KXUA
Encyclopedia
KXUA is a student run College radio station licensed to Fayetteville, Arkansas
, USA. The station is currently owned by Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
.
In the fall of 1994, KRZR was formed as student organization at the University of Arkansas with the goal of creating an FM station to serve the University and the Northwest Arkansas region. A consulting engineer was hired to do a frequency check and complete the technical portion for a 500 watt station at 90.1FM.
In the Spring of 1996, a communications lawyer was hired to complete the non-technical portion of the FCC application for 90.1FM and it was filed with the FCC. The American Family Association (AFA), a Christian radio organization, also filed for 90.1FM. Subsequently, KRZR filed for 88.3FM; so did the AFA. After several months, the AFA and the University of Arkansas came to a settlement and the student radio station was given 88.3FM
In the spring of 1999, the University of Arkansas Media Board accepted the student radio station as a part of their organization, among the ranks of the Arkansas Traveler (the student newspaper), the Razorback Yearbook, the AuxArc Review (a literary magazine), and UATV. KXUA began its first broadcast on April 1, 2000. In the spirit of April Fools Day, the first listeners were led to believe that the station wasn't allowed to play music--a stunt upheld by the DJs playing nothing but political speeches. Soon enough the prank was dismissed, and listeners got their first taste of real programming.
All DJs are directly affiliated with the University, either as students or employees, and are volunteers. The executive board controls the station and is made up entirely of students that and are elected each year. They are the only paid members of the station.
KXUA is very unique for the Northwest Arkansas region, though somewhat similar to several college stations across the nation. They pride themselves in not only providing an opportunity for students to learn broadcasting experience, but as a major source for music education in the campus and community.
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
, USA. The station is currently owned by Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
.
History
Decades ago, the University of Arkansas had a student radio station known as KUAF, broadcasting at 91.3FM. However, in 1986 KUAF changed their format to National Public Radio, gaining a wide following but at a loss of student input. After three years of listening to talk radio, a group of students decided to form a new student radio station, named KRFA, which would be based on the college radio format. The "broadcasting" was done via cable and carrier current, rather than FM or AM, which was available to on-campus facilities only. In the spring of 1994 KRFA disbanded.In the fall of 1994, KRZR was formed as student organization at the University of Arkansas with the goal of creating an FM station to serve the University and the Northwest Arkansas region. A consulting engineer was hired to do a frequency check and complete the technical portion for a 500 watt station at 90.1FM.
In the Spring of 1996, a communications lawyer was hired to complete the non-technical portion of the FCC application for 90.1FM and it was filed with the FCC. The American Family Association (AFA), a Christian radio organization, also filed for 90.1FM. Subsequently, KRZR filed for 88.3FM; so did the AFA. After several months, the AFA and the University of Arkansas came to a settlement and the student radio station was given 88.3FM
In the spring of 1999, the University of Arkansas Media Board accepted the student radio station as a part of their organization, among the ranks of the Arkansas Traveler (the student newspaper), the Razorback Yearbook, the AuxArc Review (a literary magazine), and UATV. KXUA began its first broadcast on April 1, 2000. In the spirit of April Fools Day, the first listeners were led to believe that the station wasn't allowed to play music--a stunt upheld by the DJs playing nothing but political speeches. Soon enough the prank was dismissed, and listeners got their first taste of real programming.
Format
KXUA's format is totally non commercial. KXUA does not play any music that has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in the last 50 years. Eclectic music, mainly the newest arrivals, plays all day long and genre-specific shows air evenings and weekends including some talk shows, spoken word shows, and old time radio broadcasts. Freeform shows, meaning anything and everything, air mainly after midnight. They also sponsor local events, and strive to have frequent in studio performances from local and traveling musicians. Most genre shows are recorded and made available through the KXUA website and individual DJs websites and on iTunes for free.All DJs are directly affiliated with the University, either as students or employees, and are volunteers. The executive board controls the station and is made up entirely of students that and are elected each year. They are the only paid members of the station.
KXUA is very unique for the Northwest Arkansas region, though somewhat similar to several college stations across the nation. They pride themselves in not only providing an opportunity for students to learn broadcasting experience, but as a major source for music education in the campus and community.