Jazz90.1 is Rochester’s home for real jazz. We broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 90.1 FM, and over the Internet. (Listen now!) We play more hours of live, local jazz than any radio station in the United States. If you already love jazz, or if you’d like to know more about it, check us out. If you have a taste for swing, funk, improvisation, and experimentation — then your radio or computer should be locked on Jazz90.1.
WGMC History
Did you know that one of the nation’s last 24/7/365 public jazz radio stations resides in Greece, New York? Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM has been an important part of the town’s history since 1971, providing jazz, blues and big band music, community events, concerts, public service programming, and instructional opportunities for students.
In 1971, The Greece Central School District sought out community involvement in the establishment of a community FM radio station. On August 31, 1971, the Greece Central School District Board of Education approved the concept of launching a community radio station, and the process to apply for a FCC license began.
On November 1, 1973, 90.1 WGMC went on the air for the first time. Broadcast hours for the first ten weeks of operation were 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., and on Monday December 17, 1973, WGMC expanded its hours to run from 12 – 7 p.m. During the early years, the station was run mainly by students, under the direction of faculty advisors at Greece Athena High School. Community members were also able to host programs on the station during school breaks, evenings, and weekends. At just 10 watts of broadcast power, WGMC was heard only within the immediate Greece area. The station broadcasted Greece Town Board meetings, Board of Education meetings, coverage of local elections, hockey games, and more.
Over the years, WGMC-FM – now called Jazz90.1 – has seen significant growth moving to 2,050 watts, then eventually to 15,000 watts of power after an extensive multi-year fundraising effort in the early 2000’s. The station does not receive any funding from The Greece Central School District, however the license for WGMC-FM remains under the school district, and is housed at Greece Olympia School.
Jazz90.1 is one of the last full-time community jazz radio stations left in the United States, and relies solely on donations from listeners, and area businesses. The station continues providing its listeners unique local programming such as the Live Studio Concert Series, Greece Central Jazz Radio Hour, and more. Jazz90.1 prides itself on also providing great learning opportunities to Greece students who wish to pursue careers in media and broadcasting. Staff of Jazz90.1 work hand in hand with district teachers and leaders, giving Greece students a one of a kind learning opportunity both behind the scenes, and on the air.
At Jazz90.1, they believe that jazz is a living music. Half of their broadcast hours are focused on current artists who are committed to moving the music forward. Jazz90.1 plays more new music than any radio station in the U.S., but also offer a heaping portion of the classics, like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and many more.
Jazz90.1 is also an important outlet for music and voices that don’t make it onto commercial radio. Their longest-running show is The Polka Bandstand Show heard every Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon. The station also features the Lithuanian-language Dainos Aidas and The German Radio Program.
Our Mission
At Jazz90.1, we believe that jazz is a living music. That’s why half our broadcast hours are focused on current artists who are committed to moving the music forward. Jazz90.1 plays more new music than any radio station in the U.S. On the flip side, we also play a heaping portion of the classics, names like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and many more. When you listen to Jazz90.1, you get the best new jazz, and the best jazz of all time.
Jazz90.1 is YOUR Station!
The great thing about Jazz90.1 is that it’s YOUR station. We’re a community jazz station, supported by thousands of members from Rochester and elsewhere who believe in jazz, and who believe that it should occupy a place of honor on the airwaves. Are you one of those people? Then support Jazz90.1! Click here for more information on becoming a member. If you’d like to become a Jazz90.1 business underwriter, you can call 585.966.2660. No matter how you support us, we hope that we can count on your pledges to keep one of the nation’s last 24/7/365 jazz stations on the air.
Breaking Through Barriers
Jazz90.1 is also an important outlet for music and voices that don’t make it onto commercial radio. Our longest-running show is The Polka Bandstand Show heard every Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon. We also feature the Lithuanian-language Dainos Aidas; The German Radio Program; Spanish programming and more. You don’t need a plane ticket and passport to expand your horizons…all you need is a radio or computer tuned to Jazz90.1. (Check out our program schedule for more information.)
