Content Director
Sweeps!
KJHK staff members win 11 awards, including seven first-place honors, at the annual Kansas Association of Broadcasters ceremony. KJHK has received awards at the state almost every year. Just look at that table; it's about to fold under the weight of all those plaques!
Tower damage
In March, KJHK goes off air for a few days after the radio tower was knocked down in a strong storm.
Dirty 30
KJHK unveils archived and near-real-time playlist info online at kjhk.org. The station also celebrates its 30th anniversary with concerts at the Granada.
Union saves KJHK
KU Memorial Unions takes on responsibility for KJHK from the School of Journalism. Without its funding and support, KJHK likely would have faded away.
KJHK removes the School of Journalism from its website and replaces it with the KU Memorial Unions.
Continuing special programming
Programs for Fall 2003 include SuperDisco Galactica, Lawnchair Review, Heart of Asia, Obscured by Beats, Endless Raga and more. Through the years KJHK DJs have both revived old shows and created brand new special programming. This creativity is in part what makes the "Sound Alternative" so unique.
Returning to weird
The tagline reverts back to “The Sound Alternative.”
We got MORE power
The station signal increases to 2600 watts.
Bye Bye Outhouse
The Outhouse shuts down, bringing an end to one of Lawrence’s most notorious alternative music venues.
90.7 The Hawk
Because “alternative” currently meant Top 40, KJHK changes its tagline to “The Hawk.”
Web pioneers
On December 3, the station became the first in the nation to broadcast a live, 24-hour signal on the internet. This was also the first year KJHK hosted Farmer’s Ball, a now decades long battle of the bands competition.
Pearl Jam and controversy
A debate between anti-gay activist Fred Phelps and gay leaders is aired, KJHK never shied away from controversy.
KJHK did not help sponsor the infamous Pearl Jam concert on the Hill on May 2, but it was a big event in Lawrence music history.
Not a student-run radio
Journalism faculty takes control of KJHK to improve the station’s compliance with federal regulations, briefly ending student-led operations in June of that year. At student outrage and protests, control was finally given back to the students, where it has stayed since.
Take out the Thrash
KJHK plays more Top 40 tunes to broaden its audience after an independent study suggests the change in format. However, this results in a campus protest and many angry letters to the Kansan. The format change along with FCC violations, leads to a brief stint of non-student management. KJHK members protested heavily. (Be on the lookout for a mini-doc about this in the coming weeks).
We got the power
KJHK is granted a power increase to 100 watts. KJHK is using the same transmitter today!
Recognizing the locals
Spin magazine honors KJHK for “developing and promoting” local alternative music with the Outhouse and by playing local music.
Sonic Youth released EVOL.