KGNU-FM

KGNU grew out of Boulder’s 1970s community-media movement. After earlier attempts to create a University of Colorado FM station stalled, students helped support the independent Boulder Community Broadcast Association, including a decisive contribution from student-government radio funds.

KGNU began broadcasting in May 1978 on 88.5 FM from studios along Boulder Creek. From the beginning it relied heavily on volunteers and emphasized community access, eclectic music and public-affairs programming outside conventional commercial formats.

The station moved to 1900 Folsom Street in 1988 and later to its current east Walnut Street studios. In the 1990s it strengthened its local-programming emphasis, helped found the Grassroots Radio Coalition and became an early affiliate of Democracy Now.

In 2004 KGNU purchased Denver’s 1390 AM signal, the descendant of KFML, giving the Boulder-based community broadcaster a second signal serving Denver and linking two very different pieces of Colorado radio history.

Sources: KGNU — official timeline; KGNU — Beginnings: A Narrative History of KGNU’s First Decade; University of Colorado Boulder — Origins: KGNU Radio.