KAXE 50th Birthday

KAXE celebrates 50 Years of People-Powered Radio

On April 23, 1976, 91.7 KAXE signed on the air for the first time, with a weekend of music and information drawn entirely from northern Minnesota. In 2026 we celebrate 50 years of broadcasting all year long!

Image art Marce Woods; overall graphic Heather Johnson

On April 23, 1976, 91.7 KAXE signed on the air for the first time, with a weekend of music and information drawn entirely from Northern Minnesota.

The first song played on KAXE was "Gypsy Woody" by Charlie Maguire.

Founders Rich McClear, seated, and Dave Molvik signing in on KAXE in 1976 at the original location of the studio at Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids.

Northern Community Radio's founders (Rich and Suzi McClear, Dave Molvik and Dale Constantine) were among the early pioneers of community-based radio.

Their idea — new in the early '70s — was to build a full-service public radio station in a rural location that focused on community access and ownership, and that relied primarily on listener support for its revenue. These ideas had not been tried in a rural area before.

And ... here we are. Despite long-distance skepticism from higher-ups in groups like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that KAXE would be broadcasting to a bunch of gophers, we're celebrating 50 years of people-powered radio.

Throughout this year, we'll bring you special features, events and crack open our archives to bring you stories and voices from years past. While we look back, we turn to you to be part of the future, finding ways for you to support, participate and enjoy a strong KAXE future.

KAXE microphone inside Studio 1 in Grand Rapids, MN

Inside KAXE

KAXE is independent, local public media rooted in Northern Minnesota

Sarah Bignall

As your independent, people-powered, local media, KAXE is launching "Unplugged," a series to share our story — why we exist, how we are funded, who makes decisions and why public radio in Northern Minnesota is essential.

Events

On the calendar

Kick It With KAXE
Rapids Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
Thursday, May 28, 2026
More details to come

In the past

People-Powered Party! A Craft Brew Collaboration Celebration
- Jack Pine Brewing, Brainerd
Feb. 27, 2026
- Klockow Brewing, Grand Rapids
March 6, 2026
- Bemidji Brewing, Bemidji
March 13, 2026