The FAQS

On Thursday, January 12, 2017, the FCC granted SEMM Foundation a license to broadcast as Jazz 98.5 FM, WSAX-LP.

In October 2014, SEMM Foundation was granted a construction permit by the FCC to build a new 24 hour FM radio station at the 98.5 FM frequency to serve Columbus and surrounding areas.  Our new non-commercial low power station will maintain a jazz music format.

If you tune your radio in now, there is a good chance that in some areas across Columbus, you may hear another broadcast interfering with our broadcast. What you'll hear is the broadcast of a station north of the Columbus area in Delaware that uses the same 98.5 FM frequency. According to its FCC license, its broadcast should not be heard in the Columbus area. Its signal is however interfering with our signal which causes static and in many cases, bleeds in and overtakes our broadcast. In some cases, you may hear their station or both stations intermittently or at the same time.  We're working
to resolve this and hope they will abide by the FCC rules and adjust their power accordingly.

Thank you for your support, patience and understanding.  If you wish to make a donation towards our effort, please feel free to do so.

1.  I'd like to make a donation/contribution to help Jazz 98 acquire its equipment or help the
     station with its operating expenses.  How do I make a donation or contribution?

Send your monetary donation/contribution payable to:

SEMM Foundation
P.O. Box 13682
Columbus, Ohio 43213

All donations/contributions are greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

2.  What kind of jazz does Jazz 98 play?

Jazz 98.5 FM, WSAX-LP offers programming at various times of the day and week that includes music from most of the
entire jazz and jazz sub-genre spectrum including, smooth jazz and it's similar forms such as, but not limited to;
Contemporary Jazz, Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk, Urban Contemporary Jazz, Acid Jazz, Nu Jazz; from Classic Jazz and its
similar forms such as Bebop, Big Band, Straight-ahead, Ragtime and Trad; from ethnic forms such as Asian Jazz, Latin
Jazz and Gospel jazz; and from other sub-genres.  We also include in our playlist music we like to refer to as Jazz
Influenced Music (including but not limited to Blues, etc.) and Jazz Flavored Classic R&B.  For a list of styles please visit
our Jazz Styles page.

If you have a preference of one style of jazz over another, Jazz 98.5 offers listeners a choice dedicated or close to the style
they might prefer.  We offer several dedicated music streams classified by general jazz styles that include Classic Jazz
styles, Smooth/Urban Contemporary Jazz styles, Blues and Classic R&B.  Visit our Listen page to select the music style
you wish to hear.  All streams run 24 hours a day.

In addition, you'll find a 24 hour stream of our live hosted over-the-air broadcast which is often referred to as our terrestrial broadcast.  This stream is the live hosted broadcast people hear when they tune to our future 98.5 FM broadcast on their
car or home radio.

3.  Does Jazz 98 play other types of music?

Jazz 98 maintains primarily a jazz music format however, Jazz 98 plays the music of Homegrown
musicians, whose music may venture into other styles.  We do so because we also support the
music offerings of our local musicians.  In doing so, you'll find other styles that include R&B, Blues,
Gospel and even some Rock or Jazz Rock.  After all jazz does have both a Gospel Jazz and Jazz Rock sub-genre.  You'll also find Blues and Gospel music being played as they closely resemble or are related
to jazz.  Again, we also include in our playlist music we like to refer to as Jazz Influenced Music and
Jazz Flavored Classic R&B.

If you have a preference of one style of jazz over another, Jazz 98.5 offers listeners a choice
dedicated or close to the style they might prefer.  We offer several dedicated music streams
classified by general jazz styles that include Classic Jazz styles, Smooth/Urban Contemporary
Jazz styles, a stream dedicated to the music of our Homegrown musicians, Blues, Straight Ahead,
Gospel Jazz and Classic R&B.

 Visit our Listen page to select the music style you wish to hear.  All streams run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

4.  What's the difference between a commercial radio station and a community radio station?

Commercial Radio sells advertising using a sales force, charges promotional fees, and involves itself in many ways
associated with a profit making business.  Non-commercial FM stations (non-profit) are very similar in practice except that
all of their income is turned back into the corporation for station growth, upgrades, repairs, salaries, etc. so that the station
will never realize a profit.  All income is re-invested into the corporation.

