From Campus Airwaves to Hall of Fame: Mines College Radio Station, KTEQ, Named a 2025 SD Rock and Roll Inductee

For decades, KTEQ 91.3 FM, South Dakota Mines campus station, like other college radios, has been a platform for the underground music scene, launching the careers of many unknown acts and bringing a new sound to the communities they served.

The power of college stations like KTEQ was to bring unique styles not heard on the mainstream commercial stations, creating a whole new listener experience, and giving DJs the freedom to play and say what they wanted - within Federal Communications Commission guidelines.

KTEQ hit the airwaves in August 1971 and quickly made its mark, promoting and hosting live shows ranging from Jerry Jeff Walker and Clover—then fronted by a little-known Huey Lewis—to punk legends like Green Day and Fugazi. On KTEQ, a listener could hear jazz and Frank Sinatra one minute and hardcore punk and hip hop the next.

“Before the proliferation of the internet, KTEQ was the beating heart of a thriving underground music scene in the Black Hills. The station, run entirely by students and community members in open format programming, was the epicenter for information on the latest music and event information,” said Mike Ray, KTEQ manager from 1992-1994 and a graduate of Mines (GEOL 97).  

KTEQ’s lasting and continued impact on the regional music scene has earned it a spot in the South Dakota Rock and Rollers Hall of Fame. The list of 2025 inductees was recently announced by the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association (SDRRMA).

“These artists and industry professionals helped define rock and roll in South Dakota—on stage, on the airwaves and behind the scenes. We’re excited to welcome them into the Hall of Fame and continue our mission to celebrate, preserve and nurture South Dakota’s rock legacy,” said Michael Cornette, SDRRMA President and Dakota News Now Director of Sales.

The 2025 Induction Ceremony will kick off on Friday, Oct. 10, at The District in Sioux Falls, with the annual Youth Battle of the Bands. On Saturday, Oct. 11, the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will honor this year's inductees with performances and tributes to their lasting impact.

The announcement coincides with KTEQ’s return to the FM airwaves Friday, May 16 at 9 a.m. The station’s broadcast has been silent since November due to technical issues affecting its transmitter. However, thanks to the efforts of students and local volunteers, full 500-watt FM service will return to the Rapid City area at 91.3 FM. KTEQ plans to be back broadcasting next week.

The Hall of Fame induction serves not only as a recognition of the station’s historic impact but also as a timely reminder of what becomes possible when programming and creative collaboration have a stable platform to flourish, at a moment when student interest in radio is beginning to enjoy a renaissance.

“This is more than an honor – it’s a chance to remember what KTEQ has meant to so many and to imagine what it could become,” said Jason Ward, campus advisor. “We’re calling on alumni, community members and supporters of independent media to help us build a stronger, more sustainable future.”

With renewed community support, KTEQ hopes to expand its reach and reclaim its status as a cultural nexus between the Black Hills and the national and international music scenes. “It’s really motivating to focus on connection and see the community take notice of what we’re doing,” said Caleigh Copenhaver, a junior electrical engineering major and KTEQ station manager. “When we get that kind of energy back from listeners and alumni, it makes all the effort feel worth it.”

As KTEQ returns to the FM dial and prepares to take its place in the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it’s clear the station’s legacy is far from over.

It remains a student-led passion that is a living, breathing archive of music culture in the region. Now, with fresh voices behind the mic and a renewed signal stretching across the Black Hills, KTEQ is poised to inspire a new wave of alternative music lovers, artists and dreamers.

Listeners can stream KTEQ online at www.KTEQ.org, where programming remains strong. For more information on KTEQ’s history, programming and how to support its next chapter, visit here or follow KTEQ on Facebook or on Instagram.