WKDU

WKDU

City	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Broadcast area	Philadelphia
Frequency	91.7 MHz
Format	College Radio
ERP	800 watts
HAAT	47.0 meters (154.2 ft)
Class	A
Facility ID	17596
Transmitter coordinates	39°57′36.40594″N 75°11′25.64489″W / 39.9601127611°N 75.1904569139°W / 39.9601127611; -75.1904569139Coordinates: 39°57′36.40594″N 75°11′25.64489″W / 39.9601127611°N 75.1904569139°W / 39.9601127611; -75.1904569139
Callsign meaning	WK Drexel University
Owner	Drexel University
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	www.wkdu.org

WKDU is an award winning non-commercial college radio station in Philadelphia, broadcasting on 91.7 FM. It is owned by Drexel University and operated by Drexel students, with several alumni among its on-air staff. It is the only free-format non-commercial FM station in Philadelphia. Its transmitter is located atop Van Rensselaer Hall, a dormitory on the Drexel campus, in the University City section of Philadelphia. Its studio is in the basement of the Creese Student Center. WKDU is the 2010 and 2011 CMJ Station of the Year.

History

Starting as carrier current station WMAX in 1958 (and later WXDT), WKDU began FM broadcasting on Saturday, July 17, 1971.^[1] In 1981, its power rating was raised from 10 watts to 110 watts, and in 1996, to 800 watts. WKDU originally shared time on its frequency with WPWT, a station established in the 1950s by Philadelphia Wireless Technical Institute. WPWT ceased operations in the late 1980s, allowing WKDU to extend its broadcast day to 24 hours on February 26, 1990. Previously, WKDU signed off between the hours of 2 PM to 10 PM.^[2]

Notable past shows on WKDU include Sounds of Jerusalem (1978-1994)^[3] and The Black Experience in Music (1972-).

In 2005, a large monetary donation helped WKDU purchase new studio equipment and refurbish its transmitter.

Programming

WKDU's musical format is free-form, meaning that playlists are dictated solely by the taste of the on-air DJs. On an average day, one might hear punk, electronica, indie rock, acid jazz, J-pop or metal. In 1984, a progressive requirement was created and implemented to the Free Format music programming policy by then Music Director, Ginny McCracken. Each dj can play whatever they want but at least 1/3 of their music must be a "new release". A "new release" being defined as a musical recording single song in the station one month and an album of music in the station for 3 months. The top 40 playlist was then determined by the most played new releases, democratically determined instead of the traditional music director dictatorship. This programming policy is still in place.

WKDU is highly regarded among Philadelphia's Caribbean community for the Saturday reggae programs, most of which have been running for over thirty years.

WKDU is also well-known for its annual Electronic Music Marathon, an event that raises money for charities in the Philadelphia area. The Electronic Music Marathon ran from 1997-2007, then returned in Fall 2014 after a seven-year hiatus.^[4]

Awards

2011 Station of the Year, CMJ College Radio Awards
2011 Champion of the Local Scene, CMJ College Radio Awards
2010 Station of the Year, CMJ College Radio Awards
2010 Champion of the Local Scene, CMJ College Radio Awards
2009 Best Local Jamaican Radio Station - Best of Jamaica in Philadelphia
2008 Best Local Jamaican Radio Station - Best of Jamaica in Philadelphia
2007 Best Local Jamaican Radio Station - Best of Jamaica in Philadelphia
2006 Best Local Jamaican Radio Station - Best of Jamaica in Philadelphia
2005 Best Local Jamaican Radio Station - Best of Jamaica in Philadelphia
2003 Best Local Jamaican Radio Station - Best of Jamaica in Philadelphia
2000 "Best of Philly" College Radio Station - Philadelphia Magazine
1999 "Best of Philly" College Radio Station - Philadelphia Magazine (August edition)
1998 tied for first in the best radio category of the Philadelphia CityPaper's "Reader's Choice" awards
1997 third place in the best radio category of the Philadelphia CityPaper's "Reader's Choice" awards
1996 "Best of Philly" Truly Alternative Radio Station - Philadelphia Magazine
1987 "Best of Philly" Radio Station - Philadelphia Magazine

References

↑ "Triangle (The), v. 48, n. 31 (July 23rd, 1971).", Retrieved 6/18/15.
↑ WKDU 1990 Spring Program Guide, Page 2.
↑ "Triangle (The), v. 68, n. 35 (August 13, 1993)." Retrieved 6/18/15.
↑ "WKDU EMM 2014", Retrieved 6/18/15.

