A group of older adults standing together and smiling outside a purple building with large windows and a red door.
A crowd gathers outdoors in front of houses with mountains and trees in the background under a clear sky. Musicians perform in the foreground.
An older man with long white hair and a beard points toward the camera, standing in front of a banner with large, partially visible letters.
Four musicians perform outdoors with string instruments in front of a brick and purple building, with a green banner in the background.
A group of nine people stand and smile in front of a white tent with a green KOTO-FM radio banner displayed behind them.

The Sound of Telluride

Since 1975

  • RECENT NEWSCAST

    Newscast 6-26-26

Listen Live

The Voice of the Valley

Since 1975, KOTO has provided the Telluride region with high-quality, commercial-free, non-underwritten community radio. Our mission is to inform, educate, and entertain while reflecting the needs, desires and diversity of our community.

KOTO Radio is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, governed by the San Miguel Educational Fund, Federal EIN 23-7317485.

A mountain town street with a banner overhead reads Community Ski Swap 16K, KOTO Radio Telluride. Snow-capped mountains are in the background. Brick buildings line the street, and the sky is clear and blue.
  • An elderly man with a mustache, co-founder of KOTO-FM, holds a stack of books and papers—including one titled Sex and Broadcasting—standing in front of a dark wooden door.

    Remembering KOTO Founder Jim Bedford

    KOTO Founder Jim Bedford passed the morning of Saturday, June 20th, 2026. Jim moved to Telluride in 1972, secured an FCC license in 1973, and went live on 91.7 FM in 1975. More than 50 years later, his legacy carries on at KOTO Radio.

    About a year ago, we visited with BF to capture the history of KOTO in his own words.

  • Congratulations to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Santa Cruz Guitar Raffle Winner!

    KOTO was pleased to partner with Planet Bluegrass and their sponsor - Santa Cruz Guitars - to raffle off a pre-war D18 dreadnought modeled after Tony Rice's guitar at this year's Telluride Bluegrass Festival. We are happy to announce the winner - Jay Williams, of Nashville, TN!

    Congratulations Jay, and thanks for supporting KOTO Community Radio!

    Poster announcing a raffle for a Santa Cruz Guitar at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival—event details, guitar description, and sponsor logos for KOTO-FM and Santa Cruz Guitar Company. Don't miss your chance to be the Raffle Winner!.

A Rare Medium, Well Done. A Rare Medium, Well Done.A Rare Medium, Well Done. A Rare Medium, Well Done.

Recent News

  • Newscast 6-26-26

    June 26, 2026

    On this week's Regional Roundup, we bring you voices from Pride celebrations across the Rocky Mountain West. We also hear about a new app that connects LGBTQIA+ community members with volunteer opportunities in Utah and beyond.

    As drought conditions persist across the region, Trout Unlimited is urging anglers to give stressed fish a break by reducing fishing on rivers with low flows and warm water temperatures. We also hear from southwest Colorado, where dry conditions are affecting irrigators, growers and gardeners. With drought comes increased wildfire risk. We visit a firehouse in Salida that is looking to lessons from past fire seasons as they prepare for what could be another challenging summer. And in south-central Colorado, we visit a jazz group that is building community through music.

  • Newscast 6-25-26

    June 25, 2026

    - West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum

    - Lions in the Mountains

    - Dwayne Romero Vies for Congress

  • Newscast 6-24-26

    June 24, 2026

    - Remembering a BF Deal

    - Bluegrass Needs a Rethink

    - The Battle for Truth

Recently Played On KOTO

Jump over to Spinitron to view our recently played tracks.

Recent Mic’d Up DJ Blog Posts

  • Five people wearing colorful hoodies and jeans pose energetically on a street in a mountainous town, celebrating Bootsie's Bops’ new music. The buildings and scenic mountains in the background capture the lively June 2026 vibe.

    Bootsie’s Bops – New Music for the Week of June 17th, 2026

    June 17, 2026

    New music highlights for June 17th, 2026!

    Featuring: A.J. Fullerton, Jack White and Sofie Royer!

  • A person wearing a sequined jacket, large sunglasses, and a shiny hat sits in a dimly lit room with red chairs, ready for Bootsie’s Bops on June 3rd 2026.

    Bootsie’s Bops – New Music for the week of June 3rd, 2026

    June 3, 2026

    New music is out there and it's GOOD.

    Week of June 3rd, 2026, featuring: Okonski, Kevin Morby, Pearl & the Oysters

  • Colorful poster celebrating 50 Years of KOTO radio station, featuring vintage audio equipment and highlighting the importance of community radio in lifting all boats through its rich history and local impact.

    The Importance of Lifting All Boats

    April 21, 2026

    Collaboration is the only way forward for small nonprofits “Telluride in the ‘70s was as close to a classless society as it would ever be. [...]

Upcoming Events

  • 9

    Jul

    Booze and Books at Liz

    5:15 pm - 6:30 pm

    Liz

  • 9

    Jul

    Community Support w/TCHN

    9:00 am - 12:00 pm

    Wilkinson Public Library

  • 9

    Jul

    Yoga with Miriah

    9:00 am - 10:00 am

    Wilkinson Public Library

  • 8

    Jul

    Sound Bath with Danielle & Ian

    5:30 pm - 6:00 pm

    Wilkinson Public Library

  • 6

    Jul

    Birding with Katie Triest at Patagonia Telluride , July 6 and 7

    5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

    Patagonia Telluride

  • 7

    Jul

    Birding with Katie Triest at Patagonia Telluride , July 6 and 7

    8:30 am - 10:00 am

    Patagonia Telluride

Support KOTO Radio

KOTO is called “Community Radio” for a reason. Our core mission is to entertain, educate, and inform while reflecting the needs, desires and diversity of the community. KOTO serves as a forum for community debate, public discourse, education, and
cultural exchange.

A two-story building painted in purple with a red door, large front window, and a sign reading IDEA CO-OP above the entrance. It is set against a bright blue sky with a few bushes and stone border in the foreground.
Two people smiling under a green tent. The person on the left wears sunglasses, a black hat, and a blue I Love the Free Box shirt. The person on the right wears glasses, a cap, and a patterned shirt. The background shows a car and part of a sign.