WMSS

WMSS (91.1 FM, "Super 91") is a high school operated high school radio station serving the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area; it can be received as far south as (certain parts of) York, PA. WMSS broadcasts several different radio formats depending on the time of day. The station serves to play once-popular songs that have been abandoned or not represented at all by local commercial stations. The station's mission is to introduce students to radio production and to provide live sports coverage of local games and state playoffs, for which it has previously won PAB awards. The station currently suffers from a lack of publicity, especially among populations who would appreciate the variety of "rarely played" songs, which in the afternoon and evening hours are hand-chosen by their student deejays. The station holds the title of being the only high school station in Central Pennsylvania, and it has been on air for more than 30 years. The general manager of the station is John Wilsbach, who is also known for his traffic reports on Cumulus Media owned stations in the Harrisburg, Lancaster and York areas.

WMSS
CityMiddletown, Pennsylvania
Frequency91.1 MHz
BrandingSuper 91
Programming
FormatEasy Listening, Adult Contemporary, Oldies, Alternative
Ownership
OwnerMiddletown Area School District
Technical information
Facility ID42004
ClassA
ERP450 watts
HAAT22.4 meters (73 ft)
Transmitter coordinates40°12′44.00″N 76°44′47.00″W
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewmssfm.com

On weekday mornings (from 6 AM to 3 PM), the station airs a unique hybrid of Soft Adult Contemporary/Easy Listening, mainstream Adult Contemporary, and Rhythmic Adult Contemporary formats, generally focusing on material from the 1960s to the 1990s, including very little post-2000 music. This programming segment features a high percentage of songs that were major or moderate hits from the 1970s through 1990s but are essentially "forgotten" today, hence the relatively high prevalence of easy listening songs, as this genre has been abandoned by mainstream AC stations. During this time of day, the station's variety of music can range from The Supremes to The Beach Boys to Neil Diamond to Jim Croce to Dan Fogelberg to Air Supply to Phil Collins to Madonna to Bon Jovi to Whitney Houston.

After 3 PM on weekdays, and other afternoon times on weekends, the station broadcasts an alternative music format.

On Saturday mornings (from 7 AM - 12 PM, and extended to 4 PM in the summer), the station broadcasts a True Oldies format with General Manager John Wilsbach as the DJ (sponsored by the local "Members 1st Federal Credit Union"); this is known as the "All Oldies Saturday" and features material exclusively from the 1950s and 1960s. The "All Oldies Saturday" particularly emphasizes pre-1964, since this era has been abandoned by local commercial FM oldies/classic hits stations, except for occasional songs on Oldies 102.9 WHYL, a 160 W translator simulcasting AM 960 WHYL in FM stereo). The "All Oldies Saturday" features the slogan "We don't just play the greatest oldies; we play the B-sides too"; which means that they feature many obscure songs and moderate hits from the Oldies era, rather than focusing on only top hits. In addition, a few rare songs by locally renowned 1950s and 1960s artists from Central Pennsylvania are played, such as, for example, the Magnificent Men and the Kit Kats and George Wilson, singer of "Here Stands the Man Who Needs You".

Additionally, Oldies material is usually broadcast on Sundays from about 8-9 AM and 12-1 PM as well, in between when other programs and church services are broadcast.

[1] Licensed to Middletown, Pennsylvania, United States, the station is currently owned by Middletown Area School District.[2]

References
  1. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Spring 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  2. "WMSS Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
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