Timeline of Notable Events
- 1936 - First broadcast of the Brown Network
- 1940 - The newly-formed Intercollegiate Broadcasting System holds its first meeting at Brown
- 1948 - WJAR-FM signs on (May 10)
- 1950 - According to the 1950 Broadcasting Yearbook, WJAR-FM broadcasts at 20 kW
- 1950s- 95.5Mc. is home to WPFM, a classical music station
- 1962 - Brown Broadcasting Service (BBS) is established as a corporation independent from Brown University
- 1963 - The first BBS/WBRU constitution is written
- 1966 - Brown University buys WPFM & signs on WBRU (February 21)
- 1969 - WBRU is the first progressive rock station in the market
- 1971 - Attempts to broadcast at 50,000 watts failed due to interference with sensitive scientific equipment
- 1974 - WBRU is granted tax-exempt status
- 1975 - First paid professionals are hired
- 1976 - Station receives first Gold Record for airplay of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run."
- 1979 - WBRU moves its studio from Faunce House to 88 Benevolent Street, its current location
- 1981 - (October) Competitor WHJY signs on
- 1982 - Due to low ratings, WBRU abandons its free-form format and hires the consulting firm of Burkhart, Abrams, Michaels, Douglas to institute a tight playlist of approved songs that "test well" with the station's intended demographic.
- 1984 - Elvis Costello stops by with a box of records and plays DJ for an hour
- 1988 - WBRU adopts a modern-rock format, called "The Cutting Edge of Rock"
- 1992 - Student station members reverse a decision which would turn WBRU into an NPR affiliate
- 1993 - WBRU wins first place in the Rolling Stone Readers' Poll for best medium-sized market
- 1994 - WBRU wins first place again in the Rolling Stone Readers' Poll
- 1995 - (June) WDGE signs on and becomes a direct competitor with WBRU
- 1995 - WBRU wins first place again in the Rolling Stone Readers' Poll
- 1999 - WDGE officially signs off (due to WBRU's dominance in the market) and is replaced by WHKK
- 1999 - Station members vote unanimously against a joint sales agreement with Capstar Broadcasting Company
- 2000 - WFNX, a Boston station, extends into Providence to compete with WBRU
- 2002 - Competitor WKKB signs on in Middletown, RI
- 2004 - WFNX signs off in Providence
- 2004 - WKKB becomes a Spanish station
- 2006 - As a three-day April Fools' Day hoax, WBRU pretends to be bought-out by "Initech" who change the station's format to "Buddy FM"
- 2006 - On June 15, WBRU begins to stream live on the web
- 2006 - The station plays its entire catalog from A-Z
- 2007 - As its annual April Fools' Joke, the station was stuck in a time warp - 1995; and all music played was recorded before the date.
- 2008 - Station plays its entire catalog from A-Z again.
- 2008 - Red Sox games air live on WBRU when WEEI broadcasts Boston Celtics playoff games instead
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