List of radio stations in Kentucky

The list of radio stations in Kentucky encompasses all full-power, low-power FM (LPFM), and FM translator stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast within or serve the state, including both AM and FM bands across commercial, non-commercial educational, and public radio formats.^[1] As of November 2025, there are 391 such licensed stations operating in Kentucky, providing diverse programming such as news, talk, country, contemporary hits, and classical music to listeners statewide.^[1] Kentucky's radio landscape is regulated by the FCC, which assigns licenses based on market demand, technical feasibility, and public interest criteria, with stations required to maintain public files detailing ownership, programming, and equal employment opportunity efforts. The state's major radio markets include Louisville, ranked as the 55th largest in the United States by population, and Lexington, ranked 106th, alongside smaller markets like Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Paducah that serve rural and Appalachian communities.^[2] The Kentucky Broadcasters Association represents 278 of these stations, facilitating statewide public service announcements and advocacy for the industry.^[3] Radio broadcasting in Kentucky began on July 18, 1922, with the launch of WHAS (840 AM) in Louisville, the state's first licensed station, which initially broadcast for 2.5 hours daily and quickly gained national attention by airing the first program to a moving train on September 14, 1922.^[4] Over the decades, the medium evolved with the introduction of FM broadcasting in the 1940s and the expansion of LPFM licenses in 2000 to promote community-focused voices, particularly in underserved areas.^[5] Today, Kentucky's stations play a vital role in emergency communications, local news delivery, and cultural preservation, with public radio networks like Kentucky Public Radio reaching all 120 counties through affiliated outlets.^[6]

Background

Historical Development

Radio broadcasting in Kentucky began in the early 1920s amid a national wave of experimental transmissions. The state's first licensed station, WHAS in Louisville, signed on July 18, 1922, founded by the Bingham family, publishers of the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times.^[4][7] As one of the nation's earliest commercial outlets, WHAS initially broadcast for about two and a half hours daily, featuring local programming that quickly expanded to include the first live coverage of the Kentucky Derby in 1925.^[4] The University of Kentucky also contributed to these origins, conducting amateur experiments with station 9YC as early as 1921 and producing its inaugural program for WHAS in 1929, marking the start of educational broadcasting ties.^[8][9] By the late 1920s, WHAS had joined the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) network, facilitating the relay of national content to Kentucky audiences and solidifying the station's role in early network radio development.^[10] The Great Depression initially slowed national radio growth, but Kentucky saw gradual expansion in key cities despite economic challenges. Stations proliferated in urban centers like Lexington, where WLAP launched in 1934 with 250 watts of power, and Paducah, home to WPAD, which began operations on August 23, 1930, as the fifth-oldest station in the state.^[11][12] By 1930, Kentucky hosted only five active stations total, reflecting the era's caution, yet these outlets provided vital local service.^[13] World War II further highlighted radio's importance, with stations delivering news and morale-boosting entertainment; a pivotal moment came during the 1937 Ohio River flood, when WHAS in Louisville offered continuous, commercial-free coverage for weeks, earning a CBS Medal for Distinguished Service and aiding relief efforts across the region.^[14][4] Postwar prosperity fueled a radio boom in Kentucky, introducing frequency modulation (FM) and culturally resonant formats. WBKY (now WUKY), Kentucky's first public radio station and the nation's oldest university-owned FM outlet, signed on October 17, 1940, from Beattyville before relocating to Lexington in 1944 and adding FM broadcasting around 1945.^[15][8] The 1940s and 1950s saw FM adoption grow, with stations like WFPL-FM launching in Louisville in 1950, offering clearer signals for music programming.^[16] This era also popularized country and bluegrass formats, deeply rooted in Kentucky's Appalachian heritage; Renfro Valley's barn dance program, originating in the 1930s and broadcast widely post-war, showcased live performances that blended traditional fiddle tunes with emerging bluegrass styles pioneered by figures like Bill Monroe.^[17] In the modern era, Kentucky radio has embraced digital innovations to enhance reach and quality. Following the Federal Communications Commission's approval of HD Radio in the early 2000s, major stations adopted the technology; for instance, WAMZ in Louisville implemented HD broadcasting in the 2010s, enabling multicast channels like HD2 for specialized programming such as simulcasts of news-talk formats.^[18] The 2020s have integrated streaming services, allowing traditional broadcasters to offer on-demand access via apps and online platforms, adapting to listener shifts while preserving over-the-air signals amid evolving media landscapes.^[19]

