Veteran college radio station KGRG-FM celebrates 25 years of “Today’s Rock”.
AUBURN, WA – Local college radio station, 89.9 KGRG-FM, is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of its seminal “Today’s Rock” format with a month-long bash on-air, online and in the clubs.
KGRG-FM, run exclusively by Green River Community College students since 1974, is the only station in the Pacific Northwest to have simultaneously helped launch the careers of major artists and professional radio broadcasters for four decades. When KGRG-FM switched to the “Today’s Rock” format in 1989, bands such as Nirvana (the video for which can be found below); Mudhoney; Presidents of the USA; MxPx; and Modest Mouse were quickly elevated to national and worldwide status thanks in part to heavy early airplay by the station. Many professional radio broadcasters also started their careers on KGRG-FM.
“Hundreds of KGRG-FM students have moved on to professional broadcasting careers in Seattle-Tacoma and around the country,” according to Tom Evans Krause, director of broadcast operations.
Edward R. Murrow Award winner Charlie Harger says, “I wouldn’t be a journalist if it wasn’t for KGRG-FM.” Harger, a reporter for KOMO-AM & FM/Seattle-Tacoma, has also been nominated for an Emmy. As a student he served as News Director and Program Director for KGRG-FM.
The anniversary celebration begins with the Spring Pledge Drive on May 2 with limited edition 25th anniversary souvenirs for listeners, a fundraising drive and the annual “Car Bash”. From May 19 –23, KGRG will host Alumni Week with daily on-air appearances from alumni who now work professionally in the radio industry.
The anniversary celebration will conclude with an all-ages “Today’s Rock” concert on Friday, June 6 headlined by rising stars Moneta. The concert will be held at Louie G’s in Fife beginning at 7 p.m.
KGRG is a non-commercial new rock music station operated by the students of Green River Community College. The station operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and broadcasts in high definition at 89.9 FM in South King County and 89.3 in Pierce County. KGRG-FM is also one of a very limited number of stations to be part of the iHeartRadio college radio menu.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuMOeOnpxx8]