The Nation’s Largest State Association of Community Radio Stations Now Includes 18 Stations in MN.

The Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations (Ampers), the nation’s largest
association of its kind,is expanding yet again with the addition of KRPR-FM 89.9 in Rochester, Minnesota.
At its annual meeting last month in St. Paul, the Ampers membership voted unanimously to accept KRPR’s
application, bringing the station total to eighteen.
KRPR is a non-commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
to serve the community of Rochester, Minnesota. It plays a variety of classic rock.
“We were not actively looking to expand.” Ampers Chief Executive Officer Joel Glaser said.
“KRPR approached us. And, we had a noticeable hole in that part of the state.  It’s a win-win.
Adding KRPR gives us the ability to offer our clients even better access to rural and diverse communities
in Minnesota.  And, Ampers will be able to help KRPR by providing revenue sources, training,
programming and advocacy.” KRPR officially became a member of Ampers on July 1st.  “Becoming a member
of Ampers helps us better serve our community, by becoming more sustainable,” KRPR Station Manager
Todd Brakke said.  “We’re especially excited about the opportunity to collaborate with other stations
within Ampers.  And, the additional revenue will allow us to provide even better local communty
programming to our listeners.” This is the third time in three years that Ampers has added stations.
Four Native American Stations and two community stations have joined Ampers since 2012.
Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, is an association of 18 independent community radio
stations in Minnesota. Each station is locally managed and programmed by and for the local communities
they serve. The stations are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or
directly to the community.
The stations include:  WTIP (Grand Marais/Grand Portage/Gunflint Trail), KAXE and KBXE (Grand Rapids,
Bemidji, Brainerd), KSRQ (Thief River Falls), KUMD (Duluth/Superior), KVSC (St. Cloud),  KUMM (Morris),
KFAI (Minneapolis/St. Paul),KMOJ (Minneapolis/St. Paul), KUOM “Radio K” (Minneapolis/St. Paul),
KBEM “Jazz88” (Minneapolis/St. Paul), KMSU (Mankato/Austin), KQAL (Winona),  KOJB (Cass Lake/Bena),
KBFT (Nett Lake), and KKWE (White Earth/Callaway),WGZS (Cloquet), and now KRPR (Rochester).
Ampers has no affiliation with Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and receives
no financial support from MPR.