KCOU 88.1 FM is a completely student owned and operated radio station located at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. It broadcasts over the air and online 24/7 featuring a wide-range of content including the latest in emerging music, top notch Mizzou sports and news coverage, engaging talk shows, and creative takes on presenting numerous musical genres.
Station History (from a 1999 Maneater editorial)
KCOU is a nonprofit station run by student volunteers. The station serves as an outlet for many forms of music otherwise ignored by commercial radio stations in the Midwest, with an eclectic mix of genres that range from hip hop, punk rock, country, techno and blues to funk, ska, indie rock and reggae, just to name a few. Anyone can apply to be a DJ and after receiving training can begin broadcasting almost immediately. We are for students by students, independent of race, sex, lifestyle or culture.
KCOU’s past stretches back to 1961, when KLOP began broadcasting from a broom closet in Cramer Hall. KLOP became KCCS, which became KCOU. The station as it is now started on Oct. 31, 1973, and was the first station in the country with an all-student executive staff. As the 1980s approached, KCOU carved a niche in the airwaves by playing the newest types of music, a mission that has survived to this day. As the years progressed, KCOU grew and continued to explore the boundaries of music, and in 1989 the station was named “Best College Radio Station of the Year” by College Music Journal. In 1993, KCOU was shut down due to questions concerning the financial management and friction between the station and the Residence Halls Association. RHA fired the entire staff and turned KCOU into KEJJ “The Edge.” This was the station’s one big attempt with a Top 40 format, and it failed quickly. Troubles erupted again in 1997 when RHA began negotiations with KBIA to sell KCOU. KBIA wanted to use the station to broadcast classical music, effectively killing the station, but the student body and the community rallied around KCOU like never before and saved the station. [In 1998] MSA bought KCOU from RHA for $80,000. KCOU approved of the deal based on promises MSA made, including the selection process for the general manager. The general manager was to be selected by the KCOU staff, and was to have complete artistic control. It also was implied there would be more money involved for the station.
FCC License
KCOU-FM has a Class A Non-Commercial license and is operated in accordance with Part 73 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
How to Get Involved
Every semester we invite all interested students, regardless of their academic major/focus, to get involved at KCOU. We hold informational sessions where they can learn more about the station and conduct a comprehensive training program to provide new staff members with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed at KCOU. This past year we welcomed over 90 new student staff members to KCOU, who joined our veteran staff to bring you the best in new music, Mizzou news & sports, engaging talk shows, exciting events, great contests, and lots more!
If you are interested in getting involved in KCOU – go to this page for more information on how to go about that. Keep in mind that there are also a number ways to work at KCOU beyond just DJ’ing – like news, sports, promotions, audio production, and underwriting/advertising/development!
