KUSF
Encyclopedia
KUSF was a non-commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California
and owned by the University of San Francisco
. From 1963 until 2011, the station broadcast at 90.3 FM MHz.
On January 18, 2011, the station's longtime free-form eclectic student-run format was abruptly dropped from the 90.3 FM frequency following the announcement of the station's sale. That same day, the University of Southern California announced a deal with Entercom Communications
to acquire the call sign, programming and intellectual property of longtime classical music outlet KDFC-FM, and began airing the station's programming on the 90.3 FM frequency (as well as on also-acquired KNDL) later that same day.
USF will keep the KUSF call letters (for branding purposes) and intellectual property and continue it as an online-only
station.
. Following the frequency's sale, KUSF announced plans to become an online-only station.
The station is located in the basement of Phelan Hall on the University of San Francisco campus, and is funded by the University of San Francisco, local and merchant underwriting, individual donations, and foundation grants.
KUSF began in 1963 as a campus-only AM station managed by the Associated Students of the University of San Francisco (ASUSF). In 1973, USF was offered an FM radio station by a small local Bible college that wished to discontinue its radio operations. USF accepted the offer and on April 25, 1977, KUSF became an FM station broadcasting on the 90.3 frequency. The old AM station later became the student-managed KDNZ.
Originally broadcasting six hours a day, KUSF began broadcasting 24 hours a day in 1981. In its early days KUSF was a conventional college station, broadcasting programs of interest to the university and greater San Francisco
community. However, KUSF soon garnered attention by playing new underground music: it was one of the first radio stations to play punk rock
. Many now-famous acts also first gained exposure on KUSF, most notably The B-52's
and Metallica
.
to hip-hop
to world music
. New music programming is broadcast Monday through Friday from midnight to 6 PM. Cultural programming takes over weekdays from 6 PM to midnight, and all day Saturday and Sunday.
in 2001, 2003,2004, 2006, and 2007.
collectors' fair held five times a year on the USF campus. Rock-n-Swap features music-related items of all kinds, including but not limited to vinyl albums, CDs, DVDs, books, and posters. All proceeds benefit KUSF. Rock-n-Swap will be held at McLaren Hall on the University of San Francisco
campus on the following 2009 dates: January 11, March 8, May 10, August 9, 2009.
KUSF holds numerous concerts in the Bay Area.
, which is owned by the University of Southern California
. The KUSF call sign
and intellectual property
will remain with USF, which plans to launch an upgraded online-only station. In addition, USC announced that it had reached an agreement with Entercom Communications to take over the intellectual property of local classical outlet KDFC
(102.1 FM), and moved the station's programming and eventually the call letters to the 90.3 FM frequency. Entercom, in turn, flipped the 102.1 FM frequency to a simulcast of San Jose
station KUFX
98.5 FM on January 24.
CPRN also acquired KNDL
89.9 MHz in Angwin
, and switched it to a simulcast of the new KDFC.
Upon announcement of the sale, KUSF locked its doors, shut down its website temporarily and went off the air.
On February 8, 2011, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
voted 8-3 to oppose the sale.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and owned by the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
. From 1963 until 2011, the station broadcast at 90.3 FM MHz.
On January 18, 2011, the station's longtime free-form eclectic student-run format was abruptly dropped from the 90.3 FM frequency following the announcement of the station's sale. That same day, the University of Southern California announced a deal with Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
to acquire the call sign, programming and intellectual property of longtime classical music outlet KDFC-FM, and began airing the station's programming on the 90.3 FM frequency (as well as on also-acquired KNDL) later that same day.
USF will keep the KUSF call letters (for branding purposes) and intellectual property and continue it as an online-only
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
station.
KUSF History
From 1963 until 2011, KUSF was a student-run broadcast station owned by the University of San FranciscoUniversity of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
. Following the frequency's sale, KUSF announced plans to become an online-only station.
The station is located in the basement of Phelan Hall on the University of San Francisco campus, and is funded by the University of San Francisco, local and merchant underwriting, individual donations, and foundation grants.
KUSF began in 1963 as a campus-only AM station managed by the Associated Students of the University of San Francisco (ASUSF). In 1973, USF was offered an FM radio station by a small local Bible college that wished to discontinue its radio operations. USF accepted the offer and on April 25, 1977, KUSF became an FM station broadcasting on the 90.3 frequency. The old AM station later became the student-managed KDNZ.
