West Texas A&M University’s (WT) radio station, KWTS played vinyl nonstop on 91.1 FM, April 18-19.

Vinylthon is an annual event celebrated by college radio stations across the country, challenging participants to only play vinyl for 24 hours.

But because the WT community loves vinyl, KWTS staff, faculty and practicum students took shifts as live DJs for a full 48 hours.

“It’s our most anticipated event every year,” program director Tate Maxwell said.

Beyond the music, the event serves a larger purpose. Vinylthon highlights the University’s radio station while bringing people together through a shared appreciation of radio history. Community members, students and alumni were encouraged to contribute their own records, turning the event into a collaborative effort.

“Most years, faculty, staff and students bring us vinyl,” Maxwell said. “We send out information on social media so alumni, staff and students can send us their records. It’s good community outreach.”

During the event, DJs were allowed to deviate from the station’s normal format, which is all 90’s music. A wide range of genres and artists were played, including music from movie soundtracks, classic rock, 80’s pop and contemporary artists such as Billie Eilish.

When participating in Vinylthon, many students experienced a sense of connection to the community and to the radio. For many students, the event offered a rare opportunity to engage with a more hands-on style of broadcasting.

“It’s important because it allows our generation to experience radio the way it used to be,” Maxwell said.

KWTS will be participating in the annual event next year, so follow the station’s Instagram to keep up with their news and announcements.