Regulatory Framework

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversees radio licensing in Kentucky through its Media Bureau, assigning frequencies for AM stations in the medium frequency band (approximately 535–1705 kHz) and FM stations in the very high frequency band (88–108 MHz). These allocations ensure interference-free operation while promoting local service, with Kentucky holding licenses for approximately 100 AM stations and more than 250 FM stations (including full-power, low-power, and translator facilities), totaling 391 stations as of November 2025.^[1] Licensing involves competitive auctions for commercial stations and filing requirements for non-commercial educational ones, with renewals every eight years subject to public interest reviews.^[20] State-specific regulations complement federal rules, with the Kentucky Department of Revenue imposing an ad valorem tax on commercial radio broadcasting equipment and property at a rate of $0.45 per $100 of assessed value, collected annually to fund state operations.^[21] Border markets introduce additional considerations; for instance, the Louisville radio market (#55 nationally per Nielsen rankings as of Fall 2025, spanning Kentucky and southern Indiana with 1,073,700 persons aged 12+) requires FCC coordination to manage cross-state signal propagation and avoid interference, while the Paducah market shares coverage with southeastern Illinois, necessitating compliance with bilateral agreements on power levels and contours. Lexington ranks #106 in Nielsen's Fall 2025 radio market survey with 531,800 persons aged 12+.^[2][22] These market definitions, based on Nielsen's Designated Market Areas (DMAs) adapted for radio, guide advertising and ownership analyses. FCC ownership limits promote competition and diversity, capping entities at up to eight stations in markets with 45 or more outlets (no more than five in the same band), as seen in Lexington where iHeartMedia operates a cluster including news/talk WLAP (630 AM), classic rock WKQQ (100.1 FM), and Top 40 WLKT (104.5 FM).^[23][24] Recent 2020s updates, including 2020 rule changes allowing low-power FM (LPFM) stations greater flexibility in directional antennas and FM boosters, have facilitated expansions in rural Kentucky areas like eastern Appalachia, enabling community-focused non-commercial service in underserved counties.^[25] To enhance diversity, the FCC maintains policies like the diversity incubator program, pairing emerging minority entrepreneurs with established owners for mentorship and potential station transfers, though a 2025 biennial report notes minorities hold majority interest in only 3% of commercial radio stations nationwide, with limited representation in Kentucky.^[26] In July 2025, the FCC waived the requirement for broadcasters to file biennial ownership reports (Forms 323 and 323-E) for 18 months pending review, affecting reporting obligations for Kentucky stations.^[27] The 2022 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of broadcast ownership rules remains ongoing as of November 2025, with potential impacts on market caps and diversity initiatives.^[28] Access policies emphasize public safety, requiring all Kentucky radio stations to participate in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for disseminating tornado warnings—critical in the state's tornado-prone regions like western Kentucky—via weekly tests and immediate relay of National Weather Service alerts.^[29]

Active Stations

Commercial Stations

Commercial radio stations in Kentucky form the backbone of the state's for-profit broadcasting landscape, serving urban centers and rural areas with a mix of music, news, talk, and sports content designed to attract advertisers and large audiences. These stations, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), emphasize revenue-generating formats and are typically owned by consolidated media conglomerates that leverage economies of scale for programming and syndication. As of November 2025, Kentucky hosts approximately 150 active commercial AM and FM stations, with signal coverage varying from high-power regional signals reaching millions to localized translators serving smaller communities.^[1] Ownership is highly concentrated among a few major players, reflecting national trends in media consolidation. iHeartMedia dominates with 22 stations across the state, including flagship outlets in the top markets, enabling shared resources like syndicated shows from networks such as Premiere Networks.^[30] Cumulus Media holds a notable share, particularly in central Kentucky, with 12 stations focused on news/talk and country formats following its 2023 acquisitions in eastern markets like Hazard and Pikeville.^[31] Other owners, such as Alpha Media and local groups like Forcht Broadcasting, control smaller clusters, but together, the top three groups account for more than 60% of commercial stations statewide.^[32] Format trends among commercial stations highlight the popularity of country music, which comprises about 30% of the total and resonates with Kentucky's cultural heritage, followed by sports (around 15%, often ESPN affiliates) and adult contemporary (12%). Nielsen Audio ratings for Fall 2025 indicate strong performance in these categories, with country stations capturing 6.2% audience share in Louisville, underscoring their broad appeal in driving ad revenue through local endorsements and event sponsorships.^[33][34] Sports formats, tied to University of Kentucky and Louisville athletics, see spikes during seasons, while adult contemporary provides steady listenership among adults 25-54. High-definition (HD) radio and FM translators enhance delivery, allowing stations to multicast multiple formats without additional licenses.^[33]

