KBEM-FM

KBEM-FM
	MHz
Branding	Jazz88
Programming
Format	Jazz
Affiliations	AMPERS
Ownership
Owner	Minneapolis Public Schools
History
First air date	1970
Call sign meaning	Board of Education Minneapolis
Technical information
Facility ID	4275
Class	A
ERP	2,900 watts
HAAT	146 m (479 ft)
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	jazz88.fm

KBEM-FM (88.5

Twin Cities Jazz Festival each June.^[2] KBEM is a member of Minnesota's AMPERS

network.

KBEM's studios are located on James Avenue North in Minneapolis, while its transmitter is located in Falcon Heights.

History

KBEM first took to the air in October 1970. Its broadcast studios were originally in Vocational High School in downtown Minneapolis (since converted to an office building) and has, since 1983, been located at North Community High School. The current jazz format began in 1985. Students assist with the station's operations during the day, delivering news reports and other programming. Minneapolis School Board meetings and Minneapolis City Council meetings were carried live for over 20 years.

Graduates of KBEM's broadcast instructional program have gone on to work at

WWZZ in Washington, D.C., KHMX in Houston and other media such as the Star Tribune and City Pages

.

AM in 1980. A decade later, it purchased WLOL 99.5 FM (now KSJN

).

In late

Cities 97 and its former smooth jazz outlet KJZI (now KFXN-FM). Sufficient public opposition to the proposed end of the MnDOT partnership caused the agency to continue the relationship, but at a reduced rate.^[3]

KBEM is the only all-jazz radio station in the Twin Cities.