AC’s FM90 Invites Public to 50th Anniversary Celebration and Memory-Sharing Event

Half a century after first hitting the Texas Panhandle airwaves, Amarillo College’s premier radio station is opening its doors to the community for a landmark golden anniversary event.

From 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 9 music lovers, alumni, and community members are invited to gather at the FM90 and Panhandle PBS studios on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus at 2408 S. Jackson St., to honor five decades of broadcasting excellence.

Music, History, and Community

Attendees will experience a dynamic open house highlighting the past, present, and future of the 100,000-watt powerhouse station. The celebration will feature:

• Live Entertainment: DJ Electric Evan will set the stage by spinning a live set.  
• Behind-the-Scenes Access: Guided tours of the broadcast studios.
• Station Merchandise: FM90 swag to purchase 
• A Living History Project: A dedicated on-site interview room where attendees can record and preserve their favorite station memories.

Help Us Plan & Win: Organizers ask that attendees RSVP ahead of time to assist with event logistics. Everyone who registers in advance will be automatically entered into a drawing for an exclusive FM90 t-shirt.

Five Decades of Auditory Innovation

The journey began at noon on March 15, 1976, when KACV-FM launched as a bold student-driven experiment. Over the last 50 years, the station has served as a cultural anchor and a vital training ground for generations of broadcasters.

The sound of 89.9 FM has constantly shifted alongside the culture of the Texas Panhandle:

• The 1970s: A unique blend of daytime progressive country and evening classical music.
• The 1980s: A transition through album rock, heavy metal, and legendary specialty shows like Dead End Street, Body & Soul, and All That Jazz.
• 1987 to Present: The historic pivot to an alternative rock format—coinciding perfectly with the release of U2's The Joshua Tree—which cemented the station's reputation as a regional tastemaker.

"FM90 has always been more than a radio station," said Amy Presley, FM90 Program Director. "It’s a training ground for students, a platform for creative expression, and a trusted voice in the Panhandle."

Call for Memorabilia and Stories

Even if you cannot attend the July 9 event, FM90 wants to hear from you. The station is actively collecting historic photographs, listener anecdotes, and expressions of interest for future on-air interviews.

"Thank you to all our listeners for supporting FM90 over the years," Presley adds. "Here’s to another 50 years of music, memories, and community—right here on Amarillo College’s FM90."