Commercial stations provide advertising while Non-commercial stations provide underwriting.  Underwriting is very similar but
has a few restrictions on how it phrases the information yet, its still very effective and much more cost effective.

5.  How much of Columbus does the Jazz 98 signal cover?

You'll be able to hear the Jazz 98 signal throughout a great deal of Franklin county and outside of the I-270 corridor.  Because
our antenna facility is located on the far east side of town, our station will be heard much better in those areas than on the west and northwest side of the city.

6.  Can I advertise on Jazz 98?

You can underwrite on Jazz 98.  Advertising is a term used by commercial radio stations.  Jazz 98 is a non-profit, non-
commercial educational radio station and uses the term underwriting to describe the service we provide for getting your
information or message out to our listening audience.  Please visit our Underwriting page.

7.  What's the difference between underwriting and advertising?

By definition, program underwriting is a financial contribution made in support of specific programming.  When providing
on-air funding acknowledgments, FCC regulations require that stations like WSAX-LP limit such announcements to
identification and information purposes only.  There are specific rules that limit things that can be said in underwriting
messages.  Underwriting cannot be “promotional,” but they are still very effective.  Please see our Underwriting Facts.

When treated as either a charitable contribution or as a business expense, underwriting is tax deductible, so you get
more than a good feeling.  You make the most cost-effective use of your discretionary advertising dollar.  Please visit
our Underwriting Facts page.

Commercial advertising is promotional in nature and has few to no limits in how a message is crafted and delivered.

8.  How does the Jazz 98 underwriting rates compare to commercial advertising rates?

Jazz 98 underwriting rates are very competitive, typically less expensive and cost effective.  Please refer to our Rates.

9.  Does Jazz 98 provide remote broadcasting for events?

Yes, usually for non-profit events and community festivals.  Because of FCC rules, while we do so, we take caution in providing remote broadcasts for commercial "for-profit" organizations.  Please visit our Remote Broadcast page.

Jazz 98 regularly plays the music of our homegrown and local musicians.  At least 25% of our daily playlist consists of
the music of our homegrown and local musicians.  Please visit our Local Scene page.

Send your audio CD to:

Music Director
Jazz 98.5 FM, WSAX-LP
P.O. Box 13682
Columbus, Ohio 43213

Complete and submit a Volunteer Application.  Please visit our Volunteer Application page.

Jazz 98 is always looking for people interested in volunteering and sharing their expertise.  We often have positions open. 
Please see our Volunteer Opportunities.

Often a common question and concern of listeners, we anticipate incorporating the best technology available to achieve the best and maximum reach available, along with the broadcast quality and integrity possible.  We anticipate you'll receive good reception.

As a general rule, Low Power stations are authorized for non-commercial educational broadcasting only (no commercial
operation) and operate with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) or less, with maximum facilities of
100 watts ERP at 30 meters (100 feet) antenna height above average terrain (HAAT).

Feel free to listen online on your computer or portable device via our webstream.  You can listen from anywhere in the
world that has an internet connection.  Click the tab or link titled: “Listen”.  Once there, you can choose to listen using
the Jazz 98 custom media player.  Click the radio player play button and you will be listening live.  Optionally, on the bottom of every web page is a "Listen Live" button that when clicked, will automatically start the custom radio player stream.

Now you can also use Tunein to listen to our broadcast via the web or on you mobile device.

If you would like to sponsor broadcast time or a specific show on Jazz 98, please feel free to contact us at
sponsor@myjazz98.com

At Jazz 98.5 FM, we understand and respect that people are often more inclined to donate to causes such as helping to cure
diseases, famine or other maladies or calamities.

At Jazz 98.5 FM, we realize that we're not curing some life threatening or debilitating disease but, we are helping to cure a form of
misinformation as it relates to the arts and specifically, the art of jazz music.  We help introduce the music and provide education and
awareness to develop our student's musical ability and appreciation.  We're doing our part in keeping the pipeline full of future jazz
musicians and above all, keeping jazz alive and on the radio in Central Ohio.

Please give so we can continue to provide more music education opportunities to children as well as help people to discover and
appreciate the art of America's contribution to the arts, Jazz!