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KUMD: On the air 24/7

Jordan Berndt
Jordan Berndt, a Liberal Arts major, is a student DJ for KUMD. He's been with KUMD for a year.

KUMD: Something for Everyone

KUMD 103.3 FM has reached a milestone. For the first time in its 53-year history, it is now broadcasting 24/7/365. In addition to expanding their hours, KUMD has also added a number of new shows. KUMD’s regular playlist features an eclectic mix of music including rock, folk, blues, and other genres.

Changing to a 24 hour format and expanding programming are two goals that KUMD staff set for themselves last year. “We have kept the best of the KUMD music programs and have added new programs to our line-up. Our listenership has grown considerably over the last year, and by going 24 hours, we believe it will broaden our audience base even more,” said Station Manager Vicki Jacoba.

KUMD on air sign
"The lion’s share of the new programs are produced locally,” said Maija Morton, KUMD program director. Many of the new shows explore a certain genre of music. Soul Village offers soul, funk, Afro-pop, and R&B. Caribbean Roots offers music from the Caribbean and the African Diaspora.

KUMD is a strong supporter of the local music scene. On their new show, The Local, they feature local musicians and often highlight interviews and live in-studio sessions. The Best of the Basement is a one-hour drive time show in which they highlight that week’s top ten albums and five best new albums. KUMD show The Basement is the renamed late night college radio show, programmed by the students of UMD.

The Fun House, hosted by Tim and Shana and sponsored by Zinema, is a mix of novelty, jazz, world music, and alternative country and "will turn your house into a fun house". The Dead Letter Office features “College Music from the Dawn of Time.” It is hosted by two UMD alumns, John and Dave. Indeed, KUMD relies heavily on community volunteers and UMD students to complete the on-air and promotional work force. The station has over 60 staff and volunteers with only seven full-time paid staff.

KUMD logo
Listen to KUMD online anytime
One new show that is dear to Morton’s heart is Radio Gallery because it is her show and the culmination of a “longtime dream.” It first aired in November 2009 after KUMD received funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. This five-minute show, which runs every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. (with a repeat on Thursday at 7:45 a.m.), features a visual artist. Artists talk about their work, their influences, and their process. You can listen to past Radio Gallery interviews online at http://www.kumd.org.

Another interesting new show is Catching Up with Aquatic Science in which Minnesota Sea Grant host Judy Zomerfelt delivers university research concerning aquatic systems and coastal communities to her listeners. This show airs each Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. Listeners can also sign up for podcasts of this show, and they can listen to past shows online. KUMD recently received the 2009 Environmental Stewardship Award for Media from the St. Louis River Alliance for their contributions to environmental stewardship in the St. Louis River area.

KUMD, which is part of AMPERS (Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations), has also added the shows of other AMPERS stations to their line-up. Bluegrass Review and Crap from the Past, which features pop music from the ’80s, are both produced by independent public radio stations in Minneapolis.

KUMD recently added the national show Undercurrents described as “American Music with a Passport”. Undercurrents runs Monday – Friday from 3:00 - 6:00 a.m. Whether you can’t sleep or are an early riser, there is something for every taste including rock, blues, folk, native, Americana, funk, electronica, reggae, world, dub, roots, and alternative country.

KUMD broadcasts in stereo all across the Northland, reaching listeners up to 100-mile radius from Duluth. KUMD’s programming is also available live online and attracts listeners from 41 different countries. You can view the days and times of all KUMD programs on the Program Guide page of their website http://www.kumd.org.

Written by Kathleen McQuillan-Hofmann, kmcquill@d.umn.edu.

UMD home page editor, Cheryl Reitan, creitan@d.umn.edu
NEW RELEASES, UMD media contact, Susan Latto, slatto@d.umn.edu, 218-726-8830
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Last modified on 01/19/10 08:16 PM
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