Radio 1190 Turns 10

By Heather Hansman

Deep in the basement of the University Memorial Center, Radio 1190 KVCU-AM broadcasts award-winning programming. This year, Westword voted Radio 1190 “Best Radio Station-Noncommercial.” That’s not just among college stations. The award crowns Radio 1190 the best of any public station in the Denver area. It’s no small feat, but it’s not really anything new for the station.

“We’ve won something every year since we went on the air,” said Mike Flanagan, the station’s general manager.

Last year, before Westword created the commercial and noncommercial categories, it selected Radio 1190 as “Best Radio Station.” Student DJ Cysko Rokwell from the “Basementalism” show was named “Best Hip-Hop DJ.”

The 2008–2009 academic year marks the station’s 10th anniversary. Before that, only a small student station, KUCB, that could be heard primarily on campus existed. But the donation of former KBCO-AM’s frequency and transmitter in 1998 by Jacor Communications brought the birth of Radio 1190 and the beginning of a legacy of excellence.

The station’s studio constantly buzzes with activity. While its programming includes news, sports and special events, from the outset Radio 1190’s focus has been “indie” music – recordings not produced by major commercial record labels. Radio 1190 plays it around the clock on AM radio and its popular Web site: www.radio1190.org. In addition, it hosts live bands, helps sponsor local concerts – about 200 since January – and also offers listeners numerous blogging links.

DJ Jessi Whitten of Radio 1190, the student-run station where freedom and professionalism have reigned for 10 successful years, works the morning show. Photo by Kristi Miller

For Flanagan, the only nonstudent employee, an interview with author T.C. Boyle made him realize what gave college radio the potential to be so exciting.

“College kids will keep you sharper longer,” he recalled Boyle saying. Boyle founded the University of Southern California’s undergraduate creative writing program.

Flanagan said he believes that is what puts Radio 1190 on the cutting edge of broadcasting. He said that the constant influx of new ideas and new talent keeps the station fresh and guarantees that the programming never gets stale. “We attract the music nerds,” he said. “Everyone likes something different.”

The students agree. “We have a lot of freedom to play what we want and what we like,” said Women’s Studies major Luke DeCiccio, a hip-hop DJ who has worked at the station for three years.

Students pick the music that is aired. Music Director Katherine Peterson, a senior in Mathematics, makes sure that the most recent CDs, about 20 a week, are put into rotation, and after that it’s up to the person sitting in the “on air” booth.

“We pride ourselves on playing new music,” Flanagan said.

That pride in the station is evident. In the offic

e, the students joke with each other and Flanagan, but when it comes to being on the air they take their work seriously.

“Everyone here has real radio jobs,” Flanagan said. “We keep it as professional as possible.”

That professionalism, combined with enthusiasm, the genuine love for music and programming from across the musical spectrum, has kept the station going strong ever since Radio 1190’s first station manager, Jim Musil, arrived at CU after successfully guiding the University of Minnesota’s college radio station.

“Everyone who is here really loves what they are doing,” DeCiccio said.

Radio 1190’s studio line is 303-492-1190, and its e-mail address is dj@radio1190.org.