WRTE (90.7 FM) is an American radio station broadcasting a jazz / variety format. It is licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States, and serves the city of Chicago. The station is owned by Chicago Public Media. WRTE broadcasts in the HD Radio format.
History WCYC WRTE signed on in 1970 as WCYC, owned by the Boys Clubs of Chicago on 88.7 MHz. In 1988, the station's frequency was changed to 90.5 MHz.Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2018.Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2018. The station aired an urban contemporary format and was staffed by teenage volunteers."Hanging Out: Teens are making waves—radio waves—at WCYC in the heart of gang land", Chicago Tribune. May 18, 1988. Section 7, p. 4."Chicago Area Radio Stations", Chicago Tribune. March 24, 1989. Retrieved January 26, 2022."Entertainment", Chicago Tribune. September 24, 1988. DJs were not allowed to say their last names, nicknames, or street names on the air, after a volunteer DJ was shot by someone who was waiting for them outside of the studio. Some of WCYC's volunteers went on to work as DJs at WGCI-FM. The station also carried The Lutheran Hour."'Lutheran Hour' Speaker Retiring This Year", Chicago Tribune. July 24, 1988. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
Radio Arte The Boys and Girls Clubs sold the radio station to the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (now National Museum of Mexican Art) in 1996,"Proposed Station Transfers", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 27. July 3, 1996. p. 5. Retrieved January 25, 2022.Storch, Charles. "'National' status; Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum name change elevates it to a new league", Chicago Tribune. December 5, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2022. and its call sign was changed to WRTE on July 1, 1997."Call Sign History", fcc.gov. Retrieved January 25, 2022. It was branded "Radio Arte", and aired a bilingual format, with Spanish and English language programming, as well as Spanish-language rock.Eng, Monica. "Radio WRTE Broadcasting a Positive Image to Young Latinos", Chicago Tribune. January 4, 1999. In the final years of the National Museum of Mexican Art's ownership of the station, it underwent fundraising challenges, and in the spring of 2011 the station was put up for sale.Mitchell, Chip. "Museum to sell Radio Arte license, building", WBEZ. May 18, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2022."Museum to Sell Radio Arte License, Building", Illinois Public Media. May 18, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
Chicago Public Media ownership On June 22, 2012, it was announced that Chicago Public Media would purchase WRTE for $350,000 cash, plus program announcements over four years, valued at $100,000."Chicago Public Media Buys WRTE/Chicago", All Access Music Group. June 22, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2022.Marek, Lynee. "Chicago Public Media buys Latino radio station WRTE-FM", Crain's Chicago Business. June 22, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2022. The sale was consummated on December 31, 2012.Application Search Details: BALED-20120621ABV, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 25, 2022. On July 31, 2012, Chicago Public Media applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move WRTE's transmitter site from 2801 S. Ridgeway in Chicago, to University Hall on the East campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR RESERVED CHANNEL NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATION fcc.gov. July 31, 2012. Accessed September 26, 2012 On September 28, 2012, the FCC granted Chicago Public Media a construction permit to move the station's transmitter site to its new location.Application Search Details fcc.gov. Accessed November 2, 2012 On October 12, 2012, Chicago Public Media applied with the FCC change the station's frequency to 90.7 MHz FM.APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR RESERVED CHANNEL NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATION fcc.gov. Accessed November 2, 2012 On November 15, 2012 the FCC granted a construction permit for the move to 90.7 MHz. The effective radiated power decreased to 6 watts and the HAAT increased to 107.3 meters. On February 11, 2013 WRTE moved to 90.7 FM, and it began simulcasting WBEW's "Vocalo" programming.
In May 2016, an agreement was finalized for WRTE to simulcast Glen Ellyn jazz station WDCB, strengthening the western suburban station's coverage in the city of Chicago, and ending the Vocalo simulcast.Feder, Robert. "Public radio rivals team up to boost WDCB, Vocalo", Chicago Tribune. May 4, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
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