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Dance 89.5 Live - Seattle's Party Radio
Dance 89.5 Live - Seattle's Party Radio
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Our History
Our evolution
From an early AM station created to teach students at Nathan Hale about the science of radio waves to the international dance music powerhouse that we are today, DANCE 89.5 has been around for over 50 years. We’ve always had a passion for educating students and sharing the best music. We love celebrating the moments, music, and students who have made DANCE 89.5 what it is today, beat by beat over the last 50-plus years!
1970s
At the end of the 1960s, a new experimental student project was born in room 219 of Nathan Hale High School. Larry Adams created the class with the goal to teach students about both the science and art of radio broadcasting, little did Mr. Adams know what he was starting…
1969: KNH (no “C”) went on the air as a very low-power AM station, broadcasting with 100 milliwatts on 1210 kHz in December, 1969. The station was located in a portable building behind the school. The antenna was a length of copper magnet wire wrapped around a broomstick, attached to the building near the door. This hyper-local and experimental signal covered less than a mile surrounding Nathan Hale High School. Mr. Adams wrote the textbook to use in the classroom since no book was in print to teach high school aged students about radio.
1970: We applied for our FM license and received our construction permit in September. To be on the air, all students were required to have their 3rd-class Radiotelephone Operator’s permit. Mr. Adams was very strict about what music was played on the air. He would put glue on the tracks of records that should not be played.
1971: KNHC’s first official FM broadcast aired on January 25, 1971. The transmitter was located on the roof of Wedgwood Elementary School, and the broadcast was 10 watts, covering about a five-mile radius in the north end of Seattle. But we were officially on the FM airwaves! The station’s call letters K (U.S. broadcast stations west of the Mississippi), NH (Nathan Hale High School) and C (Communication), were chosen.
1972: Broadcast power was increased to 320 watts, allowing stereo broadcasts to begin by the end of the year.
1974: More power! The Effective Radiated Power (ERP) was increased to 1,500 watts directional. Rumor has it we were the first station to play Foghat. The band stopped by the station and played a concert in the gym.
1977: A HEW/NTIA grant created a sister studio at Cleveland High School on Beacon Hill. At the same time, the Mass Communications magnet school program was created at Nathan Hale High School which included courses in radio, television, journalism, photography and graphic arts.
Late ’70s: As the decade came to an end, KNHC’s daytime format featured light rock and pop music, with specialty shows in the evenings and on weekends, including jazz and classical. Gene Arnold supervised students after school and in the evenings.
1980s
One of the primary challenges in the 1980s was an attempted takeover of the station’s frequency by the commercial station KRAB (now KNDD). This battle for the airwaves began in late 1983 and was finally resolved in KNHC’s favor after two court rulings at the end of the decade. But this decade marked more than just legal battles for the station…
1981: Yet another power increase to 3,000 watts, this time non-directional. It was also at this point that the first threat to the station arose: the district plans to shut down the station in August of this year due to budget cuts. However, through an agreement with Seattle Central Community College, the station was saved.
1982: Launch of new R&B and urban format prompted a huge increase in listenership, challenging even some of the biggest commercial radio stations in Seattle at the time for ratings. C89-FM also helped celebrate the release of Michael Jackson’s record breaking “Thriller” album, highlighting the work with an early play a day before its official release in November 1982, helping to spike record sales in the Seattle area.
1983: KNHC begins using the “C89-FM” name for the first time along with the tag line “Dance Music Radio”. The station also participated in All City Dances held at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. Thanks to the insight and excitement by the students in the educational program at the time, KNHC fully embraced the New Wave sound that soon came to define the 1980s. This playlist adjustment helped to usher in ties to the burgeoning dance club scene in Seattle and beyond, with a particularly close connection to LGBTQIA+ audiences and dancefloors.
1984: A satellite dish was added to receive the urban-oriented Sheridan Broadcasting Networks (an antecedent to today’s American Urban Radio Networks).
1986: C89-FM hosted our first on-air fund drive to cover gaps in funding, requesting operating funds from the listening community. It was successful and fund drives continue to this day, thanks to the generous support of listeners.
1987: A microwave studio-transmitter link was installed, along with a new and more efficient antenna.
1988: C89-FM won a legal victory over the Jack Straw Foundation and KRAB, who “cross filed” with the Federal Communications Commission in an attempt to have complete control of the frequency. The decision, brought down by an administrative law judge for the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., allowed us to continue to be licensed to Seattle Public Schools.
We started broadcasting 24 hours a day, starting in July of 1988, and began mobile broadcasts across the Seattle area with our newly acquired van. Seattle Public Schools recognized the station as a “vocational project that contributes to the desegregation of Nathan Hale High School” and a vital part of the fabric of the school district.
KNHC filed paperwork to increase power to 30 kW.
1989: As a part of the magnet program started in the late 1970s, KNHC drew dozens of students every year to Nathan Hale from across the city.
1990s
After a legal victory at the end of the previous decade, the 1990s are when ‘the little high school radio station that could’ continued to blossom and cement its place as an incubator for local and national media talent, as well as a radio station with an ear for hits. Thanks completely to the high school staff members, of course.
