A member of National Public Radio (NPR), it airs a jazz and news format for the Seattle metropolitan area.

[3] It was primarily run by university students and played jazz, blues and other music not usually heard on commercial radio stations.

Originally, it broadcast from a tower on campus that was only 140 feet tall, effectively limiting its coverage area to Tacoma and adjacent suburbs.

It improved its coverage area, both by increasing its power and relocating to a tower that is 2,320 feet (710 meters) Height Above Average Terrain, allowing it to challenge established NPR member KUOW.

[6] The board sought to negotiate with a community-based non-profit group, Friends of 88.5, to raise $7,000,000 to buy the radio station and its network of translators and rebroadcasters from the university, keeping it independent.

[12] KNKX announced plans to relocate its Seattle studio to the Madore Building, part of Pike Place Market, in March 2022.