KMOJ, 89.9 FM, is a community-oriented station located in Minneapolis, Minnesota airing a predominantly urban adult contemporary format. Currently, KMOJ's studios are located on West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis, while its transmitter is located in Arden Hills. KMOJ features soul, blues, gospel, reggae, jazz, hip-hop, spoken word, and talk shows aimed at African American listeners. It is owned and operated by the non-profit Center for Communications and Development, located on Minneapolis' north side. KMOJ is a member of Minnesota's Independent Public Radio network. The station is musically directed by Chris Styles and the Senior Producer is Dalia Taha. The station features several DJs including Freddie Bell and Chantel Sings, "Glamlife Kim" Holifield, Walter "Q Bear" Banks Jr., "NI" Nigel Sideen and BDotCroc Caddy "The Prince of Darkness" RAS Bongo Jerry, DJ Divine and Nikki Love, William "Bake Show" Baker, Smoke Dee and DJ Dan Speak, Chaz Millionaire and Ray Richardson. Other DJ contributors include DJ Boogie, DJ Fundraiser, and long-time gospel personality Kimuel Hailey. KMOJ airs community talk shows from 6 pm to 7 pm Mondays through Fridays. Professor Mahmoud El-Kati can be heard every Tuesday at 6:30 with his show "Reflections and Connections", Nneka Serwaa Constantino with her show "Financial Fitness" Wednesdays at 6 pm, The "QUEEN" of the Village Lissa L. Jones and her Urban Agenda every Thursday at 6 pm and "African Roots" with Charles Dennis Saturday mornings at 9 am. Other shows include "It's Your Health", "Know Your Options" and "Voices".
History
KMOJ began in 1976 as WMOJ, a very low-power AM station at 1200 kHz that reached only a few blocks from its studios and transmitter in the Sumner-Olson and Glenwood-Lyndale public housing developments. The station expanded its reach with a move to FM in September 1978, becoming KMOJ at 89.7 FM with 10 watts of power from its transmitter and antenna atop a highrise near its studios at 810 5th Avenue North. A frequency change to 89.9 in 1984 coincided with a power increase to 1,000 watts along with a studio move to a newly built facility across the street at 501 Bryant Avenue North. The transmitter remained on the highrise. The station has struggled with internal tension and lack of funds, among other things, since its inception. KMOJ was forced to move from its Girard Terrace studios in January 2007 after severe structural damage was discovered and the building was condemned and subsequently razed. The station relocated its studios to a temporary location in the Uptown area of Minneapolis in March 2007, until a permanent location could be established. The station worked with the City of Minneapolis and moved to a building at West Broadway and Penn Avenue in 2010. KMOJ in 2011 moved its transmitting facility from its longtime original site to a new facility in the northern suburb of Arden Hills and increased power to 6,200 watts. The old transmitter was given to a radio station in Nigeria on the same frequency.
KMOJ broadcasts its signal in HD Radio, and has two HD sub-channels. Its HD2 channel carries a Hip-hop format branded as "The Ice", while its HD3 channel carries KVSC from St. Cloud.
