WRFL

Infobox Radio Station
name = WRFL


area = Lexington-Fayette
city = Lexington, Kentucky
branding = "WRFL 88.1"
slogan = "The only alternative left"
airdate = March 7, 1988
frequency = 88.1 (MHz)
format = College
erp = 250 watts
class = A (non-commercial)
owner = University of Kentucky
website = [http://wrfl.fm]
callsign_meaning = W Radio Free Lexington

WRFL is a 250-watt college radio station that broadcasts 24 hours from the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Kentucky at 88.1 MHz on the FM radio band. The FCC has approved the station for an upgrade to 7,900 watts, which would increase its terrestrial broadcast considerably ( [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM110859.html current propagation] , [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1042385.html future propagation] ) as predicted by the FCC. WRFL has been on constantly (with rare interruptions due to power loss or other technical failures) since 1988 without any automation.

WRFL is run by an all-volunteer staff of University of Kentucky students (some board shifts worked by Lexington residents) and features an open-ended scope of formats. Music is strictly "alternative", defined as material that would not be heard through other outlets, as mandated by the station's license and ethos. As such the programming is of arguably marginal interest to all but the station's niche listenership.

The station has ties to the noise music community as several of its current and former DJs are members of bands such as Hair Police and Wolf Eyes. The station is thanked in the liner notes of recent Apples in Stereo albums, and has ties to the Elephant Six Collective.WRFL is also home to the highly popular underground hip-hop show, The Black Fist a.k.a. Black Fist Radio. The show is hosted by long time WRFL DJ Shareef Hakim along with his partner Hannibal Supreme. With their show slogan "Educating The Masses" The Black Fist aims to teach it's listeners about traditional hip-hop culture. The show features a variety of independant hip-hop and classics joints along with local tunes as well. The show has been known to welcome callers and requests also. Black Fist Radio streamed online, has regular listeners across the nation. Shareef is known for his feature interviews, which he has interviewed a large variety of artists including Large Professor, Edo-G, Immortal Technique, Self Scientific, Family Tree and countless others including local legends CunninLynguists, Madd Militia, Art of Covenant, Main Event, LadyKilla, Sheisty Khrist, Devine Carama and many more. Educating the masses for over 10 years now, Black Fist Radio can be heard every Saturday night from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m.

WRFL also features student-produced and syndicated progressive news programs, student-produced sports programs, and highlights local and unheard artists. WRFL also has a commitment to public affairs and the community. The Gavin Report listed WRFL in the top 2% of college radio stations in the nation.

WRFL is known as "Radio Free Lexington" and provides a high-quality online stream. One motto of WRFL is "revolutions don't happen between commercial breaks". Another motto of the station is "All the way to the left", referring to the position of its frequency on an analog radio dial as well as a liberal tie-in.

WRFL has many tongue-in-cheek slogans, many of which allude to its broadcast frequency on the leftmost portion of the dial. Examples include:

* Revolutions don't happen between commercial breaks
* All the way to the left
* The only alternative left

See also

* List of college radio stations

External links

* [http://www.wrfl881.org WRFL 88.1 Radio Free Lexington]
* [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&is_lic=Y&is_unl=Y&is_cp=Y&call=wrfl&x=0&y=0 WRFL Information at RadioLocator]