WRCM-FM
Encyclopedia
WRCM, known on-air as New Life 91.9, is a radio station
in Charlotte, North Carolina
. It airs contemporary Christian music
and identifies itself as "Charlotte's Number One Family Friendly Station". It is a noncommericial listener supported ministry of Columbia International University
in Columbia, South Carolina
, broadcasting at 91.9 mHz.
The station is licensed to Wingate, North Carolina
, a suburb of Charlotte, with studios in another Charlotte suburb, Indian Trail, North Carolina
.
Columbia International University, then known as Columbia Bible College, applied to the FCC for the license in 1982. Internally, this was known as The 92 FM Project. Other entities applied on top of CBC including Wingate College (now Wingate University
) and a church in Waxhaw, North Carolina
area. After 10 years of negotiations with the other groups, WRCM was granted the license and was signed on the air by founding general manager Ken Mayfield at 12 noon on June 14, 1993. Present at sign on were CIU president, Johnny Miller; CIU vice president John Davidson and former CIU president, Robertson C. McQuilken. (The station's call letters -RCM- were in honor of his father, Robertson C. McQuilken, the first president of Columbia Bible College.)
WRCM's first staff consisted of full-timers Ken Mayfield, the station's first general manager and afternoon personality, program director and morning host, Rodney Baucom and Karen Wycoff who served as mid-day announcer and secretary. Mayfield had built and managed another contemporary Christian station, WNOW
, and had hosted a very popular Sunday morning Contemporary Christian music program for 7 years on Charlotte's 100,000 watt WBCY (now WLNK
). Part-time staff members included Shelly Mitchell and Joe Paulo. Paulo stepped into the role of general manager shortly after Mayfield departed in 1999.
WRCM garnered immediate success with a 2.4 in its first Arbitron ratings. This success was in spite of the lack of advertising. Almost all of the "promotion" for the fledgling station had to come by word of mouth and from the station staff at Christian concerts.
Original plans were for WRCM to be a satellite station of Columbia Bible College's original station, WMHK
However, these plans were scrapped, and the station has been largely operated and programmed separately from WMHK. However, longtime general manager Joe Paulo was recently named director of broadcasting at CIU, with oversight over both stations. Under his watch, WMHK has begun simulcasting WRCM's "Family Friendly Morning Show," and the two stations both air the syndicated "Scott and Sam" show on weeknights.
Although the station identifies itself as "New Life 91.9, WRCM Wingate/Charlotte" and heavily promotes churches throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area
, its signal is not as strong as those of the major FM stations in the Charlotte area. For most of its history, it operated at only 10,000 watts, resulting in marginal coverage even in some parts of Charlotte. In many of Charlotte's inner-ring suburbs, it could only be heard on car radios. It has since increased its power to 30,000 watts. However, it still operates from a tiny (by modern broadcasting standards) 495-foot tower near its studios in Indian Trail. This is necessary to protect WSGE
in Dallas
, which is located on adjacent 91.7 FM. As a result, it still only provides grade B coverage to large parts of the market. Most Christian music fans in the western part of the market get a better signal from WMIT in Asheville.
WRCM's music rotation consists of six or seven current songs in heavy rotation and a mix of six or seven new songs and "classics" from the last two to five years in medium rotation played in a tight format, often back to back with only the station jingle separating songs from each other.
New songs are chosen with the help of the listener advisory panel. The current top songs on WRCM are:
The station often promotes live concerts by (CCM) musicians, and carries out its Christian mission by performing good works such as collecting donations of baby clothes to support mothers in need who might otherwise consider getting abortions.
WRCM uses the "Charlotte's Number One" Radio Jingle package from RadioScape.
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...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It airs 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...
and identifies itself as "Charlotte's Number One Family Friendly Station". It is a noncommericial listener supported ministry of 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:...
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...
, broadcasting at 91.9 mHz.
The station is licensed to Wingate, North Carolina
Wingate, North Carolina
Wingate is a town in Union County, North Carolina and a suburb of the city of Charlotte. The population was 2,406 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wingate is located at ....
, a suburb of Charlotte, with studios in another Charlotte suburb, Indian Trail, North Carolina
Indian Trail, North Carolina
Indian Trail is a town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. Founded on March 12, 1861, the town holds a history of traders traveling along the "Indian Trail," which ran from Petersburg, Virginia, to the Waxhaw Indians, and gold mining. Indian Trail was first a farming community; however,...
.
Columbia International University, then known as Columbia Bible College, applied to the FCC for the license in 1982. Internally, this was known as The 92 FM Project. Other entities applied on top of CBC including Wingate College (now Wingate University
Wingate University
Wingate University was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University....
