UALR magazine
Fall/Winter 2007 • Vol. 3 No. 2
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The Heart of Little Rock Public Radio
By Kim Ross Fox
For more than 20 years, Ann Nicholson has shared the news and promoted cultural events in Central Arkansas via the KLRE/KUAR airwaves.
Host of “The Arts Scene,” an in-depth interview program that features local and international artists in all genres and a weekly arts calendar, Nicholson has loyal listeners who have dubbed her “the voice of Little Rock public radio” for her soothing and inviting British accent and her tireless enthusiasm for the arts. For those who know her well, a more accurate moniker for Nicholson is “the heart of Little Rock public radio.”
“Everything I’ve done has been rewarding - it doesn’t seem to matter who it is, a musician, a playwright, an author. Everyone has their own spark, and it’s fun to strike sparks,” she said. “I must say the interviews this year have been particularly exciting. Nikki Giovanni, the African American poet, was just sheer joy to talk to and others have been that way. I’ve had so many rewards, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
If Nicholson is the heart of public radio, the listeners are its soul.
At its inception, KLRE (90.5 FM), licensed to the Little Rock School District, was the only local public radio station available for its intellectual listeners in 1973. Programming consisted of student announcers playing classical music. Its offerings began to evolve when the school district partnered with UALR in the mid-80s and a second station, KUAR (89.1 FM), was acquired. In 1995, UALR became sole licensee of the stations. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences became a partner in a new relationship with UALR to support the stations.
“The station grew because the community wanted it and was willing to help grow the station,” said Ben Fry, KLRE/KUAR station manager. “They had a vision of what it could mean to the community and founded Friends of the Arts to raise the money needed to make their vision a reality.”
Today, listener contributions make up about 40 percent of the stations’ total budget, and businesses additionally sponsor 20 percent - truly “listener-supported public radio.”
Fry says the staff is bombarded with positive comments in regard to the need and appreciation of public radio in central Arkansas. “New faculty to UALR and others who relocate to Little Rock tell me they would not consider going to an area that did not have a strong public radio station,” he said.
Joe Fox, president of Friends of KLRE/ KUAR and owner of Community Bakery, said, “KUAR and KLRE keep us in touch not only with local arts and entertainment but also bring us access to much of the same music, literature, theater, and entertainment available to residents of New York City and other cultural centers.”
The stations’ accomplishments also receive high praise from NPR executives.
In a recent visit to Little Rock, NPR President Kevin Klose dropped in on Promenade 2007, the stations’ on-air fundraiser. He said central Arkansas is fortunate to have two vibrant public radio stations that help the community explore its views and values.
“To visit you all is like jet fuel for me - KLRE and KUAR are vibrant stations,” he said.
“KLRE has great musicologists - go down the hall and ask three people which is the best Beethoven “Fifth Symphony” and you’ll get four answers because they have such a depth of knowledge.”
Klose said the quality of public radio in a college town is typically top-notch when the affiliation is with the local university. “It’s important to remember that the stations’ licenses are held by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. That’s a great relationship.”