WTMD
Encyclopedia
WTMD is a radio station
licensed to and located at Towson University
in Towson, Maryland
. It is one of only a few locally-owned radio stations in Towson and Baltimore
. WTMD has one of the largest listening audiences of any public radio station in Maryland.
, rock
, folk
and alternative country
. WTMD prides itself on playing new and significant music. Many of the artists that WTMD plays are not played on commercial radio stations.
WTMD is a strong supporter of the Baltimore/Washington local music scene. WTMD broadasts the program "Baltimore Unsigned". This hour long program airs on Monday nights at and includes only local music. Each week, a band or singer interviewed and plays live. The show is hosted by Sam Sessa who also writes for the Baltimore Sun.
in Washington, D.C.
whereby WAMU rebroadcasts WTMD on their HD Radio Channel 2. This brought back independent music radio to Washington for the first time, since WHFS
was sold to CBS Radio. In fact, this partnership was recognized and praised by Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) Commissioner McDowell in his remarks when the Commission voted to make HD multicasting permanent.
WTMD had also been transmitting via a low power signal from the suburb of Great Falls, Virginia
on 105.5 FM. However, the operator of this transmitter replaced WTMD's audio feed with WAMU's "Bluegrass/Country" format on October 10, 2008. The FCC granted this requested change, along with a power increase from 38 to 250 watts. FM translator stations are rarely granted the right to transmit using power this high. Such exceptions are usually reserved for FM stations that are not reaching fringe areas. The introduction of this new signal now gives WAMU two separate stations with extensive reach in the Washington, DC area, and decreases the reach of WTMD.
WTMD produces First Thursday Concerts in the Park, a series of six free after work shows at West Mount Vernon Park in downtown Baltimore. The Damnwells, Steve Forbert, The Colour, The Young Dubliners and others have performed and these show attract crowds of about 3,000.
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...
licensed to and located at Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
. It is one of only a few locally-owned radio stations in Towson and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. WTMD has one of the largest listening audiences of any public radio station in Maryland.
Format
The station plays a mix of indie rockIndie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, 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...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
. WTMD prides itself on playing new and significant music. Many of the artists that WTMD plays are not played on commercial radio stations.
WTMD is a strong supporter of the Baltimore/Washington local music scene. WTMD broadasts the program "Baltimore Unsigned". This hour long program airs on Monday nights at and includes only local music. Each week, a band or singer interviewed and plays live. The show is hosted by Sam Sessa who also writes for the Baltimore Sun.
Relationship with Washington
WTMD partnered with WAMUWAMU
WAMU is a public radio station that services the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The station broadcasts on 88.5 FM, online at wamu.org, and on HD Radio at 88.5-HD1, 2 and 3. WAMU is on-air 24 hours a day. It is licensed to American University, and its studios are located near the campus...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
whereby WAMU rebroadcasts WTMD on their HD Radio Channel 2. This brought back independent music radio to Washington for the first time, since WHFS
WHFS
WHFS was the call sign for three different FM stations in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland markets on various frequencies for nearly 50 years. The first and longest run was a progressive rock station and was usually, and affectionately, referred to as 'HFS...
was sold to CBS Radio. In fact, this partnership was recognized and praised by 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...
(FCC) Commissioner McDowell in his remarks when the Commission voted to make HD multicasting permanent.
WTMD had also been transmitting via a low power signal from the suburb of Great Falls, Virginia
Great Falls, Virginia
Great Falls is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 15,427 at the 2010 census.Although primarily a bedroom community for Washington, D.C., one major attraction is Great Falls Park which overlooks the Great Falls of the Potomac River, for which...
on 105.5 FM. However, the operator of this transmitter replaced WTMD's audio feed with WAMU's "Bluegrass/Country" format on October 10, 2008. The FCC granted this requested change, along with a power increase from 38 to 250 watts. FM translator stations are rarely granted the right to transmit using power this high. Such exceptions are usually reserved for FM stations that are not reaching fringe areas. The introduction of this new signal now gives WAMU two separate stations with extensive reach in the Washington, DC area, and decreases the reach of WTMD.
WTMD produces First Thursday Concerts in the Park, a series of six free after work shows at West Mount Vernon Park in downtown Baltimore. The Damnwells, Steve Forbert, The Colour, The Young Dubliners and others have performed and these show attract crowds of about 3,000.
Accomplishments
- WTMD has been voted Best Radio station in Baltimore by the locally owned City Paper for three years in a row.