Five years ago, KBGA had the opportunity to reserve a sizable chunk of real estate in the University of Montana's then-to-be-built Don Anderson Hall and a state-of-the-art studio with it.

The staff put it to a vote, and it was decisive: "Thanks, but no thanks."

Instead, the college radio station today occupies the same crowded house in the University Center that it did when it started broadcasting at 89.9 FM 13 years ago.

"The staff decided that it was more important to be here, in the heart of campus, rather than tucked away in the basement of the journalism building," said Ben Weiss, general manager, who has been onboard KBGA for five years.

Like Christina Aguilera covering a Sex Pistols tune, some things just don't need to be messed with - even the mess itself.

"I've discovered going through these desks all these documents and crazy old folders," said program director Clark Grant. "I estimate there have been thousands who have come through here."

That's likely no exaggeration. Over its life, KBGA has been the Missoula Valley's repository for community DJing. It would be easy to walk the Missoula streets today and come across someone who's hosted his or her own show.

Ready to throw its annual Birthday Bash again this Friday, the station has another impressive roster of DJs old and young, and a contact list of 105 others who could fill in any gaps.

While market analysts and pundits debate the future of terrestrial broadcast radio - even whether it can survive - KBGA is staffed by a host of music lovers who believe in the inherent value of their jobs.

An iPod and MySpace Music are no substitutes, said Clark.

"I can go find new music (online), but there's no way I can keep up," he said. "I find it hard to believe that any iPod-owning kid is that capable or ambitious to track down all this new music."

KBGA, with its 1,000-watt tower broadcasting from Waterworks Hill, has not suffered the contractions of some others with increasing digital and satellite competition.

More than 1,100 people are tuned in at drive time, and another 250 at any given hour of the day. Four years ago, the station got a respectable 4.9 share.

Its success? New music, no commercials, fun personalities, the unexpected.

In fact, new music - independent, often obscure, largely non-corporate - is at the heart of the station's mission.

Punk, hip-hop, metal, jazz, grrl rawk, garage - all of it and then some finds a home on its airwaves.

Every month, at least 100 new CDs arrive at the station, and it's the two music directors' job, along with a volunteer staff, to decide what deserves airplay, and what deserves a lesser fate.

"My job is to take all the music and find the good stuff," said music director Robert Parker. "It's a great job."

Based on what the music directors find, the station's DJs are only required to play four tracks from the daily "play list." The rest is entirely up to them.

"I'll do a punk rock set, like the Vivian Girls," said DJ Dane Hansen, an art major. "And sometimes, something from my weird little bubble will surface. I'll mix in spoken-word albums with ambient tracks."

The station employs news reporters, and also delivers numerous community calendar and public service announcements every day. And this year, for the first time, the station is airing Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now!" program, a progressive news report, at noontime.

Though housed at the university and a large chunk of its $180,000 budget financed by student fees ($12 a year, up from $10 on a student vote), KBGA is hardly a student-only station. Students make up all of its 20-some staffers, but the voices behind the microphone are from far and wide.

Take H-Rap Brown, an elderly gent who hosts a Saturday soul show. He sits behind the microphone, dressed to the nines, and plays along with his tambourine.

"He comes out of there drenched in sweat after every show," said Clark. "He and his tambourine."

Zach Partin, promotions director, said shows like H-Rap's and the constant exposure to good new music keep him and others listening.

"I do have the iPod and can listen to what I want, but I'll get sick of what I have," he said. "And I'll need to find new music. That's where KBGA comes in."

Reporter Jamie Kelly can be reached at 523-5254 or at jkelly@missoulian.com.