It airs a mix of programming from National Public Radio, classical music and jazz.

This culminated in 1984, when it hired a professional station manager and joined National Public Radio, becoming the state's second NPR member.

Over the next decade, it boosted its signal to 100,000 watts, and built a network of translators and repeaters across Montana, and now has one of the largest geographical coverage areas in the entire NPR system.

Shortly after EMC merged with the Montana State University System, KEMC rebranded itself Yellowstone Public Radio, reflecting that its coverage area spanned across most of the area around Yellowstone National Park.

In the same year, its home since 1983, a three-story house west of campus, was renamed the Joseph L. Sample Studios in honor of the Montana broadcasting pioneer.