989...
, SAU prohibits WSMC from airing live news programming from sunset on Friday evening until sunset on Saturday evening. In the 1990s, this caused conflict with NPR, which objected to its signature newscast, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, being interrupted in progress.
Coinciding with this dispute, several interest groups took exception to WSMC's continued affiliation with NPR, which is in turn funded largely by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
, itself subsidized by Federal appropriations. The gist of their arguments was that WSMC aired more religious programming than could be considered a public service. Therefore, the groups complained, it was inappropriate for WSMC to receive federal funding (or programming provided therefrom) due to concerns about separation of church and state. Some individuals also alleged that the religious programming, mandated by the administration of what was then Southern College of Seventh-Day Adventists, amounted to a disregard of the larger public in the Tennessee Valley
Tennessee Valley
The Tennessee Valley is the drainage basin of the Tennessee River and is largely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. It stretches from southwest Kentucky to northwest Georgia and from northeast Mississippi to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina...
, in favor of catering to a religious minority. By June 1995, these complaints led NPR officials to inform WSMC that it would begin membership termination proceedings on the grounds that the station preempted NPR programming too often and aired too much religious programming.
Instead of modifying its Friday and Saturday programming practices in response to those complaints, however, college officials and station management decided to take action themselves, discontinuing most NPR programming, news included. This took effect on September 30, 1995. Replacing ATC were Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
's The World
The World (radio program)
PRI's The World is a global news radio, audio and multi-platform program created by Public Radio International based on the program's congruence with PRI's mission, and in order to fulfill the critical need for more original global news created for and provided to Americans. This was partly a...
and American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
's Marketplace
Marketplace (radio program)
Marketplace is a radio program that focuses on business, the economy, and events that influence them. Hosted by Kai Ryssdal, the show is produced and distributed by American Public Media, in association with the University of Southern California...
, which could air on a delayed basis (or even be preempted), instead of live, as ATC does (the station has since discontinued most weekday news and public affairs programming). WSMC airs only a few NPR programs now (purchased separately without a network discount); most of the other programs moved to WUTC, which replaced WSMC as the Chattanooga market's flagship NPR station.
Programming
Besides airing classical music and some religious programs on Saturdays, WSMC also airs "Cowboy Jubilee," a nostalgic program of Western musicWestern music (North America)
Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...
. Its format is decidedly less diverse than a typical NPR affiliate, targeting an older, more conservative listenership than public radio normally attracts.