The University of Minnesota’s Radio K has been around for more than 26 years, and the station is just as vibrant today as it was at its start. Their eclectic mix of music has attracted listeners old and new, making the station a sustainable, musical trendsetter—even as the landscape shifts online.

The U of M was one of the first to adopt radio broadcasting on campus. In 1915, the station broadcasted football games in morse code. In 1920, the station changed their call letters to what they are now, KUOM.

A second station, WMMR, launched in 1948. Whereas KUOM focused on lecture materials and other educational items, WMMR focused on music. The two stations stayed separate until 1993, when a mixing board fire at WMMR and accusations of copycat programming at KUOM threatened listenership. After WMMR management lobbied, the two stations united and became Radio K.

Since the merger, Radio K has had quite the footprint on the Twin Cities’ local music scene. This year’s spring pledge drive is a prime example, as the station received over $40,000 in donations from its listeners.

The station now boasts 13,500 followers on Twitter and hosts regular in-studio sessions, from popular bands like Whitney and Diet Cig to local acts. With three FM signals (100.7, 104.5, and 106.5), an AM signal (770) and an online stream at radiok.org, Radio K has remained an appealing option for alternative music in the Twin Cities.