WMEB 91.9 FM

A non-commercial FM radio station owned and operated by the University of Maine, broadcasting on 91.9 MHz from its Orono campus with a transmitter in Old Town. The station is student-run and programs an alternative rock music format, serving as the primary student-operated broadcast outlet at the university. Broadcasting began on October 1, 1962, making WMEB-FM the third generation of student radio at the University of Maine. Its predecessors include WGBX, which operated from 1926 to 1928 with faculty-produced programming, and WORO, a carrier current station established in 1953. In its early years, WMEB-FM carried a format typical of 1960s college radio, mixing talk and music, with classical programming and local news occupying much of the schedule. A turning point came in 1970, when the university launched WMEH as a public radio service — the first transmitter in what became Maine Public Radio. This prompted WMEB-FM to focus exclusively on student-produced programming. By 1971, nearly all its content was student-created, and the station expanded its broadcast hours steadily through the decade. Over subsequent decades, the station evolved toward its current alternative rock orientation, reflecting the programming philosophy common to many college radio stations. It continues to serve as a training ground for students pursuing careers in broadcasting and media production.