U's Radio K expands FM signal to cover all of Minneapolis

Radio K is "sticking to the music," as it expanded its FM signal Friday to reach all parts of Minneapolis, said Mark LaCroix, the station's program director.

Now, listeners can tune into the station on 106.5 FM each weekday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. and all weekend and summer long. The signal reaches all of Minneapolis, including Dinkytown, downtown and Uptown.

Listeners can still pick up the station's signal around the West Metro, St. Louis Park, Minn., and some parts of St. Paul.

The station, which listeners have called "adventurous," plays everything from hip-hop to international music, LaCroix said.

"We don't really have any rules," he said. "If there's a country song that rolls through, we play it."

Radio K will still broadcast on 770 AM daily from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Listeners can also expect clear reception. Although Radio K staff members said they were "pretty happy" with the quality of the signal, listeners often complained about the reception, LaCroix said.

In 1993, the founding staff of Radio K envisioned an expanded signal, and two years ago, the station began to broadcast on FM radio.

"One of the first missions was to explore broadcasting on FM, because AM is not a music medium," LaCroix said.

With the expanded FM signal, the station is also planning a number of special programs to promote the station, starting with its annual pledge drive Wednesday, he said.

From April 13-22, Radio K will highlight several local musicians and more student DJs to raise money for its operating budget, LaCroix said.

"What Radio K has always wanted is a community with a diverse radio and a diverse radio listenership, and we hope to become part of that," he said.