WKNC named best college radio, best local Internet radio

WKNC 88.1 FM has maintained its monopoly as the best college station in the Triangle.

N.C. State’s student-run station won best college radio in Independent Weekly’s annual Best of the Triangle readers’ choice poll. WKNC has held the top slot since 2010, when best radio station was sectioned into commercial, college and non-profit divisions. WKNC was also named best local Internet radio, a new category this year. All winners were announced in Independent Weekly’s June 5 print edition.

WXDU 88.7 FM from Duke University and WXYC 89.3 FM from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill were finalists in the best college radio category, along with North Carolina Central University’s WNCU 90.7 FM, an NPR affiliate. WUNC 91.5 FM, the NPR affiliate at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, classical music station WCPE 89.7 FM, and ISTA Entertainment Spotlight were finalists for best local Internet radio.

“We are all so honored to receive this award and represent college radio in the Triangle,” John Kovalchik, WKNC’s program director, said. “Thank you to all of our incredibly devoted listeners.”

Adam Kincaid, host of the Friday evening local music talk show “The Local Beat,” was a finalist for best radio DJ. He is the sixth WKNC DJ to be recognized by Independent Weekly in the past eight years.

“Adam has made a tremendous commitment both to the station and the local music community, so he is very deserving of this honor,” Jamie Lynn Gilbert, the station’s adviser, said. “From the day he wandered into our studios he has been one our greatest assets.” Kincaid, a 2011 alumnus of N.C. State, served as music librarian, program director and local music director during his time as a student.

WKNC and its staff have received two dozen Best of the Triangle awards from Independent Weekly in the past dozen years.

• Best college radio station, 2013
• Best local Internet radio, 2013
• Best radio DJ (finalist), Adam Kincaid, 2013
• Best college radio station, 2012
• Best nonprofit radio station (finalist), 2012
• Best radio DJ (finalist), Damian Maddalena, 2012
• Best local radio show (finalist), “Mystery Roach,” 2012
• Best college radio station, 2011
• Best nonprofit radio station (finalist), 2011
• Best college radio station, 2010
• Best radio DJ (finalist), Michael Jones, 2010
• Best radio station (finalist), 2009
• Best radio DJ (finalist), Kelly Reid, 2009
• Best radio station, 2008
• Best radio station, 2007
• Best radio DJ (finalist), Sam McGuire, 2007
• Best radio station, 2006
• Best radio DJ, Tom Wharton, 2006
• Best college radio station, 2005
• Best radio for music, 2005
• Best college radio, 2004
• Best radio station for local music, 2002 (Spectator)
• Best radio station, 2001 (Spectator)
• Best online site, wknc.org, 2001 (Spectator)