AM Commercial Stations

AM stations in Kentucky, often operating at higher powers for nighttime skywave propagation, focus on talk, news, and sports to reach commuters and rural listeners. Class B facilities like those in Louisville provide statewide coverage, while lower-power outlets serve niche markets. Below is a representative table of key AM commercial stations, selected for their market influence and power levels. These stations exemplify AM's role in commercial broadcasting, with iHeartMedia's Louisville cluster alone generating significant revenue through syndicated content like Rush Limbaugh reruns and local morning drives.^[36]

FM Commercial Stations

FM stations dominate commercial listening in Kentucky due to superior sound quality and music focus, with effective radiated power (ERP) up to 100,000 watts for class C facilities providing metro-wide coverage. Many incorporate HD-2/HD-3 subchannels for niche formats, and translators boost signals in underserved areas. The table below highlights representative FM stations by major market.

Louisville Market (25+ stations)

Louisville, Kentucky's largest radio market ranked 55th nationally by population, features a diverse commercial array emphasizing country and urban formats to a metro population of over 1.3 million.^[37]

Lexington Market (20+ stations)

Lexington, ranked approximately 68th by population, supports a vibrant commercial scene with country and top-40 leading, serving the horse country region and University of Kentucky audience.^[37]

Other Markets: Bowling Green, Owensboro, Paducah

Smaller markets like Bowling Green (ranked #170) feature localized commercial FMs with country dominance. For example, in Bowling Green, WBGN 101.5 FM (Forever Communications, classic hits, 1,250 watts class A) and WKQQ simulcasts extend iHeart's reach. Owensboro's WBKR 92.5 FM (Townsquare Media, country, 50,000 watts class C, covering western KY) exemplifies high-power rural service. Paducah's WKYQ 93.5 FM (Cumulus, country, 100,000 watts class C) serves the Purchase region with broad signal overlap into Illinois. These markets collectively host 40+ stations, with ERP details ensuring coverage for agriculture and manufacturing communities.^[35][31]

