Murray State’s listener supported public radio service for the region. 91.3 WKMS, has added a third FM signal featuring all classical music to its array. Friday, May 23, 2014, 99.5 FM Murray signed on the air, joining 92.5 FM Paducah and 105.1 FM Madisonville, in transmitting the all classical service 91.3, WKMS-HD2.
The technology necessary for the original second channel of WKMS dedicated to all classical music was made possible with funding assistance from Murray State. It has drawn many listeners online at wkms.org, in addition to the Paducah and Madisonville FM signals. The new 99.5 FM, Murray was funded by individuals and underwriters, led by a 5-thousand dollar contribution by a Murray listener.
Upon notification of the new all classical Murray FM being on the air, the station had some early, positive reaction from Murray and Calloway listeners:
“This was an exciting morning! As I drove to Aurora, where I attend church, I listened to Ravel's glorious "Daphne et Chloe Suite" ... it will be a treat to listen to a variety of classical selections anytime I am in the car, running errands, etc. in Murray.”
“I am enjoying it very much! Thank you, WKMS and MSU for all your efforts to make this station possible.”
“I discovered it yesterday and it not only "Sounds Good"--it sounds fantastic! It is so convenient to just use my good old FM radio.”
This new Murray service’s transmitter has two and a half times the power as the station’s low-power auxiliary transmitter, which proved itself useful in the 2009 ice storm. It depends on line of sight reception and the antenna is located at the south end (near 15th and Olive) of the building.
A full schedule of WKMS programming is available online at wkms.org. The station serves over 30,000 listeners in the Four Rivers Region of western Kentucky, southernmost Illinois and northwestern Tennessee with non-stop news and music. Stations include 91.3 WKMS-FM, Murray; WKMS HD-1 and All-Classical HD-2; 90.9 WKMD and WKMD HD-1 and HD-2, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; and All-Classical 92.5 Paducah, 99.5 Murray, and 105.1 Madisonville. WKMS also offers both channels WKMS HD-1 and HD-2 at wkms.org, where program schedules and more are available. Information’s also available at 1-800-599-4737.
