WPRB
Encyclopedia
WPRB is a commercial broadcasting
, non-profit 14,000 watt college radio station, once part of Princeton University
, broadcasting from Princeton, New Jersey
. The majority of on-air and management staff consists of Princeton University students, in addition to a board of trustees comprising Princeton University alumni. Its broadcast consists mostly of independent rock, classical, news
, jazz
, and world music; WPRB also provides coverage of many of Princeton University's varsity sporting events and is in the process of restarting its news department. One of its disc jockeys, Jon Solomon
, has hosted a 24-hour Christmas music marathon every year but one since 1988.
WPRB was founded as WPRU in 1940 by H. Grant Theis, a Princeton University student at the time. It often is cited as the oldest commercially licensed radio station in the United States
. WPRU became WPRB in 1955, and in that same year became an FM station, making it the first college FM station in the United States
. WPRB was a pioneer in FM Stereo broadcasting, transmitting a stereo signal beginning in 1964. In 1986, Spin Magazine named WPRB the best commercial college station in the country.
WPRB is a full class B
signal that covers part of both the Central New Jersey and Philadelphia markets. The close proximity to 103.5 WKTU
in New York may cause reception interference in the New Brunswick
/Edison areas and farther north/east. To the west, interference may occur between WPRB and another station in the Lancaster
/Harrisburg area: 103.3 WARM.
After decades of operation under an advertising-supported business model, in 2006 WPRB switched to a listener-supported model. This proved to be successful enough that in 2009 WPRB was able to acquire a Princeton student magazine, the Nassau Weekly. Nassau Weekly was founded in 1979 by Princeton students including David Remnick
, who later became the editor of The New Yorker
.
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
, non-profit 14,000 watt college radio station, once part of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, broadcasting from Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. The majority of on-air and management staff consists of Princeton University students, in addition to a board of trustees comprising Princeton University alumni. Its broadcast consists mostly of independent rock, classical, news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and world music; WPRB also provides coverage of many of Princeton University's varsity sporting events and is in the process of restarting its news department. One of its disc jockeys, Jon Solomon
Jon Solomon
Jon Solomon is a DJ at WPRB in Princeton, New Jersey. He has been on the air since 1988 and is perhaps best known for his annual 24-hour Christmas radio show, which is in its 23rd year....
, has hosted a 24-hour Christmas music marathon every year but one since 1988.
WPRB was founded as WPRU in 1940 by H. Grant Theis, a Princeton University student at the time. It often is cited as the oldest commercially licensed radio station in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. WPRU became WPRB in 1955, and in that same year became an FM station, making it the first college FM station in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. WPRB was a pioneer in FM Stereo broadcasting, transmitting a stereo signal beginning in 1964. In 1986, Spin Magazine named WPRB the best commercial college station in the country.
WPRB is a full class B
Class B
The term Class B may refer to:* Class B amplifier, an electronic amplifier category* Class B stars* Class B , a defunct class in minor league baseball in North America* Class B airspace class, as defined by the ICAO for the busiest U.S...
signal that covers part of both the Central New Jersey and Philadelphia markets. The close proximity to 103.5 WKTU
WKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
in New York may cause reception interference in the New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
/Edison areas and farther north/east. To the west, interference may occur between WPRB and another station in the Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
/Harrisburg area: 103.3 WARM.
After decades of operation under an advertising-supported business model, in 2006 WPRB switched to a listener-supported model. This proved to be successful enough that in 2009 WPRB was able to acquire a Princeton student magazine, the Nassau Weekly. Nassau Weekly was founded in 1979 by Princeton students including David Remnick
David Remnick
David Remnick is an American journalist, writer, and magazine editor. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for his book Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire. Remnick has been editor of The New Yorker magazine since 1998. He was named "Editor of the Year" by Advertising Age in 2000...
, who later became the editor of The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
.