SEMM
Foundation is a non profit organization dedicated to supporting music education, entertainment and broadcast
media services.
Under the SEMM Foundation banner are three distinct organizations, Jazz
98.5 FM, WSAX-LP Radio
Station, SEMM Music Academy and SEMM Rehearsal Studios.
Our Mission
The mission of SEMM Foundation is to keep the art of jazz music alive through
education, promotion and support to
our community, students, musicians, listeners and supporters.
About SEMM Foundation
Under SEMM Rehearsal
Studios, we operate state-of-the-art, fully equipped "plug and play"
music rehearsal studios where
musicians gather regularly to rent the use of our
studios for their rehearsal needs.
Also housed in the SEMM
Foundation facilities is our music education division, SEMM Music Academy, a community
minded music academy that offers private and group music lessons to students
of all ages and levels, including free
private vocal and instrumental music lessons to underprivileged children. .
Over the past several years, SEMM Foundation was responsible for providing programming, operating and media services,
as well
as for the successful development and implementation of a jazz radio format for
the local 102.1 FM, community
radio station.
Under an FCC shared frequency arrangement, we shared the 102.1
FM frequency and broadcasted 12 hours each day
from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a separate group that broadcasted from 3 p.m. to 3
a.m. using similar call letters, The time
sharing and different formats
were a few of the reasons we decided to apply for a separate 24 hour license.
In November
2013, SEMM Foundation applied to the FCC for a separate 24 hour broadcast license on the 94.1 FM
frequency to serve the Columbus and
surrounding communities. During the application process, we changed our
request to the 98.5 FM frequency.
On October 10, 2014, the FCC granted a construction permit to SEMM Foundation to build the new 98.5 FM station
to serve the Columbus area.
On January 12, 2017, the FCC granted a License To Broadcast to SEMM Foundation to broadcast as 98.5 FM, WSAX-LP
to serve the Columbus area.
As of January 1, 2021, we've
changed our name from SEMM Foundation to Columbus Jazz Alliance to
handle the daily
operations of Jazz 98.5 FM, WSAX. Nothing else has
changed. The same great WSAX Team continues to operate the
station. The
name Columbus Jazz Alliance better reflects who we are and what we do. Thank you for your continued
support & listenership.