) and a church in Waxhaw, North Carolina
Waxhaw, North Carolina
Waxhaw is a town located in Union County, North Carolina. The population was 2,627 at the 2000 Census.-Geography:Waxhaw is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land...
area. After 10 years of negotiations with the other groups, WRCM was granted the license and was signed on the air by founding general manager Ken Mayfield at 12 noon on June 14, 1993. Present at sign on were CIU president, Johnny Miller; CIU vice president John Davidson and former CIU president, Robertson C. McQuilken. (The station's call letters -RCM- were in honor of his father, Robertson C. McQuilken, the first president of Columbia Bible College.)
WRCM's first staff consisted of full-timers Ken Mayfield, the station's first general manager and afternoon personality, program director and morning host, Rodney Baucom and Karen Wycoff who served as mid-day announcer and secretary. Mayfield had built and managed another contemporary Christian station, WNOW
WNOW
WNOW "La Mil30 - Lider en Radio" is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish news/talk, sports and entertainment format licensed to Mint Hill, North Carolina, USA. The AM frequency is currently owned by Davidson Media Group.- History :...
, and had hosted a very popular Sunday morning Contemporary Christian music program for 7 years on Charlotte's 100,000 watt WBCY (now WLNK
WLNK
WLNK, known on the air as "107.9 The Link", is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts at 107.9 MHz, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area...
). Part-time staff members included Shelly Mitchell and Joe Paulo. Paulo stepped into the role of general manager shortly after Mayfield departed in 1999.
WRCM garnered immediate success with a 2.4 in its first Arbitron ratings. This success was in spite of the lack of advertising. Almost all of the "promotion" for the fledgling station had to come by word of mouth and from the station staff at Christian concerts.
Original plans were for WRCM to be a satellite station of Columbia Bible College's original station, WMHK
WMHK
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"...
However, these plans were scrapped, and the station has been largely operated and programmed separately from WMHK. However, longtime general manager Joe Paulo was recently named director of broadcasting at CIU, with oversight over both stations. Under his watch, WMHK has begun simulcasting WRCM's "Family Friendly Morning Show," and the two stations both air the syndicated "Scott and Sam" show on weeknights.
Although the station identifies itself as "New Life 91.9, WRCM Wingate/Charlotte" and heavily promotes churches throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area
Charlotte metropolitan area
The Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
, its signal is not as strong as those of the major FM stations in the Charlotte area. For most of its history, it operated at only 10,000 watts, resulting in marginal coverage even in some parts of Charlotte. In many of Charlotte's inner-ring suburbs, it could only be heard on car radios. It has since increased its power to 30,000 watts. However, it still operates from a tiny (by modern broadcasting standards) 495-foot tower near its studios in Indian Trail. This is necessary to protect WSGE
WSGE
WSGE operates at 91.7 FM and is a non-commercial, public radio station owned and managed by Gaston College, in Dallas, North Carolina. The station's studio is located in the Craig Arts & Sciences building...
in Dallas
Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 3,402 at the 2000 census. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-Geography:...
, which is located on adjacent 91.7 FM. As a result, it still only provides grade B coverage to large parts of the market. Most Christian music fans in the western part of the market get a better signal from WMIT in Asheville.
WRCM's music rotation consists of six or seven current songs in heavy rotation and a mix of six or seven new songs and "classics" from the last two to five years in medium rotation played in a tight format, often back to back with only the station jingle separating songs from each other.
New songs are chosen with the help of the listener advisory panel. The current top songs on WRCM are:
- "Strong Enough" by Matthew West
- "Hold Me" by Jamie Grace (w/ Tobymac)
- "Trust In Jesus" by Third Day
- "I Refuse" by Josh Wilson
- "Glorious Day" by Casting Crowns
- "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman
- "Blessings" by Laura Story
- "Move" by Mercyme
- "Strong Enough To Save" by Tenth Avenue North
- "Courageous" by Casting Crowns
- "Lift Me Up" by The Afters
- "My Hope Is In You" by Aaron Shust
- "I Lift My Hands" by Chris Tomlin
- "Where I Belong" by Building 429
- "Say My Name" by Lindsey McCaul
- "Changed Forever" by Tobymac
The station often promotes live concerts by (CCM) musicians, and carries out its Christian mission by performing good works such as collecting donations of baby clothes to support mothers in need who might otherwise consider getting abortions.
WRCM uses the "Charlotte's Number One" Radio Jingle package from RadioScape.