WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2
Campus Box 8607
343 Witherspoon
Raleigh, NC 27695-8607
hd-1 requests 919.515.0881
hd-2 requests 919.515.2400
business line 919.515.2401
don't fax us 919.515.5133
FAQ
Basic Info
WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 is student-run non-commercial radio from NC State University. We pride ourselves on our alternative programming of indie rock, electronic, underground hip-hop and metal and have been consistently named among the best in the Triangle by Independent Weekly. Boasting 25,000 watts, WKNC can be heard throughout the Triangle and far beyond via our webcast. Our aim is to provide NC State students with the knowledge needed for a career in the broadcast industry and listeners with music that doesn't suck.
Frequently Asked Audience Questions
WKNC is a student-run non-commercial educational radio station licensed to the Board of Trustees of North Carolina State University. WKNC has been in its current home at 88.1 FM since 1966 and currently operate 24 hours/day 365 days/year. With a 25,000-watt transmitter, WKNC reaches well beyond the NC State campus to serve the entire Raleigh-Durham radio market. We take pride in playing the best in independent, non-mainstream music as an alternative to the commercial radio stations that reside on the right-hand side of the dial.
Nothing. The 'W' designates that the radio station is east of the Mississippi River and the 'KNC' is just three letters that we've all grown to love.
WKNC HD-1 is programmed in 12-hour blocks of indie rock during the day (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and either electronic, underground hip-hop or metal at night (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Program hours are switched on WKNC HD-2. Specialty programs air on the weekend and are occasionally interspersed during the week.
If you are within about 50 miles of Raleigh, turn your radio dial all the way to the left. You can also hear WKNC online and through our Radio FX app.
WKNC is a proud supporter of Wolfpack sports and airs all home and away women's basketball and men's baseball games. Our sports broadcasts are all listed on our events page.
To make a request for WKNC HD-1, please call 919-515-0881. The request line for WKNC HD-2 is 919-515-2400.
WKNC has lots of station swag in our online swag store. We can even ship it to you. You are also welcome to come by during regular business hours and pick something up using cash or credit card.
Definitely! We love showing off the station. We ask that you come during regular business hours and prefer you to arrange the tour in advance with the general manager. We lead a lot of Cub Scout tours for troops to earn their communication badge, but are also willing to lead smaller tours to interested listeners.
WKNC ticket giveaways are either will-call or hard tickets, which the DJ will specify when you win. If you can't remember, ask the promotions director. Tickets must be picked up by 5 p.m. the day of the show or by 5 p.m. Friday for a weekend show. If you won a physical item, like a CD or T-shirt, you have three months to pick it up at the station before we assume you don't want it and give it someone else. You may only pick up items during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). While we understand lots of people work 9-5 and this can make it hard to pick up tickets, we also work 9-5. Please plan accordingly. View complete contest rules.
WKNC is located in suite 343 on the third floor of NC State's Witherspoon Student Center on the corner of Cates Avenue and Dan Allen Drive. Our physical address is 2810 Cates Avenue. There is a pay lot in front of the Bragaw residence hall across from Witherspoon and another in the Dan Allen Deck. We can't find anywhere to park either.
The WKNC office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that if the University is closed so are we. If you come by and no one is around, please go down the hall to 307 Witherspoon for assistance.
It did. The color of our menu bar and links is based on the format currently playing on WKNC HD-1.
Frequently Asked Musician/Promoter/Advertiser Questions
We accept both hard copies of CDs and digital downloads. If you are sending us something in the mail, please address your package to: (insert format here) Music Director, WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 and HD-2, Campus Box 8607, 343 Witherspoon Student Center, Raleigh, NC 27695. Email addresses for genre directors are on our contact page. If your music fits in a specialty genre, please send it to that genre's host. It also helps if FCC clean edits are provided or FCC violations are noted.
WKNC receives more than a hundred music submissions each week, so we do not notify artists of airplay. You can, however, search our online playlist and our "Now Playing" Twitter.
Musicians should email our program director to request an interview. Please note that we do not interview musicians we do not play. Non-musicians should email our public affairs department.
WKNC's The Lounge is a video series that records primarily touring musicians in our back lounge. To be considered for a spot on the lounge, contact our multimedia director.
If you would like WKNC to give away tickets to your event, please email our promotions director. We will need the date and location of the event, a brief description, the number of pairs you wish to give away and whether the tickets will be hard tickets or will call.
Beyond an on-air interview and/or ticket giveaway, WKNC is unlikely to provide more than a casual mention of your event done at the DJ's discretion.
WKNC sponsors local events that embody the mission of our station. We cannot provide money as sponsorship but can arrange for an in-kind donation of donor announcements and/or social media posts for publicity of your event. We can also provide discounted DAs for designation as a "WKNC Presents" event. To discuss one of these agreements, please contact our general manager.
Due to WKNC's non-commercial nature, WKNC's ability to broadcast live from your event is extremely limited.
To purchase donor announcements, online ads or sponsored social media posts, please contact our sponsorship director. You can also view our rate card. We also offer special sponsorships for our major annual events Double Barrel Benefit and Radio Ride.
Free public service announcements are available for 501(c3) registered non-profit and registered NC State student organizations. Please view our submission guidelines and then send a 90-word script to our programming department.
WKNC offers DJ services for on- and off-campus events at a rate of $60 per hour. For more information, contact our general manager.
WKNC has two production studios available for basic voice recording. Rental rates are $60 per hour, which includes a producer. Request studio time.
Frequently Asked Potential DJ Questions
Opportunities to volunteer with WKNC are available to full-time NC State students with a GPA of 2.0 or above. We offer six-week DJ training classes every fall, spring and summer semester for those who wish to be on air. We also need broadcast journalists to help with our news programming and podcasts. If you are interested in being a broadcast journalist for WKNC, email our public affairs department.
WKNC offers six-week non-credit DJ training classes every fall, spring and summer semester. Dates and times vary by semester so the best way to get information on the next class is to follow us @wknc881 on social media. After attending an interest meeting, you complete an application. We typically accept up to 30 students each semester for DJ training. The comprehensive training class also has an in-studio component to train you in all things WKNC and teach you how to become an involved, informed, productive member of the WKNC staff. Once you complete training you are eligible for a spot as an on-air radio DJ. Please note WKNC DJs are not paid positions.
If you are not an NC State student but are interested in getting involved in radio we suggest contacting local internet station Little Raleigh Radio.
WKNC does not offer traditional internships for class credit, either for college or high school students. We do offer a limited number of paid leadership positions typically reserved for those already on staff.