Non-Commercial Stations

Non-commercial radio stations in Kentucky primarily operate as public, educational, and community outlets, funded through listener donations, grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and university support, though federal funding cuts in 2025 have significantly impacted operations across the state. These stations emphasize educational programming, local news, and cultural content, often affiliated with National Public Radio (NPR) or serving niche audiences like students and rural communities. With the CPB's shutdown announced on August 1, 2025, and operations ceasing September 30, 2025, Kentucky's public radio network, which previously received over $11 million annually in federal support, now relies more heavily on private contributions and state partnerships to sustain services reaching approximately 740,000 unique monthly listeners statewide.^[6][42][43] Public radio networks form the backbone of non-commercial broadcasting in Kentucky, with key NPR affiliates delivering national programs like Morning Edition and All Things Considered alongside regional reporting. The Kentucky Public Radio (KPR) consortium includes WFPL 89.3 FM in Louisville, operated by Louisville Public Media, which provides 24-hour news, jazz, and alternative music to urban audiences.^[44] WKMS 91.3 FM in Murray, managed by Murray State University since its launch in 1970, broadcasts NPR content, classical music on its HD-2 channel, and local Western Kentucky news, serving rural listeners in the Purchase region.^[45] WKYU 88.9 FM in Bowling Green, part of Western Kentucky University Public Radio, airs NPR staples, BBC World Service, and original shows like Barren River Breakdown, a program highlighting bluegrass and roots music from the region.^[46] WEKU 88.9 FM in Richmond, licensed to Eastern Kentucky University, covers central and eastern Kentucky with NPR news, jazz, classical music, and local features such as Red Barn Radio, which spotlights Appalachian bluegrass artists; the station expanded in December 2024 to 88.1 FM in Maysville, enhancing access for northern Kentucky and southern Ohio residents.^[47][48] College and university stations offer student-driven programming focused on alternative formats and educational missions, often complementing public radio with eclectic music and campus events. WRFL 88.1 FM in Lexington, the University of Kentucky's student-run outlet since 1988, specializes in independent and alternative music, including shows like Blue Yodel #9 featuring folk, gospel, and bluegrass, and reaches thousands of local listeners through its non-commercial, volunteer-based operations.^[49] WEKU, while primarily public, incorporates university oversight for jazz and classical segments that support Eastern Kentucky University's arts curriculum. WLMU 91.3 FM, licensed to Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, but serving the Kentucky border area near Middlesboro, provides variety programming including educational content and community announcements for Appalachian listeners.^[50] These stations foster hands-on media training, with WRFL emphasizing indie genres to educate students on broadcasting ethics and diverse voices.^[51] Community and low-power FM (LPFM) stations fill gaps in rural and underserved areas, promoting local access and non-profit missions with limited 100-watt signals covering 3-5 miles. WFHS-LP 92.7 FM in Louisville's Fern Creek neighborhood, owned by the Fern Creek Traditional High School Alumni Association, delivers community-focused programming including high school events and religious content, supported by local donations.^[52] In rural Somerset, WIJS-LP 94.3 FM, operated by Outreach for Jesus, airs Spanish religious programming to serve immigrant and faith-based communities since its licensing in the 2010s.^[53] Recent 2020s expansions include a proposed LPFM at 101.1 MHz in Frankfort by New Harvest Assembly of God, granted construction permit in 2025 for faith-oriented broadcasts to the capital region's residents, and similar low-power outlets in areas like Corbin and Harlan for enhanced community dialogue.^[54][55] These LPFM initiatives, enabled by FCC rules for non-commercial educational use, prioritize local programming such as town halls and cultural segments over commercial models.^[5] Programming across these stations uniquely incorporates Kentucky's cultural heritage, with bluegrass and Americana shows like Red Barn Radio and Barren River Breakdown airing weekly to educate on regional music traditions, reaching over 50,000 listeners in areas like Lexington and Richmond. Educational segments cover topics from Appalachian history to environmental issues, supported by pre-2025 CPB grants that funded statewide public radio operations estimated at several million dollars annually before the federal rescission.^[47][46][56]

Defunct Stations

AM and FM Closures

Several AM radio stations in Kentucky have permanently ceased operations since the early 2000s, often due to economic pressures, financial difficulties, and challenges associated with the band's aging infrastructure and signal interference issues. According to FCC database records, 17 AM licenses in the state were deleted between 2012 and 2023, contributing to a broader national trend of AM station shutdowns exacerbated by declining advertising revenue and the shift toward digital and FM alternatives.^[57] Notable examples include WCPM (1280 AM) in Cumberland, which signed off on August 31, 2016, after 65 years on the air, citing insurmountable financial struggles in the rural Eastern Kentucky market where it had broadcast country music and local news.^[58] Similarly, WEKC (710 AM) in Williamsburg went silent in 2019 and had its license deleted in 2020; a 2024 petition by a local reverend to reinstate it was denied by the FCC due to the licensee's failure to demonstrate timely efforts to resume operations during its silent period.^[59] The following table summarizes select defunct AM stations in Kentucky, drawn from FCC deletion records, including call sign, frequency, city of license, deletion date, and known reasons where available: These closures have displaced listeners in rural areas, where AM stations often served as primary sources for local news and emergency information, though specific quantitative impacts like affected listener numbers vary by market and are not uniformly documented. Relicensing attempts, such as for WEKC, highlight regulatory hurdles under FCC rules requiring stations to resume operations within 12 months of going silent or face cancellation.^[59] FM closures in Kentucky have been less frequent than AM but similarly driven by corporate mergers and format viability issues, particularly in the 2010s and 2020s as clusters consolidated to cut costs. A prominent recent example is WLXX (101.5 FM), licensed to Richmond and serving the Lexington area, which ceased operations on March 2, 2025, after Cumulus Media shut down its Variety Hits "Jack FM" format; the station had simulcast content from sister outlets before going dark amid broader cost-cutting measures at the company.^[41][60] Previously, WCYN-FM (102.3 FM) in Cynthiana went silent in March 2017 due to equipment failure (lack of an exciter) and remained silent until sometime in 2019, after which it resumed operations with a country format; the license was later surrendered by Cumulus Media and cancelled by the FCC on May 19, 2022.^[61][62] FM losses often stem from ownership changes during mergers, such as in the 2010s when regional clusters in markets like Louisville and Lexington rationalized overlapping signals, resulting in several translator and low-power FM deletions post-digital audio transitions. For instance, rural translators like those in Paducah have been deleted as primary stations shifted to HD Radio, reducing the need for analog repeaters. These trends reflect FM's relative resilience compared to AM but underscore vulnerabilities in smaller markets, where closures have led to reduced local programming diversity without successful relicensing in most cases.

