Minnesota Public Radio will extend its AAA “The Current” brand into Duluth on Monday, February 1.
MPR purchased 90.9 W215CG Duluth from Family Stations last summer for $45,000 and just completed the upgrade of the translator to 99 watts at 207 meters (Coverage Map). The translator will rebroadcast MPR’s 100.5 WSCN-HD2 starting at 9:09am on February 1.
The station will mostly rebroadcast flagship 89.3 KCMP Minneapolis with the exception of a local music show on weekends to start. The Current programming is also heard on translators in eight other Minnesota cities.
Cementing its strong relationship with the area’s music scene and its countless fans from Duluth to points north and east, The Current will broadcast on 90.9 FM and 100.5 WSCN HD-2, beginning Monday, Feb. 1.
“The Current has always had a special relationship with Duluth; its vibrant music scene and the community of music-loving fans,” said Jim McGuinn, program director for The Current. “Duluth is at the center of northern Minnesota’s burgeoning music scene, and we want to support what makes the music community thrive, whether it means giving a band their first spin on the radio, promoting their first gig, or helping spread the word for their first tour.”
“Our listeners have told us for years they wanted The Current in Duluth,” said Patty Mester, MPR’s Duluth regional manager. “We are thrilled that we are finally able to provide The Current to our Twin Ports audiences.”
In addition, The Current will hire a Duluth-based radio personality who will host a weekly Duluth Local Music show with the opportunity to create additional programming specific to the region. This position will play a key role in connecting and collaborating with the music community, creating deep relationships with artists, venues and community leaders. Funding for the Duluth Local Music show and its host are made possible by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Interested individuals can apply at americanpublicmedia.org/careers. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Feb. 14.
“Since the station’s launch in 2005, we’ve supported the area artists like Low, Trampled by Turtles, Charlie Parr, Southwire, Tin Can Gin, Actual Wolf, Red Mountain, and Sarah Krueger,” said Lindsay Kimball, assistant program director for The Current. “And now, with a presence on the dial in Duluth and the hiring of a Duluth host, we’ll be even better positioned to discover the next generation of artists coming out of Duluth, the North Shore and the Iron Range.”
I’m glad to see The Current prosper – I listen to 89.3 The Current in Los Angeles via 89.3 KPCC HD-2. Though KPCC does an automated generic top of hour id, why does the current say kcmp north field / Minneapolis St. Paul and not mention the KPCC HD ? Oh well, love the music and mark wheat
If The Current had to include every relay in the legal ID, MPR would be wasting valuable airtime. That is why each relay has its own legal ID inserted at the respective transmitter.