KURE

KURE (88.5 FM) is a radio station licensed to Ames, Iowa, USA, the station serves the Iowa State community, Ames, and surrounding areas. The station is currently owned by Residence Associations Broadcasting Services.^[1][2]

The station features a variety of programming, including most genres of music, talk shows, and coverage of ISU sporting events. Hip-hop, electronica, rock, americana, and jazz are just a few of the music genres played by KURE's constantly rotating staff of student DJ's. Music played at KURE is selected from a list made by student music reviewers. Large sections of the nightly programming schedule are not covered by a dedicated DJ, but are filled by an automated music selector. The station also provides coverage of Iowa State University football, basketball, and wrestling. Additionally, this station provides occasional news and talk style programming.

Kaleidoquiz

KURE produces Kaleidoquiz, a 26-hour team competition that involves trivia questions read over the air every six minutes, scavenger hunts, traveling questions, and other contests interspersed throughout the 26 hours. Kaleidoquiz is conducted by KURE DJ's over the air waves and online. In recent years, the use of the internet has made this competition more accessible and the questions more difficult. In previous years, Kaleidoquiz has sent teams as far away as Toronto Canada and required teams to do everything from pull a bus to bring "Your Mom in a wedding dress" in as a scavenger hunt item.

History

Previously using the call letters KMRA, KMRI, KISU, KPGY, and KUSR; KURE was established in the mid-1990s. In addition to being student-managed and student-produced, KURE is also funded by students at Iowa State University through the Government of the Student Body. KURE has always been staffed entirely by volunteer students.

According to the station's board of directors, KURE got its start as KMRA, broadcasting out of a Friley dorm room on 640 AM, on Oct. 17, 1949.^[3] Friley residents Cedric Curin, Chuck Hawley and Maurice Voland founded the station with two turntables, a small transmitter and a public address system.

Powered by one quarter of a watt, the signal was only able to provide Friley Hall with entertainment. A boost to 50 watts and implementation of the carrier current method allowed the station to use local power lines as its broadcast antennas and make its programming audible across all of campus.

In 1950, KMRA became KMRI. In 1961, KMRI became KISU. KISU applied for new call letters and in 1970 was given them—KPGY.^[4]

1969 brought the station to its current location in the basement of Friley, and the jump to the FM band was made in 1970. The initial frequency was 91.9 with a call of KPGY, "The Big Pig in the Sky". The FCC mandated a change to 91.5, 200 watts, and KUSR in the early 1980s to realign it to the non-commercial frequencies of the FM band. KUSR suspended broadcast operations Nov. 1, 1995, due to complications with its license.^[5]

The station now provides coverage to all of Ames as KURE 88.5 FM and has plans to expand its range further in the future.

References

External links

• KURE Website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KURE
• Radio-Locator information on KURE
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KURE
• KaleidoQuiz Website