Notable Transitions

One prominent example of a format change that effectively ended a station's core identity occurred at WAKY 790 AM in Louisville, which pioneered the top-40 rock format in the region starting in 1958 under McClendon Corporation ownership.^[63] The station's high-energy programming, featuring disc jockeys like Bill Bailey and Coyote Calhoun, dominated the 1960s and 1970s with hits from artists such as The Beatles and Elvis Presley, but by 1980, amid shifting listener preferences and competition from FM stations, it transitioned to easy listening as part of a broader move away from rock.^[64] Subsequent flips included country in 1981, oldies in 1983, and adult contemporary under the WVEZ calls in 1988, culminating in a 2010 shift to sports talk as WKRD, marking the definitive end of its top-40 legacy that had shaped Louisville's youth culture for over two decades.^[65] Ownership shifts have also driven operational endings for several Kentucky stations, particularly through sales or financial pressures leading to temporary silence. In 2019, Cumulus Media's divestitures of underperforming assets included clusters in smaller markets, contributing to silent carriers in western Kentucky, such as challenges faced by stations in Mayfield amid broader portfolio streamlining.^[66] More recently, in March 2025, Cumulus took 101.5 WLXX-FM in Lexington off the air after ending its adult hits "Jack FM" format, citing strategic realignment amid declining revenues; the station, which had simulcast elements from sister outlets, remained silent as Cumulus evaluated resale or format overhaul.^[60] Some stations have undergone transitions that revived or relocated their operations, preserving signals through FCC-approved changes. For instance, in September 2020, Cumulus Media swapped call letters between 92.9 WLXX-FM and 101.5 WVLK-FM in Lexington (FCC File No. BTC-20200903AAK), allowing the country-formatted 92.9 to reclaim the heritage WVLK-FM calls and rebrand as "K 92.9," effectively reviving its local country identity after a brief national "Nash FM" stint from 2013 to 2020.^[67] These transitions have had notable cultural impacts, particularly the erosion of local programming that once supported Kentucky's bluegrass and regional music heritage. In Lexington during the 2000s, extensions of WVLK-FM's programming saw reduced emphasis on live bluegrass segments amid format shifts to automated country, contributing to a broader loss of community-focused content that connected listeners to Appalachian traditions and local artists.^[68] Such changes diminished platforms for genres integral to Kentucky's identity, forcing enthusiasts to rely on scattered online archives or festivals. Post-2020 transitions accelerated due to economic pressures from streaming services, affecting over 10 stations statewide through format flips, ownership swaps, and funding shortfalls. In November 2024, a swap involving Commonwealth Journal Communications and Seven Mountains Media led to Hot AC 106.3 WOVO in Bowling Green flipping to all-Christmas as "Santa 102.3/95.7," alongside similar seasonal shifts for 102.3 WLLI and others, reflecting adaptation to digital competition.^[69] By mid-2025, federal rescissions cut public broadcasting funds by millions, prompting stations like WEKU-FM in Richmond to reduce local music blocks, including bluegrass, and explore hybrid streaming models to sustain operations amid listener migration to platforms like Spotify.^[70]