50 years of ktru

KTRU traces its roots back to February, 1967, when a two-watt AM radio broadcast by the students of Hanszen College streamed music and news through the college. The station known as KHCR (for Hanszen College Radio) aired “semi-popular to light classical’” as well as interviews with students. In the fall of that year, the station changed its call letters to KOWL and broadcast on 580 AM from wires run through the campus’ steam tunnels.

In February 1971, the station was granted its FM license by the Federal Communications Commission. The call letters KTRU, for The Rice University, were adopted, as KOWL was already taken. KTRU began broadcasting in May 1971 with a 10-watt signal to an estimated eight-mile radius of campus. KTRU’s original tower sat atop Sid Richardson College.

In October 1973, KTRU started to broadcast in stereo. In April 1974, the station was given permission by the FCC to expand to 250 watts. The Rice Radio Folio, a station program guide, was produced weekly around this time and was distributed on campus and in nearby Montrose and Rice Village.

In October 1980, KTRU expanded to 650 watts. KTRU grew its broadcast day to 24 hours in 1981. The Ley Student Center was expanded in 1987, and space on the second floor became home for KTRU.

Here’s a short documentary on KTRU from this period:

In 1991, KTRU grew to 50,000 watts. This was due to FCC regulations. the expansion of the now defunct KRTS would have affected KTRU’s broadcasts, so KRTS agreed to expand KTRU as well, which meant the station’s signal now emanated from a new tower located in Humble, northwest of Houston.

KTRU ceased FM operations in April 2011, but returned to FM in October 2015, under the call sign KBLT-LP.

Throughout its history, KTRU has specialized in freeform radio. It has aired a diverse mix of music, from classical to blues to alternative forms of popular music. Since the 1980s, the schedule featured specialty shows that are still on the air, such as chickenskin, Mutant Hardcore and Sunday afternoon jazz. In addition to its programming, KTRU serves the community with its annual Battle of the Bands and annual Outdoor Show of touring and local performers.

ktru alumni listserv

KTRU alumni are encouraged to join the KTRU alumni listserv.

50 years of ktru events, 2017

The anniversary celebration of April 16 – April 22, 2017, included a number of on-air and live events.

Friday, April 21:

Jandek

Rice University’s Hamman Hall
8:00 p.m.
Doors at 7:00 p.m.
Free concert, all ages, open to the public
Seating priority to KTRU DJs and alumni as well Rice University students, faculty, and staff

Jandek is the musical project of Corwood Industries, a record label that operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek/Corwood Industries has independently released over 100 albums/DVDs of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk, rock, and blues songs without ever granting an interview or providing any biographical information. Jandek often plays a highly idiosyncratic and frequently atonal form of folk, rock, classical and blues music, at times using an open and unconventional chord structure. The name “Jandek” is most commonly used to refer specifically to the project.

www.corwoodindustries.com

Social gathering and happy hour (KTRU DJs and alumni): 5 p.m. – 12 a.m. in Willy’s Pub

Midnight Croquet and Social DJ Shift (KTRU DJs and alumni): 12 a.m. – 1 a.m.

Saturday, April 22:

26th Annual KTRU Outdoor Show, which will take place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Rice University Central Quad.

Sunday, April 16 – Saturday, April 22:

On-air guest DJ appearances by local artists:

  • The Suffers
  • The Tontons
  • Free Radicals
  • Rose Ette
  • Say Girl Say
  • Ruiners
  • More to be announced
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