KZUM, the oldest independent, noncommercial, listener-sponsored radio station in Nebraska, has been bringing the blues to Lincoln since 1978. The air staff consists of around 90 volunteer programmers who work hard to bring great shows to the airwaves every week. There is a variety of popular programming on KZUM, but the blues content is perhaps what is most closely associated with the station. KZUM has consistently put the blues at the forefront of its diverse schedule, having long dedicated afternoon drive-time programming to the blues. Each week includes 28 hours of blues programming, along with many more hours of roots-music programs that include a healthy dose of the blues. The station’s commitment to the genre extends beyond the airwaves, as KZUM has served for many years as the nonprofit partner for ZooFest, the Zoo Bar’s annual multi-day outdoor blues festival in the streets of downtown Lincoln, and has worked for the last two years to host a free community concert series in a local park. As the region’s only outlet for regularly aired blues and roots music, KZUM continues to work hard to preserve and develop the fertile music scene in southeastern Nebraska.
