WAMU 88.5 live

WAMU 88.5 is Washington's public news and talk station. It broadcasts on 88.5 FM, serves the greater Washington, D.C., area and is owned by American University. Since 2007 it has been the primary NPR member station for Washington, and on this page you can listen to WAMU live online, free.

News and talk

WAMU carries NPR's flagship programs — Morning Edition, All Things Considered and more — together with its own local reporting on Washington, Maryland and Virginia. In a city where news is the local industry, WAMU is a daily habit for many listeners.

American University

The station's studios are near the American University campus on Connecticut Avenue NW, in the Forest Hills (Van Ness) neighborhood of northwest Washington. Its call letters come from AMerican University.

History

WAMU-FM went on the air in October 1961 and has grown into one of the largest public radio stations in the country.

Bluegrass Country

WAMU's HD2 channel carries Bluegrass Country, a bluegrass and Americana service with a loyal following among roots-music fans.

Supported by listeners

Like other public stations, WAMU relies largely on contributions from its listeners and on underwriting from local businesses and organizations.

Listen online

Press play and WAMU starts in seconds — the easiest way to hear Washington's NPR station anywhere.

How to listen

You can hear WAMU on the radio on 88.5 FM across the Washington area, but you do not need a radio at all: this page plays the live stream in any browser, on a phone, tablet or computer. Press the play button at the top, wait a second or two for the stream to connect, and keep browsing while it plays — the player stays on as you move between pages. It is ideal for Morning Edition before work or All Things Considered on the way home, and it costs nothing: no account, no subscription and no app to install.

Below the player you will find WAMU's frequency and home city, the genres it plays, answers to common questions and a list of similar stations, so when you want a change you can jump to another station in the same format or the same area with one click.

• 100% free, no sign-up
• Live stream, 24 hours a day
• Listen from anywhere
• Works on phone and computer