WSUM, UW-Madison's student radio station, will celebrate a decade on the airwaves Wednesday with an anniversary celebration at Union South.
Following five failed radio stations and a fight to build its own radio tower, the station aired its first show from Vilas Hall on February 2, 2002 at 2:22 p.m.
"The station manager at the time knew they were going to start around February and had this crazy idea-‘why don't we just make it all twos?'" station manager Mike Voloshin said.
Since its start, WSUM has quadrupled in size, making it one of the most successful college stations in America, according to Voloshin.
"We're not just a studio and a little production room-we've got things that people at other colleges are jealous of," he said.
Today, programming runs nearly 24 hours a day and includes sports, talk and a variety of music. No two programs are similar, according to Voloshin.
"We have live bands every Friday," he said. "I don't think any other station can say they have live bands consistently in their own station."
The station is unique because it gives student DJs and hosts freedom to be creative in choosing show content, he said.
"You just come in and have fun with it," Voloshin said. "And the people that listen to [your program] have fun with you."
WSUM will kick off its anniversary celebration at 2 p.m. with a program dedicated to the station's history. Afterward, an anniversary party and broadcast will takeplace at Union South.