WHPK Jazz 88.5 FM
Chicago’s Community Jazz Radio
WHPK 88.5 FM is the University of Chicago’s community radio station, broadcasting from the historic Mitchell Bell Tower on Chicago’s South Side. Founded in 1968, WHPK is a student run, non-commercial radio station dedicated to independent music programming, creative freedom, and community voices.
Serving Chicago on 88.5 FM and streaming worldwide, WHPK connects local culture to a global audience through free-form radio built on passion, knowledge, and deep musical exploration.
A Legacy of Independent Community Radio
For more than five decades, WHPK has been run collaboratively by University of Chicago
students and volunteer community DJ’s. This unique model has allowed the station to remain
independent from commercial influence, giving DJ’s full control over their programming and
playlists. WHPK has long been a home for music and ideas that exist often outside the
mainstream.
The WHPK Jazz Format
Jazz has been a core part of WHPK since its founding in 1968. The WHPK Jazz format is curated by a dedicated group of community members alongside student DJs who bring decades of collective experience, knowledge and musical curiosity to the airwaves.
Programming spans the full spectrum of jazz, including:
- Mainstream and classic jazz
- Avant-garde and free jazz
- Spiritual and experimental jazz
- Fusion and contemporary jazz
Each DJ is given complete creative control, resulting in shows that are deeply personal, historically informed, and always evolving.
Chicago Roots, Global Reach
WHPK Jazz has long been connected to Chicago’s rich jazz history while also embracing jazz as a global art form. Today, with worldwide internet streaming, WHPK Jazz reaches listeners across cities, countries, and continents—sharing Chicago’s independent radio spirit with the world. We invite you to listen, explore, and experience jazz as living culture: rooted in tradition, shaped by innovation, and sustained by community.
Listen Live to “The Pride of the South Side” Broadcasting in Chicago on 88.5 FM and
streaming worldwide at whpk.org and whpkjazz.org