Milwaukee’s WYMS to Add Urban Alternative on HD2 and Late-Nights

“Radio Milwaukee” (WYMS/88.9) is receiving a $450,000 Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant to develop new Urban Alternative programming.

Besides streaming online, the service will be heard on WYMS-HD2 and will air late nights on WYMS’ main channel, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. weeknights and Midnight to 3 a.m. weekends. The new service is expected to launch in June 2022.

“Radio Milwaukee is thrilled to bring the Urban Alternative public radio format to Milwaukee,” Executive Director Kevin Sucher said. “We are excited to be part of this national effort to elevate Black voices and celebrate Milwaukee’s unique culture. Through this new platform, Radio Milwaukee will amplify untold stories, champion homegrown talent, and create a space for celebration and creativity.”

WYMS news release

A news release notes that WYMS Station Director Jordan Lee and Director of Digital Strategy and Innovation Tarik Moody have consulted on the development of other Urban Alternative stations around the country, and Moody hosts a syndicated show called “Rhythm Lab Radio” that has pioneered the sound nationally.

WYMS will hire a separate program director for the new service, as other positions.

414Music.FM, WYMS’ all Milwaukee music channel, will move from WYMS-HD2 to WYMS-HD3.

WYMS is among three groups receiving new grants as part of the CPB’s effort to expand Urban Alternative formats. This year’s other recipients are Minnesota Public Radio and KMOJ (Minneapolis) and WJSU (Jackson, MS). CPB has previously supported efforts to bring the format to Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Norfolk, VA.

“The Urban Alternative format has been built by and for a new generation of public radio listeners — a younger, multicultural community that is creating its own public media sound,” said Kathy Merritt, CPB Senior Vice President of Radio, Journalism and CSG Services. “CPB is proud to support the expansion of this format, in which the stations are meeting the music and information needs of young, diverse audiences as trusted partners.”

CPB news release