WKNC named ‘Best Radio Station’

WKNC 88.1 FM once again earned bragging rights as “Best Radio Station” in the Triangle, as voted by the readers of The Independent Weekly . This marks the fifth straight year the student-run station has taken top honors.

Wythe Josey of The Independent Weekly presented the award to assistant indie rock music director Jenna St. Pierre during her June 4 radio program, “The Local Lunch.”

“You guys put on great programming every single day continuously so you guys deserve this,” Josey said.

Kelly Reid, WKNC’s head music director, joined St. Pierre and Josey on the air. “I am so excited,” Reid said. “You change stuff, you try new things. You kind of just roll the dice and hope people still listen.”

Some of those changes include a greater focus on North Carolina music, including the new “Local Lunch,” which reserves the weekday noon to 1 p.m. time slot for local music.

“We are so thankful to have such great and loyal listeners,” said Kyle Robb, the station’s general manager. “This award is a testament to our accomplishments over the last year, like Double Barrel Benefit 5 and our Sessions@KNC recording project. Beginning today, our aim is to maintain our status as Best in the Triangle for 2009.”

The 2008 Best of the Triangle ballot included everything from best birthday cakes to best place to get pierced.

The Independent Weekly voted WKNC Best Radio Station in 2006 and 2007. The station was named Best College Radio in 2004 and 2005, as well as Best Radio for Music in 2005. WKNC also earned top awards from Spectator in 2001 and 2002.