WYCA

For the public body in Yorkshire, see West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
WYCA
Broadcast areaSouth Suburban Chicago
Frequency102.3 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingRejoice 102.3
Programming
FormatUrban gospel
AffiliationsAmerican Urban Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
  • Crawford Broadcasting Co.
  • (Dontron, Inc.)
WPWX, WSRB
History
First air date
October 1, 1964; 60 years ago (1964-10-01)
Former call signs
  • WTAS (1965–1993)
  • WEMG-FM (1993–1997)
  • WYAA (1997–2000)
  • WVJM (2000–2001)[1][2]
  • WYCA (2001)
  • WYBA (2001–2003)[3]
Call sign meaning
"Young people's Church of the Air"
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID73700
ClassA
ERP1,050 watts
HAAT152 meters (499 ft)
Repeater(s)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.rejoice102.com

WYCA (102.3 FM "Rejoice 102.3") is a commercial radio station licensed to Crete, Illinois, and serving the southern suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by Dontron, Inc., a subsidiary of the Crawford Broadcasting Company with studios in Hammond, Indiana. WYCA has an urban gospel radio format. Weekdays begin with a syndicated morning show hosted by Erica Campbell. Some local ministers host Christian talk and teaching shows. Services from several churches are broadcast on Sundays.

WYCA has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,050 watts. The transmitter is on South Dixie Highway (Illinois Route 1) near 311th Street in Beecher, Illinois.[5] WYCA broadcasts using HD Radio technology.[6]

History

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Middle of the road music

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The station signed on the air on October 1, 1964,[7] as WTAS. It was owned by Anthony Santuccis's South Cook Broadcasting Inc.[7][8] WTAS had long aired a full service format, airing a variety of local programming and playing middle of the road (MOR) music, which included pop standards and soft AC.[9][10][11][12][13]

Much of the station's local news, talk and community programming was simulcast until 1992 with its sister station 1600 WCGO in Chicago Heights, Illinois, now off the air.[10][11][14][13] In 1985, the station began airing the Warren Freiberg - Libby Collins Show, which had been heard on 106.3 WLNR in Lansing, Illinois, since 1973.[14]

Early gospel years

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In 1992, WTAS began airing an urban gospel format, simulcasting the programming of 1510 WWHN in Joliet, Illinois.[13][15][16] In 1993, the station was purchased by Word of Faith Fellowship, Inc. for $800,000,[17][18] and on October 22, 1993, its call sign was changed to WEMG-FM, with the station continuing to air a black gospel format.[3][19][20] In 1997, the station was sold to Dontron, Inc. for $1.8 million.[21] In summer 1997, the station was taken silent.[22] On October 31, 1997, the station's call sign was changed to WYAA.[3] The station returned to the air January 5, 1998.[23][24] As WYAA, the station played gospel oldies, love songs, and Christian jazz, along with brokered religious programming.[23]

Hot 102 & The Groove

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On June 1, 2000, the station's call sign was changed to WVJM, and the station adopted an urban contemporary format as "Hot 102".[25] As an urban contemporary station, WVJM "Hot 102" carried the syndicated Doug Banks show.[25][26] On March 26, 2001, the station's urban contemporary format was moved to longtime gospel station 92.3 WYCA in Hammond, Indiana, along with the call letters WVJM.[2][27] The call letters WYCA briefly moved to 102.3, before being moved to 106.3 WYBA in Lansing, Illinois, on April 22, 2001, with 102.3 adopting WYBA as its call sign.[3][28] As WYBA, the station initially aired an R&B format as "The Groove".[29][30]

Rejoice 102

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The station switched to its current gospel music format as "Rejoice 102" on February 17, 2003.[30] On September 30, 2003, the station's call sign was changed to WYCA, as 106.3 in Lansing changed its call sign to WSRB and dropped its gospel format in favor of an urban AC format.[3][28] With the end of the gospel format on 106.3, gospel announcer Darryll King moved her weekday program from 106.3 to 102.3, though she continues to host a show on WSRB on Sundays.[31][32] WYCA is now the lone religious outlet for Crawford in the Chicago area.

Gospel announcer Darryll King once hosted the morning show. King has won numerous awards for her work in black gospel radio.[31]

References

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  1. ^ Tiny suburban upstart to take on No. 1 WGCI Feder, Robert. Chicago Sun Times. May 17, 2000. Accessed January 8, 2014
  2. ^ a b WYCA leaving religion for urban contemporary Feder, Robert. Chicago Sun Times. February 23, 2001. Accessed January 8, 2014
  3. ^ a b c d e Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WYCA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WYCA
  6. ^ "HD Radio Guide for Chicago"
  7. ^ a b Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 272-277.
  8. ^ "New FM Stations", Broadcasting. November 25, 1963. p. 104. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "Stations By Format", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62-63. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Chicago Radio Guide, Vol. 1, Issue 1. May 1985. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Unmacht, Robert (1989). The M Street Radio Directory. p. S-96. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 9, No. 32. August 12, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Osinchak, Sue. "The Morning Mom and Pop Talk Show", Radio Chicago. p. 20-21. Winter 1990. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  15. ^ Weaver, Maurice. "Radio From The 'Bank'", Chicago Tribune. September 15, 1992. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Station Formats", Chicago Airwaves. p. 13. August 1993. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  17. ^ Messmer, Jack. "DC Report", Radio & Records. September 17, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  19. ^ Chicago Area Station Formats", Chicago Airwaves. p. 13. November/December 1993. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  20. ^ Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat; Heller, Jill; Apel, Steven (1995). The M Street Radio Directory. p. 192. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  21. ^ "Transactions", Radio & Records. June 27, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  22. ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 30. July 30, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  23. ^ a b The Shepherd's Guide. Eighth Edition. 1998. p. 120-121.
  24. ^ "Format Changes and Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 3. January 21, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  25. ^ a b Doug Banks can't wait to take on WGCI Feder, Robert. Chicago Sun Times. June 20, 2000. Accessed January 8, 2014
  26. ^ Disc jockey back for battle Feder, Robert. Chicago Sun Times. July 6, 2000. Accessed January 8, 2014
  27. ^ Alan PD As WVJM/Chicago Signal Moves Radio & Records. March 21, 2001. (p. 5) Accessed January 8, 2014
  28. ^ a b Call Sign History fcc.gov. Accessed January 8, 2014
  29. ^ Station to station Knopper, Steve. Chicago Tribune. April 14, 2002. Accessed January 8, 2014
  30. ^ a b Tuesday, 02.18.03 DJHeadlines.com. February 18, 2003. Accessed January 8, 2014
  31. ^ a b Darryll King rejoice102.com. Accessed January 30, 2014
  32. ^ Tuesday, 09.30.03 DJHeadlines.com. September 30, 2003. Accessed January 8, 2014
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41°19′34″N 87°37′16″W / 41.326°N 87.621°W / 41.326; -87.621

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