Originally broadcasting six hours a day, KUSF began broadcasting 24 hours a day in 1981. In its early days KUSF was a conventional college station, broadcasting programs of interest to the university and greater San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
community. However, KUSF soon garnered attention by playing new underground music: it was one of the first radio stations to play punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
. Many now-famous acts also first gained exposure on KUSF, most notably The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
.
Programming
The station's musical programming varies from rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
to hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
to world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
. New music programming is broadcast Monday through Friday from midnight to 6 PM. Cultural programming takes over weekdays from 6 PM to midnight, and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Awards and recognition
KUSF was nominated for "College/Non-Commercial Radio Station Of The Year" in the 2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards. In July 2000, KUSF was named one of twenty recommended radio stations in the United States by US Airways' "ATTACHE" magazine. KUSF possesses Gold Records from groups including R.E.M., the Bangles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cowboy Junkies, Midnight Oil, the B-52's, and Love and Rockets. KUSF has received numerous for the long-running community service series that is broadcast weekly. A Certificate of Merit was awarded to KUSF by the American Heart Association for outstanding service in stimulating public support in the fight against heart disease. On June 7, 1998, San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown held "Fighting Back Day in San Francisco" in honor of KUSF's community service series for senior and disabled citizens. The mayor also held "KUSF 90.3 FM Stereo Day In San Francisco" on April 25, 1998, KUSF's birthday. KUSF was the recipient of the National Association of College Broadcasters' National College Radio Award for "Best Community Service Programming" in 1993-94. KUSF was named Best Radio Station by SF WeeklySF Weekly
SF Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper in San Francisco, California. The newspaper, distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area every Wednesday, is published by Village Voice Media, a 16-paper alt weekly newspaper chain that also includes the New York City Village Voice and the Los...
in 2001, 2003,2004, 2006, and 2007.
Events
KUSF sponsors Rock-n-Swap, a large recordGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
collectors' fair held five times a year on the USF campus. Rock-n-Swap features music-related items of all kinds, including but not limited to vinyl albums, CDs, DVDs, books, and posters. All proceeds benefit KUSF. Rock-n-Swap will be held at McLaren Hall on the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
campus on the following 2009 dates: January 11, March 8, May 10, August 9, 2009.
KUSF holds numerous concerts in the Bay Area.
Staff
KUSF is currently managed by alumnus Steve Runyon, who was also the student manager of the original AM station. The station staff include volunteers from both the university and the surrounding community.Sale to USC and switch to KDFC, KUSF goes online-only
On January 18, 2011, The University of San Francisco announced plans to sell the 90.3 FM frequency to the Classical Public Radio NetworkClassical Public Radio Network
The Classical Public Radio Network was a national, 24-hour classical music service. Its mission was to preserve, enhance and expand experience of classical music for radio listeners...
, which is owned by the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. The KUSF call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
and intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
will remain with USF, which plans to launch an upgraded online-only station. In addition, USC announced that it had reached an agreement with Entercom Communications to take over the intellectual property of local classical outlet KDFC
KDFC
KDFC-FM is a non-commercial radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area that broadcasts a classical music format on 90.3 MHz FM. The station is the radio home of the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera....
(102.1 FM), and moved the station's programming and eventually the call letters to the 90.3 FM frequency. Entercom, in turn, flipped the 102.1 FM frequency to a simulcast of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
station KUFX
KUFX
KUFX is a classic rock-formatted radio station in San Jose, California. It is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is referred to on-air as K-FOX.On January 24, 2011, KUFX began simulcasting on KUZX 102.1 MHz in San Francisco....
98.5 FM on January 24.
CPRN also acquired KNDL
KNDL
KNDL is a radio station licensed to Angwin, California, USA, and serving the Santa Rosa area.-History:KNDL is currently owned by the Howell Mountain Broadcasting Company, pending a sale to the University of Southern California, through its Classical Public Radio Network.Howell Mountain operated...
89.9 MHz in Angwin
Angwin, California
Angwin is a census-designated place in Napa County, United States. California. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 3,051 at the 2010 census. Its area code is 707. Its two zip codes are 94508 and 94576. It is in the Pacific time zone.The town was named in 1874 for...
, and switched it to a simulcast of the new KDFC.
Upon announcement of the sale, KUSF locked its doors, shut down its website temporarily and went off the air.
On February 8, 2011, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
voted 8-3 to oppose the sale.