Early ’90s: A magnet grant to bolster the high school’s mass communications program opens the opportunity for the station to update & grow.
1991: Broadcasting stronger than ever on the new 30kW license.
1995: C895 renovated and expanded the on-air studio and production facilities, converting the station to a digital workflow. A new student training program begins, and the launch of the first KNHC website is unveiled. Rolling Stone highlighted the station, calling it the “largest and most influential high school radio station in the country.”
1997: C895 began operating a digital music stream from our studios with automated computer software and our first set of digital audio tools, replacing analog forms of editing audio and playing music.
Late ’90s: C895 helped launch the careers of genre-defining artists with crossover hits including Daft Punk, Eiffel 65, Black Box, the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and more.
2000s
With the dawn of the new millennium, C895 fully embraced the digital: broadcasting online, fully leaning into rave culture, and bringing live DJs to mix on-air in the evenings and weekends. The early aughts also marked the start of many legendary shows that are still on the air today, including The Vortex, Nocturnal Transmission, the Drive @ 5, Powermix, and Save the Wave.
2000: MiniDisc-based equipment completes the digital workflow conversion project. C895 also fully integrates high energy electronic dance music thanks to the excitement about the genre from alumni like Drew Bailey.
2002: C895’s Transmitter was moved to Cougar Mountain after receiving FCC approval the year before. While the effective radiated power dropped, the coverage area was vastly improved with the move to the mountaintop site.
2003: The Village Voice recognized KNHC as “Best of New York” high school radio station thanks to our internet streaming. The same year, C895 FM began attracting an audience of over 115,000 listeners weekly.
2004: C895 became the first non-commercial station in the United States to be a monitored reporter after being included on the Billboard Magazine Dance Radio Airplay panel. We are still monitored by Billboard to this day.
2006: In support of her debut album “Music of the Sun” young Barbados-based artist Rihanna performed in the newly-built Performing Arts Center at Nathan Hale High School, allowing the entire school the opportunity to see a future Grammy winner and Super Bowl Halftime headliner. Students also had the opportunity to interview the future super star live on the air.
2008: Additional technical and facilities improvements happened as a new transmitter on Cougar Mountain was installed and we began broadcasting in HD Radio.
C895 Worldwide (as it was known at the time) welcomed little-known artist Lady Gaga to play the Nathan Hale Performing Arts Center. This marked the first in the series of C895 Listener Appreciation Parties, which would continue into the next decade. According to the Seattle Times, nearly 400 people showed up to witness a “blooming star.” At the time, Lady Gaga’s dressing room was the Nathan Hale band room where station staff like Mel McCoy were serenaded by the future superstar on the piano before the show.
Later that year, C895 Worldwide hosted its second Listener Appreciation Party for 600+ people at Hangar 30 located in nearby Magnuson Park. The lineup featured Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child, Morgan Page, Nadia Ali of IIO and more. C895 also won “Best High School Radio Station” at the inaugural Washington State High School Radio Awards. Current DANCE 89.5 Program Director Harmony Soleil is honored to be a part of that award-winning senior class.
Also that year, a 501(c)3 non-profit group named the Washington Public Radio Association was launched to help fundraise for the station. Inaugural Board members included alumni, business leaders, and representatives from Seattle Public Schools.
2009: Nathan Hale High School was renovated. The improvements included new media classrooms, state-of-the-art digital studios, and expanded production facilities for C895 Worldwide. The move from the converted classroom upstairs in room 219 to downstairs room 1204 (formerly the print and auto shops) included five production studios, two on-air studios (with space for a third), and one live performance space, along with room for the station’s ever-growing staff of students and adults.
2010s
Moving into its fourth decade, c895 leaned into a new logo, built a new website, and continued to be an industry leader in the world of electronic dance music, introducing Seattle and the world to artists like Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and more. c895 also continued our series of all-ages Listener Appreciation Parties, hosting them at a variety of venues across Seattle: Neighbours Nightclub, Q Night Club, Last Supper Club, and more. The parties welcomed artists like Hyper Crush, Medina, JES, Porcelain Black, Oscillator X, and more.
2015: Thanks to new General Manager, June Fox, KNHC qualified for an annual Community Service Grant from the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, underscoring the value of our services to the community.
2016: With the funds secured by CPB, c895 was able to produce and distribute Café Chill to public radio stations nationwide. As of 2022, Café Chill is carried on 53 stations on a weekly basis across the US and Guam. This year also marks the launch of shows Carnaval Mix and Test Spin! The station upgraded, technically, to RCS Zetta: automation software used by many of the commercial stations in the city. We also hired our first dedicated fundraising specialist.
2017: Looking to celebrate both local and international talent, c895 launched the “Live Exclusives” series, welcoming artists into its live performance studio, creating dynamic video and audio content to be shared on-air and across social platforms. c895 Live Exclusives hosted artists such as Fluencie, Super Square, Mr. Kitty, LaBouche, Night Club, MAX, Conro, Ultra Nate, VASSY and More. The project ran through the end of 2019.
DJ Polo and Carnaval Mix won DJ of the Year at the Univision Latin Music Awards in Seattle.
