After break-in, this Phoenix radio station plays on

Phoenix community radio station KRDP is reeling after a late December break-in capped a difficult year of setbacks for the Black-owned independent broadcaster.

On Dec. 21, thieves broke into the low-power FM station’s studios at Washington and 13th streets, damaging the property and stealing laptops, iPads, microphones and other broadcasting equipment.

Calvin Worthen, KRDP’s program director, tells Phoenix New Times that the thieves smashed an exterior window to gain entry, then forced open doors to a side room where equipment was stored.

He estimates the break-in caused about $50,000 in losses, though that figure could rise as volunteers continue to take stock of what was stolen or damaged.

The incident rattled staff at the largely volunteer-run station, Worthen says.

“We feel really violated,” Worthen says. “We’ve had a number of volunteers talk about feeling unsafe now to come down and produce.”

Worthen says the stolen laptops were mainly used for KRDP’s outreach programs, which educate community members, including youth and adults 18 and older, in content creation and broadcasting.

Despite the theft, KRDP has remained on the air. Worthen says the station relied on backup equipment to continue broadcasting over its terrestrial signal and online streams.

“We have a lot of equipment in here, but they could have taken a lot more,” he says. “It inhibited us a little after losing those computers. But we’ve been able to use others we had in storage.”

Worthen says Phoenix police are investigating the break-in, but he does not expect the stolen equipment will be recovered.

“I think it was a smash, grab and gone forever kind of thing,” he says.

The break-in was the latest strain on a station already under pressure heading into 2026.

How KRDP weathered a tough 2025 and still faces challenges

KRDP first hit the metro Phoenix airwaves in May 2022. The low-power station is owned by local nonprofit Desert Soul Media and broadcasts on 90.7 FM to the East Valley and parts of south Phoenix.

According to the nonprofit, KRDP is aimed at Arizona’s growing Black community and serves as a platform for voices often underrepresented in the Valley’s media landscape.

KRDP’s low-power FM signal, but its reach extends beyond the dial. The station plays blues, soul, jazz, gospel, hip-hop, Indigenous music and old-school reggae, alongside community- and issues-focused programming. It also operates an online stream, KRDP Indie, which highlights independent music and local artists.

About 70% of KRDP’s content is locally produced, Worthen says. Since signing on, the station has broadcast more than 30,000 hours of local programming, trained 25 volunteer programmers and hosted live remote events across metro Phoenix.

KRDP is funded through a mix of grants, public support and quarterly pledge drives that Worthen says rely on “the generosity of listeners.”

For much of the past year, that already lean budget was stretched thin.

In late 2024, the station faced unexpected repairs at its transmitter in Apache Junction that added unplanned costs.

“We had to call for an FCC engineer to repair it, and that was not part of the budget,” Worthen says. “It knocked us off right during our December pledge drive.”

Last year, KRDP lost access to federal public media funding amid broader cuts, halting plans to expand staffing and programming and delaying a second transmitter planned for the West Valley.

Some sustaining donors were also forced to step back, Worthen says, citing inflation and job losses.

The break-in only compounded the financial strain the station was already under, he says.

“Our whole story is a story of tribulation, man,” Worthen says. “And we’ve been through it.”

Worthen and KRDP general manager Kaja Brown say they are confident the station can push through the latest setbacks, but acknowledge community backing will be critical in the months ahead.

How KRDP is asking the community to help

KRDP turned to the community on Dec. 29, launching a Givebutter campaign to replace equipment stolen in the break-in and help stabilize operations. As of Thursday, the fundraiser had raised $1,980.

Text accompanying the campaign notes the station’s role will be especially important in 2026, an election year both locally and nationally.

“Your financial support will enable us to continue to provide a media space for the community,” Worthen says, pointing to on-air conversations with candidates, civic leaders, artists and small business owners.

For now, the focus is on replacing what was lost and maintaining day-to-day operations.

Worthen says KRDP will continue to rely on quarterly pledge drives and outreach to listeners to help sustain operations.

“We encourage people to tune in,” he says. “We invite special voices on to help support the station during our pledge drives. We’re hoping that we can draw some attention.”