Broadcast area San Francisco Bay Area HAAT 91 meters Facility ID 69143 Format Campus radio | ERP 2,850 watts Class A City of license San Francisco Area San Francisco Bay Area | |
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Callsign meaning USF, University of San Francisco Frequency 880 kHz (1963-1977), 90.3 MHz (1977-2011), Online-only (2011- ) Owner University of San Francisco Call sign meaning USF, University of San Francisco Call sign meaning University of San Francisco | ||
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. KUSF currently broadcasts online and is still a student driven organization at the University of San Francisco.
Contents
- KUSF History
- Programming
- Awards and recognition
- Events
- Staff
- Sale to USC and switch to KDFC KUSF goes online only
- References
On January 18, 2011, the station's longtime student-run, freeform/eclectic music 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.
KUSF History
From 1963 until 2011, KUSF was a student-run broadcast station owned by the University of San Francisco. 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.
Programming
The station's musical programming varies from rock 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.
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 Weekly in 2001, 2003,2004, 2006, and 2007.
Events
KUSF sponsors Rock-n-Swap, a large record 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.
Staff
KUSF is currently managed by Miranda Morris. The station staff include primarily of students at the university.
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 Network, 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.