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Power Surge

7 January 2004
City Newspaper

by Ron Netsky

If you’ve listened to 90.1 WGMC FM over the past decade you’ve heard no shortage of tower-in-the-sky wishes for a more powerful antenna. Now the new antenna, boosting power from 2,000 to 15,000 watts, is a reality. And the station is celebrating.

A Power-Up Party takes place next Wednesday (January 14) from 4 to 7 p.m. at the studio, 750 Maiden Lane in Greece (Door #4, top floor). Listeners, many of whom contributed to the tower fund, are invited for food and live music by the Vince Ercolamento Quintet featuring Ercolamento, sax; Mike Kaupa, trumpet; Mark Manetta, guitar; Dan Vitale, bass; and Steve Curry, drums, along with other special guests.

After the power boost, the station’s signal should stretch throughout the six-county area all the way from Canandaigua to Batavia and beyond.

“After 30 years on the air, WGMC is ready to truly become Rochester’s jazz station,” says Jason Crane, station manager. “A power increase is a very rare thing in radio, and it’s an even rarer thing for a jazz station. Our staff and volunteers have poured their love of the music into this project, and we’re all thrilled at the result.”

Crane is quick to add that the station actually didn’t raise enough money to pay for the entire project and has gone into debt to meet the deadline. “Now we really need Rochester’s jazz fans and arts supporters to help us move forward.”

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