89.9 TheLight is a Christiancommunity radio station in Melbourne, Australia. It broadcasts on the FM band with the frequency of 89.9 and has studios at 333 Mitcham Road, in Mitcham and a transmitter on Mount Dandenong attracting more than a million listeners per month.
History
The station's beginnings can be traced to 1977 when Melbourne Christian Radio was founded It conducted test broadcasts in 1980, 1981, and 1982, as 3MGR before purchasing air time on commercial station 3DB. The organisation that runs 89.9 TheLight was formerly called Triple Seven Communications and 89.9 LightFM. They conducted a three-month temporary broadcast in late 2001 and was informed in December of that year that they were successful for one of the four community licences available from the Australian Broadcasting Authority, now the Australian Communications and Media Authority. 89.9 TheLight began full-time permanent broadcasting on Sunday 1 December 2002. In January 2017 it was announced that 89.9 TheLight reaches 1,040,000 people every month.
Initiatives
LightNews
89.9 TheLight has its own dedicated news service that provides hourly updates throughout the day, and every half an hour during the breakfast program. Previously, 89.9 TheLight had broadcast the Macquarie National News program every hour.
The 89.9 TheLight Careline is a supportive service for people that need prayer, an explanation of Christianity, or simply an understanding ear. Where requested callers can be referred to a local church. The Lord Mayor's Charitable Fund has assisted with the operating costs of the Careline in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Digital radio
89.9 TheLight is simulcast on Digital Radio in Melbourne. LightDigital is a digital station broadcasting 100% Christian music, and was launched on 1 December 2011 LightChristmas broadcasts every year from early December through to early January online. In 2014, for the first time, LightChristmas appeared as a 'pop up' digital radio station.
Presenters
89.9 TheLight on-air team
The presenters of 89.9 TheLight these include Lucy Holmes, Kel McWilliam, Cam Want, Nat Box, Luke And Susie Holt, Azzan Schuster, Clayton Bjelan, MJ Want and Allan Martin, as well as the Nine News Melbourne team
Shows
89.9 TheLight has many full-time and some part-time announcers employed at the radio station.
89.9 TheLight plays a wide array of music of both Christian and secular. Christian music on the station is generally a mixture of pop, modern rock, and gospel. 89.9 TheLight plays up to 40% Christian music not including Christian songs from mainstream artists such as U2.
Mainstream
89.9 TheLight generally play a mix of adult contemporary music. This makes up the other 60% of music they play. This quite often results in the station playing songs from the Billboard 100 Adult Contemporary. They also include music from the Top 40 Australia and United States singles charts. However, they still play a variety of pop and Soft rock songs from the 1990s and early 2000s.
