WYPR To Acquire Towson Radio Station

TOWSON, MD — The Towson University radio station known as WTMD 89.7 FM is being acquired by the local NPR affiliate, officials with both stations announced Friday.

WYPR of Baltimore plans to acquire the Towson-run station that features musical discoveries.

Both stations have roots in college radio.

Your Public Radio (known as WYPR), which is broadcast on 88.1 FM, was established in 2002 when Johns Hopkins University sought a new home for WJHU.

"WYPR is proud to preserve another university radio station, to serve the Baltimore community, on the heels of our 20th anniversary year,” President and General Manager LaFontaine E. Oliver said in a statement. “We plan to build on the investments made by Towson University and the success of WTMD, which provides a rich and unmatched music discovery platform with opportunities for Baltimore’s musicians and artists at its core."

WTMD has been around for nearly 50 years. In 1972, the station began as WCVT when Towson was known as Towson State University. It adopted its current call letters in 1991 and began focusing on adult alternative music in 2002.

"We’re grateful to have found a partner in WYPR to continue the community-first, public radio station in its existing format that listeners have come to appreciate from WTMD,” Ben Lowenthal, CFO and vice president for administration and finance at Towson University, said in a statement.

“Maintaining WTMD’s format was of the utmost importance for TU as we sought a new home for this award-winning station," Lowenthal said.

Officials said WYPR will be looking for financial support from the community.

The license transfer is subject to approval by the FCC.