BELLERIVE — St. Louis public radio station KWMU (90.7 FM) is breaking away from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, its home since it was founded in 1972, the school announced Monday.

The station will be run by the nonprofit organization Friends of KWMU Inc., which has supported the station since 1977. The move, which is backed by both the university and the station, may take up to three years to complete.

The University of Missouri System Board of Curators, which currently holds the station's license, is divesting itself both of KWMU and the public radio station affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City, KCUR. That announcement was also made Monday.

In a statement, UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said, "The move to independence allows (St. Louis Public Radio) to chart its own course while staying true to its mission of providing high-quality journalism and community service."

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Station CEO Tina Parmintuan said in a statement, “A transition to independence is a bold move that reflects the strength of St. Louis Public Radio and its commitment to serving the community.”

KWMU started out in 1972 as a music station with breaks for the news from National Public Radio, according to the station's website. The popular NPR shows "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" were added in the 1980s. In the 1990s the station moved to a news-talk format, with music and entertainment on the weekends.

The station broadcasts out of the UMSL at Grand Center building in the Grand Center neighborhood. A university spokesman said the Friends of KWMU board will decide where to locate the station when it is independent.

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