WNUR-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WNUR-FM


city = Evanston, Illinois
area = Chicago
slogan = Chicago's Sound Experiment
branding =
frequency = 89.3 MHz
repeater =
airdate =
share =
share as of =
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format = variety
power =
erp = 7,200 watts
haat = 30.0 meters
class = B1
facility_id = 49779
coordinates = coord|42|3|12.00|N| 87|40|33.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Northwestern University
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://www.wnur.org listen live] ]
website = official|http://www.wnur.org
affiliations =

WNUR (89.3 FM) is a 7200 watt radio station based in Evanston, Illinois that broadcasts to Chicago and its northern suburbs. Northwestern University owns the station's FCC license. Because of the station's location and wattage, WNUR has an unusually large listenership for a college station, as millions of Chicagoland residents are within WNUR's broadcast range. WNUR is the largest student-run radio station in the country.fact|date=August 2008 The station promotes underplayed and underrepresented forms of music, as well as award-winning public affairs and fine-arts programming.fact|date=August 2008

History

Since 1995 -- the same year the station moved into new facilities in Northwestern's Annie May Swift Hall -- WNUR's slogan has been 'Chicago's Sound Experiment.' (The station had previously broadcast from well worn facilities in the basement of the same building). Between 1982 and 1995, WNUR's slogan had been "The New Music FM".

WNUR celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2000 with a reunion and special programming.

In March 2007, WNUR began broadcasting from new studios in John J. Louis Hall on Northwestern's Evanston Campus.

Programming

WNUR has also hosted many innovative radio programs over the years, including Airplay (a weekly program dedicated to local Chicago music), free-form experimental audio collage programming, weekly live radio comedies, and world-premiere live radio dramas written and directed by David Mamet.

Other current programming includes news, Streetbeat, folk, WNUR Jazz Show, hip-hop, WNUR Rock Show, classical, and This is Hell.

The "WNUR Rock Show" is broadcast on 89.3 FM in Chicago, its northern suburbs, and via the internet. The DJs are Northwestern University students who complete two quarters of apprenticeship and attend weekly meetings to learn about independent rock music across the U.S. and especially the Chicago scene. The Rock Show's mission is to provide a medium for otherwise unheard music through the airwaves of Chicago and on the Internet. The Rock Show specializes in independent, experimental and underground music. Its content features music from right here in Chicago, across the country, and around the world. Rock DJs play no wave, punk, musique concrete, post-punk, noise, noise rock, and anything else that attempts to expand the boundaries of music. Notable Alumni include Steve Albini and the Arcade Fire's William Butler.

The "WNUR Jazz Show" is broadcast on 89.3 FM in Chicago, in the northern suburbs of Evanston on the Northwestern campus, and streaming via the internet. The DJs are community DJs and Northwestern University students and alumni who complete one quarter of apprenticeship. The Jazz Show's mission is to provide a medium for otherwise unheard music through the airwaves of Chicago and on the Internet, while focusing on various forms of improvised music. The Jazz Show specializes in independent, experimental and underground music, and emphasizes new and local releases. Its content features music from Chicago, across the country, and around the world. Jazz DJs play free jazz, free improvisation, noise, and anything else that attempts to expand the boundaries of music. The WNUR Jazz Show is one of the few radio and streaming internet sources for some of the aforementioned styles of music.

ports

Sports programming is another unique element of WNUR. For decades, WNUR Sports has carried Northwestern football, baseball, and men's basketball. Since the mid-1990s, WNUR has been the exclusive carrier of Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball. In addition, WNUR often covers Wildcats women's lacrosse and softball.

WNUR Sports is a distinct entity that operates on its own budget, separate from the WNUR operating budget. This allows the sports department further independence, and the opportunity to cover more events than would be otherwise available. For example, WNUR Sports has served as the exclusive carrier of Northwestern men's basketball for several tournaments that flagship WGN was unable to cover, including the 2006 San Juan Shootout hosted by the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and the 2005 BCA Invitational at the University of Wyoming. WNUR Sports is also the only Northwestern radio outlet with sideline reports at NU football games.

WNUR Sports hosts a weekly call-in show every Sunday at 8:00PM known as The Sportsvoice. The Sportsvoice is the only call-in show dedicated to Northwestern athletics. As with all WNUR Sports programming, it is hosted and produced entirely by students.

WNUR Sports has carried every Northwestern football game since at least 1995, and the last four NCAA women's lacrosse championship games.

Awards

In 1984, WNUR was named "Best Radio Station in the US" by College Media Journal. In September 2003, WNUR was named the #1 college radio station in the country by SPIN magazine. WNUR has also been recognized as a top US station by "The Wire" and is often cited as one of the major centers for the nascent indie music movement during the 1980s and 90's.

Alumni

DJ's from WNUR have occasionally gone on to produce their own well received music. Alumni include music critic and sometimes musician John Corbett, and DJ Snuggles. Other alumni include the suits behind Drag City Records and Carpark Records, and members of many bands including OK Go, The Effigies, Arcade Fire, Town and Country, Chavez, Volcano! and the No Doctors. Famous house DJs Derrick Carter and Mark Farina also held shows on WNUR in the early nineties. Other well-known alums include Neil Tesser and Steve Albini, while "This American Life" host Ira Glass got his start at the station. Arbitron exec Pierre Bouvard also hails from WNUR.

Alumni of WNUR Sports include Guy Benson of WIND, Dave Eanet of WGN, Glenn Geffner of the Florida Marlins, Dave Revsine of the Big Ten Network, and Darren Rovell of CNBC.

References

External links

* [http://www.library.northwestern.edu/archives/findingaids/wnur_fm.pdf WNUR Records, 1953-1994, Northwestern University Archives, Evanston, Illinois]
* [http://www.wnur.org/wnurwiki/index.php?n=History.History WNUR History Site]
*FM station data|WNUR