External links

Query the FCC's FM station database for WKDU

Radio-Locator information on WKDU

Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WKDU

Drexel University

Academics	Colleges Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design Bennett S. LeBow College of Business College of Arts and Sciences College of Engineering College of Computing and Informatics College of Medicine College of Nursing and Health Professions Goodwin College of Professional Studies Pennoni Honors College Schools School of Law School of Public Health Other Academy of Natural Sciences

Athletics	Colonial Athletic Association Daskalakis Athletic Center

Campus	Campus of Drexel University Hahnemann University Hospital Centennial National Bank

History	Alumni Faculty Founder History Presidents

Student life	Publications The Triangle WKDU Music Industry Entities

Pennsylvania college radio stations

WARC (Allegheny College) WBUQ (Bloomsburg University) WCAL (California University of Pennsylvania) WCLH (Wilkes University) WCUC-FM (Clarion University) WCUR (West Chester University) WDCV-FM (Dickinson College) WDNR (Widener University) WERG (Gannon University) WESS (East Stroudsburg University) WEXP (La Salle University) WFSE (Edinboro University) WFNM (Franklin & Marshall College) WGEV (Geneva College) WIUP-FM (Indiana University) WIXQ (Millersville University) WJRH (Lafayette College) WKCV-LP (Keystone College) WKDU (Drexel University) WKPS (Penn State University) WKVR-FM (Juniata College) WLHI (Lehigh Carbon Community College) WLVR-FM (Lehigh University) WMCE (Mercyhurst North East) WMCE-FM (Mercyhurst College) WMUH (Muhlenberg College) WNJR (Washington & Jefferson College) WNTE (Mansfield University) WPTC (Pennsylvania College of Technology) WPTS-FM (University of Pittsburgh) WQHS (University of Pennsylvania) WQSU (Susquehanna University) WRCT (Carnegie Mellon University) WRKC (Kings College) WRLC (Lycoming College) WRTI (Temple University) WSAJ-FM (Grove City College) WSRN-FM (Swarthmore College) WSRU (Slippery Rock University) WSYC-FM (Shippensburg University) WUSR (University of Scranton) WVMW-FM (Marywood University) WVYC (York College) WWEC (Elizabethtown College) WWNW (Westminster College) WXAC (Albright College) WXVU (Villanova University) WYBF (Cabrini College) WZBT (Gettysburg College)

See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Pennsylvania

Radio stations in the Philadelphia market

By AM frequency	560 610 640 690² 740 800 860² 900 950 990 1060¹ 1110 1180 1210¹ 1310² 1340² 1360 1370 1420 1440 1460 1480 1490 1520 1540 1590 1640 1680² ¹ Clear-channel stations with extended nighttime coverage ²Broadcast in Spanish

By FM frequency	88.1 88.1 88.5 88.7 88.9 88.9 89.1 89.1 89.3 (Warminster) 89.3 (Coatesville) 89.5 89.5 89.7 90.1 90.5 90.9 91.5 91.5 91.7 91.7 91.7 92.5 93.3 93.7 94.1 94.5 94.9 95.7 96.5 97.3 97.5 98.1 98.5 98.9 99.5 99.9 100.3 101.1 102.1 102.9 103.9 104.5 105.3 106.1 106.5 106.9 107.9

NOAA Weather Radio frequency	162.425 162.475

Digital broadcast radio stations	610 950 1060 1210 1480 88.5-1 88.5-2 90.9-1 90.9-2 92.5-1 92.5-2 92.5-3 93.3-1 93.3-2 94.1-1 94.1-2 94.1-3 94.1-4 95.7-1 95.7-2 96.5-1 96.5-2 97.5-1 97.5-2 97.5-3 98.1-1 98.1-2 98.1-3 98.1-4 98.9-1 98.9-2 100.3-1 101.1-1 101.1-2 102.1-1 102.1-2 102.9-1 102.9-2 104.5-1 104.5-2 105.3-1 105.3-2 106.1-1 106.1-2 107.9-1

By callsign	KIH28 KYW¹ WBCB WBBO WBEB WBEN-FM WBMR WBYO WCHE WCHR WCOJ WCUR WDAS WDAS-FM WDNR WEMG² WEXP WFIL WFYL WHAT WHHS WHYY WIFI WIOQ WIP-FM WISX WJBR WKDN WKDU WKVP WMGK WMMR WNAP WNG704 WNJC WNJS-FM WNPV WNTP WNWR WOGL WPAZ WPEB WPEN WPHE² WPHI-FM WPHT¹ WPNX700 WPPZ-FM WPST WPWA WQHS WRDV WRFF WRNB WRSD WRTI WRTJ WSRN-FM WSTW WTEL WTHJ WTMR WTTM² WURD WUSL WVCH WWDB² WWJZ WWLU WWTX WXPN WXTU WXVU WYBF WYPA WZMP WZZE

Defunct stations	WCAU (AM) WCAU-FM WDRE WDVR WEGK WLCE WQHS WSNI WTHK WYXR

Pennsylvania radio markets Allentown–Bethlehem Altoona Bradford–Coudersport Chambersburg–Waynesboro Erie Harrisburg–Lebanon–Carlisle Lancaster Montrose New Castle Philadelphia Pittsburgh Reading Sayre–Towanda–Mansfield–Wellsboro Wilkes-Barre–Scranton Williamsport York Other Pennsylvania radio regions Bedford Indiana Johnstown Lewistown–Mifflintown Meadville–Franklin Punxsutawney–DuBois St. Marys–Emporium–Kane State College Stroudsburg Sunbury–Selinsgrove–Lewisburg Warren Philadelphia Metro Markets Allentown Monmouth-Ocean Reading Trenton Wilmington See also List of radio stations in Pennsylvania Mass media in the Philadelphia Area Radio stations TV stations Newspapers

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