WVKC
Encyclopedia
WVKC is a 1,000-watt radio station
in Galesburg, Illinois
, in west-central Illinois
. Knox College is the station licensee, authorized by the Federal Communications Commission
.
WVKC is a student-operated radio station
of Knox College. The call letters were originally chosen to stand for "The Voice of Knox College", although that catchphrase is not in active use. WVKC was known as "Radio-Free Galesburg" until as recently as 2005, when students decided on "No Sale Radio," again emphasizing that WVKC is a non-commercial, not-for-profit organization. In 2006, students opted to change the name to simply "The Voice," a slogan used by the station in the 1970s and 1980s.
is "Zippy the wonder bat." Though appearances are uncommon — usually occurring in the station's library — there are many bats living on the fourth floor of Knox's George Davis Hall, the same space that currently houses WVKC.
Unlike many other college radio stations, any student is welcome to become a DJ
, with no experience necessary, and are free to play music of any genre
. Members from the community have also contributed to the on-air schedule, contributing rock
, jazz, gospel
, and latin formats.
The station also features live web broadcasting
for remote listeners, available at the station's website
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 Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, in west-central Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Knox College is the station licensee, authorized by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
WVKC is a student-operated 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...
of Knox College. The call letters were originally chosen to stand for "The Voice of Knox College", although that catchphrase is not in active use. WVKC was known as "Radio-Free Galesburg" until as recently as 2005, when students decided on "No Sale Radio," again emphasizing that WVKC is a non-commercial, not-for-profit organization. In 2006, students opted to change the name to simply "The Voice," a slogan used by the station in the 1970s and 1980s.
Format
According to station lore, WVKC's official mascotMascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is "Zippy the wonder bat." Though appearances are uncommon — usually occurring in the station's library — there are many bats living on the fourth floor of Knox's George Davis Hall, the same space that currently houses WVKC.
Unlike many other college radio stations, any student is welcome to become a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, with no experience necessary, and are free to play music of any genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
. Members from the community have also contributed to the on-air schedule, contributing rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, jazz, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, and latin formats.
The station also features live web broadcasting
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
for remote listeners, available at the station's website
History
Originally founded as an experimental radio station, WVKC has been operating continuously for more than 50 years, making it one of the oldest college radio stations.- December 1924 - Knox College first operates an experimental AM radio station, WFBZ until 1928.
- 1950s - WKC (WVKC's direct predecessor) operated as a carrier currentCarrier currentCarrier current is a method of low power AM radio transmission that uses the AC electrical system of a building to propagate a medium frequency, AM signal to a relatively small area, such as a building or a group of buildings...
radio station, broadcasting to selected locations on campus.
- 1961 - WVKC (a fourth letter having been added by the call sign) was granted by the FCC for a Low powerLow-power broadcastingLow-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
FM station on 90.5 MHz. This was a Class D station at 10 watts ERP.
- 1979 - Due to planned renovation and transfer to a developer of the station's location since 1961 (basement of Whiting Hall on W. Tompkins Street), the college granted the station space on the fourth floor of George Davis Hall (then vacant, and the original location of Knox's radio studio in the 1920s).
- 1980 - The station acquired a refurbished Collins transmitter and moved into the fourth floor of George Davis Hall. Along with new studios, the station's power was increased to 1000 watts ERP.
- 1984 - Began broadcasting in stereo using a prototype Harris exciter.
- 1990 - In cooperation with the FCC and to accommodate an increase in ERP by Augustana College's WVIKWVIKWVIK is the flagship National Public Radio station for the Quad Cities region of eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. It is licensed to Rock Island, Illinois and owned by Augustana College. Studios are located on Augustana's campus in Rock Island...
at 90.3 MHz in the Quad Cities area, as well as reducing adjacent channel interference with WVIKWVIKWVIK is the flagship National Public Radio station for the Quad Cities region of eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. It is licensed to Rock Island, Illinois and owned by Augustana College. Studios are located on Augustana's campus in Rock Island...
, WVKC changed its FM frequency to 90.7 MHz.
- 2007 - WVKC entered into a partnership to bring NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
to the regular programming.