KURE

Last updated
88.5 KURE
Broadcast area Ames, Iowa
Frequency 88.5 MHz
BrandingIowa State's Student-Run Radio Station
Programming
Format College Radio
Ownership
OwnerResidence Association Broadcasting Services, Inc.
History
Former call signs
KMRA (1949–1950)
KMRI (1950–1961)
KISU (1961–1970)
KPGY (1970–1983)
KUSR (1983–1996)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 55777
Class A
ERP 630 watts
HAAT 22.0 meters
Transmitter coordinates
 42°1′47.00″N93°38′51.00″W / 42.0297222°N 93.6475000°W / 42.0297222; -93.6475000
Links
Public license information
Webcast KURE Webcast
Website Official website

KURE (88.5 FM) is a student-run radio station at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The station serves the Iowa State community, Ames, and surrounding areas. The broadcast license is currently owned by Residence Association Broadcasting Services, Inc. [2] The station has been led by its general manager Carly Nichols since Spring 2023. [3]

Contents

The station features a variety of programming, including most genres of music, talk shows, and coverage of ISU sporting events. Hip hop, electronica, rock, americana, classical, and jazz are just a few of the music genres played by KURE's constantly rotating staff of student DJs. Music played at KURE is selected by DJs with some influence from a board of student music reviewers. Sections of non-primetime schedule that are not covered by a dedicated DJ are filled by an automated music system, which staff have nicknamed "Ottobot". The station also provides coverage of Iowa State football, basketball, and wrestling. [4] Additionally, this station provides occasional news and talk style programming.

Kaleidoquiz

KURE annually produces Kaleidoquiz, [5] a 26-hour team competition that involves trivia questions read over the air every six minutes, scavenger hunts, traveling questions, and other contests interspersed throughout the 26 hours. Kaleidoquiz is conducted by KURE DJs over the air waves and online. In recent years, the use of the internet has made this competition more accessible and the questions more difficult. In previous years, Kaleidoquiz has sent teams as far away as Toronto, Canada and required teams to do everything from pulling a bus to bringing "Your mom in a wedding dress" in as a scavenger hunt item.

In 2017, Kaleidoquiz celebrated its 50th year in existence by joking about doing 50 hours of Kaleidoquiz. [6]

KURE Fest

KURE annually hosts KURE Fest a free music festival bringing in touring and local artists to perform in the Memorial Union of Iowa State. It has brought artists such as Dan Deacon, Neon Indian, and Alex G to Iowa State previously. [7] [8]

History

Previously using the call letters KMRA, KMRI, KISU, KPGY, and KUSR; KURE was established in the mid-1990s. In addition to being student-managed and student-produced, KURE is also funded by students at Iowa State University through the student government. KURE has always been staffed entirely by student volunteers.

According to the station's board of directors, KURE got its start as KMRA, broadcasting out of a Friley dorm room on 640 AM, on Oct. 17, 1949. [9] Friley residents Cedric Curin, Chuck Hawley and Maurice Voland founded the station with two turntables, a small transmitter and a public address system.

Powered by one quarter of a watt, the signal was only able to provide Friley Hall with entertainment. A boost to 50 watts and implementation of the carrier current method allowed the station to use local power lines as its broadcast antennas and make its programming audible across all of campus.

In 1950, KMRA became KMRI. In 1961, KMRI became KISU. KISU applied for new call letters and in 1970 was given them—KPGY. [10]

1969 brought the station to its current location in the basement of Friley, and the jump to the FM band was made in 1970. The initial frequency was 91.9 with a call of KPGY, "The Big Pig in the Sky". In the late 1970s the decision was made to increase power to 200 watts, move the transmitter from Friley to the north side of campus resulting in a frequency change to 91.5 to protect another station on a nearby frequency. KUSR suspended broadcast operations Nov. 1, 1995, due to complications with its license. [11] KURE went back on the air on August 12, 1996, after changing its frequency to 88.5. [12]

The station now provides coverage to all of Ames as KURE 88.5 FM Ames Alternative.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXDU</span> Radio station at Duke University

WXDU is a non-commercial campus radio station broadcasting a college radio format. Licensed to Durham, North Carolina, United States, the station serves the Research Triangle area. The station is owned by Duke University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXUA</span> Radio station at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville

KXUA is a student-run college radio station broadcasting an eclectic radio format. Licensed to Fayetteville, Arkansas, it serves the university campus and surrounding community. The university also owns the more powerful 91.3 KUAF, which broadcasts news, information and classical music as an NPR member station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRSU-FM</span> Radio station in New Brunswick, New Jersey

WRSU-FM is a non-commercial college radio station serving the greater Central New Jersey area, broadcasting from the campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It is a student and faculty-run radio station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVSC</span> Radio station at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota

KVSC in Saint Cloud, Minnesota is part of Minnesota's Independent Public Radio network. It is operated by St. Cloud State University and broadcasts a freeform radio format. KVSC-FM is a non-commercial educational public broadcasting radio station that is a student-run college radio station and operates 365 days per year, nearly 24 hours a day.

Iowa Public Radio is a public radio network in the U.S. state of Iowa that combines the operations of most National Public Radio member stations in the state. Its three program streams air programming from NPR, Public Radio Exchange and American Public Media, along with local content on weekends and evenings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHUS</span> Radio station in Connecticut, United States

WHUS is a non-commercial educational FM college radio station. It transmits with 4,400 watts on 91.7 MHz from the main campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs to audiences in eastern Connecticut, southern Massachusetts and western Rhode Island. WHUS operates as a campus-focused station that features members of the student body and the local community.

