Broadcast area Philadelphia HAAT 47.0 meters (154.2 ft) Facility ID 17596 Frequency 91.7 MHz Format Campus radio Area Philadelphia? | ERP 800 watts Class A Callsign meaning WK Drexel University City of license Philadelphia Owner Drexel University Call sign meaning WK Drexel University | |
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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 the city of 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 was the 2010 and 2011 CMJ Station of the Year.
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History
Starting as carrier current station WMAX in 1958 (and later WXDT), WKDU began FM broadcasting on Saturday, July 17, 1971. 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.
Notable past shows on WKDU include Sounds of Jerusalem (1978-1994) 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 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, anarchically 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.
Reggae Marathon
The WKDU Reggae Marathon has been held annually since 1984, during the Memorial Day Weekend. This special program includes not just reggae, but other similar Caribbean genres, such as Soca.