KCOU

Infobox Radio station
name = KCOU


city = Columbia, Missouri
area =
branding =
slogan =
airdate = 1973-10-31 on 88.3 MHz, 16 watts, monaural
frequency = 88.1 MHz
format = College
power =
erp = 430 watts
haat = 34.0 meters
class = A
facility_id = 28513
coordinates = coord|38|56|23.00|N| 92|19|20.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = KEJJ (1993-1994)
owner = Missouri Students Association
licensee = The Curators of the University of Missouri
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = [http://kcou.missouri.edu/ kcou.missouri.edu]
affiliations =

KCOU (88.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting the College radio format. Licensed to Columbia, Missouri, USA, the station is currently owned by the Missouri Students Association at the University of Missouri.

History

Originally known as KCCS (the Kampus Carrier Current Station), the station was founded in a dorm broom closet in 1963 as a carrier current AM station at 580 kHz. In 1973, the Independent Residence Halls Association was granted a broadcast license by the FCC to operate in monaural at 88.3 MHz FM with 16 Watts. Historically, this was the first license ever issued to a student group within a university, instead of to a university's administration. Operation began Halloween evening, playing the oddball tune "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!".

In the mid-1990s, the Missouri Students Association bought the station from the Residence Halls Association, who deemed it a financial burden for the organization.

The student-run station gained notoriety during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s by promoting alternative music/college rock and providing a platform for new artists and new trends.

In 1993, the station reunited the cult favorite Big Star as part of its annual Springfest concert. That show featured original bandmembers Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens, along with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies. A recording of that reunion show was released as "Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93".

The 2007-2008 staff includes Pat Fleming as general manager, Robert Berlin as chief announcer, and William Springer as business director.

August 2007 marked the debut of a sports talk show known as "The Spread," which runs Wednesdays from 2-4pm, and featured sports information and analysis. It also was the start of "The Screwballs," an offbeat sports show that features different voice characters in place of real sports personalities.

New innovations at KCOU as of February 2008 include a website, KCOU.missouri.edu. Where anyone can download a link to launch a webcast, running 24/7 playing what is currently being played in the studio.

References

External links

*FMQ|KCOU
*FML|KCOU

[reference]
* http://kcou.missouri.edu/