WRGP

WRGP - FIU Student Radio is the student-run radio station of Florida International University in Miami, FL. WRGP broadcasts on 88.1 MHz from a transmitter site in rural Miami-Dade County at 17107 SW 248 St and rebroadcasts in the Miami metropolitan area on translator stations W237CP, 95.3 MHz in Miami and W245BF, 96.9 MHz in North Miami. WRGP maintains its studios and offices in the Graham Center building at the FIU University Park Campus in Miami.

History

FIU - Student Radio was established in 1988 as a carrier current station on 540 KHz with the call sign WUFI and a strong focus on Alternative rock. Between 1988 and 1999 WUFI was heard only on the University Park campus of FIU. In 1999 the station signed on to the FM dial at 88.1 MHz with the call sign WRGP and the branding ‘Radiate 88.’ This change from AM to FM was delayed by Hurricane Andrew, which knocked down the proposed FM tower for then-WUFI in Homestead. Until 1999-2000, the station aired mainstream pop and hip-hop before reverting to its underground roots. In 2004, the primary branding was changed by management to ‘Radio Golden Panther’ (the original intended name, as it was the reason WRGP was selected as the call sign); then in 2005 it was changed to Radiate FM. In early 2015, it was changed to its current branding, WRGP - FIU Student Radio.

Due to power limitations mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) WRGP was unable to provide effective coverage of the University Park campus or Miami area on 88.1 MHz. This was remedied in 2006 with the installation of an FM translator at University Park, relaying the signal from 88.1 MHz on 95.3 MHz. In 2008 the reach of the station was further expanded when another translator station on 96.9 MHz was installed at the Biscayne Bay Campus of FIU in North Miami. With these three frequencies Radiate FM now effectively covers the entire Miami metropolitan area.

In March 2011, WRGP - FIU Student Radio was certified a Top 25 college radio station by MTVu, voted on by listeners. The station also won the Miami New Times editorial choice Best Miami Radio Station in 2006 and 2012.^[1]

Programming

WRGP's programming focuses on independent artists from across all genres of music. Dedicated exclusively to this format and style, commercial and mainstream music receive no airplay on WRGP.

The music for non-specialty day-parts is furnished by the Entertainment Director at the behest of his or herself. As many as 90 unique artists and four times as many tracks make up the regular rotation of music played during non-specialty programming hours. This rotation of music is updated weekly and will often include older albums selected by the staff from the station archives for regular airplay. The format is designed to be flexible enough to allow DJs to pick their own music and to fill listener requests whenever possible. Unlike other stations, where rotation libraries are exclusively digitized, WRGP still relies on CD's and CD decks in the studio.

Specialty programming

Each night of the week is dedicated to a particular genre of music, although constantly changing, is produced entirely by specialty DJs who operate independently. These DJs furnish their own music for these programs and are not bound by the formatics of other day-parts.

Community service

As a non-commercial educational radio station, WRGP airs public service announcements in lieu of commercial advertising and carries locally produced news updates provided by its in-house news department. In the event of a Hurricane Warning, the station switches over to NOAA Weather Radio during the duration of the storm until it has passed over.

Sports

WRGP also carries extensive live coverage of FIU Golden Panthers athletics with its own staff of announcers and analysts. The station has covered both several Sun Belt tournaments across varying sports as well as both of FIU's Bowl game appearances. As of 2012, WRGP is the only station on terrestrial radio that carries FIU football, basketball and baseball.

Structure

The content aired on WRGP is done so entirely at the discretion of the station staff. While licensed to the FIU Board of Trustees, funded by the Student Government Association and overseen by a media adviser, the radio station operates as an autonomous entity within the university. The station staff is made up entirely of FIU students. At any time, WRGP may have as many as 80 live DJs filling the day-parts in shifts that range from 1 to 3 hours of airtime.

A General Manager is voted upon yearly by the FIU Media Board, which is a committee made up of university staff and local media professionals. The GM is ultimately responsible for all station operations including staffing and budgetary matters. The GM appoints and oversees an immediate staff of directors who administer the music, programming, training, promotions, news, sports and engineering departments.

Translators

In addition to the main station, 88.1, WRGP is relayed by additional translators to widen its broadcast area.

References

External links

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

Coordinates: 25°32′25″N 80°28′06″W / 25.5404°N 80.4684°W / 25.5404; -80.4684