97.1 FM; MSU's favorite local radio station

For 52 years, MSU’s radio station KGLT-FM has filled the frequencies with a wide variety of genres and playlists. From indie to rock, there’s a style of music for everyone. The station is funded by the Gallatin Valley community and serves Bozeman, Big Sky, Helena and Livingston. It runs 24/7 with personal DJs playing from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Although KGLT-FM is not entirely run by students, they regularly hire students from MSU to DJ or help out around the office. Chief announcer and MSU sophomore, Ciara Thomas, has been working at KGLT-FM for two semesters now. Her job at the station is to help digitize the available music.

“There’s a huge expanse of CDs and vinyl, but since those are kind of going out of date, I basically individually digitize each album that we have and put it in our digital library,” Thomas said. She enjoys her work and says it’s nice to work in a place where “the people are super passionate about music.”

KGLT-FM has also started an apprenticeship program at MSU in which students get to shadow a DJ and learn what it’s like being on air. It’s a great opportunity if you love music and are interested in learning more about radio station operations. Thomas herself was a part of the apprenticeship program in her freshman year and now has a biweekly show on Wednesdays from 3 - 6 p.m.

If you’re interested in supporting KGLT-FM, they host an annual fundraiser where people can donate or purchase merchandise on their site. Thomas also said that anyone can “call in and make requests or recommendations,” at (406)994-3001, which they always appreciate. Here at MSU, you can tune into 97.1 FM to listen at any time of the day, and you can find information about what DJs will be playing on the KGLT-FM website at kglt.net.