Around 60 years ago, pursuing a career in radio was not widely encouraged; however, starting in 1948, the popularity of radio as a major began to rise significantly.

KTCU started as a little club called “The TCU Radio Club” and was renamed “Radio Players” in 1929. About 19 years later, faculty in the Department of Speech and Drama approved students getting a degree in radio, leading to the establishment of KTCU.

“Oct. 6, 1964, was when we went FM, and that was what led to the KTCU that we know right now,” Geoffery Craig, a co-manager of KTCU, said. “That’s what we are celebrating — 60 years on the FM dial.”

Since its establishment, KTCU has expanded its reach, allowing people from around the world to tune in to a small, student-run and produced radio station at TCU.

“From only hearing it at TCU campus and dorms to now being streaming around the world is a big change,” Janice McCall, a co-manager of KTCU, said. “We also have the ability to know how many people were listening, compared to before when we had no idea how many people were actually listening. It’s on the FM side, so we honestly don’t know the number of people who are streaming.”

KTCU is bustling every day, with students brainstorming ideas, writing scripts and recording shows.

“They enjoy being on the air, but they also enjoy the commodore, getting to hang out with each other,” McCall said. “I mean who doesn’t love music? Even the ones who aren’t sure what they are going to do and how to fit in, they end up really enjoying it.”

As co-managers of KTCU, both McCall and Craig agree that their favorite part about being with KTCU is simply having the community together.

“The DJs from all over campus getting to meet each other and build these friendships and working together for years,” Craig said. “And some of them, after college, go to work together on projects.”

Any student at TCU can join the KTCU station, even if the student is not a broadcasting major. Craig mentioned that he teaches a radio class in the spring that welcomes all majors.

“It will be ‘Radio Broadcasting on KTCU,’ and it’s open to all majors, so anybody who just wants to get involved and take it as an elective to learn more about radio and KTCU can take it,” Craig said. “Most of the students here at KTCU are volunteers, so you can come in and volunteer, and you can learn from another DJ with us supervising.”