WERS 88.9 FM

WERS 88.9 FM is a radio station operated by Emerson College students and broadcasting from the Theater District, across from Boston Common. It calls itself Boston’s Discovery Station, aiming to help listeners find new favorite artists, whether new, local, independent or rediscovered classics. The core sound is an eclectic mix of indie rock, alternative and folk, with specialty programs in reggae, hip-hop and family-friendly music, all broadcast commercial-free around the clock.

WERS began broadcasting in 1949 and was Boston’s first public radio station. It carries more live performances than any other station in the city, and its staff writers and hosts review and photograph concerts at venues such as TD Garden and MGM Music Hall at Fenway. A companion service, WERS Plus, plays R&B and hip-hop around the clock, focused on Boston’s Black experience. The station runs on listener support.

What to Know

• Donor drives sometimes offer prize trips, such as travel to a music festival.
• WERS has covered live events such as its Soul by the Seaport concert.
• The station brands itself as “Boston’s UnCommon Radio.”
• Listeners anywhere in the world can stream the station online.