UK’s radio station WUKY celebrates 85 years of education and music

Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.

WUKY, the public radio station that rocks, first went on the air 85 years ago.

The station started in 1929 with radio production on the University of Kentucky’s campus. A series of shows for “farmers and housewives across Kentucky” were produced by the College of Agriculture and aired on WHAS in Louisville.

On Oct. 17, 1940, it became the radio station WBKY. Under program director Ruth Foxx Newborg, the station’s primary mission was to serve rural schools. Its limited schedule ran from noon until 2 p.m. on weekdays.

But after technical and financial problems, the station suspended broadcasting in 1941.

In 1945, WBKY relocated to McVey Hall at UK and began broadcasting on the new FM band. As part of the FCC transition away from low-band frequencies, the station transitioned to 91.3 FM in 1947.

The station struggled in the early years of FM broadcasting. In 1948, a lack of listeners with FM radios was forcing it to air only six hours per week — from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.

WBKY went on to help found NPR, the station says. It was one of the 90 stations that carried the first broadcast of “All Things Considered” in 1971.

During that same time, future NPR host Noah Adams discovered WBKY. Adams, an Ashland native, had been a disc jockey in Ashland, West Virginia and Ohio, along with stints at other stations in Georgia and Kentucky.

He began his career at WBKY as a volunteer rock and roll announcer, but soon became involved in documentaries and a weekly bluegrass show, according to his bio on NPR. In 1974, he joined the full-time staff at WBKY as a morning news and music program host.

Adams would go on to work for NPR, and as the weekend host of “All Things Considered.” In 1982, he became the weekday co-host of the program with Susan Stamberg.

WBKY became WUKY on Oct. 1, 1989. It is one of two NPR member stations in the Lexington market, along with WEKY.

In 2007, the station was the first in Lexington to broadcast in high definition digital radio. Today, it offers three services via HD. The station also offers a free app for cell phones and streaming through its website, WUKY.org.

To celebrate its anniversary, along with National Public Radio Music Day, WUKY will host a Birthday Bash and outdoor concert at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the WUKY studios featuring Jocelyn and the Sweet Compression.

Guests can come early starting at 5 p.m. and peruse the WUKY gallery exhibits, as well as meet the artists: Jeff Enge, Jonathan Clark and Sarah Culbreth.

Food from Athenian Grill, drinks from West Sixth Brewing and cake by Martine’s Pastries will also be available. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite WUKY era (from the 1940s to present), and a costume contest will feature a prize of WUKY swag and the opportunity to deejay one hour of a Rock & Roots musical show.

Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.