WVKR-FM

WVKR-FM
Broadcast areaMid-Hudson
Frequency91.3 MHz
BrandingIndependent Radio
Programming
FormatCollege radio
AffiliationsPacifica Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerVassar College
History
First air date
December 8, 1971 (1971-12-08)
Call sign meaning
"Vassar Kollege [sic] Radio"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID69833
ClassB1
ERP3,700 watts
HAAT250 meters
Transmitter coordinates
41°38′25.3″N 74°1′14.1″W / 41.640361°N 74.020583°W / 41.640361; -74.020583
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wvkr.org

WVKR-FM (Independent Radio) is a college radio station owned by and primarily staffed by students of Vassar College in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York. The station broadcasts on 91.3 MHz at 3,700 watts ERP from a tower in Milton, New York with a directional signal to the south.

History

When Vassar College became a co-educational institution in 1969, the school began plans to launch a campus radio station to serve both the campus and the nearby communities. Originally, the college planned to apply for a low-power license; however, a decision was made to seek a full-power license when the tower site of WEOK-FM was donated to Vassar College after the construction of a new tower in Illinois Mountain in Marlboro. WVKR signed on from this tower on a test basis in December 1971 with full operations commencing after upgrades to the tower were made in March 1972.[2] The station was granted permission to broadcast on FM in 1975.[3] During the early Coronavirus pandemic, the station continued broadcasting, with some shows recorded remotely.[4]

For its entire existence, WVKR has been a primarily student-run station with a core staff of community volunteers running some programs on the station. Key programming on the station includes blues, jazz, hip hop, vintage rock, polka music, world music, classical, Cajun/Zydeco, talk, and indie rock, among others.[5]

The station plays a range of artists, including local (Larry Campbell,[6] CIAO MALZ[7][8]) and out of state/international[9] artists (Tiberius,[10] Jorma Kaukonen,[11] The Noisy,[12][13]) in addition to their social, political, and activist programming.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVKR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Waits, Jennifer (September 24, 2018). "Radio Station Visit #148: WVKR at Vassar College". Radio Survivor. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  3. ^ De Landri, Carla (February 28, 1975). "WVKR Now Only Months Away From FM Broadcasting". The Vasser Miscellany News. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2025 – via HRVH Historical Newspapers.
  4. ^ Minsker, Evan (March 16, 2020). "How College Radio Is Responding Amid Coronavirus-Prompted Campus Closures". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  5. ^ Waits, Jennifer (September 24, 2018). "Radio Station Visit #148: WVKR at Vassar College". Radio Survivor. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  6. ^ "Rita Ryan of WVKR Marks 300th Episode of LocalMotion". NYS Music. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  7. ^ Kameese, The Whole (March 23, 2025). "CIAO MALZ covers Elliott Smith's "Clementine," And It Is So Amazing We Got Goosebumps, Also Records WFUV session". The Whole Kameese. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  8. ^ "Muso's Guide - Ciao Malz Covers Elliott Smith In Session". musosguide.co.uk. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  9. ^ "September 2025 – The Necessary Blues". September 30, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  10. ^ Conklin, Jeff (November 21, 2025). "#70: Tiptoe On The Highest Hill". Ambient Audiophile. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  11. ^ "Rita Ryan of WVKR Marks 300th Episode of LocalMotion". NYS Music. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  12. ^ ""Pink Merkins & Meat Sweats: How Philly Nightlife Shaped the Visual World of My Music": An Essay by The Noisy's Sara Mae". Atwood Magazine. October 27, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  13. ^ ""Grenadine (WVKR Session)" by The Noisy. Tardis Jukebox Wed Nov 5 with The Doctor on WMFO 91.5FM Medford". spinitron.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  14. ^ "Rita Ryan of WVKR Marks 300th Episode of LocalMotion". NYS Music. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Building Our Movement | Communications Workers of America". cwa-union.org. February 20, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
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