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KMSA

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Coordinates: 39°03′56″N 108°44′54″W / 39.0655°N 108.7484°W / 39.0655; -108.7484
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KMSA
Broadcast areaGrand Junction
Frequency91.3 MHz
BrandingKMSA 91.3 FM
Programming
FormatAdult album alternative
Ownership
OwnerColorado Mesa University
History
First air date
February 20, 1975[1]
Call sign meaning
MeSA
Technical information
Facility ID41300
ClassC2
ERP3,100 watts
HAAT406.8 meters (1,335 ft)
Links
WebsiteKMSA website

KMSA (91.3 FM) "Music for the Mavs" is a college radio station at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado.

History

KMSA began broadcasting February 20, 1975,[1] from the campus of then-Mesa College, operating from space that formerly was unused rooms, a closet and a restroom. Its first year was rather turbulent, marked by the need to replace borrowed equipment (including a transmitter from the University of Northern Colorado) in the first year of operation and a citation from the Federal Communications Commission for having an unlicensed disc jockey; at one time, a student announced a dormitory party in progress, which proceeded to swell from 15 to 200 attendees.[2]

Further turmoil came when the station's 18 volunteers were forced out in 1977, in favor of having all programming be hosted by Mesa College students.[3] The policy, set by college president John Tomlinson, could have forced KMSA to cease operations.[4] That same year, however, the station replaced its tower, improving signal quality even though the station still broadcast with 10 watts.[5] Two years later, its Houston Hall facilities were remodeled and relocated to the first floor; while it was initially planned for the station to go off throughout the summer of 1979,[6] it did not return to the air until February 1980.[7] While KMSA was successful at getting employees and student managers jobs in Colorado media outlets—four of its five station managers had gone on to leadership positions at Western Slope broadcast stations, and one former station staffer started KVNF in Paonia[8]: 10 —past and present staff felt that the lack of non-students hurt the station's quality.[9] KMSA also ran on a small budget, and the college did not offer any courses in radio.[8]

1981 brought a power increase to 500 watts.[10][11] It also brought changes in who was eligible to work at the station, namely a more stringent credit hour requirement, and an increased integration with the college, which threatened to push out some personalities at KMSA.[12] However, only three DJs ended up being forced out.[13] Two years later, in 1983, KMSA carried its first live sports coverage, of Mesa College baseball.[14] In 1985, it began seeking more underwriters and professionalized its format.[15]

In 2007, a group of students, backed by energy rebates and contributions from the school and local business groups, installed solar panels to power KMSA's operations.[16] By this time, KMSA was known especially for its specialty programming of metal music, particularly on weekends.[17] KMSA upgraded in 2012 to 4,300 watts from a new transmitter atop Black Ridge, bringing its signal to the entire Grand Valley;[17] that same year, it also raffled off 12 credit hours of Colorado Mesa University tuition.[18]

After longtime faculty advisor Regis Tucci unexpectedly died in 2015,[19] Jim Davis took the reins and sought to restore balance to a station that, according to some record store customers, was playing too much metal.[20] Additionally, KMSA's automation equipment was upgraded.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mesa station makes it onto the air". Daily Sentinel. February 21, 1975. p. 10. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  2. ^ Frederick, Don (February 21, 1976). "KMSA, college radio station, marks anniversary of first stormy year". Daily Sentinel. p. 2. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Pratt, Mindy (June 29, 1977). "Protests greet college ouster of student station volunteers". Daily Sentinel. p. 11. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Pratt, Mindy (June 26, 1977). "Policy change may shut down radio station at Mesa College". Daily Sentinel. p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Olsen, Don (October 4, 1977). "KMSA back on air with new era". Daily Sentinel. p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Radosevich, Michael (April 20, 1979). "Western Slope Non-Commercial Radio: One goes up, another goes down". Daily Sentinel. p. 16. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "KMSA, Mesa College's radio station..." Daily Sentinel. February 6, 1980. p. 21. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Post, Linda (March 16, 1980). "KMSA—Back on the air". Daily Sentinel. pp. 8, 9, 10. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Post, Linda (March 16, 1980). "Open Forum". Daily Sentinel. p. 2. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  10. ^ FCC History Cards for KMSA
  11. ^ "College station boosts signal". Daily Sentinel. June 18, 1981. p. 36. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  12. ^ Nelson, John K. (October 25, 1981). "College says public won't 'hear' changes at KMSA-FM". Daily Sentinel. p. 12. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  13. ^ Theobold, Reford (January 17, 1982). "The Captain returns to old time, format". Daily Sentinel. p. 22. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  14. ^ Leonard, Karla (February 15, 1983). "KMSA to broadcast Mesa home games". Daily Sentinel. p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  15. ^ Sullivan, Jim (September 28, 1985). "KMSA an organized alternative". Daily Sentinel. p. 3B. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  16. ^ Magill, Bobby (January 31, 2007). "Sun power spins sounds at Mesa State". pp. 1B, 5B. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  17. ^ a b Sauer, Rachel (March 22, 2013). "Heavy On Metal: Format, students hold their own at college radio station". Daily Sentinel. pp. 2, 15. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Mawdsley, Melinda (October 8, 2012). "University radio station to offer tuition in raffle". Daily Sentinel. p. 3A. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  19. ^ Shockley, Emily (January 14, 2015). "Prof gave voice to young journalists". Daily Sentinel. p. 2A. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  20. ^ Cesario, Rock (August 14, 2015). "Some changes of note going on this year at KMSA 91.3". Daily Sentinel. p. 4. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  21. ^ Cesario, Rock (October 21, 2016). "Time to turn up the volume on KMSA". Daily Sentinel. p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2019.

39°03′56″N 108°44′54″W / 39.0655°N 108.7484°W / 39.0655; -108.7484

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