Friends of 88.5 FM, a nonprofit community organization formed to preserve local National Public Radio affiliate KPLU, announced the official and final closing of the sale of KPLU. The new, community-owned station is 88.5 KNKX. GM Joey Cohen said, “We’re excited about the future of 88.5 Connects, KNKX. We’re proud that we will continue to bring our listeners the wonderful jazz, blues, and news programs they love. We also look forward to creating new and exciting shows that will connect with our audience in meaningful ways.”
The “Save KPLU” fundraising effort among the station’s listeners resulted in more than 24,000 donations from over 18,000 donors contributing to the $7 million goal, which was reached on May 26, 2016. Additional contributions since that date have helped build a reserve fund to cover operations now that the station is independently owned.
I’m sure there are good reasons for them, but boy those are awful call letters. They also say “kinks.”