WOI – branded Iowa Public Radio – is a non-commercial AM radio station licensed to Ames, Iowa, and serving the Des Moines metropolitan area. Owned by Iowa Public Radio, it is a listener-supported public radio station airing a news and talk format. WOI 640 is the flagship station for Iowa Public Radio's News Network, affiliated with NPR, Public Radio International and the BBC World Service. Its transmitter is located at a two-tower array off Zumwalt Station Road near Y Avenue, southwest of Ames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCYZ</span> Radio station in Ames, Iowa

KCYZ is a commercial FM radio station in Ames, Iowa, broadcasting to the Des Moines metropolitan area. KCYZ airs a hot adult contemporary radio format branded as "Now 105.1". KCYZ is owned by iHeartMedia with the license held by Citicaster Licenses LP. The studios and offices are on Main Street in Ames. KCYZ is Ames' FM home for Iowa State Cyclones college football and men's basketball, simulcasting with sister station KASI 1430 AM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLTL</span> Radio station at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois

WLTL Radio ("WLTL-FM"), and formerly known as "Rock88" is a nonprofit high school educational radio station located in LaGrange, Illinois, and run out of Lyons Township High School. WLTL has won several national and local awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCHC</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WCHC is the student-run radio station of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, its city of license, and broadcasts at a frequency of 88.1 MHz.

KLSU is the student-run college radio station owned by Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It has a free-form radio format, playing adult album alternative music with other genres and specialty programming. It is part of the university's Student Media Program with students serving as DJs and management staff. The studios and offices are in the basement of Hodges Hall. It is licensed under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a non-commercial educational (NCE) radio station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRFC</span> Community radio station in Fort Collins, Colorado

KRFC is a community-based radio station in Fort Collins, Colorado. The station is owned and operated by Public Radio for the Front Range. The station's programming includes music of numerous genres, played by volunteer DJs. Some news, information and syndicated shows are on the schedule as well. Although similar in funding strategies to a traditional public radio station, KRFC is not a member of any of the major networks such as NPR or Pacifica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KALA (FM)</span> Radio station in Davenport, Iowa

KALA is a non-commercial public FM radio station in Davenport, Iowa, serving the Quad Cities radio market. It is owned by St. Ambrose University with studios on West Locust Street. It airs a mix of news and specialty music shows. Most of the news programs come from National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Radio Exchange (PRX). The station's musical lineup includes mainstream and fusion jazz, blues, Americana music, Southern gospel, urban gospel, Latin contemporary, classic rock, oldies, urban contemporary, world music, classic R&B, indie rock and alternative rock. KALA carries the syndicated weekly Pink Floyd program "Floydian Slip."

WRGP is the student-run radio station of Florida International University in Miami, Florida, United States. WRGP broadcasts on 88.1 MHz from a transmitter site in rural Miami-Dade County at 17107 SW 248 Street and from rebroadcasters on the two largest FIU campuses: W237CP (95.3 MHz) at the main Modesto A. Maidique Campus, where the station's studios are located in the Graham Center, and W245BF (96.9 MHz) on the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami.

WRTE is an American radio station broadcasting a public radio / jazz format. It is licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States, and serves the city of Chicago. The station is owned by Chicago Public Media. WRTE broadcasts in the HD Radio format.

KTUH is a non-commercial, student-run, listener-supported station in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is owned by the University of Hawaii and it broadcasts a freeform radio format. Programming originates from studios on the campus at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. It runs 24 hours a day, all year round. The station holds periodic fundraisers on the air and also accepts donations on its website.

WKPX is the non-commercial, educational radio station owned and operated by the Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), broadcasting at 3,000 watts and reaching all of Broward County. In mid-2020, production studios were relocated from Piper High School, where the station had operated for many years, to BECON's production facility in Davie. This move is a first step in a plan to create internship opportunities for students throughout BCPS to get training and practical experience in radio as well as television and video production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Public's Radio</span> Public radio network serving Rhode Island

Rhode Island Public Radio, doing business as The Public's Radio, is a non-commercial, listener-supported, public radio network for the state of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. It carries news, talk and information programs on several FM frequencies and one AM station. It holds periodic on-air fundraisers and seeks donations on its website. The studios and offices are in the historic Union Station in Downtown Providence.

WJMF is an FM radio station in Smithfield, Rhode Island, owned by Bryant University. The station's primary channel is a classical music station simulcasting WCRB from Boston. It serves the Providence area. WJMF also operates an HD2 channel run by Bryant University students; from 1973 until 2011, this service was heard on its primary channel. The station has over 40 shows and more than 100 DJs. It plays a variety of music ranging from alternative to talk to Top 40. It is also known for hosting local political debates, interviews with athletes, and having talk radio shows. It also broadcasts games of the Bryant University Division I athletic teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUNR</span> Public radio station in Reno, Nevada

KUNR and KNCC are non-commercial, listener-supported public radio stations. KUNR is licensed to Reno, Nevada, and KNCC is licensed to Elko, Nevada. Owned and operated by the University of Nevada, Reno, they simulcast a news and information radio format and are members of National Public Radio (NPR). The studios and offices are on North Virginia Street in Reno, on the university campus.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for 88.5 KURE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "KURE Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ↑ "Contact". 8 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Sports – 88.5 KURE".
  5. ↑ "Kaleidoquiz! What is it? Register now! - Cyclone Life". www.cyclonelife.net. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  6. ↑ alison.boysen@iowastatedaily.com, Alison Boysen. "Kaleidoquiz celebrates 50th year on ISU campus". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  7. ↑ "PHOTOS: KURE Fest Day Two". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  8. ↑ "Another successful night at KURE Fest".
  9. ↑ "The Kure to the common radio station".
  10. ↑ "KURE Records, RS 22/9/5, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library".
  11. ↑ "Disputes over frequency and wattage keeping KUSR silent".
  12. ↑ "Iowa State's new radio station KURE seeks to fill the musical void".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.