XLR Radio

The mission of XLR Lander Radio is to train Lander University students to operate a professional grade radio station that creates and delivers unique content to inform, inspire, and entertain our listening audience on campus and around the world.

Coming soon! Please check back later this September for an updated events schedule.

See scenes from our events on our Flickr page.

In the summer of 2007, Paul Crutcher created a proposal for radio broadcasting at Lander. At the same time a couple of mock-broadcasts, featuring music and information were recorded and played over the speakers in the Lander cafeteria. These mock broadcasts were well-received and prompted further pursuit of a formal station over the following year. In 2009 the first organizational interest meeting was held in then VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Danny McKenzie’s conference room. This room would later be transformed into the XLR main studio outside of the Office of Admissions on the first floor of the Carnell Learning Center. That year, Mr. Don La Duke of Savannah Lakes, SC made a generous donation of nearly $8,000 dollars’ worth of studio equipment including microphones, a studio desk and broadcast console, processors, amplifier, and a high-quality turntable. A studio space was created "high atop the Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center" in a third booth overlooking the Cultural Center’s Auditorium to house this equipment and on the afternoon of Tuesday October 6, 2009 the first official broadcast was aired. The first song played was Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World." 

Over the years XLR Lander Radio remained a strong force to reckon with in modern age college radio. Diverse student-based interest programming mixed with eclectic music programming set the tone for students, staff, faculty and off-campus listeners. 

Unfortunately, the events of the global COVID pandemic also didn't spare XLR Lander Radio. In 2020 the station experienced unprecedented challenges to maintain a consistent image and programming to represent Lander University. A course direction was needed to get back to traditional college radio roots.

Under the new leadership of General Manager and lecturer of media and sound Christoph Kresse, the station underwent a complete rebranding and restructure in the fall of 2022. This saw also the introduction of many "firsts" for XLR like remote shows, live broadcasts, holiday events, radio drama broadcasts, updated merchandise and station equipment, promotional events in corporation with University and Media and Design Department, more staff, student body diversity, fostering of new partnerships on and off campus, prize giveaways and of course XLR Lander podcasting. Student staff is not only receiving real world training through expert guidance and DJ master classes in the XLR studio learning lab but also can participate in off campus press events, covering major music festivals and touring concerts across SC and NC. Since 2023, XLR has worked with artists such as They Might Be Giants, Flogging Molly, Filter, Less Than Jake, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Merlefest, The Pixies, Blonde Redhead, Dinosaur Jr., Fall Out Boy and Bikini Kill, conducting interviews and covering live concerts in person. The experiences are unique student opportunities here at XLR Lander Radio. 

XLR Lander Radio will continue to strive for excellence in the years to come and the station is excited and proud to offer its first ever designated streaming app to all listeners!

Thank you for your continued support!

Go Bearcats!