Our not-yet 10-year old Nautel HD transmitter became unreliable and the necessary parts were not available from Nautel. We held an emergency transmitter replacement on-air drive and raised $75,000 in four days. In the meantime, we borrowed the bad part (exciter) from another station’s surplus equipment stash, to keep us reliably on the air until the new transmitter could be installed.
We installed fiber optic cables from Nathan Hale to Roosevelt High School and microwave dishes to get our signal out to Cougar Mountain.
Our non-profit changed their name to the c895/KNHC Public Radio Association to make it easier for potential supporters to find us when searching philanthropic databases.
2018: The failing Nautel transmitter was replaced with a GatesAir machine in March.
c895 began to spend more time out in the community attending the Seattle AIDs Walk, Pride events across the Puget Sound, the annual Bumbershoot music festival, and more. With the help of student DJs and adult volunteers, c895 was able to reach an even wider in-person audience.
2020s
The decade that started with a global pandemic also marked c895’s fifth decade on the dial in Seattle. The 2020s are a decade that continues to be the most challenging and innovative yet. With a continued commitment to electronic dance music and the students that make DANCE 89.5 the one of a kind program that it is, we are proud to continue this incredible legacy into the 21st century and beyond!
2020: With the closing of the c895 studios for most of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students, staff and volunteers continued to bring the best dance music to Seattle and beyond… from home! Student volunteers such as Kay joined Drew Bailey remotely, broadcasting from home with state-of-the-art remote equipment. Meanwhile, students enrolled in the educational classes learned to edit audio, listen to music critically, and become social media experts remotely over Teams.
Even with the closing of the studios, c895 maintained a strong connection to the community, successfully fundraising to keep the station afloat during this difficult time. We partnered with Seattle Children’s Hospital to air messages about maintaining a positive attitude during the pandemic. This relationship then bloomed into our production of Coping 101, c895’s first podcast, a collaboration between students and staff at the radio station, along with support from Seattle Children’s. The podcast focuses on destigmatizing mental illness from a teen’s perspective.
The same year, the broadcast tower on Wedgwood Elementary School was removed as part of the school’s reroofing project.
2021: c895 celebrated our 50th anniversary, marking five decades of musical influence and educational contributions! The online celebration, held on January 25th, 2021, was a live remote broadcast. We invited listeners and alumni to share their stories, reflecting our deep connection with the community, and impact of 50 years at Nathan Hale High School. Also in celebration, c895 released its first smart phone app allowing listeners even more options to listen to their favorite dance music radio station. c895 returned to in-person events in late 2021 for the 50th Anniversary Laser Show with DJ Trent Von at the Pacific Science Center!
2022: Long-time Program Director and NHHS graduate Jon McDaniel retired, leaving a lasting impact on the station after over 30 years.
c895 launched its first happy hardcore show with Push The Tempo. It also further expanded its podcast offerings with Coping 101: Artist Mental Health Stories, a collaboration with 4Culture, bringing together student hosts and Seattle artists.
Students entered the National Student Media Awards for the first time and Emily Couret won first place for “Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program,” beating college students. We also won second place in the Student Division of the Public Media Journalists Association Awards for an episode of Coping 101 entitled “Socially Just Family Therapy.”
2023: In January, Sofi Tucker played a private concert in the Performing Arts Center to celebrate our partnership with Bloodworks Northwest. Any person 16-18 who donated blood was invited to the show.
The production studios got a refresh with dual monitors and new consoles. With the pandemic finally receding, c895 leaned into its connection and love of DJ culture in Seattle with the launch of mixshow and podcast Guest Mix Seattle. With over thirty episodes, the show opened the c895 studios back to DJs and welcomed new on-air talent.
2024: With in-person events back in full swing, c895 returned with parties at Lynnwood Bowl & Skate, as well as a new look to the Sunset Cruise Party series, including its first-ever Eastside event.
c895 added It’s A Vibe and Groove Gallery to its evening show roster, and a new host to The Vortex. In the National Student Media Awards, Shannon Sullivan won first place for “Best Podcast Audio.” Both on-air studios were completely rebuilt with new furniture and equipment.
2025: c895 hit an all-time ratings high, setting a new standard with over 350,000 listeners reached on a weekly basis, plus a new student enrollment record high. A new partnership with W Seattle allowed for intimate in person events with HAYLA and TOKiMONSTA. The W also provided a home for c895’s co-presented Women’s Day Event See Her Be Her.
c895 launched a variety of new shows including Color Theory and Sub 49 Radio, and brought in even more new on-air and DJ talent.
In an effort to give more students access to the station and our classes, we began teaching Intro and Advanced Electronic Media courses concurrently. Enrollment doubled in the 25/26 school year.
The President rescinded funding allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The final payment of remining federal funds was received in September.
2026: It’s an all new look with the launch of our updated website and app. Oh, and have you noticed? We are DANCE 89.5 now, reflecting our commitment to bringing you the best dance music in the world, along with a renewed connection to our Seattle community.
TODAY & TOMORROW: DANCE 89.5 stands as a testament to the power of music and education, fostering young talent and bringing people together through its dynamic programming and commitment to community enrichment.
