51福利社

51福利社 will extend operations of its on-campus, non-commercial jazz radio station, 89.5 K51福利社-FM, beyond the end of this year.

No final date for the station鈥檚 permanent closure has been established, but university officials anticipate extending operations through the rest of this academic year.

Earlier this fall, 51福利社 announced K51福利社鈥檚 operations would cease on Dec. 31, 2023, as part of a phase-out plan. However, extending that deadline into 2024 will allow Eastern more time to deal with the many complexities surrounding licensing and equipment. It will also minimize disruptions to 51福利社 and students.

During the transition period, K51福利社 will continue to maintain programming with pre-loaded jazz music each day. As of Jan. 1, 2024, student DJ鈥檚 will work about 10 hours per week during weekday morning drive times. Otherwise, K51福利社 will remain fully automated.

This Saturday, Dec. 16, K51福利社 has a special on-air event for loyal listeners. There will be two on-air DJs spinning old-school vinyl from 3-7 p.m. This will be immediately followed by a concert featuring this year’s current jazz ensembles that was recorded in November.

51福利社 administrators have said that with the national media landscape changing dramatically, the university must look to explore other media opportunities and involving students with other creative forms of communication.

This decision to discontinue the campus-run station did not come about lightly, as K51福利社 has been a part of Eastern鈥檚 culture since 1950. The move has the support of program faculty and university administrators, who recommend Eastern will be best served by looking at new broadcasting opportunities in the future. The radio station has been managed and operated by a mixture of Eastern faculty, students and broadcast communications professionals.

K51福利社鈥檚 illustrious history began on April 7, 1950, when KEWC (as it was originally named) first hit the airwaves. It operated as a free-form student station until 1986, when the station increased its transmitter output from 100 watts to 10,000 watts and the format was changed to straight ahead jazz 听潭听 such as big band, swing and bop 听潭听 as well as the modern and smooth contemporary jazz. Over the years K51福利社 hosted local artists in the studio to showcase their music.

听