50 years of public radio: WLRH celebrates milestone anniversary

Celebrating 50 years of anything is quite an accomplishment. But when it comes to a business in the ever-changing media business, half a century is an impressive run.

Well, Huntsville’s own public radio station, WLRH 89.3 FM, is hitting that milestone on October 13, 2026—50 years after first signing onto the air in 1976. A celebration is taking place tonight (Tuesday, October 13, 2026) at The Belle at Stovehouse to commemorate the anniversary!

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50 years of WLRH

Launched in 1976 and broadcasting from the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (the call letters WLRH actually stood for Library Radio Huntsville), the station originally featured classical music, late-night jazz, folk music, radio dramas and even a German-language news segment.

Due to financial constraints from the library, the Alabama Educational Television Commission took over control of the station just a year later in 1977. Ten years after that, the station moved to the UAH campus where it is still located today.

The station transitioned from its National Public Radio format to a more local format in October of 2025, and includes three HD channels:

• HD1: Main broadcast signal (news, and local programming)
• HD2: 24-hour classical music
• HD3: News, talk, and variety

Programming also includes specialty shows like:

• Arts Underground (spotlights the local music + arts scenes)
• Backroad Frequencies (Americana + indie rock)
• Capitol Exchange (news around Alabama + the nation)
• Morning Blend (classical music)
• The Curiosity Squad (what’s new in the scientific world)
• Valley Sounds (local music from the area)

“WLRH’s 50th anniversary is a celebration of the community who made this station possible. For five decades, WLRH has been a place for stories, local culture, music, discovery and connection. Our responsibility now is to honor that legacy while ensuring WLRH continues to reflect the people, creativity and spirit of Huntsville, North Alabama and the Tennessee Valley for the next generation.”

_{Erich Brukner, GM, WLRH}

How to celebrate with WLRH

Come out Tuesday, October 13, 2026, beginning at 5PM, when WLRH will celebrate its anniversary at The Belle at Stovehouse. The event includes:

• Live music
  • 5PM: Morgan Laubach & Terrell Jones
  • 6PM: Rocket City New Music
  • 7PM: The Dawn & Jason Duo
  • 8PM: Michael Goldsmith Band
• The premiere of a special WLRH 50th anniversary video
• A proclamation from Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle

The event is free and open to the public!

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