KTAO History
The Story of KTAOS
In 1976, a small radio station began broadcasting along a dirt road inTaos, New Mexico. Nearly five decades later, that station has growninto the world’s most powerful solar-powered radio station and oneof Northern New Mexico’s most iconic FM stations.
The roots of KTAOS go back to Chicago, where the owners of the successful station WXRT envisioned bringing their unique radiophilosophy to Taos. In 1975, Taos Communication Corporation (TCC) was formed, and one year later, KXRT went on the air.
By 1982, it had become clear that the “big city” approach wasn’t quiteright for Taos and its unique mountain community. In 1986, thestation became KTAO, beginning the evolution toward theindependent, locally focused radio station it is today.
Powered by the Sun
In 1991, KTAO gained international attention when it became the firstradio station in the world to be powered by the sun. A super structure supporting 150 solar panels was installed a top 10,800-foot Picuris Peak. The station’s batteries and transmission equipment werehoused in a self-sustaining Earthship—a partially underground structure built using tires, rammed earth, and other recycled materials.
Over the years, KTAO’s solar capacity and broadcast power continuedto grow. Today, KTAOS is licensed at 100,000 watts, making it theworld’s largest and most powerful solar-powered radio station.
From a Radio Trailer to the KTAOS Solar Center
When Katie Speirs joined KTAO as Production Director in 2004, thestation was still operating out of a modest trailer. Katie brought apassion for radio and music that began during her college years atKBCO in Boulder, Colorado, one of the pioneering stations of theTriple A format—the same music format KTAOS continues to embracetoday.
After five years at KTAO, Katie took the next step and purchased the station in 2010. What followed was a period of significant growth and expansion.
Under Katie’s ownership, KTAOS expanded its broadcast reach withadditional transmitters, bringing the KTAOS sound to Angel Fire and Red River at 102.3 FM, Taos Ski Valley at 97.5 FM, and listeners everywhere through KTAOS.com.
The station also grew far beyond its original home in a trailer. KTAOS eventually moved into what would become The KTAOS SolarCenter—a large event space and concert venue that gave the station apermanent home and created an entirely new way to connect withthe community.
The Solar Center became a gathering place for live music, concerts, festivals, community events, fundraisers, weddings, private events,and special broadcasts. It allowed KTAO to take its connection withlisteners beyond the airwaves and bring people together in person.
What began as a small radio station became a destination wherelisteners could hear live music, discover artists, attend events, meetthe KTAOS team, and experience the station as part of the community.
Growing the KTAOS Community
For more than two decades, Katie has led KTAOS alongside anincredible team, building on the station’s history while continuing toexpand its reach and its role in Northern New Mexico.
Under her ownership, KTAOS has grown from a small operation in atrailer into a 100,000-watt solar-powered regional radio station, anetwork of FM signals serving Northern NM mountain communities, athriving live-music and event venue, and a digital presence reachinglisteners around the world at KTAOS.com.
But through all that growth, the heart of KTAOS has remained the same: great music, local connection, independence, community, and adistinctly Taos spirit.
From a dirt road in Taos to transmitters across the mountains, from a tiny radio trailer to the KTAOS Solar Center, and from the localairwaves to listeners around the world—the KTAOS story is one of innovation, growth, and a deep connection to the community it calls home
.KTAO has grown—but it has never stopped being uniquely Northern New Mexico.
