KWRS

The history of the station dates back to Sep. 18 1950, as KWC (Whitworth College).

KWRS, once known as Spokane's Pirate Radio, was a non-commercial college radio station specializing in indie and alternative rock. The Spokane-based station broadcasts out of the Hixon Union Building (or 'HUB') at Whitworth University. Today, the former KWRS is known as Whitworth.FM, (W.FM in short), an online version of its former self, affectionately known as, "Spokane's only Pirate Radio Station" . The station, specializes in indie, alternative rock, and electronica music.

The station is entirely student-run, from the leadership team to the DJs. Student programming is the focus of the station. Students can do a format show entirely based on promotional music or have their own specialty program. On September 16, 2012, W.FM started Student Sports Broadcasting. The station strives for creative professionalism with their students, to best serve the community at large.

The student staff are part of ASWU, the student body government at Whitworth University. Isamu Jordan, a member of Spokane's Flying Spiders Rap Orchestra, is the faculty advisor, but the rest of the leadership team is made up of Whitworth students. This team includes the general manager (Aaron Kilfoyle), music director (Caleb Brown), and web manager (Nathan Reid).

KWRS formerly broadcast at 90.3 MHz with an ERP of .016 kW. The station decided to transition to online operations because the lack of protection of their Class D license. Spokane Public Radio openly filed for the 90.3 frequency and KWRS chose not to upgrade their license years ago. Thus, leaving them open to losing their license.

The staff since then have focused on improving the station, with a complete renovation in August 2012 and new equipment in 2011. W.FM faces a challenge with KWRS, because many still refer to it as KWRS. W.FM believes that the future of radio is becoming limited, and that online broadcasting is the future and is similar to current online music providers such as pandora radio or grooveshark.

In 2007, KWRS became embroiled in controversy when they banned a CD titled Gospel Hymns For Agnostics & Atheists by the artist Caesar Pink & The Imperial Orgy. KWRS music director Kaleb Knox told the group's record label that the CD was “too controversial” for airplay. Caesar Pink argued to the press that the CD contained no foul language and that banning the CD due to the political content of the lyrics amounted to censorship of free speech.

Spokane Public Radio acquired the 90.3 MHz licence and launched KPBZ.