JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State University’s WJSU 88.5 FM and Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) today announced a new partnership that will bring JSU’s premier jazz station to a statewide audience. WJSU’s Evening Jazz can now be heard statewide from 7–10 p.m. weeknights on MPB Music Radio. The music channel can be heard via an HD radio, online or through the MPB radio app.
“MPB is committed to offering programming produced in Mississippi for Mississippians,” said MPB Director of Radio Jason Klein. “WJSU is known around the nation for its Jazz, and MPB Music Radio is proud to add this excellent content to our evening lineup.”
WJSU’s Evening Jazz replaces the nationally syndicated Jazz with Bob Parlocha on MPB Music Radio. Jazz with Bob Parlocha is broadcast on over 50 stations nationwide on a fee basis.
“I’m thrilled to be able to have this partnership with Jackson State University,” said MPB Executive Director Ronnie Agnew. “It’s going to give WJSU a lot of exposure because MPB Music Radio is one the most popular music stations in the state. It’s going to be great for MPB because WJSU has outstanding Jazz. I couldn’t be happier.”
In 2006, WJSU became the first station in the state to broadcast digitally, which cost about a quarter of a million dollars.
“The next phase for us was to launch a second HD Jazz channel, but it’s just not financially feasible right now,” said WJSU Station Manager Gina Carter-Simmers. “And that’s where MPB plays a major role. It has really been able to capitalize on this new technology. In these tough economic times, it just makes good fiscal sense to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships.”
For more information, visit www.wjsu.org or www.mpbonline.org.
About WJSU
WJSU is an award-winning station that offers a mix of Jazz and current news. The station is the leading provider of Jazz programming in Mississippi as a service of Jackson State University. WJSU’s programming goals and philosophy are to meet the needs and concerns of the community in the Jackson metropolitan area through the production and acquisition of high quality and innovative programs. The programming services provided by WJSU have been developed to respect the cultural differences within its community. The station is the 2010 and 2012 JazzWeek nominee for Station of the Year and Programmer of the Year.
About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.
About Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) provides instructional and public affairs programming to Mississippians through its statewide television and radio network. MPB enhances the work of educators, students, parents and learners of all ages by providing informative programming and educational resources. MPB’s locally-produced programming focuses on the people, resources and attractions that reflect Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Children’s television programs constitute a major portion of the daytime and weekend morning schedules. MPB provides a valuable resource to Mississippians in disseminating information as part of the state’s emergency preparedness and response system. Since 1970, MPB has won over 400 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards. For more information on MPB, its programs, mission or educational resources, please visit www.mpbonline.org.
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